The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 47

13:05 Sat, May 30 MM

Chapter 17

Chapter 47

AMORAH

We entered Silvercrest quietly, avoiding the main gates and moving through paths Conrad’s wolves had mapped long before. The route was narrow and familiar, but the feeling around it had changed. The territory felt tighter, less open, like something was being restricted from within.

I slowed down slightly as we crossed the outer line.

“That’s new,” I said.

Conrad remained beside me, his attention moving across the area without speaking. He did not question the change, and he did not dismiss it either. He simply observed.

The usual movement along the outer grounds was missing. There were fewer wolves, and the ones present did not linger. Their paths were direct, their focus narrow, and their presence felt placed rather than natural.

“She’s already started,” I said quietly.

“Yes.” Conrad replied.

We continued forward, staying off the main routes. The paths we used were not visible from the usual patrol lines, and that gave us enough cover to move without drawing attention. I kept my steps even, my focus on what was ahead, not what we had left behind.

As we moved deeper, the changes became clearer. Guard rotations were tighter. Not just increased, but structured differently. The spacing between them was more controlled, and their positions were not set to defend the territory as a whole. They were placed to manage movement.

I stopped briefly, watching one of the rotations pass.

“That’s not Holmes‘ pattern,” I said.

“No.” Conrad replied.

“They’re not guarding the borders,” I continued. “They’re narrowing access.”

I pointed toward the inner path.

“Everything is directed inward,” I said.

Conrad followed my line of sight.

“She’s focusing on a single location,” he said.

“Yes.”

I exhaled slowly.

“She doesn’t care about the rest of the territory right now.” I added. “Only what’s happening inside.”

Conrad did not respond, but I felt his attention settle more firmly on the path ahead.

We adjusted our route slightly, moving along a less exposed section that would bring us closer without crossing into the guarded lines directly. The closer we got, the more obvious the pattern became. Every guard was placed to control access toward the same central point

30

OOGT |||

13:05 Sat, May 30 M M

Chapter 17

“She’s not just preparing.” I said. “She’s executing.”

Conrad’s voice came low beside me.

“And she’s doing it without the council”

“Yes.”

We moved again, keeping our pace even. The inner grounds came into view gradually. I slowed as we reached a higher point along the ridge, one that gave a clear line of sight without exposing us. Conrad stopped beside me, his enough that I could feel it without needing to look at him.

“Here.” I said.

We both focused on the space below. The gathering had already begun, but it was not what I expected

I frowned slightly, taking in the layout.

“This isn’t a council meeting,” I said.

“No.” Conrad replied.

presence close

The formation was wrong. Instead of a full assembly, only a selected group was present. The elders I recognized were not all there, and the positions were not arranged for open discussion. They were arranged for something else.

“This is controlled.” I said.

“Yes.”

I scanned the area again, my attention moving from one section to another. The wolves present were not random. They were chosen. Witnesses.

My chest tightened slightly as I recognized some of them.

“They’re only bringing in those who won’t question it,” I said.

“And those who will support it,” Conrad added.

“Yes.”

I looked toward the center.

That was when I saw them.

Zane and Kyra stood near the front, positioned where everyone could see them. Their posture was still, their attention fixed ahead, and they did not move even as others shifted around them.

My focus narrowed.

“They’re part of it.” I said quietly.

Conrad did not respond. He did not need to.

I could see it clearly now. This was not just a gathering. This was preparation for something specific.

I looked past them, searching for Bethany. It did not take long.

She stood near the center, her posture calm, her presence firm in a way that made it clear she was directing everything. She was not standing behind Holmes. She was standing in front

30

O VOGT

13:05 Sat, May 30 MM.

Chapter 47

“She’s leading this.” I said.

“Yes,” Conrad replied.

Holmes was there, but he was not the one in control of the space. That alone confirmed everything I had already suspected.

I narrowed my eyes slightly, watching the arrangement more closely.

“This isn’t a discussion.” I said. “It’s a setup.”

“For what,” Conrad asked.

I did not answer immediately, because the answer was already forming. The positioning of the twins, the selection of witnesses, the restricted access, the controlled environment–it all pointed to one thing.

“A rite.” I said.

Conrad’s attention shifted slightly.

“Without council approval,” I added.

“Yes”

My chest tightened again, but this time it was not from uncertainty. It was from clarity.

“She’s going to complete it before anyone can stop her,” I said.

“And make it official before it can be challenged,” Conrad said.

“Yes.”

I watched the movement below more closely. Everything was in place. Nothing was left to chance. This had been planned carefully.

“She’s not waiting for the council to decide,” I said. “She’s deciding for them.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify