The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 148

Toren’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Gods, Mason—could you maybe… I don’t know—give us a second before dropping ‘dead zone’ into the baby conversation?”

“It is a dead zone,” Mason replied calmly. “It’s not like I can rename it ‘Fluffy Meadow Sanctuary’ just to keep the mood light.”

Tyson groaned. “You did that on purpose.”

“Of course,” Mason said, adjusting his seatbelt. “Someone has to keep you all grounded. And the last five minutes have been nothing but chaos, hormones, and name suggestions that should be illegal.”

Marianne gasped. “Hey! Kairo is adorable.”

Mason blinked at her. “Child, Kairo sounds like a wolf who steals cars.”

Shyanne elbowed her twin. “We’ll circle back to the K names later.”

Mason continued like he hadn’t emotionally drop-kicked the entire SUV:

“We don’t have long. Once we enter the dead zone, we lose all outside communication. No calls. No mindlinks. No trackers. No interference. It’s safe—but only if we don’t do anything stupid.”

His eyes flicked meaningfully to Tyson, then Toren, then Talon.

All three bristled.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Tyson demanded.

“It means,” Mason said with a patient smile, “that when we arrive, you three keep your alpha instincts in check. No territorial piss contests. No dominance displays. No snarling at shadows.”

Talon frowned. “I don’t snarl.”

Tyson snorted. “You literally growled at a vending machine last week.”

“It wouldn’t take my dollar!” Talon shot back.

“Boys,” Toren snapped, “focus.”

Mason held up his hands.

“As I was saying—once we’re inside, we regroup, settle Kira somewhere comfortable, and figure out our next steps. The Council won’t be able to trace us right away, but they will keep searching.”

My stomach tightened.

Tyson must have felt it, because his hand slid protectively over my thigh.

“Moon,” he murmured, “we’ll keep you safe. Dead zone or not.”

Talon nodded. “If anything happens, we’ll tear through anyone who tries to touch you.”

Toren’s voice dropped low. “You’re not alone. Not anymore.”

I swallowed hard, emotions thick in my throat.

And then—

Mason ruined the moment again.

“And someone might want to tell me which one of you genius alphas is responsible for getting her pregnant on the run.”

Toren choked.

Tyson sputtered.

Talon let out a strangled sound like a dying squirrel.

Shyanne and Marianne burst out laughing.

I buried my face in my hands.

“Please stop speaking, Mason.”

“Just saying,” he shrugged, “terrible timing.”

Tyson glared at him. “Oh, because we planned it?”

“I’m not judging,” Mason said, though he absolutely was. “I’m just pointing out the obvious.”

The SUV turned onto an unmarked, narrow path carved through trees so thick they blocked out the sun.

The world darkened.

The air changed.

Silence swallowed everything.

And for the first time since we fled Toren’s territory—

I felt something new.

Not fear.

Not panic.

A warning.

Deep in my bones.

Something was waiting inside that dead zone.

Something old.

Something watching.

And as Mason leaned forward and muttered, “We’re here,” the hairs on the back of my neck rose.

The dead zone wasn’t just empty.

It was alive.

Waiting for us.

“We’re close,” Mason murmured. His voice dropped lower. “Hold on.”

He tapped something on his phone—three quick patterns, a long press, another tap.

The earth beneath us groaned.

Then—

THE GROUND SPLIT OPEN.

A massive slab of earth shifted aside like a hidden vault door, revealing a yawning black chasm beneath the forest floor. The rumble vibrated through the SUV, through my chest, through my bones.

Toren swore under his breath.

Tyson muttered, “Okay… that’s new.”

Talon leaned forward, eyes wide. “That’s insane.”

Mason just shrugged.

“I designed it when I was younger. Before I realized the Council were tyrants.”

The SUV descended carefully down the angled ramp. Once the tail end cleared the opening—

The slab slid shut above us.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Pitch black.

Silent.

Oppressive.

A few sharp inhales echoed through the vehicle—someone’s panic rising, someone else steadying them.

Then overhead lights flickered on—dim, yellow, old. Illuminating an underground tunnel stretching endlessly ahead.

The ramp leveled out, and the SUV rolled to a stop.

“We’re here,” Mason announced.

He opened his door.

Everyone else followed, one by one.

The air was cool, stale, dust-thick.

The scent of old earth and forgotten spaces.

“This way,” Mason said, stepping ahead confidently. “The tunnels lead to the central room. We’ll regroup there.”

He pointed down a corridor.

“Bathrooms are on the left if needed. Choose any rooms you want. Just… ignore the spiders.”

Shyanne made a strangled noise. “Spiders?”

“Oh gods,” Marianne whispered. “I hate spiders.”

Toren stepped forward beside Mason, his voice firm—Alpha mode engaged fully.

“Everyone, listen up.”

The pack members—warriors, trackers, unmated wolves, even a few elders—straightened immediately.

“Find rooms,” Toren commanded. “Pick strategically. We’re not spreading too far apart. Trackers—start mapping the tunnels. Every turn, every corridor, every potential breach point.”

“Yes, Alpha,” several voices echoed.

“Warriors,” Toren continued, “rotate watches until we know the layout. No one wanders off alone. No one.”

Tyson added, “If you smell even a hint of something strange, you come back. You don’t investigate alone. This is a damn dead zone—not a playground.”

Talon nodded toward two warriors.

“You two, get a headcount and make sure everyone’s accounted for. I want eyes on every pack member.”

“Yes, Beta Talon.”

Shyanne cleared her throat. “And us?”

Toren’s gaze sharpened.

“You two are with Kira at all times.”

Shyanne saluted dramatically. “Your pregnant Luna is under our protection.”

“I’m not—” I tried.

“Shh,” Marianne said, wrapping her arm through mine like I might evaporate. “Let us have this.”

I sighed…but let them.

One by one, the pack dispersed into the branching tunnels, murmuring quietly, footsteps echoing.

We walked deeper.

The underground hallway was long, dimly lit by flickering overhead lights. Dust coated the walls—thick enough I could trace my finger through it. Spiderwebs glistened in corners like thin silver nets.

But the deeper we went…

The better it got.

The walls smoothed out. The floors transitioned from rough stone to polished cement. The air grew cleaner, circulating in soft currents from unseen vents.

We passed the first row of rooms.

Talon let out a low whistle. “These are… actually nice.”

Nice was an understatement.

Each room we peeked into was big.

Bigger than the old pack house rooms.

High ceilings.

Large beds.

Sturdy furniture.

Electricity.

Running water—no small miracle in a dead zone.

Shyanne gasped. “There’s even a bathtub.”

“A huge bathtub,” Marianne whispered reverently. “Like… a bubble bath tub.”

Tyson nudged Talon with his elbow. “Maybe we should move down here permanently.”

Talon snorted. “You wish. I’m not living underground like a tubby mole.”

“It’s ‘topside-challenged canine,’ actually,” Marianne corrected.

Toren rubbed his temples. “Goddess save me.”