The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 29

Elder Malric’s question still echoed like thunder in my chest—*Are you prepared to break your pack?*

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even look up, until Thora’s hand settled firmly on my shoulder. “Enough,” she said, her tone calm but absolute. “She will have the night to think on it. We will reconvene tomorrow.”

The elders shifted, some clearly unhappy with her decree, but none dared challenge her. She stood, her silver presence washing the room in command. “This discussion is over for now.”

Without another word, she gestured for me to follow. I scrambled up, heart pounding, and hurried after her out into the hall.

The heavy door shut behind us, sealing the chamber—and all those expectations—away.

For a long moment, Thora said nothing. Her silver gown shimmered faintly in the low light, her profile sharp, ageless. Then she turned to me, her eyes softening.

“You did well,” she murmured. “Better than I expected.”

My throat tightened. “I… I didn’t do anything. I just answered—”

“Exactly.” Her hand brushed mine in a rare show of affection. “You answered. You told the truth. That alone is a weapon they can’t take from you. But Kira…” Her voice dipped lower, heavier. “They will eat you alive if you are not careful. Do you understand?”

I swallowed hard, nodding.

“Good. Then listen to me.” Her tone shifted back to gentle, but her words pressed deep. “Go upstairs. The butler has prepared nightclothes for you. You will be staying in the adjoining suite next to mine. You will rest, and tomorrow, we will face what comes together.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “Elder Thora, I can’t—this is too much. You’ve given me everything. Clothes, food, even protection. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay—”

She lifted a hand, silencing me. “I don’t want repayment. I want you to live. I want you to grow into what you are meant to be.” Her eyes gleamed with something fierce and certain. “I believe in you, Kira. I know you will bring change to this world. I am only investing in what I already see.”

Her conviction stole my words. I managed a shaky nod, whispering, “Then I’ll try. I promise.”

“Not try,” Thora corrected softly. “Do. Now go. Rest.”

Reluctantly, I turned, heading toward the elevators at the end of the hall. Relief washed over me as I saw no one waiting—just gleaming doors and my own reflection staring back at me in silk and glitter.

But the relief didn’t last.

The doors slid open, and as I stepped inside, a hand slammed against the metal, halting them.

My blood ran cold.

Beta Darin slipped through the gap, his smirk sharp in the low light. The scent of his wolf—musk and arrogance—hit me before his words did.

“Miss me, little mouse?” he drawled.

I stiffened instantly, my back pressing against the far wall. “Get out, Darin.”

He stepped closer, caging me in. “Not until you pay what you owe.” His gaze dropped to my lips. “Another kiss. That was the deal. Half a sandwich, half a kiss. You never finished.”

My stomach lurched. “No.” I shoved at his chest, but he only laughed, grabbing my wrists and pinning them high.

“You don’t get to say no. You’ve never gotten to say no.” His breath was hot against my cheek as he leaned in, mouth hungry, ugly.

“Stop!” I hissed, twisting away. My shoulder hit the wall hard, pain shooting down my arm.

But he didn’t stop. His body pressed close, his hands rough as he tried to force his lips against mine. Panic surged—cold, choking—until the doors slid open with a soft chime.

And the air changed.

*Toren.*

He filled the doorway, three of his men behind him. His wolf’s dominance poured into the space like a storm breaking loose, snapping against my skin until my lungs forgot how to work.

Before I could blink, Darin was ripped off me.

Toren’s claws were around his throat, slamming him against the steel wall with bone-jarring force. The sound of it cracked through the air, followed by Darin’s strangled gasp.

“Touch her again,” Toren growled, low and lethal, “and I’ll rip your spine through your throat.”

His claws dug in, blood beading under his grip. Darin’s eyes bulged, his legs kicking uselessly against the ground.

“Toren!” I gasped, stumbling forward. My instincts screamed to let him do it, to let Darin suffer as he had made me suffer—but terror tangled with reason. If Darin died, Lucas would blame me. He would start a war.

“Stop!” I pleaded, grabbing Toren’s arm. “Please, you can’t—”

He didn’t move. His rage was an iron cage around him, his body vibrating with violence. He didn’t even hear me.

Rage boiled inside me then—not at Toren, not at Darin, but at the weight of never being heard.

“No one listens,” I whispered, tears burning hot. My hands rose, trembling, but I pressed them around Toren’s neck, meeting his eyes full on.

And this time, I didn’t beg.

***“Stop!”*** I poured every shred of dominance I had into that word, every wound, every humiliation, every silenced scream. My wolf surged inside me, fierce and sharp, and for the first time I let it out.

Toren froze.

His golden-brown eyes snapped to mine, blazing, startled—then softened. Slowly, his grip loosened. Darin crumpled to the floor, coughing, clutching his shredded throat.

Toren’s hand slid from murder to something infinitely gentler, resting on my waist. His breath came heavy, his chest rising and falling in a rhythm that matched mine. Our eyes locked, the world narrowing to just the two of us.

“Kira,” he rasped, my name a rough promise on his tongue.

Behind us, Darin spat curses, blood dripping down his neck as he staggered to his feet. “You’ll regret this, Toren! You think you can put your hands on me and live? Lucas will hear of this—he’ll tear you apart, and she’ll pay double for it!”

One of Toren’s men seized him by the arm, twisting hard until Darin yelped. Still, he kept snarling, spittle flying. “She owes me! She’s nothing but a little whore pretending to be better than she is. I’ll make her crawl back to me—”

The warrior silenced him with a brutal jerk, hauling him toward the door. Darin’s curses echoed, ugly and venomous, bouncing off the metal walls until they were cut short by the slam of his body into the hallway.

“Alpha Lucas will gut you for this!” he bellowed one last time, voice fading as they dragged him further away.

The elevator doors slid shut, sealing the world outside.

Silence. Just the low hum of the lights above, the pounding of my heart in my ears.

And Toren’s hands still on my waist.