The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 15

The line stretched down the length of the conference room, each of us standing shoulder to shoulder, hands folded stiffly in front of us. My heart pounded in my chest, every beat echoing in my ears. I could feel the weight of so many eyes—other females glancing at one another, the heavy silence broken only by the occasional nervous cough.

At the front of the room stood Elder Thora. Her silver hair gleamed under the chandelier light, her presence commanding even though her movements were measured and graceful. A notepad rested in her hand, the edge of her pen catching the light as she tapped it once against the paper.

She began calling names.

“Abigail.”

A woman near the front stepped forward. Elder Thora circled her slowly, eyes sharp as she asked, “Age? How long have you shifted? What role do you currently serve in your pack?” Abigail answered quickly, voice tight with nerves. Thora scribbled notes, gave a curt nod, then waved her back into line.

One by one, the process continued. Each female was called, made to step forward, inspected. Elder Thora’s questions varied—sometimes about their wolves, sometimes about their training, sometimes about family lineage. Always she wrote something down. Always she studied them with an intensity that made me want to shrink back into the wall.

The room grew more tense with each name.

And then it was hers.

“Aleria.”

My mother stepped forward, her gown flowing behind her like she thought herself a queen. The room fell into silence. All eyes fixed on her.

Elder Thora circled her, slow and deliberate. “State your role in the pack,” she commanded.

My mother straightened her shoulders. “I am mated to Beta Maverick of this pack. I tend to the affairs of our home and the training of my daughter, Lyra.”

Thora’s gaze was cold, unblinking. “And your other daughter? Kira?”

The air in the room thickened. I stiffened where I stood, nails digging into my palms.

Mother’s lips pursed. “Kira requires… correction. She is weaker. I focus my energy where it will benefit the pack most.”

A murmur rippled through the line, whispers behind hands. Elder Thora stopped circling and stared directly at my mother, her silver eyes piercing. “Is that your truth? That you discard one child to build another?”

My mother’s smile faltered for the briefest moment before she inclined her head. “I do what I must. For the good of the pack.”

Elder Thora scribbled something on her notepad, her expression unreadable. “Stand back,” she said simply, and my mother retreated stiffly into line.

My chest was tight, my stomach knotted.

Then Elder Thora’s voice rang out again.

“Lyra.”

My sister stepped forward, her chin high, her necklace gleaming proudly. She moved like she thought herself untouchable.

Elder Thora circled her, studying every detail. “Age?”

“Eighteen,” Lyra replied sweetly.

“Your wolf,” Elder Thora asked, her voice sharper now. “Why are you hiding it?”

The room gasped as one. Lyra’s face drained of color. Her mouth opened, but no words came.

My mother lunged forward, her voice rising. “That’s absurd! Lyra has no wolf! She was cheated in the womb—Kira stole both wolves from her!”

The words sliced through me like knives. My nails bit into my palms hard enough to hurt.

Elder Thora stilled. The air in the room shifted, pressing down on us like a storm. She raised her head, her aura pouring out like a tidal wave. The weight of it slammed into the room, forcing even the strongest females to lower their eyes. My mother dropped instantly, gasping. Lyra stumbled back, trembling, her eyes wide with terror.

“Enough,” Elder Thora said, her voice carrying like thunder. “You will not argue with me. Leave. Both of you.”

Gasps rang out as my mother sputtered in protest. “You can’t—”

Elder Thora’s gaze sharpened, and my mother’s words died in her throat. She grabbed Lyra by the arm, dragging her out as whispers followed them into the hall.

When the doors closed, Elder Thora turned back to the room. Her expression softened, but her voice carried clearly. “Tell me,” she said, her gaze sweeping across the line of females. “What do you know of Aleria and Lyra? Their home life?”

Silence stretched. Then, unexpectedly, Callie stepped forward. She glanced at the others before saying, “They always said Kira stole Lyra’s wolf in the womb. That’s what Aleria told us. That’s what Lyra told us.”

Elder Thora arched a brow. “And you believed it?”

Every female nodded, some with shame, others with certainty.

Thora’s lips pursed, and then she shook her head. “Lyra does have a wolf. And not just any wolf—a powerful one. Why she hides it, I do not yet know. But remember my words. In the days ahead, you will see the truth with your own eyes.”

Her words sent a murmur rippling through the room.

Then, as though nothing had happened, she glanced at her notepad and called the next name. Another female stepped forward, answering questions nervously while Elder Thora studied her like prey.

I stood frozen in line, my heart hammering so loud it drowned out the whispers around me. For once, I wasn’t the one on trial. For once, the lies weren’t mine to carry.

But the weight of Elder Thora’s words lingered.

Lyra has a wolf.

A powerful wolf.

And now everyone knew.