Scum (Book 1)

26. Flag

Cheyenne’s POV

I was surprised when Alpha Liam brought me a plate, but I guess he has to put on a show for everyone, so I extend my gratitude with a smile that’s equal parts genuine and act because I really don’t want to eat with him.

“That’s not a real smile,” the man says, shocking me because I’m certain that my fake smiles are just as good as the real ones. “I’m not dumb, so I know I did something, but I’m bad at guessing games, so can you please tell me what I did?”

I’m not sure if I should tell Liam why I’m angry, because he may get the wrong impression, but if I say nothing, I’m doing myself a disservice.

“Alpha Liam, I know that I’m not a ranked pack member, so don’t think that I’m confused about where I stand, but I really don’t like being made fun of, especially since I’m doing you a favor.”

“Who made fun of you?”

“You, Royce, and Jenna… In fact, the only people who haven’t made fun of me are complete strangers, and that makes me feel… It makes me feel like punching someone.” Alpha Liam starts laughing, so I glare at him, hoping that he understands that what he’s doing is exactly why I’m angry.

“Chey, wait, don’t leave,” the man says, stopping me from standing by placing his hand on my thigh. “I’m not laughing at you. You’re a very funny girl, even when you aren’t trying to be.”

“But now isn’t a time to laugh; I’m telling you how I feel.”

“You’re right, but I’m not laughing at your emotions, I’m laughing at how you express yourself. Most people would say it makes them feel bad, but you go straight to violence.”

“Fighting makes me feel better, and-”

“Chey wait… I’m still talking. If I made you feel like I was making fun of you, I apologize, but that wasn’t my intention. You say a lot of funny things, and everyone likes that about you.”

“But-”

“Hold on… I’m not done.” Alpha Liam actually goes into every instance that he laughed ‘at’ me, and eventually he gets into his sister and Royce, apologizing on their behalf. “None of us think you’re a joke. It’s just that when you speak, we can sometimes hear it in Dallas’s voice.”

“Do I sound like a man?” Again, the man laughs, and it’s then that I realize he was speaking figuratively, not literally.

“Chey, relax. You’re an awesome person, and I would really like it if you would go back to smiling again.”

I uncover the plate of food, smirking when I see a little of everything, and because I know Alpha Liam is probably still hungry, I hand him one of the kabobs.

I feel better now that I’ve told the man how I feel, and I’m finally able to enjoy the ocean view.

This is my first time at the beach, but I already discovered that I’m not a fan of sand, the wind is unforgiving, and I don’t think I would visit again. However, I now have a new experience that I’ll be able to hold onto and remember forever.

“What’s on your mind?”

“The sun set is beautiful, but this is a horrible place.” Liam chuckles, and because we’ve already discussed that he finds me funny, I’m not offended.

“Is it the smell of the salt water or the sand?” I actually like the saltwater smell, but I think what I really like is the hint of freedom that it carries with it.

I never really noticed how stressed I was until coming on this trip, and I now understand why Alpha Liam always asked me to take some time out for myself. I have nothing to do, and honestly speaking, it feels great.

“I think it’s the sand,” I go silent as I focus on eating, then I take my plate to the nearest trash bin, sighing when I notice that someone called a crew to handle the clean-up.

I don’t like that the people I’m with can’t be bothered to lift a single finger to throw something away, but I guess that’s what it’s like to have a rank.

“Cheyenne the man! I’ve been waiting for you to finish your little romantic picnic with your boyfriend.”

“Alpha Riker…”

“Beautiful, please don’t use my title like that. I might just be tempted to steal you from Liam so I can hear it all the time.” I look at Riker with a raised brow, not understanding what he’s talking about, and he uses the opportunity to get too close for comfort. “You don’t even know what I’m talking about, do you?” I notice the man’s eyes travel to my breast, so I quickly put my shirt back on, hoping that he leaves, but he doesn’t, so I’m forced to respond.

“I know that I’m feeling threatened enough to break your jaw.” Riker smirks, stepping away from me just as Alpha Liam pulls me backward.

“Stop challenging her Riker. She doesn’t know how to back down.”

“So I see,” the man replies.

“Why does he keep bothering me?” I whisper to Liam. “Aren’t there other girls he can mess with?”

“There are plenty, but your reactions are better. Besides, I’m only bothering you because Phoebe wants to play flag, but we need more people.”

“Okay, but I’m not playing on your team.”

Liam’s POV

Chey made a mistake not playing on Riker’s team because the man is targeting her even when she doesn’t have the ball. However, he was stupid for thinking that she’s like any other woman he’s ever met.

She often played flag with the boys in the pack, and she was never picked last. She’s fast, agile, strong, strategic, and very competitive when she plays, resulting in frustrated males who underestimated her abilities, which is the same thing happening now.

Chey’s team is up by three points, but of the nine they have, four came from her efforts. She’s a good leader and motivator, and I can tell by the look on Phoebe’s face that she’s falling deeply in love with the woman.

“I hope she breaks up with you and never finds her mate.” That was a little harsh, but I know that Riker is only saying that because like phoebe, he’s smitten.

“F*ck you,” I say to the man, angry that this is a no contact game, because I definitely would have taken him down the first chance I got.

Chey is my fake girlfriend, but she’s my real friend. I want nothing but the best for her, and I know how the girl feels about finding her mate.

As he and I sh*t talk, the ball is snapped, and because Chey’s being heavily guarded, her teammate can’t get the ball to her, so out of frustration, she runs around the defenders and takes the ball from the person holding it and runs it to a touchdown.

She naturally starts celebrating her team's win, and because she’s intentionally trying to be silly, she gets a few chuckles from the losers as well, playing up on her friendliness because she doesn’t want to offend anyone.

Before we started playing, Chey asked me how ranked wolves take to losing, and I was brutally honest with her, thinking that it would be in her best interest to know. What I didn’t realize was how good the girl was going to be at soothing over the egos of the men who were on the opposing team.

“That was fun,” Chey says, approaching me with a smile that makes me and Riker smile before I push him away from us.

I’m starting to wonder if he’s feeling a pull the way Jenna suggested, but when a random she-wolf in a tiny bikini approaches him with a cold bottle of water, I get my answer right away.

I’ve seen what the beginning of the pull looks like by watching Dallas and Nora, and the man was indifferent to women he used to ‘flirt’ with all the time. If Riker were in Dallas’s position, he wouldn’t have just left with someone else.

As Chey is hydrating herself, Phoebe pulls her arm, telling her that they should dip into the ocean to cool off, but that’s something I won’t allow.

“She doesn’t know how to swim, it’s dark, we don’t know the current, and I’m not allowing it.”

“Oh relax. We won’t go past the knee.” Phoebe tries to pull Chey again, but I pull the woman back, resulting in what looks like a game of tug-of-war.

“I said no.”

“But Chey hasn’t said anything.” Both of us look at the woman, waiting for her response, but instead of answering, she pretends to have heard someone else call her name. “Chey, come on. Don’t let him scare you. I just wanted to have a little more fun. Royce told me that this is your first time at the beach.”

“I can come back tomorrow.”

“It’s a date!” Cheyenne looks at me with eyes so wide that both Phoebe and I have to laugh at her. “It’s just an expression. I know that you’re in a relationship and I respect that, but there aren’t a lot of girls like us, so I really want to be friends with you.”

I actually think Phoebe is telling the truth because she’s typically pushing disrespectful men, and hopeful women away from her, but with Chey she can be her natural self without worry.

“Even tonight, we’re going dancing. I would ask you to come, but I don’t want to step on Liam’s toes if you two already have plans.”

“We don’t have plans,” I add, reminded that I want Chey to have a multitude of experiences during this trip. “You can send me the information and I’ll make sure she gets there.”

“Alone?”

“Don’t push it…” Phoebe lightly punches my arm, winking because she may say one thing, but I know that if Chey gives her the okay, she’ll jump at the opportunity.

Cheyenne’s POV

I did not know that going dancing meant going to a nightclub, and I’m wearing a dress so tight and short that I’m afraid to take too many steps or bend.

“Jenna… Please don’t make me go out like this. Do you know how Riker is going to look at me?”

“Just Riker?” I try to cover my face, but Jenna stops me because she’s still doing my makeup. “Chey, you’re still a minor by human standards. If we want to get you in, you need to be too hot to turn away.”

“So, I have to show everything off?” I question, feeling completely exposed.

“Well, no but… Chey please? Liam really needs an ego boost.”