The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 153

Toren growled low. “What happened to you?”

But the runner’s eyes stayed locked on me.

“The Council,” he choked. “They’re moving faster than we thought.”

A cold wave washed through the room.

Tyson stepped forward. “How fast?”

The runner swallowed, then forced out the words:

“They’ve already wiped out two more packs.”

Murmurs broke out instantly — horrified, frantic, fearful.

“No survivors,” he added, voice cracking. “None.”

My knees weakened and Tyson’s arm instantly wrapped around my waist, keeping me upright.

Talon crouched at the runner’s side, touching his shoulder gently. “Did you see the Elders?”

The runner nodded, trembling. “Elder Thora was there.”

My stomach twisted.

Toren’s voice was a quiet storm. “And the others?”

“All of them,” the runner whispered. “They’re not hiding anymore. They’re taking wolves openly. Dragging them by the hair. Killing anyone who fights back.”

A she-wolf gasped.

Another sobbed.

The runner’s head bowed. “I hid. Watched. They were looking for… you, Luna.”

The room stilled.

Every head swiveled to me.

But the runner wasn’t done.

“They kept saying—” His voice cracked. “They kept saying the Ancient One has awakened. And that she belongs to them.”

My chest constricted.

The air felt too thin.

Tyson growled so sharply the stone floor vibrated.

Talon’s claws burst fully from his fingertips.

Toren stepped in front of me like a wall of death. “They won’t touch her.”

Mason held up a hand, cutting through the rising chaos, eyes locked on me with grim urgency. “Everyone. Listen.”

The room fell silent.

Mason nodded toward the runner. “He didn’t return alone.”

And then the shadows at the tunnel entrance shifted—

Another wolf stepped forward slowly.

His body was shaking.

His breath was shallow.

His eyes…

His eyes were filled with guilt.

“Luna…” he whispered. “I—I failed to deliver the message to the Bloodfang pack. They were already gone.”

Douglas swore under his breath.

Mason clenched his jaw hard enough it popped.

The second runner continued, voice breaking:

“I smelled… children. Burned. Mothers. Warriors. The whole pack…” He swallowed thickly. “The whole pack was slaughtered.”

A wave of grief rippled through the room.

One she-wolf dropped to her knees, crying into her hands.

Trackers bowed their heads.

Warriors growled low, claws extending.

The air was war.

And I?

I felt it building.

That power.

That wildfire.

Hot.

Sharp.

Dangerous.

But I forced myself to breathe.

But I forced myself to breathe.

Forced myself to stay standing.

Forced myself not to fall apart when the second runner’s voice wavered again.

“There’s… more,” he whispered.

Toren stiffened beside me.

Tyson’s hand slid protectively over my stomach.

Talon’s claws dug into the stone floor.

The runner swallowed hard, shaking so violently Douglas steadied him by the arm.

“On the way back,” he rasped, “we crossed paths with a Council patrol.”

Silence spread like frost.

“They didn’t see me, but…” His breath hitched. “They caught someone else. One of ours.”

My heart stopped.

“Who?” Toren demanded, voice like crushed ice.

The runner’s eyes shone with tears he wouldn’t shed.

“Kye,” he whispered. “From the southern patrol. They… they recognized him. They dragged him out. And they—”

His voice broke entirely.

Talon bowed his head.

Tyson’s jaw clenched so hard the bone creaked.

Toren didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Just stared ahead, murder simmering beneath his skin.

“They made an example of him,” the runner forced out. “They wanted the nearby packs to see it. Anyone who tries to warn others… anyone who carries messages… will be slaughtered.”

A sob cracked from one of the mothers near the wall.

Another she-wolf turned away, covering her mouth.

Douglas cursed quietly, rubbing his face.

Mason muttered, “The Council is accelerating. They’re desperate now.”

And I—

I felt something inside me snap.

Not my power.

Not my sanity.

Something deeper.

The part of me that still hoped for mercy.

Still hoped they would stop.

I forced down the burning in my chest and stepped forward. “Was there anything else?”

The runner shook his head. “Only that the Elders… they’re hunting harder now. I don’t know how long we have.”

The room was suffocating with fear and grief.

Then—

Footsteps.

Soft. Quick. Urgent.

A third runner — Mara — skidded into the central room, hands braced on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

“Toren—Luna—Alpha—” she gasped.

Toren was at her side instantly. “Mara? What happened? Are you hurt?”

“No,” she panted, shaking her head. “I made it. I delivered the message.”

Relief rippled through the room.

But Mara’s face said the relief was temporary.

“The Crescent River Pack wants to speak with you directly, Toren,” she said, voice trembling with urgency.

Then she held out a small slip of paper.

A phone number.

Everyone froze.

Because to use a phone…

Toren would have to leave the dead zone.

Expose his scent.

Risk being tracked.

Risk being found.

His eyes met mine.

And the weight of it settled over us both.

Mara swallowed hard.

“They said it’s urgent.”

Tyson growled, stepping between Toren and the exit. “You’re not going out there alone.”

Toren’s jaw flexed. “It’s a phone call, Tyson. Not a march to war.”

Tyson barked a humorless laugh. “A phone call that requires you to leave the one place the Council can’t find us. You think I’m letting you walk above ground without backup? Without protection? Without—”

“Without what?” Toren snapped. “Permission?”

The room stilled.

Tyson stepped in close, chest to chest, eyes glowing like storm clouds ready to split. “Don’t twist my words. I’m not your enemy.”

“Then stop acting like you’re my Alpha,” Toren shot back.

A ripple of shock went through the room.

Even Talon looked between them, eyes wide.

I stepped forward and snapped:

“Enough.”

Every voice stopped.

Every head turned.

Even the air held still.

I met Toren’s eyes first.

“You’re not going alone,” I said firmly. “Tyson is going with you. And that’s it.”

Toren opened his mouth to argue—

I lifted a hand.

He shut it.

“Tyson is the fastest fighter we have,” I continued. “And the only one stubborn enough to drag you back if you get yourself killed.”

Talon snorted. Tyson looked smug.

Douglas looked personally offended he wasn’t chosen.

Toren’s jaw flexed. “Kira—”

“No,” I said softly but with steel. “This isn’t negotiable.”

A long beat passed.

Finally, Toren exhaled. “Fine. Tyson and I go. We make the call. We come straight back.”

“Good,” I said. “Because if you don’t, I’ll hunt you myself.”

Tyson cracked his knuckles, stepping beside Toren. “You heard her. Let’s move.”

Talon stepped up beside me, close enough to steady me if my knees buckled again. “We’ll hold down the fort.”

Toren brushed a thumb over my cheek, eyes softening.

“We’ll be quick,” he promised.

Tyson nodded once, serious for once. “We’ll be back before you can panic again.”

They turned toward the tunnel.

I watched as they disappeared down the tunnel into darkness.

Let's hope that everything goes well, I thought to myself.