The Neglected Girl Chosen by the Moon Goddess Chapter 04

The Neglected Girl Chosen by the Moon Goddess Chapter 04

The next afternoon, I packed my bag and waited for him at the door.

But when Lucas came out, he wore an apologetic look.

“Lily needs to buy some clothes for the trip. I’ll drop her off first, then come back and take you.”

“But we had an appointment.”

“Then reschedule it. Lily’s in a hurry. She’s leaving tomorrow.”

My mouth opened, then closed.

Seeing me say nothing, Lily’s eyes welled up. She tugged at her shirt and said slowly, “Fine, I won’t buy anything. Lucas, go with her instead.”

Lucas didn’t hesitate. “Don’t be ridiculous. You need to look good for the trip.”

He paused, as if realizing he’d shown bias, then tossed the decision to me. “Elara, what do you think?”

I looked up at his face. He looked at me with a pressuring expectation.

I was so tired.

They pretended to be waiting for my decision.

But we both knew the decision was never mine.

I paused for a few seconds, then smiled lightly. “Go ahead.”

Lucas let out a breath.

Lily ran over and kissed my cheek. “Thanks, sis.”

“You’re welcome.”

I went to get the vaccine alone.

Luckily, I didn’t have a reaction.

My wolf seemed proud, showing off her thick fur, telling me that leaving the Pack wasn’t so hard. The human world was welcoming. Wolf management was well-regulated.

Maybe I’d even fall for a human boy one day.

In real life I was quiet, but my wolf was a chatterbox.

After it was done, I booked a train ticket to New York for the next day.

When I got home, Lily was showing off today’s purchases to Mom and Dad. At the end, she pulled out clothes she’d bought for them.

Mom praised her enthusiastically. Then she caught sight of me out of the corner of her eye—and her smile vanished.

“Elara, I hate to say it, but your sister is so thoughtful. She brought us gifts. You never think of us.”

“Where would I get the money?”

Lily only had gifts to give because Mom had slipped her two hundred dollars before she left. She was just taking the money Mom gave her and using it to act like a thoughtful daughter. Mom knew that perfectly well, but she still used it as a knife to stab me.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you complaining I didn’t give you money? How old are you? Still competing with your sister?”

She hadn’t expected me to talk back. After a stunned moment, she fired back angrily.

“I’m twenty-four. Only a year older than her.”

“Enough!”

Dad cut in, scolding me. “You’re an adult. How can you argue with your mother like that?”

Lucas looked at me with complicated eyes. “Elara, you’ve been so irritable lately.”

Seeing someone on her side, Mom’s eyes went red. She turned and stalked into the bedroom, offended.

“Elara, you should apologize to Mom,” Lily said, blocking my way, grabbing my arm.

“Let go.”

She shook her head, her eyes filled with a condescending sense of judgment.

“She gave you life. How can you treat her like that? You’re so unfilial.”

A wave of sadness hit me. In this family, she was the last person who had the right to lecture me.

I gave in. I stayed silent.

Even a quiet protest wasn’t allowed.

Everyone loved her. So everything she did was right.

“You’re so noble,” I said, my voice light, not even looking at her.

At those five words, her face changed, as if she’d been insulted. She yelled at me, “No wonder Mom and Dad don’t like you! You’re a freak!”

Then she shoved me hard and ran into her room.

I hit the edge of the table and bent over in pain.

Lucas went to comfort the crying Lily.

Dad went to soothe the upset Mom.

No one cared about me.

Good.

That way, I could leave without any ties.

That silver wolf, dragging its wounds away from home, running alone under the moon…

No bonds. Never looking back.