All Chapters of A Lesson in Independence: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Selene's Point-of-ViewI had just limped my way back from the cemetery when I found out that I had already become the laughingstock of the entire pack.They all kept saying that after spending six years with Callum Lowe, I had failed to become a qualified Luna, and that I was now even using Grandpa's life to threaten Callum into marrying me. I was unfortunately exposed and became the laughingstock of everyone.Callum's clique—his loyal friends—somehow caught news of what had happened. They swept in boldly, with Natalie Anderson front and center, and snapped pictures of me on their phones, relishing my disgrace.I didn't even bother to raise my hand to shield my face. Ever since I started begging for medicine for Grandpa, my worthless dignity had been worn away, bit by bit, by this group. I was repeatedly compelled to kneel and slap my own face for the medical fees.Any sense of honor was utterly meaningless when weighed against Grandpa's life."Isn't this woman supposed to be the

At first, Callum seemed annoyed. He was about to question me, but he changed his mind when he registered the tear streaming down my face. He merely addressed the chauffeur, urging him to speed up.I hastily wiped the tears away with my sleeve once the car eased to a halt and got ready to step out. Callum suddenly spoke from behind me, his voice slow and deliberate. "Have you finally started to behave after all this time, Selene? Your birthday party is tomorrow, but because of the spectacle you caused these past two weeks, your gift has been revoked as a disciplinary measure."He paused for a beat, then continued, "Your compliance today was commendable, though. I'm quite pleased with it, so I'll grant you one wish, as long as it's well within reason."I couldn't help but tighten my grip on the car door handle. I had completely disregarded the birthday gift he spoke of, but Callum's promised wish was a crushing source of pain. If I had received this offer a day sooner, perhaps Gra

Callum widened his eyes in surprise, but soon regained his composure and dismissed the thought, saying, "That person you're speaking of couldn't possibly be Selene. I must have come to the wrong apartment."He chose to believe, in that moment, that this couldn't possibly have been Selene's residence, even though he routinely stopped his car right outside this apartment building.Larry nodded deferentially, saying, "You must have gotten the wrong place, Alpha Callum. How could that miserable young woman be the one you're looking for? She lived a very hard life—"Callum ignored Larry completely, grabbing his phone as he rushed out the door. He tried calling Selene again and again, but the phone rang endlessly until the calls stopped going through. He couldn't help but furrow his brow, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. He had grown so used to Selene being available at his beck and call that he had never considered where he should search for her now that she wasn't picking

Callum recalled that he had constantly transferred funds to Natalie for her tutelage and Selene's living costs. He had been privately pleased that Selene chose to live in the apartment closest to his residence yet never bothered to check her living conditions. In fact, Callum had confidently handed off all responsibility to Natalie, trusting her to manage everything on his behalf. He suddenly realized that his optimism about the entire situation had been tragically misplaced.He quickly spotted the exquisite gift box tucked in the corner of the apartment, his eyes widening in disbelief. He trembled as he opened the gift box, revealing the perfectly intact wolf claw inside that made his heart ache. "Didn't you say that she had packed up and left? Why would she leave behind something so valuable then?"He had personally presented the wolf claw to Selene, an act that signified his acceptance of her as his Luna. She had once guarded it with her life, yet now it lay abandoned in the c

Selene's Point-of-ViewI departed the Shadow Wolf pack with absolutely nothing to my name. I spent two months working on the docks just to make ends meet. I took shelter under bridges and literally had to compete with stray dogs for food.I was now capable of eating a hot dog dropped on the pavement without a flicker of expression, thanks to the torment I suffered over those two years. I could easily get through the night next to the riverbank, despite the cold and dampness.I eventually stumbled upon a pup near the river, who was suffering even more than I was. If it hadn't been for the intermittent aid I provided, the cub would have definitely starved to death in the depths of that freezing winter.I had only rescued him because I wanted someone to keep me company in this lonely life. I never expected that just two months later, the underpass where we used to sleep would have dozens of luxury cars pulling up.It was then that an incredibly handsome, middle-aged man with a comman