The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 160

Tyson blinked. “You killed it?”

Douglas snorted — or tried to, but it came out more like a pained cough. “I tried not to. I tried to interrogate it. You know—figure out what the hell Lucas had done to it. But it attacked. And… I didn't really have the temperament for mercy tonight.”

Mason stepped closer, scanning him carefully. “Are you hurt?”

Douglas shook his head again. “Just bruises. And maybe a fractured ego. That thing fought like a demon.”

Talon clapped him on the shoulder, relief clear in his voice. “Glad you’re alive.”

Douglas rolled his eyes. “Please. As if I’m gonna let a glorified flesh-puppet take me out.”

I finally stepped closer, swallowing down the leftover panic. “Douglas… thank you.”

His expression softened slightly, the way it always did when he wasn’t expecting it.

“Yeah, well—” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, “it came at me wearing Talon’s face again, so I pictured him saying something annoying and it helped.”

Talon growled. “Try that again and I’ll throw you back to whatever’s left of it.”

Douglas smirked. “See? Motivating.”

Despite everything — the fear, the shaking, the exhaustion — a tiny laugh bubbled up in me.

Mason cleared his throat softly. “We need to get moving. The longer we’re out here, the easier it is for the Council to track our scent.”

The reminder hit us all at once.

Toren nodded. “Let’s go. Everyone back belowground.”

We started walking again — Talon supporting Tyson, Toren keeping close at my side, Mason dragging Lucas like unwanted luggage.

But Douglas?

He walked behind us, quiet, alert, still bloody… but alive.

And when I glanced over my shoulder, he gave me a small, tired nod.

“I’m fine, Luna,” he murmured. “Let’s go home.”

The walk back was slow, tense, and painfully silent — except for Lucas’s muffled groans as Mason carried him like an oversized, violently unwanted backpack.

The moment the dead zone’s stone ridge came into view, two figures snapped to attention.

Shyanne and Marianne.

Standing guard.

Weapons drawn.

Eyes sharp.

When they saw us emerging from the tree line — battered, blood-covered, bruised — their expressions flickered from relief to fury to worry in seconds.

“OPEN IT!” Shyanne yelled, and the two of them rushed forward.

Marianne slapped her palm against a carved symbol on the stone wall.

A soft rumble rolled through the earth.

Then the hidden hatch slid open, revealing the narrow descent into the tunnels.

“Inside,” Shyanne ordered, shepherding us like we were wounded children.

Tyson snorted. “Bossy.”

“Alive,” Marianne snapped back, “which is more than I can say for some people today.”

Douglas winced. “Wow. Okay. She bites harder than the shapeshifter.”

We descended into the tunnels one by one.

Toren went first, checking the shadows.

I followed, Talon close on my heels with Tyson leaning into him.

Mason came last — dragging Lucas, who was still drooling on himself in a very satisfying way.

As soon as we were sealed underground again, the stale, safe air surrounded us — cool and thick with dust, but familiar.

Mason didn’t waste a second.

“We need to deal with him,” he said, shifting Lucas off his back like dumping trash. “Douglas and I will bind him. Talon, if you’re steady enough, you should join us.”

Talon’s eyes sharpened. “I’m steady.”

Mason nodded grimly. “Good. Because we’re not just questioning him. We’re figuring out how he unlocked abilities he shouldn’t have access to. If any Council Elder helped him. If he made a pact. Anything.”

Douglas cracked his knuckles, blood drying on his sleeves. “And if he lies…” He shrugged. “Well. Talon’s new gift should handle that nicely.”

Talon lifted a brow. “I don’t even know what the new gift is yet.”

Douglas smirked. “Guess you’ll find out when you fry the bastard.”

I stepped closer to Talon, heart tightening at the memory of his body going limp in my arms. The fear of almost losing him. The miracle of getting him back.

I grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him.

Hard.

Long.

Unapologetically.

In front of everyone.

His breath caught.

His fingers curled around my waist.

His heart pounded against mine like thunder.

When I finally pulled back, he was flushed, dazed, and grinning like an idiot.

“Come back to me,” I whispered.

He leaned in, kissing my forehead. “Always.”

Then he paused, squinting at me. “Also… I’m changing your nickname.”

I blinked. “Why?”

“Well,” he said slowly, “Toren has Starlight. Tyson has Moonshine. And I’m over here with Cupcake like I’m dating a fucking bakery item.”

Tyson choked on a laugh.

Toren smirked.

I raised a brow. “So what are you going to call me?”

Talon shrugged confidently. “I’ll think of something. Something fitting. Something badass.”

He winked and turned away to join Mason and Douglas.

Speaking of Douglas…

I hurried to him before he could leave.

“Hold still,” I ordered.

He frowned. “What—”

I pressed my hand to his chest and let the healing energy flow.

The dried blood flaked away. Bruises faded. The tension in his shoulders eased.

Douglas blinked, slightly stunned. “Huh. Look at that. I’m pretty again.”

I snorted. “Not what I was aiming for. But you’re welcome.”

His smirk softened into something sincere. “You didn’t have to do that.”

I stepped closer, dropping my voice. “You’re going with them. I need you to… protect Talon. Please.”

Douglas looked at Talon across the room — the man who, minutes ago, would have ripped him in half for looking at me wrong.

Then he looked back at me.

His usual sarcasm dimmed.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll keep him alive. Might even keep the other two idiots alive while I’m at it.”

I smiled. “Dark humor aside, thank you.”

Douglas shrugged. “Don’t thank me until they come back.”

I watched them go — Talon, Douglas, and Mason disappearing down the opposite tunnel carrying Lucas’s unconscious body — before I turned to Toren and Tyson.

Both of them stepped forward instantly.

Toren cupped my face with both hands. “You need rest.”

Tyson looped an arm around my waist. “And food,” he added. “And water. And maybe duct tape so you stop leaving your corner of safety.”

Toren shot him a look. “Read the room, Tyson.”

“I am,” Tyson said. “She’s exhausted.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Every bone in my body ached.

My head throbbed.

My heart hurt.

“Okay,” I murmured, finally allowing my weight to sink into them both. “Take me to bed before I fall over.”

Tyson scooped me up bridal-style before Toren could even react.

“Hey—!” Toren started.

Tyson smirked over my shoulder. “Too slow, Starlight.”

Toren growled.

I rolled my eyes, letting my head rest against Tyson’s chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart.

“Both of you,” I mumbled, half-asleep already, “just get me to bed.”

And with that—

My Alphas carried me down the dim tunnel toward the Alpha Quarters.

Safe.

Protected.

Home.

For now.

But the storm wasn’t over.

It was only gathering strength.