The Banished Shy Luna Chapter 63

I searched the hotel for what felt like forever, my steps quick, my chest tightening with every hallway that came up empty. No Elder Thora. No familiar presence to ground me. Just the endless echo of my thoughts and the weight of what the doctor had told me.

By the time I rounded the corner into one of the larger sitting areas, I nearly collapsed in relief. Toren and Talon were standing together, deep in conversation, but the instant they saw me, both of them stopped. Their heads snapped toward me, wolves alert.

“Kira,” Toren said first, his voice low, concerned. He was already moving, already closing the distance with purposeful strides. Talon mirrored him, though his eyes searched mine more carefully, like he was scanning for unseen wounds. “Are you alright?”

They flanked me before I could answer, warmth pressing in on both sides.

“I…” My throat tightened, the words stalling. I swallowed, forcing my voice steady. “Have you seen Elder Thora?”

Both shook their heads.

“No,” Toren answered, his hand sliding protectively along my arm. “Not since earlier.”

“I haven’t either,” Talon added, his tone rough with frustration. “Why? What happened?”

I hesitated, my fingers trembling around the folded slip of paper the doctor had given me. Finally, I pulled it out, holding it in front of Toren without a word.

He took it immediately, scanning the page with sharp eyes. His jaw worked as he read, but then he crumpled the paper in his fist and, without hesitation, pulled me hard into his arms.

His scent—pine smoke and wild earth—wrapped around me like armor. His voice was a whisper against my hair, rough and fierce. “It doesn’t matter. Do you hear me? It doesn’t matter. You’re still my Starlight. You’re still mine. Always.”

My throat burned. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I didn’t. I just leaned into him, pressed my face against his chest, and breathed him in until the ache inside me softened.

But then—something else.

Another pull, softer, lighter. Almost fluffy, like brushing against a warm blanket after a winter storm. I stiffened, my head snapping up as my gaze found Talon.

He stood tense, fists at his sides, his eyes burning with emotion. I could feel it—the connection. The bond Elder Thora had warned me about. A second mate.

And if that was true… then the third brother, Tyson, was inevitable.

The thought made my stomach twist, but I didn’t fight the pull this time. Slowly, deliberately, I reached out.

Talon inhaled sharply, like he hadn’t dared to hope, and then he was moving. His arms slid around my waist, strong and sure, pulling me into him. He buried his face in my neck, nuzzling me in a way that was so instinctive it nearly brought me to my knees. His wolf hummed through his chest into mine, calm, forgiving, safe.

Pressed between them, Toren’s steady strength at my back and Talon’s warmth in front of me, I felt something I’d never known before. Family. Belonging. Love in stereo.

We stood like that, suspended in something fragile and perfect, until someone cleared their throat.

Elder Thora.

Her eyes were stormy, her mouth pressed into a hard line as she strode toward us. Without a word, she snatched the crumpled paper from Toren’s hand, smoothing it enough to scan the words. Her face hardened. She didn’t look at me when she said, “Follow me.”

We trailed her into one of the private hotel rooms, the silence heavy and electric. She turned once the door clicked shut, her gaze sweeping over all three of us.

“One of you,” she said sharply, “will have to go get Tyson. He is the missing piece. Once he connects with her, the bond will be complete. But you need to understand what that means.”

Her eyes flicked between Toren and Talon, then landed on me. “It means sharing. Sharing a mate. Sharing a pack. Sharing a bed. Sharing a mindlink. There is no other way.”

The floor seemed to tilt beneath me. I opened my mouth, but no words came.

She didn’t wait for me to speak. With a swish of her gown, she turned on her heel and swept out, the door slamming behind her.

The silence left in her wake was deafening.

I turned slowly, my eyes flicking between Toren and Talon. They were both staring at me, but not with anger—something heavier.

Finally, Toren exhaled, the sound rough as gravel. He rubbed his jaw, then looked at me. “I’ll go get Tyson.” His voice was steady, though his shoulders tensed. “He and I… understand each other better. If anyone can talk sense into him, it’s me.”

Talon shook his head. “While you do that, I’ll recheck everyone in. Make sure the rooms are secured, the warriors paid. And I’ll take care of Kira.” His gaze flicked to me then, softer. “She shouldn’t be left alone right now.”

Toren sighed, his hand dragging down his face before his eyes settled on mine. “We talked,” he admitted. His voice was quieter now, intimate. “Me and Talon. We agreed that… sharing a mate, sharing a pack… isn’t such a bad idea. Not if it means keeping you safe. Not if it means making you whole.”

Talon nodded once in agreement, stepping closer.

“But only if you agree,” Toren continued, his eyes never leaving mine. “This choice—it’s yours. And once Tyson gets here, things may change. They probably will. But Starlight…” His hand lifted, brushing my cheek. “Please—have an open mind.”

The weight of their words pressed into me. My chest was tight, my thoughts spinning, but beneath it all was that same pull. That same undeniable truth.

I was theirs.

And, terrifyingly, they were mine.

My breath hitched as I looked between them. The air felt thick, heavy with expectation, but their eyes—both of them—were steady. No demands. No commands. Just waiting. For me. For my choice. A shiver ran down my spine, part fear, part something I didn’t dare name. Everything in my life had been decided for me until now—what I wore, where I slept, how I ate, who I was allowed to be. But this… this was mine. My decision. My path. And even as my heart thundered and my hands shook, I realized I’d already stepped onto it.