The Alpha's Betrayal Rise Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 6 The Moon Amber 116 Finished The corridors feel colder when I walk them with purpose . I should not be here . Kade's orders this morning were clear - stay out of the nursery . Stay away from my own children . But after what I heard last night , I'm not going to let anything stop me . Kade wants to claim Izel as his mate , right ? That's fine . He can do that . He has cast me away as the lady of the house . He can cast me away as his wife , too , but I'll be damned before I let him separate me from my children . I push open the carved door . The smell of milk and lavender clings to the air . A small fire glows in the hearth . Finn sits cross - legged on his bed , a wooden wolf in his hands . He looks up at the sound of the door . " Finn , " I whisper , stepping closer . My hands tremble against my skirts . His eyes widen . For one perfect heartbeat , recognition flashes across his face . He scrambles to his feet , the toy falling from his grasp . " Mama ? " His voice is small , uncertain . Tears sting my eyes . " Yes , my love . It's me . " He takes one step toward me - then freezes . His gaze clouds over , like a veil slipping between us . His little body stiffens . The confusion on his face changes into fear . " No ... " He shakes his head hard . " You're not- " " Finn , it's me , " I say quickly , reaching out . " I held you first . I- ' 99 He recoils , clutching the edge of the bed as if it can shield him . " You smell wrong . You're not my mama ! You're not safe ! Mama Izel says you're not safe ! " I catch it then - a faint , choking sweetness of roses and almond oil , mixed with the stench of blood . The hearth dims momentarily , cold swirling around us before burning bright again . What in the world ... ? With a gasp , it dawns on me . Glamour . Izel's glamour . That means ... Rowan was right . Izel is ... a witch . And she's using glamour to keep my children away from me . A nurse rushes in , drawn by his raised voice . " My lady - you shouldn't be here ! " she gasps , pulling Finn into her arms . The hearth dims again , the stench of blood hitting my senses once more . 1/4 ( 16 ) Finished 21:32 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter & The Moon Amber Finn buries his face against her shoulder , trembling . I stagger back , throat tight , hands useless at my sides . " I am his mother , " I whisper , but the words sound thin , swallowed by the crackle of the fire . The nurse rocks him gently . " Please go , " she says rudely . I force myself to leave the nursery before my wolf tears the room apart . Crossing the threshold of my chamber , I stagger back when a raven darts above me . Its black eyes glint , feathers slick as oil , wings fluttering before it perches on the windowsill . It doesn't take me more than two seconds to realise this raven belongs to the Rogue King of Nightfell . I grab a piece of parchment and write quickly , my hand shaking . Rowan . Meet me at the border . Tonight . I tie the message to its leg . " Go . " The raven dips its head , then flies off into the night . I wait until dusk has fallen to leave the keep . But right at the gates , a guard stops me this time . I glare at him , demanding , " Am I not even allowed to take a walk in the woods now ? Has Alpha Kade forbidden even that pleasure ? " He gruffs , then withdraws his arm that was blocking my way . I walk quietly until he's out of sight , and then I sprint . At the clearing where I met Rowan two nights ago , the mist curls silver over the grass . He waits there , arms folded , green eyes catching the pale glow . " You called me , " he says softly , uncrossing his arms . " I saw it with my own eyes ," I tell him , rushing to the point . " She's tampered with him . Finn- my son - he knew me . For one breath , he knew . Then it was gone . " Rowan's jaw tightens , the softness in his eyes melting away . " Witchcraft . I warned you . " " Yes ." My voice cracks . " He called me Mama . And then ... he didn't . Like a veil fell over ." For a moment , Rowan says nothing , only looks at me as if trying to understand my grief . Then he pulls a crystal from a leather cord around his neck . It glimmers faintly gold , warm as starlight , pulsing as if alive . 2/4 21:32 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 6 The Moon Amber #Finished When our fingers brush while he passes it over to me , the silver mist around us flashes bright , startling me . I almost drop the piece from my hand . I expect him to explain , but he doesn't , so I turn my attention back to the crystal . " What is it ? " I ask , studying its oval shape . " Moon - amber , " he says . " It can cut through glamour , but only for a while . Sixty seconds , no more . " He presses it into my hand . " Use it wisely . " The crystal burns faintly against my palm , a warmth that spreads up my arm . I glance up at him . " You're giving it to me ? I understand that it protects you . Surely you need it more than me where - in Nightfell , I mean . All the other rogues- " He cuts me off . " It doesn't protect me . It warns me so I can be prepared . And I've had it for a while . I don't need a moon - amber anymore to understand when glamour is at play ." I study his face , try to read him . I can only imagine the horrors he went through before he claimed the throne . And all of it , because of me . Because he loved me . And he claims he still does . " Don't worry about me , Freya ," he says softly , stepping closer . But he still keeps his distance , maintains restraint . " You've never had to worry about me , and I won't give you a chance now ." " I did worry about you , " I confess , my throat thickening . " For a long time . I want you to know that I wish I had the power to change what happened ." He chuckles then , but it's bitter . " You don't realise , do you ? You have the power to do everything now . You only need to reach out and claim it . Make it yours . " I look away to breathe . " Rowan- " My throat closes on his name . " What if I fail ? " His gaze steadies me , and although it pains him to say the next words because of their meaning , and because it is a glaring reminder of what happened with him , with us , he still says it , " You won't fail . Hold on to that one word . Mama . That's the truth . The rest is shadow . " I curl my fingers around the moon - amber , feeling its weight . " I swear I will reclaim my children . Whatever it takes . " Rowan inclines his head , but his green eyes blaze with something fiercer than approval . " Then it means the High Luna has already begun to rise . " Mist swallows the clearing , and I feel the mark on my back burn . I clutch the stone and know there is no turning back . 3/4 21:32 Wed , Oct 15 The Alpha's Betrayal Rise Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 7 The First Reclaim ( 16 Finished