The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Price Of The Truth

Conrad POV”

I folded my arms and looked toward the intelligence team.

“Assume it’s a trap.”

The lead intelligence wolf nodded immediately. “We already are, Alpha.”

Amorah remained beside me throughout the discussion. Unlike earlier months when new revelations would leave her overwhelmed, she listened carefully and asked questions whenever something didn’t make sense.

The difference wasn’t lost on me. Neither was the strength it took to get there.

Another analyst enlarged a section of the photograph.

“The restraints appear real.”

“What about the injuries?” I asked,

“Likely real as well.”

Amorah frowned.

“Likely?”

The analyst hesitated.

“They could have been staged, Luna. We can’t confirm without examining her directly.”

2

Amorah looked back at the screen.

“I hate this.”

I rested a hand against her back.

“I know.”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t mean Bethany.” Her eyes hardened. “I mean Holmes.”

Everyone in the room went quiet.

“He keeps doing this,” she continued. “Every answer comes through him. Every piece of information comes through someone who hurt me.”

No one argued with that. Because she was right.

For years people had controlled the narrative of her life while she dealt with the consequences.

I glanced toward the intelligence wolves.

“Keep tracing the image source.”

They immediately returned to work. The investigation continued throughout the afternoon.

Instead of sending Amorah away, I kept her involved in every update. After what happened with Lyra, I wasn’t making decisions for her anymore.

We would face things together.

Several hours later, another report arrived.

The photograph had been uploaded through a chain of encrypted servers scattered across multiple abandoned territories. The route had clearly been designed to delay tracing efforts.

Not impossible.

Just time–consuming.

Amorah sat beside me reviewing copies of old reports while rubbing her stomach absently. The baby kicked.

She paused immediately. A small smile appeared despite everything happening around us.

“There you are.”

I looked down.

Successfully unlocked!

“The future Alpha approves of your investigation Saus.

Amorah snorted.

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Chapter 167. Price Of The Truth

“Or the future Alpha wants lunch.”

That’s also possible”

The mornent was brief. But it mattered.

Even with Holmes outside out territory and Bethany missing, life continued moving forward.

The baby wasn’t waiting for family conspiracies to resolve themselves

A knock interrupted us.

Kyra and Zane entered carrying several sheets of paper.

I immediately recognized trouble.

“What is that?”

Kyra looked offended.

“It’s organized.”

That did not answer the question.

Zane handed the papers to Amorah.

“Our emergency family plan.”

Amorah blinked.

“Our what?”

Kyra climbed onto the chair beside her. “If everyone keeps talking about security threats, then we need procedures.”

1

I exchanged a look with Zane.

He shrugged.

“I told her it was weird.”

“You helped write it.”

“Only because somebody needed to improve the grammar.”

Amorah laughed while reading.

I moved closer. The first page included evacuation routes, emergency contact procedures, and supply locations.

The second page included mandatory snack breaks. The third page included a rule requiring everyone to hug at least twice daily.

I looked at Kyra.

“The hugs are tactical?”

She pointed triumphantly.

“Exactly.”

For the first time that day, the tension eased. Even Amorah seemed lighter. Then another message arrived. The atmosphere immediately shifted again. A security wolf entered the room.

“Alpha.”

I stood.

“What happened?”

“We found the location.”

Everyone moved.

Γ

Within minutes, a recovery team was dispatched toward an abandoned property nearly three hours away. The waiting was unbearable.

Amorah stayed beside me throughout the evening while updates arrived periodically through secure channels.

The first report confirmed signs of recent occupation. The second confirmed evidence of restraints.

The third confirmed blood traces. None of it was enough. Then the fourth update arrived. The team leader appeared on the communication screen.

His expression told me everything.

“We missed her.”

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Chapter 167: Price Of The Truth

Amorah straightened immediately.-

What do you mean?”

“The location was abandoned.”

The room went silent.

“How long?” I asked.

“Estimated six to eight hours.

Too late. The frustration in the room was instant. Weeks ago we might have accepted that as the end of the search. “Continue processing everything,” I ordered.

“Every document, every device, every piece of evidence.”

The team leader nodded.

“We already started.”

Hours passed.

Night settled over the estate.

The twins were eventually convinced to go upstairs, though neither seemed happy about it.

Amorah remained with me. Exhaustion showed more clearly now. Her movements had become slower over the past few weeks.

She shifted positions more often. Sometimes she stopped speaking entirely while the baby moved.

Yet she refused to leave. Finally, shortly before midnight, another call arrived.

The recovery team had found something.

The lead investigator appeared on screen holding a weathered leather folder.

“We recovered this from a concealed compartment beneath the floorboards.”

I felt Amorah tense beside me.

“What is it?” she asked.

The investigator opened the folder carefully

“A financial ledger.”

My attention sharpened immediately.

“Connected to what?”

The investigator swallowed.

“Payments.”

Amorah frowned. “Payments for what?”

Nobody answered immediately. That silence said enough. The investigator turned several pages. Rows of names filled the

r

document.

Account numbers, transfer records, dates and amounts.

Then one specific section appeared on screen. The investigator pointed toward a series of entries.

“These transactions were made during the same period as Luna Amorah’s exile.”

The room became deathly quiet. My wolf reacted instantly. Something dark settled in my chest.

Amorah stepped closer to the screen.

“Who made them?”

The investigator looked uncomfortable. I didn’t like that expression.

Not at all.

“The ledger appears to document financial contributions toward a coordinated campaign.”

My jaw tightened.

“What campaign?”

The investigator finally answered.

“The effort to destroy Luna Amorah’s reputation.”

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Chapter 167 Price Of The Truth

Amorah froze. The investigator slowly turned another page. Several signatures appeared beneath the payment records.

ne belonged to Holmes‘ father.

Exactly as expected. Each name added another layer of anger. Another reminder of how deliberately her life had been dismantled.

Then the investigator stopped

His face paled.

I immediately noticed.

“What is it?”

The investigator looked toward Amorah.

Then back at me.

“Alpha…”

A terrible feeling settled in my stomach. The investigator zoomed in on the final signature. The name appeared clearly on

screen.

Amorah’s entire body went still.

Because unlike the others… This wasn’t the name of an enemy. It wasn’t someone from Holmes‘ family.

It wasn’t a council member. It wasn’t a rival.

It was someone she trusted. Someone still connected to her life. Someone she never would have suspected. And judging by the shock on Amorah’s face… She recognized the signature immediately.

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