Chapter 8 Come Back to Attend Her Weeding

Lya's POV:

The Moon Shadow Valley border checkpoint loomed ahead, its silver gates gleaming under the moonlight like fangs ready to bite. Four years had passed since I'd last seen this place. Four years of freedom, of building a new life at Blood Stone City's Supernatural Medical School. Now I was back, driving toward the very pack that had treated me like something less than dirt for most of my life.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I pulled up to the gate. Three male guards stepped forward, eyes narrowing as they examined my car.

"Name?" demanded the tallest one, Jason.

In some ways, I should have been grateful these three didn't recognize me. In school, they'd been among my worst tormentors. I was certain they—like many others in the pack—thought tormenting me was a way to curry favor with future Alpha Damian.

For a fleeting moment, I considered giving a false name, but honesty won out.

"Lya Morrison," I replied, keeping my voice steady.

Jason's eyebrows shot up. He turned to his companions rather than addressing me directly. "Lya Morrison? Isn't that the Beta's kid's name?"

"I think so," Edward replied, squinting at me through the window. "But that's definitely not her. Better ask for ID."

"Yeah, she looks nothing like the Beta's kid," Jason smirked. "I heard she doesn't have a wolf and is ugly as hell. Last time I saw her, she had weird red marks on her face, like silver burns."

"You sure those were silver burns?" Marcus chimed in. "Could've been farm berry juice."

All three erupted in laughter, and I flinched involuntarily. They were referring to an incident during sophomore year when Jason had dumped food laced with silver powder over my head in the school cafeteria. With no money for another lunch, I'd gone forty-eight hours without eating and suffered minor silver poisoning.

"Actually," Jason continued, "didn't she have some weird obsession with Damian? Tried to break him and Elaina up?"

With each passing year, Elaina's lies seemed to become more real.

"ID," Jason demanded, holding out his hand.

I passed him my driver's license. He examined it before turning to his friends with a theatrical gesture.

"Gentlemen, I believe we have an identity theft case. This beautiful lady just gave me a fake ID. Not even a good fake; she looks nothing like her license photo."

"Of all identities, why would anyone want to impersonate Lya Morrison?" Edward asked.

Jason looked me up and down. "Ma'am, you must not be from around here, because anyone within fifty miles knows Lya Morrison is the last person you'd want to impersonate. Hell, she doesn't even have a wolf."

"Call Beta Sebastian," I said firmly. "Now."

Jason's grin widened. "You sure that's a good idea, beautiful?" His laughter resumed. "Actually, maybe impersonating Lya Morrison isn't such a crazy idea. I can't blame Beta Sebastian for seeing this as a nice upgrade from his defective seed."

"Remember when Sullivan fed Lya that silver powder mix, and then she—" Edward began.

"Call Beta Sebastian," I interrupted, my voice hardening as I felt my eyes flash slightly red. "Now."

Ten minutes later, my father's car pulled up to the checkpoint. He stepped out, his posture rigid with irritation.

"What's the problem?" he demanded. "I'm in the middle of preparing for tomorrow's ceremony."

Jason gestured toward me and handed over my license. "Sorry to disturb you, Beta Sebastian. This female requested entry, but this is the ID she gave us. Obviously, this woman isn't your daughter, sir, but she insisted we call you."

My father didn't even look at me or the license. "You always fulfill the requests of strangers with fake IDs?"

He questioned the guards about standard border protocols, discovering they had followed none: they hadn't processed my ID through the computer, contacted the officer in charge, or checked my vehicle plates.

My father was furious, especially with Elaina's wedding the next day. I watched him, feeling a pang in my chest. I knew what Elaina's wedding meant to him—an opportunity to bring honor and power to the family. Elaina marrying Damian would make her Luna, further cementing the Morrison family's position.

Finally, my father glanced at me, then at my license. His eyes widened slightly before he calmly turned back to the guards.

"I'll take her with me. I'll return for the vehicle after the wedding tomorrow. I suggest you three get as much sleep as possible tonight, as you'll be on cleaning duty at the wedding and working at the pack house for the next three weeks. After that, you'll be sent for border guard remedial training before being allowed to resume normal duties."

Once we were several blocks from the checkpoint, my father glanced at me.

"You knew it was against protocol to have them call me, didn't you?"

"Yes," I admitted.

"Did you do it to irritate them or me?"

"Them. I was annoyed they were hassling me and didn't recognize me. But I was genuinely surprised they listened to me while ignoring other protocols."

"I'm not. I told Alpha Richard those idiots couldn't identify basic silverweed. I was overruled. I suppose I should thank you for proving me right."

"I'm sorry for choosing tonight of all nights to return. I know you're busy preparing for tomorrow's wedding."

"Don't. Your timing is terrible, Lya. It's your sister's big day, and the entire pack is preparing. I assumed you wouldn't show up. Victoria will be shocked."

The Beta residence stood ahead, adorned with white flowers and silver ribbons for tomorrow's ceremony. My stomach knotted at the sight of the house where I'd endured years of torment. Father parked and turned to me, his voice stiff.

"Your old room is as you left it. Victoria's overseeing final wedding preparations, and Noah's at the Alpha residence helping. Elaina's staying with friends tonight—tradition before the ceremony."

The house was eerily quiet as we entered. Preparations for tomorrow's celebration were evident everywhere—floral arrangements, ceremonial items, and a lingering scent of that bitter herbal mixture Victoria had forced down my throat for years.

"I'll be leaving early tomorrow," Father said as I headed toward the stairs. "Wedding preparations."

I nodded, relieved I wouldn't have to face Mom tonight. The stairs creaked familiarly as I climbed to the third floor where my small bedroom had been tucked away—as far as possible from the family's main rooms.