Scum (Book 1)

14. Address

Chey’s POV

Alpha Liam has finally arrived, but for whatever reason, he didn’t talk to us right away. He first met with his father, and the gossip going around is that he has chosen to mark Porsha, which is good news for me.

I really need an income boost so that I can begin saving for when I’m accepted into the were-nursing program. Technically, I’m already a registered nurse, but my skills are limited to bedside care, and there is no demand for a nurse’s assistant in our pack; simply put, Nora filled the last spot we had.

I have to struggle not to text Liam and ask him if the rumors are true, but eventually we are all called to the general meeting area and get there just in time to see Liam standing on the platform, already beginning to speak.

During the address, my family sat at the back with all the other rankless wolves, and by the end of Liam’s speech everyone was smiling and clapping cheerfully.

The man has actually thanked us for everything we have done for him over the years, which means a lot to any wolf, and his promise to make sure that we keep moving forward and not backward is something that has every woman excited to hear.

Lastly, he formally introduced us to Porsha, who he said he was in a very serious relationship with. Basically, he hinted that she will be our future Luna, and I almost sprinted to the stage, ready to put in my application. However, on my way, I noticed Jenna and Royce looking extremely uncomfortable, and for whatever reason, I’m drawn to the pair.

“Jenna, it’s good to see you.”

“Who are… Chey?!” I forgot that not everyone has gotten used to my ‘new’ appearance, so I’m not offended. “You look great.” Jenna glances up at Royce, looking to see where he’s looking, and that kind of confuses me. “Why the change?”

“I’ll be eighteen soon. I don’t want to chase away my mate.”

“But you might end up with someone who already told you that he doesn’t want you. What would you do then?”

“I guess that’s a question of faith. I believe that the bond is created between two souls that can’t function without the other half.”

“That’s beautiful,” Royce says, almost as if he’s never heard it taught that way before. “I learned that the bond is the moon goddess’s way of preserving our species.”

“Well, our beliefs can co-exist. Maybe she’s preserving our species by blessing us with mates. All I know is that if my mate didn’t want me, I’d be hurt, but I’d try to figure out why before respecting his decision.”

“You mean that you would voluntarily be rejected?” Royce seems shocked that I’d be willing to give up on something so sacred, but he doesn’t have the same worries I have, and chasing after a man, or woman who doesn’t want me isn’t a luxury I can afford.

“From what I know, rejection pain is shared equally, so if that person dislikes me enough to be willing to experience something described as excruciating, then there must be a severe problem between us, and I don’t think physical attraction falls under that category.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” Jenna’s words make me chuckle because I know she’s being sarcastic.

“I guess I really don’t know what I’m talking about, but I’m glad you’ve given me something to think about. If I come across a mate who doesn’t want me because of the way I look, I’m sure I can choose someone who loves me for who I am. Anyway guys, I’m going to say hello to Alpha Liam and Por-”

“No,” the pair say at the same time. “I mean, we still have more questions for you.”

“I’ve never even been to wolf education courses. You should probably ask someone better versed.” I try to walk away but Jenna grabs me, which is sort of irritating.

“Sorry, I just… Royce is my mate.” I cover my mouth, shocked by the admission.

“How come it wasn’t announced?”

“She wants to reject me,” Royce says, shocking me even further.

“Why?”

“He isn’t physically attracted to me, and I don’t want to be fated to someone who is going to cheat on me any chance they get.”

“Jen, I told you that’s not true. You’re my friend’s sister, I had to say that to you.”

“I wasn’t asking you for a relationship, I was asking you for s*x. You could have at least given me that.” Jenna isn’t thinking logically, and I clear my throat to get her attention.

“You know that he’s Liam’s best friend, right?”

“So what?”

“Um… Royce isn’t exactly the nicest guy in this pack, and I think he was trying to be respectful by turning you down.”

“THANK YOU!” Royce says loudly, staring at Jenna triumphantly. “How could I have just slept with you? I respected you too much to do that, and now you’re using it against me.”

“All I wanted was for my first time to be with someone who knew what they were doing; nothing more.”

“Jen, I’ve literally been winging it from the beginning, I had no idea what I was doing half the time.”

“Then why did people keep flocking to you?”

“Maybe it's because I’m the future beta? I don’t know, all I knew back then was how you felt about me, and I just couldn’t do that to you.”

“Then why didn’t you just tell me that? Why act too good for me?”

“I was seventeen and you showed up in my room naked. I didn’t know what to say, so I panicked and defaulted to ‘play it cool.’”

“I didn’t ask you to say anything, I asked you to fu-” This is a good time for me to leave, so I do.

I really hope I don’t have any of those issues with my future mate, but then again, I may not even have a fated partner, and in that case, I will take whatever I can get.

I really want to be fated to my partner because I want what my parents have, and simply put, I feel like I’ve worked so hard in life that I deserve someone who will understand me without being told.

I want a man who will see my achievements and think I’m amazing, and while the bond won’t necessarily give me those things, my faith tells me that it will.

Feeling depressed over the possibility that I may not have a ‘perfect’ mate, I start looking for alpha Liam and his chosen partner again, but I don’t find them, so I fall in with a group of girls that look like they are gossiping, something too tempting to ignore.

“See ladies, all that groveling you’ve been doing is for nothing; he’s going to choose an outsider.” Shelby is one of the few wolves in our pack who doesn’t believe in or respect the bond, and sometimes, she has a convincing argument.

She once told me that waiting for my fated partner did not mean that they were waiting for me, but I’m not doing it for him, I’m doing it for myself; I think.

“Cheyenne the man,” the woman says, fist bumping me with an exaggerated popping sound. “Looks like you’re going to get your wish soon.”

“Are you applying as well?” Shelby is a good fighter; no match for me, but respectable.

“Hell no. She’ll have me killed the second we step off territory.” That’s a weird thing to say, and my mind goes to Porsha’s lineage. The woman’s father is one of the cruelest alphas in current times, and I think the man’s reputation haunts his daughter.

Then again, I only know her through Liam’s eyes, and while she doesn’t strike me as friendly, I don’t think Liam would fall so deeply for a truly bad person.

“Are you not on good terms with her?” Many of the girl’s giggle, and I suddenly feel out of place in the group I’m with.

They aren’t exactly ‘saints’ and while I don’t judge, I’ve definitely heard others talking about them, so after getting a very vague response, I leave.

Finally, I spot Alpha Liam standing with his father and a few other people, so I cautiously approach, wearing my best, ‘don’t forget to hire me’ face, but before I can get too close, Dallas stops me.

“Chey, stay away from Liam for the time being, okay?” My brother is using a tone I’m unfamiliar with, so I don’t press for a reason and decide to head home for the night.

I can always talk to the man in the morning, and if not, I’m sure he will text me tonight.

Liam’s POV

Chey looks amazing, and because of that, I have very pointedly asked everyone to keep her away from me. The last time they met, the girl was dressed like Dallas, and now… if I’m being honest, she’s literally the most beautiful girl around tonight, my girlfriend included.

If they cross paths, it will make everything I’ve been telling Porsha about the girl seem like a lie, and I don’t want to ruin our relationship after I’ve already introduced her to my pack. She’s already angry that I didn’t declare her my future Luna, but it just didn’t feel like the right time.

As I’m talking to my father, I spot Chey out of the corner of my eye, and panic makes me mind-link Dallas, who was able to intercept the girl. I see her nod, and although she looks confused, she leaves, making my heart sink.

She looks defeated, and I wish I could mind-link her to explain, but I do the next best thing and send her a text.

[Please don’t be sad. Porsha is feeling insecure, so I’ve been trying to avoid all female contact.] Chey stops, looking at her phone before turning to look back at me with a smile that makes me smile.

[Thanks for letting me know. I hope everything’s okay.] I really wish that more girls could be like Chey.

She’s so easy to get along with that I sometimes find myself randomly reaching out to her. For whatever reason, I feel like she gets me, and because I know that she isn’t interested in me, I feel like she’s a safe option to talk to about Porsha.

If I sent some of the things I’ve sent to her to any other woman, they would have been trying to take Porsha’s place by smearing her, but Chey has only ever reminded me that I chose the woman for a reason, making me remember everything I like about my girlfriend.

[Later?]

[Later,] Chey replies.