Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 285

Chapter 285

Ashley sat up in disagreement.

“That would be the same as being manipulative. I will be blackmailing him emotionally. He does not need to know what we are

doing. We will just do it and see what happens. If we succeed and he deems us worthy, so be it,” Ashley said.

For the first time in days, her voice had something in it other than misery. It was not hope exactly, but it was movement. A reason

to stand. A reason to stop drowning in her father’s insults and her mother’s silence.

“The only good part of this is that we will be occupied and won’t have to be here to experience Mum and Dad’s cruelty. We will be out there trying to help our Alphas get back their pack,” Ashley said with a tinge of joy and determination.

“I love the idea. I have little money left, but I have enough saved for backpacking and following Sebastien’s trail,” she added.

Claire was glad they had something to do instead of staying in their room and crying, trying their best to avoid everyone. Ashley needed movement. She needed a mission. She needed something that was not waiting for Joseph to forgive her or for her parents to

stop looking at her like she was a failure.

Ashley packed all her essentials in her backpack and headed out. It was not going to be a comfortable journey, but she was determined, and because of that, she was not deterred. Comfort had not saved her. Shame had not saved her. Hiding in her room

had not saved her. Maybe doing something reckless but right would.

Her mother, Maya, saw her heading out with a backpack. Ashley wore shorts, a T-shirt, sneakers for comfort, and a face cap to protect her face from the sun. She also hung sunglasses on the neck of her T-shirt for easy access to protect her eyes when the sun came up properly. Without a car, she would have to walk and maybe hitch a few rides to reach her destination.

She did not care about the people who would see her or those who would laugh at her. Caring about what people thought had led her into the hole she was in. She had to stop caring if she wanted to crawl out.

“Where are you heading to?” Maya asked her daughter, still feeling disappointed that Ashley had been stupid enough to make silly

mistakes that had caused her to lose a golden opportunity.

“On a mission to save this pack,” Ashley confessed to her mother.

Maya began to laugh.

“You mean you want to cover your shame and run away,” Maya said scornfully.

Tears welled up in Ashley’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“You are a disgrace to this family. You could not handle yourself. Even the mute did better than you. She got there and was named

Luna in a little over three months. You are a disgrace,” Maya said, repeating her husband’s words.

Ashley turned around to look at her mother.

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Chapter 285

Something inside her broke, but not in the weak way. It broke like a chain snapping.

“Ethan is the pack’s Alpha, so it is normal that Meadow would be named Luna, mute or not. Do not call me a failure, Mother. If

being Luna was so easy, why did you end up with Father and not Alpha Cain instead?” Ashley shot back.

Maya growled at her.

Ashley did not stop. Maybe if she stopped now, she would never say the things that had been rotting inside her for years.

“I am sick and tired of you trying to live your life through me. I never wanted any of this shit, but you kept pushing me. You wanted

me to do everything you could not do when you were my age. News flash, Mother, I am not you. I do not like wearing make-up or

skimpy clothes. I do not like being dumb. I am a warrior, a fighter. Being Luna was your dream and not mine,” Ashley said.

Maya’s face changed slightly, but Ashley kept going.

“I wanted a life of adventure and love, but how could I get it when I had you and Father to please? The painful part was that you

never taught me the things that matter. How to appreciate and love myself, self-worth, dignity, honesty and virtue. You never taught me shit. You just gave me targets to meet, and if I ever fell short, I would be labelled a failure,” Ashley said.

Her voice shook now, but she did not care.

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Underwater: The Silent Luna