The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 14

I wandered toward the refreshment table, keeping my steps small and careful, as though one wrong move might draw their attention. The other females were already there, clustered in small groups, their laughter too sharp, their voices carrying that sweet, poisonous tone I’d come to recognize. They leaned into one another, glasses of champagne and wine in hand, eyes flicking toward me with whispers hidden behind painted nails and smug smiles.

I reached for a water bottle, my hand trembling just slightly. The clear plastic looked dull compared to the sparkling crystal glasses they held, catching the chandelier light like liquid gold. My throat ached with thirst, but I forced myself not to stare at what they had. Water was safe. Water wouldn’t draw eyes.

The table stretched long, draped in white linen that gleamed beneath the glow of chandeliers. Platters lined the surface: salmon and cream cheese layered on tiny crackers, cucumber sandwiches cut into perfect triangles, deviled eggs dusted with paprika, cubes of sharp cheese beside figs and honey, and fruit tarts shining with glaze. At the far end, a pyramid of strawberries and cherries dipped in glossy chocolate towered like a temptation I could barely breathe through.

My stomach clenched painfully, but I grabbed a small plate and carefully chose a single finger sandwich. Then, unable to resist, I added two chocolate-covered cherries. For one fleeting heartbeat, warmth sparked in my chest—a tiny sliver of joy. Something just for me.

That spark snuffed out the moment she appeared.

*Lyra.*

She slid in front of me, her smile sharp as a blade. Her voice was quiet, meant only for my ears. “Enjoy this,” she murmured, her eyes gleaming. “It’ll be the last time you eat with me. Savor it while you can.”

Before I could react, she plucked one of the cherries from my plate and popped it into her mouth, biting down with a hum of satisfaction.

My chest burned. “What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice small but steady, though I could feel it quiver at the edges.

She tilted her chin, deliberately drawing my eyes to the necklace gleaming at her throat—the crescent moon on a gold chain. The same one I had ripped from my neck.

“Alpha Lucas gave me this,” she said smugly, her words dripping like venom. “Which means he likes me. Which means he might choose me as his mate. And when that happens…” Her smile widened, cruel and triumphant. “…I’ll be Luna. And my very first course of action will be exiling you from this pack.”

The words slammed into me, cold and merciless. I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat made it feel like broken glass.

“You’d really…” My voice cracked. “You’d really do that to me?”

Her eyes flashed. “You’ve been nothing but dead weight, Kira. You don’t belong here. You never have.”

Before I could gather the strength to answer, a ripple moved through the room.

The air shifted.

Elder Thora approached.

Her presence silenced the room without her asking for it. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than beauty. Her long silver hair flowed down her back like moonlight, her gown shimmered faintly as though threaded with starlight, and her pale skin seemed to catch every spark of chandelier light. But it was her aura that made my knees weak. Authority and power radiated from her, pressing against me until it was hard to breathe.

“Well,” she said, her voice calm yet carrying across the space. “Female twins. That is rare indeed.” Her eyes glinted, curious, sharp. “And both of you with strong wolves.”

My heart thudded painfully.

Lyra paled, her smug mask cracking as eyes turned toward us. Whispers rippled through the crowd, curious and judgmental. She shifted uncomfortably, then forced a nervous laugh. “Oh—no, Elder Thora, you must be mistaken. I don’t have a wolf. Only Kira does.” She gestured at me quickly, trying to deflect the attention.

Elder Thora’s silver eyes slid between us, thoughtful. She swirled the champagne in her glass, back and forth, before speaking again. “No,” she said at last, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You do have a wolf, Lyra. And a strong one. What confuses me…” She let the words hang, the weight of them suffocating. “…is why you’re hiding it.”

A murmur rippled through the room. My sister froze, her face blanching as though the floor had opened beneath her. Her hand flew to her necklace, clutching it tight, her eyes darting wildly as whispers grew louder.

I stared at her, my mind spinning. The truth was out—spoken not by me, not by rumor, but by Elder Thora herself.

Lyra’s lips parted, but no words came.

Elder Thora didn’t give her a chance. She lifted her wrist, glancing at the delicate silver watch that glittered there. Then her voice carried, firm and commanding: “Ladies, line up. Attendance begins now.”

The command sent movement through the room. Plates clattered onto tables, glasses were set aside, and the crowd of females began forming lines along the center of the conference room.

My feet felt heavy, my chest still raw from Lyra’s threat and Elder Thora’s revelation, but I forced myself to step forward. The air was thick with tension, whispers nipping at my heels as I found my place among the others.

For the first time, I wasn’t just standing at the edge, unnoticed.

All eyes were on us now. On me.