The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 30

The elevator chimed softly, breaking the silence that had crackled between us. The doors slid open, spilling golden light into the hallway.

I pulled away from Toren’s grip, forcing air into my lungs. “This is my floor,” I whispered, voice too thin, too shaky. Before he could say a word, I darted out, heels clicking sharply against the polished floor as I hurried toward Elder Thora’s suite.

I was only steps from the door, relief so close I could almost taste it, when a hand closed around mine.

I froze. Slowly, I looked back.

*Toren.*

His eyes—those burning, endless brown eyes—were locked on me, fierce and conflicted, as if he was waging a battle entirely within himself. His jaw clenched, chest rising and falling with steady restraint.

Off to the side, his pack members stood in a loose line, wide-eyed. Shock was written plain across their faces. None of them moved. None of them dared interrupt.

Toren’s voice was low, strained, like it cost him something to speak. “May I accompany you for the night?”

My breath hitched. His words burned through me, and for a moment I thought I must have misheard. “What… what do you mean?”

Before he could answer, the door to Thora’s room opened. The butler appeared, his impeccable composure unshaken even as his eyes flicked between us, reading the tension like a scholar reading ink on parchment. He cleared his throat softly.

“Alpha Toren,” he said smoothly, his tone respectful but firm. “Elder Thora has instructed that Miss Kira turn in for the night. However, she would be more than happy to join you for breakfast in the restaurant near the garden tomorrow morning.”

Toren’s hand loosened, then released mine completely. Still, he didn’t move. His shoulders stiffened, his gaze never wavering. “I’m not sure I’ll sleep tonight,” he admitted, voice rawer now. “I want to know more about her.”

The butler’s lips pressed into a thin line. He huffed softly, not without a note of reproach. “Tonight has been a trying one. Kira has faced enough. She needs rest before she can stand strong against the scrutiny she’ll face tomorrow.”

Toren’s jaw flexed, irritation flickering across his face like a stormcloud. He gave a short nod, but the weight of his stare still held me in place, like gravity itself bent between us.

I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was exhaustion, maybe desperation, maybe the aching heat that still lingered from the elevator. But before reason could stop me, I stepped forward.

Closer.

So close I could feel his warmth, smell the wild scent of his wolf beneath the clean cut of his suit. My heart pounded against my ribs, begging to escape.

And then I kissed him.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t cautious. It was a collision of need and fire, everything I had bottled inside of me breaking free in one reckless motion.

Toren stiffened—only for a breath—then he seized me. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me hard against him as though he’d been waiting for this all along.

The kiss deepened instantly, his mouth claiming mine, his tongue sliding past my lips with a hunger that stole the air from my lungs. He controlled the rhythm, relentless and sure, giving me everything he had with each press and stroke.

And I gave him everything I had in return.

Heat poured through me, racing along my veins until I was shaking. His hand slid up my back, cradling the base of my neck as if he would never let me go. His other hand tightened at my waist, fingers digging in just enough to remind me of his strength.

I melted into him, yet I’d never felt stronger. Safe. Beautiful. Desired. All at once.

The world fell away. There was no butler, no hallway, no packs or politics. Just the two of us, bound by something that felt as old as fire, as inevitable as the moon.

When Toren finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his forehead pressed against mine. His eyes—darker now, almost glowing—searched me with an intensity that left me trembling.

My voice came out softer than I meant, barely more than a whisper. “Will you… meet me for breakfast in the morning?”

Toren’s gaze locked on mine, unreadable for a moment, then sharp and certain. “Yes,” he said immediately, without hesitation.

Something inside me fluttered wildly.

He released me slowly, his hands lingering for one heartbeat too long before I pulled away. “Goodnight,” I murmured, forcing myself to step back toward the butler.

“Until morning,” he answered, voice low, threaded with something that felt like a promise.

The butler opened the door with practiced calm, though I saw the faint tightness in his jaw. I slipped inside quickly, and the instant the door shut behind me, sealing Toren out, I heard the echo of his footsteps recede down the hall.

Only then did I collapse.

I slid down, my legs giving out beneath me, until I was on the floor, my chest heaving, my entire body trembling. My lips tingled, swollen from his kiss, and every nerve burned with the memory of his touch. My wolf hummed beneath my skin, restless and satisfied all at once. I pressed a shaking hand to my chest, trying to steady the storm inside me, but it was useless. I felt amazing. Alive. Like lightning was in my veins.

Across the room, the butler chuckled. The sound startled me—I’d forgotten he was there. He lowered himself onto the couch, leaning back with a long, shaky exhale, as though he had been the one kissed within an inch of his soul.

I pushed myself upright, embarrassed heat flooding my cheeks. “Were you… scared? Of him?”

The butler’s laughter faded. He folded his hands in his lap, gaze distant for a moment before he sighed. “Scared? No. Respectful of what he is capable of? Absolutely.” His eyes slid to me, sharp and steady. “I saw Alpha Toren rip another Alpha’s throat out with his bare hands once. Several years ago. No hesitation. No mercy.”

My blood chilled.

He continued, softer now. “He is dangerous, Kira. More dangerous than any Alpha I’ve ever seen. But…” His lips twitched faintly, almost a smile. “Perhaps that is exactly why he could be right for you. Because you are not fragile. You need someone who can stand with your strength, not crush it. Someone who sees you.”

My heart slammed harder, torn between fear and something far hotter.

The butler stood, smoothing his jacket with careful precision. “Come. Enough for tonight.” He gestured toward the bathroom, his tone back to crisp efficiency. “There’s a nightgown prepared for you in there, along with some things I thought you might need. Or like.” His eyes softened, just slightly. “When you’re finished, I’ll escort you to the adjoining room. You can settle in and finally rest.”