Left the Group Chat, Became the Apex Luna Chapter 08

Left the Group Chat, Became the Apex Luna Chapter 08

Mom rushed over and grabbed my arm, like she was terrified I’d disappear.

“Laurel… it’s Mom…”

Her voice was careful, testing. She watched my face, afraid to say too much.

The name that used to come so naturally now sounded foreign-coming out of her mouth.

I told my roommate to go ahead and led them to the stone shelter by the training field.

My wolf was quiet. Not like before, when she’d get excited just from catching their scent.

“Say what you came to say.”

Nessa frowned at my sunburned face.

“You didn’t even wear sunscreen? That’s going to take forever to heal.”

I looked down at my arms.

Much darker than before. My shoulders and knees were marked with training scars.

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t care.”

When I first came back, the only thing I ever heard about me was “Laurel’s skin is rough, nothing like Nessa’s fair skin.”

I always lowered my head and pretended not to hear.

Standing next to Nessa, everyone said she was pretty, charming, sweet-tongued.

Standing next to Callum, family called him lively and adorable-a treasure.

Their flaws were spun into quirks. Their strengths were celebrated.

Me? The best I ever got was “considerate, well-behaved, doesn’t make trouble.”

I thought if I was those things, maybe they’d finally notice me.

Turns out, being loved-or not-was never about that.

Anyway, I don’t think my skin is bad.

It’s not soft, sure–but it’s covered in training marks. Those are my medals.

“Laurel, did you change your number?” Callum asked, awkward. “Can you give us your new one?”

“I’d rather not.”

My voice was calm.

Nut angry.

Just distant.

Their faces fell.

Finally, Dad stepped forward.

“I know you’re still hurt. I get why you don’t want to see us.

“But we’re blood. That doesn’t go away just because you change packs of schools. Don’t shut the door completely. You’ll regret it.”

I looked at him, expressionless.

“Maybe. But I don’t want this right now.”

I didn’t want to go back to that constant feeling of being overlooked.

Didn’t want to keep draining myself with self-doubt.

I needed to save the person I was now.

Even if I regretted it later-

All that mattered was that today’s Laurel was okay.

That was enough.

As they were leaving, Mom grabbed my sleeve.

“Next week is your birthday. Come home. We’ll throw you a party-anything you want.”

“Tell me what to make, and I’ll make it.”

I looked down and shook my head.

“Three years I was back. Every birthday, you ordered a cake-always Nessa’s favorite berry flavor. Every dinner, every restaurant-always Callum’s pick.”

“You never once asked me what I wanted.”

“You don’t need to start now.”

A long howl echoed from the training field.

My next session was about to start.

I pulled my sleeve free.

From now on, I’ll celebrate my birthday the way I want. It has nothing to do with you.”

I turned and walked away

They called my name behind me, trying to stop me.

I didn’t look back once.

But my wolf finally stirred deep inside.

The Gamma training unit’s howl rang out again across the field.

She lifted her head.

She didn’t look back at the blood family behind us.

Instead, she let out a low answering howl-toward what lay ahead.

That was where we were going now.