Scum (Book 1)

43. Punished

Liam’s POV

Chey’s folks don’t look happy, but my father is barking in my mind, telling me that I f*cked up somehow.

I really hope the girl didn’t tell anyone about our kiss, but since Dallas hasn’t tried to break my nose yet, I’m assuming that she hasn’t.

I barely got into my father’s office when he ordered me to sit, tossing me something that I know he wants me to read.

“What the hell is this?” I ask as I scan the contents.

“That is what happens when you let a single, attractive, young female warrior strut her stuff.”

“But… Why are they requesting to visit?” I immediately know why as soon as my father’s facial features relax, letting me know that it was a dumb question. “Dad… Chey wasn’t ‘strutting her stuff,’ she was there as a favor to me, and-…”

“Oh, I heard why she was there, and had you told me the truth, I would have told you how stupid that was. Do you think werewolves care about relationships?” I know they don’t because, for our species, years-long loving relationships can end in a heartbeat.

Usually it’s because of a fated mate, but sometimes it’s a genetic based decision, and that’s exactly why we’re getting ‘companionship’ requests.

“How the hell am I supposed to explain this to her parents?” I can’t take my eyes off the folder I was given.

I know some of the men, I’d even consider them friends, so to see them asking if they can ‘train’ with or ‘spend time’ with the woman they were introduced to as my girlfriend is beyond offensive.

“Dad, I don’t understand; Chey never told anyone that she was of gamma blood.”

“So, what you're saying is that they shouldn’t be interested in her?” This is a test, and I will not fail because if my father presses hard enough, I’ll have to tell him that I want to f*ck Cheyenne.

“I guess I just can’t see her in any way other than a little sister.” My father accepts that answer and starts asking if Chey ‘accidently’ let her rank slip.

She didn’t, in fact, she told everyone that she was rankless, which while true, is sort of inaccurate. She’s of gamma blood, therefore of gamma rank, her family just doesn’t hold the title, thus, neither does she.

“So, what should I tell these men when they’re here? It’ll come out that you and Chey aren’t an actual couple, and once they find out she’s waiting...” I wince while my father just glares, likely guessing that the information is out.

“What happens now?” I finally reply, making my father nod mockingly before he tosses another file at me.

“I can reject most of the visitation requests because I don’t know much about the packs those men and women are from, and truthfully, it’s a safety issue, but I cannot reject that one.”

I open the folder and see Morgan Donovan’s photo, and I suddenly realize that my father is angry about more than just the game I played with the pack’s money.

“I can explain.”

“No-no, I’ll do it.” I wisely choose to listen. “You gave Cheyenne an unknown magical substance, in a foreign environment, knowing that a hostile ranking official, likely fuming, was around.” When he says it like that, I sound like an inconsiderate jerk, but in my defense…

“Chey insisted.”

“Chey also eats off the floor.” I snort, knowing that the woman isn’t against it, but she’s matured a lot, and I don’t think she does that anymore.

“What do we do?”

“I don’t know, but you better pray that Cheyenne is safe.”

“Isn’t there a way that we can protect her?”

“No, and now that she’ll be starting school early, she’ll now be at the mercy of those around her.” I completely forgot that Chey has to travel for school, and now, she’ll have a watchful eye on her as she does. “Orientation begins next week. It’s a two-day event, and you WILL be attending as her personal guard.”

“Dad. Please. You know how bad that will make me look.”

“Probably just as bad as it’ll make her look if anyone finds out that you two conspired to defraud the pack that you’re in line to inherit for the sake of hurting the feelings of a psychopath’s daughter.” Damn.

Porsha’s father is a very cruel man, but psychopath is a strong word. However, I know better than to argue right now, so I’ll accept my punishment as it is.

I go to leave, but my father orders me to sit, so I stay put as he mind-links someone. He still looks pissed, but after a short while, he smiles cunningly.

“Should I be scared?” I ask, knowing that look.

“I’m not sure. I just invited your ‘girlfriend’ to find out her own punishment, and I can assure you that she’s not going to like it.”

Chey’s POV

I can’t even move as Alpha Lucas reads the letter Alpha Tyler sent the pack, admonishing not just me, but also Liam for his ‘recklessness and idiocy.’ To cap it all off, Morgan sent a visitation request, and in it, she mentioned my relationship with Liam, which my alpha clearly knows is fake.

“Anything to say for yourself?”

“I-I won.”

“Yes, you did Chey. You won; you won a whole lot.” That sounds extremely sarcastic, and when the man tells me how he plans to punish me for not just putting my life in danger, but also not coming to him when Liam asked me to commit fraud against the pack, I nearly fainted.

He hit me right where it hurt, and the worst part is that Liam has the punishment I would have preferred.

I don’t know how long I begged for mercy, but the man just gave me an uncaring stare until I pulled out the water works.

“Uncle Lucas, can’t you just give me one more chance? I’m not a bad girl; Liam made me do it.” I thought I was getting through to the man, but he turned his back on me, and I’m left searching my mind for another way to get around this.

At some point, my brother is carrying me, but I’m still bawling my eyes out because Alpha Lucas doubled down on his punishment, so I’ll only have kitchen duty and daycare responsibilities.

“Come on Chey, stop acting like a baby.”

“I am a baby!” Dallas pats my back like he’s burping an infant, and because he’s actually good at making me feel better, I actually settle down, but the minute my new phone chirps with my morning schedule, I’m back to feeling bitter. “I’m a fighter, not a nanny.” I have the best brother in the world, but right now, nothing he says will make me feel better.

At least that’s what I thought.

Dallas’s POV

I love my sister, but sometimes, she can be a f*cking i***t. She’s strong, yes, but what she did was flaunt her value around, and now, she’s literally wailing in her bedroom because she was outed, and she just found out what her punishment will be.

“Chey… it’s not that bad. It’s just one month.” My sister is still bawling her eyes out, and while I want to laugh, I can’t blame her for being angry.

She’s been banned from working out altogether, and for someone who takes pride in her strength, it’s the worst thing that could have happened.

She wouldn’t even look at Liam when the man tried to apologize, not that I blame her, but I am curious as to how our alpha found out about their deal.

“Do you know how he figured it out?”

“Some stupid boy’s father decided to get in my business and sent Alpha Lucas a letter.” I can’t hold it in anymore, and I have to laugh, but I have a secret that I know will cheer Chey up, so I link for Nora to come to the girl's room.

Chey pouts and of course my mate scoops her up, making me wonder how many of these tantrums she’s witnessed without me around. I know they were friends for a long time, but this is the first time I’m seeing my sister act so… normal.

“Chey, I heard about the punishment you were given, but think of it this way… It’ll be good practice.” My sister blows air through her lips, probably because she’s thinking my mate is talking about a future I’m not sure She’s ever really put any thought into.

Chey wants a family, but I’ve never actually heard her voice her opinion on having children, but Nora isn’t talking about my sister right now.

“So are you saying that you’ll never babysit your little niece or nephew?” Chey is sexually dense, but she’s smart enough to get what Nora is saying, and her tears instantly dry as she begins to exclaim in shock.

“Dallas didn’t force you, did he?” I’m suddenly reminded of why my sister annoys me, but Nora just finds the question funny.

“No Chey, he didn’t. We planned our baby.”

“But why so young?” I didn’t even know Chey had thoughts like that, but the truth is that as far as ages go, Nora and I are really starting a family way too early.

“He’s my mate; he’ll take care of me, and I’ll take care of him.” I watch my sister’s eyes light up, and in that moment, I see the little girl she was always meant to be.

Sometimes, I wonder if she’s actually happy, and I really hope she gets the mate she truly deserves.

“Now, stop being sad. You said that you got to taste a lot of new food. Aren’t you going to make something for us?”

“Nora’s not been able to eat well lately.” My sister runs the kitchen with a still red nose, but my mate isn’t moving.

“Her mate won’t hurt her, right?” I think about that often.

Chey has an overwhelming personality, and a person with low self-esteem might let her go thinking it’ll be better, but they’ll actually be killing her if they do.

“If she-…”

“Or he,” Nora corrects because, no one’s certain.

“If he or she is smart, they’ll do what I did.” As soon as those words leave my mouth, I remember EVERYTHING I did.

“Don’t worry. If Chey finds someone who makes her change her mind about waiting, she’ll tell me.” I hope so, but because I also don’t want to stifle my sister from experiencing life, I ask my mate not to interfere if it comes to that. “And that’s exactly why you’re going to be a great father to our little one.”

“You’re the best,” I reply.