The Luna Who Paid to Live in Her Own Home Chapter 05

The Luna Who Paid to Live in Her Own Home Chapter 05

Before we boarded, Mrs. Hadley handed me a new phone, SIM card already in it.

“The scholarship is enough to cover your tuition and living expenses.”

“Don’t worry about anything else. Once you get to Kingswell, just focus on your classes.”

I opened my mouth to thank her, but she shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me.

“Rhea, you should thank yourself for being this brilliant.”

My eyes burned. The tears came before I could stop them.

This was the first time anyone had praised me.

Growing up, Della was the only one who ever got praised.

Whenever her grades improved even slightly, they would buy her a gift.

Even when she bombed a test, they’d just pat her shoulder. “It’s okay, sweetie. You’ll do better next

time.”

But when I came home with a first–place certificate, they wouldn’t even look at it.

“Okay. Put it away.”

“Don’t let Della see it. We don’t need her getting upset.”

Over time, I became used to it.

Flowers, applause, rewards… None of those things had ever belonged to me.

But now, someone was telling me that I was exceptional.

Mrs. Hadley said nothing else. She only sighed and wiped away my tears.

As the plane took off, I kept staring out the window.

I watched the lights on the ground grow smaller and smaller until they merged into a blurry sea of

light.

I closed my eyes, and everything came rushing back.

The back porch where I’d slept.

The shattered trophy on the floor.

My bare feet on pavement the day they threw me out.

When I opened my eyes, there was nothing but clouds. An ocean of white stretching in every direction.

wolf curled up deep within my mind and quietly closed her eyes.

This time, she slept deeply.

We landed in London before dawn.

The air was damp, still heavy from the rain.

A student volunteer from Kingswell met us and walked us through the campus and the

neighborhood.

The chatter helped. The knot in my chest loosened, just a little.

Mrs. Hadley had already set up a place for us.

Kingswell had given her an apartment during her visit, and she’d saved a room in it for me.

“This is your room. Have a look and see if you need anything.”

The room was small, but spotless.

A brand–new computer sat on the desk, and a potted plant stood beside the window.

Everything was new. Even the closet was full of clothes, tags still on.

“Are all of these for me?”

Mrs. Hadley nodded. “Of course.”

My nose stung. I blinked hard, but my eyes were already burning.

She patted my shoulder.

“From now on, this will be your home.”

For lunch, Mrs. Hadley took me to an elegant French restaurant.

I stared at the menu for a long time without daring to order anything.

She noticed and ordered for me. Beef stew and bread.

As the steam rose, I suddenly remembered the dining table in the Briarwood pack house.

I remembered how I could only eat toast and lettuce when I couldn’t afford the meal charge.

I bent over the bowl and ate slowly, one careful bite at a time.

That evening, Mrs. Hadley brought me a stack of study materials.

She gave me a warm smile.

“No rush on the studying. Rest for a few days first.”

“When it’s time to register for classes, I’ll take you.

“It won’t be hard to adjust. You can take your time.”

Take my time.

At home, no matter what I did, I was always rushed and timed.

Della monitored every resource I used.

Mom and Dad tracked every cent.

I’d never once been allowed to “take my time.”

Yet now, in a foreign country, someone was telling me that I could take my time.

I tightened my grip on the materials and nodded slowly but firmly.

That night, I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling for a long time.

The room was quiet, with only the occasional sound of a car horn outside the window.

But I felt at peace.

Deep within my mind, my wolf gradually stretched out her body.

She didn’t curl up in a corner or stand guard by the door. She simply lay down quietly.

I closed my eyes and buried myself beneath the soft blankets.

At that moment, I finally realized that I had truly left.

I had left the pack that had ignored me.

I was free.