The Luna They Never Made Room For Chapter 02

The Luna They Never Made Room For Chapter 02

That night, I curl up on the narrow couch and count 1,600 sheep, but I still cannot fall asleep.

Unable to sleep, I decide to go to the kitchen for a snack. As I pass the master bedroom, I suddenly hear Mom speaking to Dad in a hushed voice.

“Remember to take Tammy to the mall next week. She’s been eyeing that new designer bag for ages. We might as well get it for her.”

My steps stop.

I suddenly remember the coldest part of winter, when I proudly run to Mom with the award I receive for ranking first in my grade.

“Mom, can I have a reward? My sweater is too thin. Could you buy me a warmer coat?”

Back then, she only frowns and says flatly, “You think ranking first in your grade deserves a reward? Come ask me again when you rank first in the entire school and become Valedictorian.”

But now I finally understand.

Apparently, you do not need good grades to get what you want.

The next morning, after breakfast, I am about to use the money I have saved to buy myself a phone when Mom suddenly calls out to me.

“Look at what you wear every day. Anyone who doesn’t know us would think I don’t take care of you. Come on. We’re going to the mall today anyway. I’ll buy you some new clothes.”

A flicker of hope suddenly rises in my chest, and even my wolf gets excited.

Maybe this time, they are finally willing to think about me.

“Okay.”

I answer, and even I can hear the anticipation in my voice.

At the mall, Mom takes me straight into a women’s clothing store and picks out a discounted sweatshirt and a pair of pants. The total comes to a little over $500.

I stare at the bill, feeling like it is too expensive. I am about to say I do not want them, but Mom simply shoves the shopping bag into my hands, her voice impatient, “Stop being so stingy. Take them.”

I still cannot help smiling as I happily follow them.

Then we walk into a luxury boutique, and Tammy immediately falls in love with a bag priced at $32,000.

Mom does not even blink before swiping her card.

She even picks out several matching pieces of jewelry for Tammy.

The smile slowly freezes on my lips.

A little over $500 for discounted clothes, compared with a $32,000 designer bag.

It is as if their love for Tammy and me comes with a clearly marked price tag.

Tammy deserves the expensive things, I only deserve the cheap ones.

I am the one who should never have expected anything more.

By the time we finish shopping, it is already dark.

On the drive home, Tammy sits in the backseat, excitedly playing with her new bag and jewelry while Mom and Dad fuss over her.

When we stop at a red light, Dad suddenly hands me a trash bag, “Annie, throw this away.”

I get out and toss the trash into a nearby bin. It takes only a few seconds.

When I turn around, the car is already moving.

I freeze.

The black SUV quickly merges into traffic and disappears down the main road in the blink of an eye.

I do not have a single dollar of cash on me, and I do not even have my phone. There is no way for me to contact anyone.

With no other choice, I walk along the sidewalk, one step at a time, heading home.

But I have not gone far when several figures suddenly appear ahead of me.

Their eyes roam over me without restraint, their smiles making my skin crawl as they slowly move closer.

My wolf instantly goes on alert, and it feels as if all the blood in my body turns to ice.

I keep backing away.

“Hey, gorgeous. You’re all alone? Come have some fun with us. I’ll buy you a drink.”

One of the men reaches for me.

I scream in terror, desperately wrenching my arm free before turning and running.

The late-summer night is still hot and humid, but I do not dare stop.

The pavement burns beneath my feet, and two blisters quickly form on my heels. Every step feels like I am running over the edge of a knife.

I run for nearly two hours.

It is after nine when I finally stagger back to the house.

The living room of the Beta House is brightly lit.

My family is gathered around the couch, admiring Tammy’s new bag. Takeout pizza is spread across the coffee table.

Not one of them has even noticed that I am gone.

It is only when they hear the door open that Dad turns around.

He sees me standing there, drenched in sweat and water, looking utterly miserable.

His first words are not concern, but criticism.

“I really don’t know what the point of all that schooling is if you’re going to be this stupid. Why are you so rigid? You could’ve just thrown the trash out the car window.”

Tammy sits beside him, looking completely pleased with herself, “I told Mom and Dad to do it.”

She holds up her new bag and smiles without the slightest hint of guilt.

“I just wanted to teach you a lesson. Now you’ll remember next time.”

Mom affectionately pats her head, “Tammy, you’re so clever.”

I stand in the doorway, feeling as if I have fallen into a pool of ice water.

They did not forget about me.

They left me there on purpose.

To them, the sight of me drenched, shaken, and barely able to stand is nothing more than a harmless joke.

How ironic.

I have never wanted to leave this family more than I do at that moment.

Ignoring the pain in my feet, I rush back to my room and grab my backpack.

But when I open it, the envelope that should contain my savings is completely empty.

That money comes from my scholarship and every weekend I spend working to save whatever I can.

Forty thousand dollars in total.

It is my college tuition, and the last bit of security I have to escape this family.

My fingers slowly curl into fists, and my whole body begins to tremble.

Clutching the empty envelope, I turn around and walk back into the living room.

“Who took my money?”