Chapter 3 A DAY OFF

RACHEL'S POV

The sudden whoop of a police siren pulled me back to reality, signaling me to stop.

Damn. I'd been narrating in my head and completely missed that the traffic light had turned green. Today was my brother's birthday, and as much as I loved being away from home and the family lectures, it was my brother's birthday so I guess I had to be there for him.

"Good afternoon," I greeted the officer even before he reached my window.

"Rachel?" he said, probably Mr. Clark. The guy whose wife was divorcing him.

"Hey," I replied, forcing a smile I didn't mean.

"Defaulting on the law on your day off, huh?" he teased. "You good? You know the light changed like thirty seconds ago."

"I'm good, Clark, I was just-"

"Rex, my name is Rex, Rachel. How many times-"

"Oh! Sorry. I always-"

"It's okay. You better get going so you don't miss the little guy's party."

I sped up before he finished his sentence, though I waved like I'd heard everything. I hadn't grown up with that friendly, chatty personality I used to have. Past trauma, I guess.

But back to the point. Wolfhaven was still the same. It's not like I'd been gone for eternity-just six months since I last dropped by but nothing had really changed. Well, except the paint was looking a little older now.

"Rachel?" Sarah, my childhood friend, greeted me.

"Hey," I responded. "Long time no see."

We embraced briefly before I noticed her belly.

"Don't tell me it's what I'm thinking."

"Yeah, it is," she said with a laugh. It was crazy that everyone had moved on except me.

"Come on," she added as we both went inside to catch up on old times, while I scanned the room for that little troublemaker.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!"

I couldn't stop smiling as we all chanted the familiar birthday song. Yeah, we werewolves had adapted too, singing it at our birthday parties like everyone else.

"Look who decided to show up," my mom whispered, tickling me a little. We hugged tightly, her embrace nearly squeezing the life out of me. I could tell she really missed me, and I couldn't help but ask how she'd been.

"We're doing great, Rachel. I mean, look at your brother. What six months can do?"

"Yeah," I said, glancing at Theo. "He'll probably outgrow Dad soon."

Before I could finish the thought, the inevitable interruption came.

"What are you doing over there, Rachel?" my dad called from the head table. "Come here-the both of you!"

The rest of the event played out like a normal birthday. Theo, my brother, seemed to be avoiding me a little, sticking with his new friends. Meanwhile, Sarah and I caught up on old times. Everything felt perfect until I got a call from my boss.

"Hey, boss," I said, clearing my throat. Why was he bothering me now? This was supposed to be my day off.

"Rachel!" His voice was frantic, his heartbeat quick, like he was running or being chased. "I'm sorry to drag you into this again. I know it's your day off, but we're after a suspect-Gabriel. There's been a murder at Ocean Beach. A student. This is big. He's headed toward the golf course and I think that's near your family's mansion, right?"

"What do you want me to do, Dave?" I asked, standing up.

"I don't know-wolf out and stop his vehicle. He'll be driving past your family mansion in less than thirty minutes."

"I can't wolf out on command, Dave. I told you, I'm a werewolf, not a Lycan. And the latter doesn't exist, alright?"

"Rachel?" my mom called, her voice laced with concern. "What's wrong?"

"I'll be back, Mom."

"But you just arrived," Theo interrupted.

"Yeah, you should stay at least a day for your brother."

"Mom, Jesus! I'm not going far. I'll be back."

"Like last time," my dad added, his voice heavy with disappointment, just as I turned to leave, furious. I wasn't ready to have that conversation again. Not now. Not about quitting my job-though, honestly, I was beginning to consider it.

"Dave? You still with me?"

"Rachel, it's a 2021 Honda Accord, dark blue. Plate number ABC-D12-"

I didn't hear the rest as outside our gated driveway, a dark blue vehicle sped past, making my pulse quicken.

"Jesus! I see it, Dave," I said, hanging up the call as I sprinted toward the nearest vehicle. The door was locked and without thinking, I punched through the window, unlocking it. Please be him. It had to be him. The vehicle's alarm blared suddenly, doing it's job. I could hear voices shouting, a woman screaming that it was her car, and above all, my dad's strict voice calling my name.

"Open the gates, Albert!" I shouted at our gatekeeper, but my dad's voice cut through, ordering him not to.

"That's an order!" he barked, but Albert hesitated before slowly opening the gates.

I didn't wait. I floored the gas, tearing through the gates into the street but the blue vehicle was gone. I couldn't have lost him. Not again!

I slammed the accelerator, the speedometer needle shooting up. I wasn't about to let that bastard slip through my fingers this time.

Dave didn't make it any easier for me, calling over and over, no matter how many times I ended the call. Eventually, I had no choice but to pick up before I lost my sanity.

"Hey, Dave," I whispered through gritted teeth, but he was already asking if I'd seen the vehicle.

"Jesus, yes, Dave. I'm after him right now. Could you not bother me for once?"

"Rachel, be careful! He's already-"

I ended the call before he could finish, barreling through another traffic light while a queue of cars waited. I nearly collided with a bus on the opposite lane, but somehow, by sheer luck, I managed to avoid it. Very lucky indeed-because I finally spotted the blue vehicle just ahead, waiting in line with a queue of cars.

Relief surged through me as I slipped into the lane right behind them, trying to act like I wasn't tailing them. There were four people in the car-two in the front, two in the back. I must have stared too long, because suddenly, they surged forward, smashing into a nearby vehicle's window. On instinct, I did the same, ramming into another car in the process.

This might be my craziest day ever.