The Unwanted Luna’s Farewell Chapter 01

The Unwanted Luna’s Farewell Chapter 01

Mom came back from her cross-pack shopping trip loaded with gifts for the whole family.

A twenty-four-inch suitcase, packed to the absolute brim.

On the left side: Dad’s new fly-fishing rod.

On the right side: a limited-edition vinyl record for my brother, Owen Hayes.

In the middle pocket: a diamond-encrusted gown for my sister, Olivia Hayes.

Filled with anticipation, I reached out. “Mom, where’s mine?”

She looked down, rooted around, and pulled a crushed little square out of her pocket.

“The suitcase was full, so I brought you a burger from the flight. You can’t even buy these on the ground.”

So? This was my gift?

A twenty-four-inch suitcase couldn’t fit my mini headphones?

That night, I pulled up the long-term Lakehaven Pack deployment application in my inbox and pressed confirm without a moment’s hesitation.

In three days, I would leave this pack—a place where I never truly belonged.

Let them stuff their gift boxes all they wanted.

This time, I’m not squeezing in.

…

The three of them were ecstatically tearing open their packages.

Only I stood frozen on the spot, staring at… the squishy blob in my hand.

Mom is the Pack Supply Coordinator for the Silverfang Pack.

She handles daily pack procurement and coordinates supplies between several neighboring territories, so she goes on business trips every so often.

Every time she comes back, she brings home gifts for everyone.

Growing up, I received plenty.

Tote bags, mugs, umbrellas, keychains…

Without exception—all free promotional freebies.

Yet I never complained once.

Because I always believed gifts shouldn’t be judged by their monetary value; even the smallest token was a sign of care.

Until this time, when I received an offer as a cross-border translator for the Lakehaven Pack, and cautiously brought up to Mom that I needed a pair of headphones for work.

“Just a standard pair, Bluetooth, noise-canceling.”

At the time, Mom readily agreed.

I was thrilled for days.

Counting down the days until she returned, I even searched online for malls near her hotel, sending her the headphone model, store addresses, and screenshots.

Then she came home.

Stepped through the door, unzipped the suitcase, and pulled out gifts one by one.

I was stunned speechless.

“Mom, where are my headphones?”

She was busy helping zip up Olivia’s dress, not even bothering to look back.

“I told you, the suitcase couldn’t fit it. Besides, there are so many headphone styles—how was I supposed to know which one you’d like?”

“In-flight food is great anyway. Hurry up and eat it.”

I peeled open the foil, a sour stench hitting me right in the face.

The lettuce leaves were blackened and wilted, the sauce dried up, and the bun completely soggy.

Off to the side, Olivia was excitedly pacing around in her gown.

Rhinestones cascaded from her neckline all the way down to the hem, dazzling under the living room lights.

“Charlotte, does it look good?”

I stared at the long, dragging train.

“If it’s that heavy and bulky, why didn’t you just ship it back via FedEx?”

“That would’ve been too late. The Coming-of-Age Moon Ball is tomorrow. I specifically asked Mom to bring it back today.”

Olivia said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, not worried in the slightest about burdening Mom.

Though Mom complained out loud, her eyes were filled with pure doting affection.

“Tomorrow is her first appearance after turning eighteen. Olivia will definitely be the most dazzling jewel at the Moon Ball.”

I suddenly remembered my own Coming-of-Age Ball.

All my classmates dressed up formally.

Some wore layered evening gowns.

Some wore sharply tailored suits.

Even the girl who usually cared least about dressing up wore a hairpiece her mother had handcrafted for her.

And me? A plain Academy uniform, hair pulled back into a simple ponytail.

No gown.

No jewelry.

Not a single thing prepared specifically for that day.

Back then, Mom told me: “A truly exceptional she-wolf doesn’t need fancy dresses to draw attention.”

“Isn’t it more meaningful to wear the most authentic look from your student days?”

I believed her.

I pretended not to care about dressing up, forcing a smile while surrounded by a sea of gorgeous dresses.

Why did she suddenly become so “superficial” when it came to Olivia?

I looked at the discarded foam padding and cardboard boxes piled high off to the side.

Picking up any random box, it was bigger than a pair of headphones.

This was what thoughtfully prepared gifts looked like.

Meticulously chosen, waiting in line in person, with packaging refined right down to every corner.

Not a random free flight meal that didn’t even deserve space inside a suitcase.

Clutching the cold foil, my heart turned cold bit by bit.

Even the wolf inside me went completely quiet.

No growls, no whimpers.

She simply opened her eyes slowly, her gaze cold and lucid, as if finally seeing their true faces clearly.

It wasn’t that a twenty-four-inch suitcase couldn’t hold a pair of headphones—it was that Mom’s heart had never held space for me.

In truth, I didn’t desperately need a pair of headphones.

What I lacked was simply someone willing to remember what I wanted.

But now.

I didn’t even want that anymore.