Chapter 7 Return and Interrogation
Lya's POV
The border of Moon Shadow Valley loomed ahead as I guided my car along the winding road. It was around 9 PM, the night before Airina's second death anniversary. My stomach churned with anxiety, a feeling that had become all too familiar whenever I approached my childhood home.
As I neared the checkpoint, three guards stepped forward, signaling for me to stop. I recognized them immediately – Derek, Jason, and Tyler. The same guys who'd made my high school years a living hell.
I pulled over and rolled down my window, plastering a neutral expression on my face. The three approached my car with suspicion, hands resting on their weapons.
"Step out of the vehicle and state your name," Derek ordered, his voice dripping with authority.
I mentally rolled my eyes. I'd gone to school with all three of these idiots. Tyler and I had been in the same math class from 7th to 10th grade. Derek had been my science lab partner in 10th grade. And Jason's mate, Alice, used to be my friend before she decided popularity was more important than loyalty.
Sure, I looked different now. I was taller, leaner, my hair longer, and I no longer wore the thick sunglasses I'd once used to hide my changing eye color. But not that different.
They never really saw you anyway, Kate whispered in my mind. Not unless they were tormenting you.
She was right. After Airina died, most pack members stopped acknowledging my existence unless they were mocking or bullying me.
I briefly considered giving a fake name just to avoid the inevitable drama, but decided against it. Better to get this over with.
"Liya Morrison," I said, stepping out of the car.
The guards exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from suspicion to mockery.
"Liya Morrison?" Derek asked Tyler. "Isn't that the Beta's younger daughter?"
"I think so," Tyler replied, eyeing me skeptically. "But this definitely isn't her. Better check her ID."
Jason snickered. "Yeah, she looks nothing like the Beta's daughter. I heard the Moon Goddess took away her ability to shift and cursed her with a face covered in acne pits as punishment for murdering future Luna Airina. Last time I saw her, she was wearing those thick sunglasses to hide those freaky eyes."
"Are you sure those were just sunglasses?" Derek laughed. "Maybe they were to hide her bloodlust for all of us."
They all burst into laughter, and I felt my stomach turn. Not just because they were being assholes, but because Jason had referenced the time in ninth grade when he'd sprinkled silver powder in my food, causing me to break out in hives and go hungry for 48 hours.
The memory of that day flashed through my mind – sitting alone in the cafeteria, taking that first bite of my sandwich and feeling the immediate burning sensation on my tongue and throat. The way my skin had erupted in angry red welts within minutes. How the school nurse had looked at me with disgust rather than concern, telling me to "stop being dramatic" as I struggled to breathe. I'd spent two days in my room, too weak to move, while Victoria refused to bring me food, claiming I was "just seeking attention."
And Jason had called Airina "future Luna Airina," which was ridiculous. She and Damian had never officially confirmed their mate bond, and she'd never completed the Luna succession ceremony.
The pack's glorification of Airina gets more extreme every year, I thought bitterly.
I glanced around the checkpoint, noticing the small shrine-like display in the guard booth – a framed photo of Airina surrounded by candles and flowers. two years ago, it had been a simple memorial. Now it looked like a place of worship.
"Can I see some identification?" Derek held out his hand, smirking.
I reached into my pocket and handed him my driver's license.
He studied it for a moment before showing it to Jason and Tyler. "Well, boys, looks like we've got ourselves an identity theft case. I think this pretty lady just gave me a fake ID. And not even a good one; she looks nothing like the picture."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. My license photo had been taken just last year. The only difference was I'd been wearing makeup to tone down my mixed-blood features – a habit I'd developed over years of trying to blend in.
"Who would want to steal Liya Morrison's identity?" Tyler asked, genuinely confused.
Jason looked me up and down, his eyes lingering inappropriately on my body. "Listen, sweetheart, you're definitely not from around here, because anyone within fifty miles knows that Liya Morrison is the last person you'd want to impersonate. In fact, she's barely even a real werewolf."
The insult stung, but I kept my expression neutral. I'd heard worse – much worse – from these same people and others in the pack.
"Please contact Beta Sebastian," I said, my patience wearing thin.
Derek grinned. "You sure that's a good idea, pretty lady?"
The other two laughed again, and I felt my irritation rising. My eyes began to flicker with red light – a telltale sign of my mixed heritage that I usually tried to control.
"Remember when Sally made Liya drink his—" Tyler started, but I cut him off.
"Contact. Beta. Sebastian. Please." My voice came out stronger than I'd intended, with Kate adding a hint of supernatural presence behind it. Neither of us wanted to revisit the story Tyler was about to tell – the one where I'd been forced to drink silver-laced water during a particularly cruel "prank" at a pack bonfire.
The guards seemed startled by the sudden power in my voice. I felt a small surge of satisfaction watching them shift uncomfortably.
Derek raised his eyebrows, taken aback by my tone. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."
As he stepped away to make the call, Jason and Tyler continued to stare at me with undisguised curiosity and contempt. I stood my ground, refusing to show weakness.
This is why I hate coming back here, I thought.
We could just shift and show them who we are, Kate suggested.
You know we can't do that here.
Why not? It would shut them up.
Because the last time I shifted in Moon Shadow territory, Victoria tried to have me executed for "endangering the pack with my vampire contamination."
Kate growled in frustration but didn't argue further.
Ten minutes later, a black SUV pulled up to the checkpoint. The door opened, and my father, Beta Sebastian, stepped out. His imposing figure approached us, his expression unreadable as always.
The night had only just begun, and I was already exhausted.