No Longer Your Joke: A Luna’s Exit Chapter 08

No Longer Your Joke: A Luna’s Exit Chapter 08

After word got out that I’d dropped out of Ravencrest, my parents moped around for days.

News spread fast in the ešte wolf community.

Relatives and Pack members whispered behind their backs.

But the moment Lucian brought back news that I’d gotten a full scholarship to Silverlake Elite Academy, my parents suddenly recovered.

“Yes, that’s right-that’s our Isolde.”

“She’s always been so independent-we never had to worry about her studies or training.”

“She showed so much potential even as a child. We just gave her a little guidance.”

They couldn’t wait to tell everyone-they’d raised a brilliant daughter.

Right then, Lucian walked in, exhausted from the trip.

Mom looked behind him. “Where’s Isolde?”

Lucian bit his lip and let out a sigh.

“I couldn’t bring her back.”

“She… doesn’t want to see us.”

“What do you mean?”

The smile on Mom’s face vanished.

“Isolde has always been such a good girl-so attached to us. How could she not want to see us?”

“This is all your fault!”

Her fist hit Lucian’s chest.

Hard. He winced and let out a grunt.

“You and Declan and Nessa-why did you have to keep making those jokes?”

“If you hadn’t tricked her into chasing that fake acceptance letter, she never would have left!”

Lucian stayed silent.

“Enough,” my dad said.

He held un hie.

“Look–she hasn’t blocked our card. I just sent her five hundred thousand. If she accepts it, it means she’s

forgiven

Before he could finish, his phone buzzed with a notification.

[Transfer rejected.]

The money had been sent back-untouched.

Dad stared at the screen, frozen.

“Isolde won’t even take our money now?”

He grabbed his jacket and started for the car, ready to drive to Silverlake.

Mom stopped him.

“Take a plane-it’s faster.”

So the next morning, right after my training session, I saw three familiar figures waiting for me.

They were carrying expensive gift boxes and designer shopping bags.

It had been a while. They looked older-tired. Their clothes were rumpled, the wrinkles deeper around their

eyes.

I didn’t even bother looking at them. I just headed straight for the academic building.

But they stuck to me like glue.

“Isolde, don’t be mad,” Mom said. “We promise from now on, you’ll get the same as your brother.”

“Lucian promised too-no more jokes.”

“Just unblock us, okay? Please?”

I stopped walking.

“You really think an apology can undo all the damage?” I said.

I pressed my fingers against my chest.

Somewhere in there, a little wolf was still scared of being abandoned.

“When we were kids, you gave Declan and Nessa-outsiders-so much money. But when it came to me, even five dollars was a stretch.”

“You always remembered Lucian’s birthday. But mine? You just pretended not to notice. When I asked for a present, you told me I was being materialistic.”

“They tricked me into going into that dangerous forest. I almost died.”

“And you,” my voice cracked despite myself, “you said I couldn’t take a joke.”

“I will never forgive you.”

“Don’t come looking for me again.”

More and more Silverlake students were walking past.

I didn’t want this scene to drag on any longer.

So I led them into an empty training room nearby.

But before I could say anything, Lucian’s phone rang.

His face went pale.

“What? Declan, are you sure?”

“Nessa faked that depression diagnosis!”