The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 166

The doctor started packing up his equipment the second he finished wiping the gel off my stomach. His hands shook a little — whether from nerves, shock, or the fact that he had just discovered I was carrying triplets, I had no idea.

But he was trying very hard to leave.

Too hard.

“Wait,” I said sharply.

He froze mid-zip of his bag.

“I still have more questions.”

The doctor let out a breath like he’d been hoping I wouldn’t say that. “Luna… I truly can’t give you more information. Not without an actual OBGYN. You’re… complicated.”

Talon snorted. “Understatement of the century.”

I flicked him with my foot.

The doctor gestured helplessly. “Your bloodline, your abilities, the… ah… accelerated fetal development — that’s all beyond what wolf medicine covers. And I don’t have the equipment to—”

“So what you’re saying,” Tyson cut in, leaning forward with a glare that made the doctor sweat, “is you’re basically telling our pregnant mate ‘good luck’ and walking out?”

The doctor swallowed. “I’m saying there are limits. I can’t tell you how soon she’ll give birth until the next ultrasound. The growth rate is already extremely fast, so… yes, it will be a quick pregnancy. And yes, she’ll need someone specialized.”

Mason stepped forward, arms crossed. “Then we’ll find someone specialized. Human territory might be our best option. The Council won’t follow us there — too risky to expose themselves.”

Tyson frowned. “Why wasn’t that something we could have done inside the dead zone?”

“Because hiding in human territory isn’t impossible,” Mason said. “Just difficult. And Kira…” He glanced at me. “Your aura is too strong. It leaks. They would feel you.”

“Feel me?” I echoed. “Like I’m a beacon?”

“More like a supernova,” Toren muttered under his breath.

Before I could argue, the doctor suddenly perked up, digging frantically through his bag.

“Wait. I might have something.”

Everyone went still.

He pulled out a velvet pouch, opened it, and a necklace slid into his palm — a silver chain with a black crystal, cut like an obsidian flame.

The air around it hummed.

“A witch once paid me with this,” he said. “Said it masks everything — scent, aura, magical signature. Makes the wearer vanish, spiritually speaking.”

Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to him as if he had just pulled out the Holy Grail.

Toren stepped forward. “How much?”

The doctor hesitated, eyes flicking from me to the three alphas. “Well… considering what it does… and the potential consequences of me giving it to you—”

Mason didn’t let him finish.

He tore his checkbook from his jacket, scribbled something obscene on it, and slapped the check straight into the doctor’s hand.

The man nearly collapsed.

“Deal,” he said instantly, voice cracking. “Deal. Absolutely deal.”

He shoved the necklace at Mason like it was suddenly radioactive.

Mason didn’t hesitate — he walked straight to me and gently clasped it around my neck.

The moment it touched my skin—

The world shifted.

My power pulled inward, recoiling like something being sealed. My aura dimmed. My dominance retracted. I felt… hollow and full at the same time, like a storm shoved into a bottle.

Toren stepped closer, eyes wide. “I can barely feel you.”

Tyson touched the bond. “Your power — it’s like someone muted it.”

Talon frowned, brows drawing together. “It’s quiet… too quiet.”

Mason nodded. “That means it’s working.”

And that meant one thing:

“We need to integrate into human territory,” he added.

My stomach dropped. “What about the pack?”

Toren took a deep breath. “The majority stays here. They’re safe in the tunnels — food, water, shelter, wards, no scent trail. They’ll be invisible.”

Douglas nodded. “I’ll make weekly supply runs. And check the perimeter. No one finds this place without me.”

I looked around at all of them — at the tension, the hope, the fear — and felt something warm curl inside my chest.

Talon reached down and squeezed my hand.

“Fireflies don’t apologize for glowing,” he murmured. “And you’re the brightest damn one I’ve ever seen.”

My face heated — stupidly, fully — and Toren muttered, “Of course he already came up with a nickname.”

Tyson smirked. “Firefly suits her.”

I covered my face with my hands. “Please. I can’t handle all of you right now.”

Toren pulled my hands gently away. “Too bad, Starlight.”

Tyson kissed my temple. “Moonshine gets no breaks.”

And Talon leaned in, brushing his lips over my cheek. “Especially not my Firefly.”

My heart ached in the best way.

But Mason cleared his throat loudly, effectively murdering the moment.

“Romance aside — we need to move quickly. Lucas won’t stay unconscious forever. The Council won’t stay blind forever. We have to prepare.”

My fingers tightened around the necklace.

This was real.

This was happening.

Toren straightened, rolling his shoulders like he was bracing for war.

“TWINS!” he barked.

Their voices echoed faintly from down the tunnel:

“What?!”

Toren didn’t even bother lowering his voice. “Start packing. Clothes, food, first-aid supplies, anything Starlight might need. We’re leaving within the hour.”

I smirked despite myself.

Of course he knew.

I wasn’t going anywhere without Shyanne and Marianne. He knew it. They knew it. The entire pack knew it. And judging by the distant shriek of drawers being ripped open, the twins took his command very seriously.

Mason clapped the doctor on the back — maybe a little too hard — and Douglas grabbed the man’s arm to steer him toward the exit.

“Right this way,” Douglas said with a tight smile. “And don’t worry — none of us will murder you on your way out.”

The doctor went pale.

Mason shoved open the hatch. “Go. Fast.”

The man didn’t need to be told twice. He scurried out of the tunnels like a terrified rabbit, mumbling something about never taking witch payment again and definitely raising his prices.

The hatch slammed shut behind him.

Tyson blew out a breath. “I hope he survives long enough to cash that check.”

Talon shrugged. “If not, that’s on him.”

But the brief humor snapped instantly as Tyson and Talon turned to each other at the same time.

“We’re going to Portland,” Tyson said firmly.

“No,” Talon countered. “Seattle.”

Tyson scoffed. “Portland is closer.”

“And Seattle is bigger,” Talon shot back. “More bodies. More noise. Better for dispersing scent signatures. That’s what we need.”

Tyson stepped forward. “And Portland has three witch enclaves and a supernatural clinic disguised as a veterinary hospital. If she needs medical care—”

“I’m not taking her to a supernatural clinic,” Talon snapped. “That’s the first place the Council will check.”

Oh boy, it's going to be long day.