Scum (Book 1)

3. Service

Cheyenne’s POV

My family and I made it to the cafeteria just in time because our future leaders entered almost immediately after us. We were barely able to move out of the way and join in shouting ‘surprise.’ Our luna really loves her son, especially because, unlike her daughter, he actually puts up with her over the top antics.

Jenna and I are only a year apart, but we don’t mingle much. It's not a bad thing, we are friendly with one another, and occasionally share in conversation, but she likes to follow rules, while I like to misinterpret them.

Like Alpha Liam, she has started college early, so she isn’t here for this welcome back party that I can tell her brother could have done without. He looks famished, and by the way he’s eyeing the buffet, all he wants to do is eat.

While everyone is distracted with hugging and greeting the future alpha, beta, and gamma, I get my father to a table that can accommodate us, and my mother goes to get us a serving of food.

“Lots of people here today,” My dad says, gently setting my now lopsided cake on the table. “I wonder if they would want to sing to you too.”

“Not with the golden boys here,” I tease, earning a light flick on the forehead in return.

“Careful Cheyenne, you know that egos can be wounded easily."

I make my face stoic, nodding at my father who has always had a fear that his accident will eventually cause pain to our family. I know it's depression, but because of that way of thinking, my parents make sure they show their full support for the leaders of our pack, and by default, their children.

That is why, despite it being my birthday, we are celebrating Alpha Liam. My parents are convinced that not attending every single acknowledgement of the man will make it seem like we oppose his takeover, especially now that Dallas is climbing in rank.

My mother comes back with food for all of us, and as we are settling in, I spot Nora and her mother looking for a place to sit. She isn’t very friendly, but she is as sweet as a dove, and having her as a friend makes all the work I do to help my family a little less difficult.

She and I are both in the dual credit program in our high school, so when we graduate, we will be registered nurses. We both planned to complete the werewolf nursing program after graduation, but for whatever reason, Nora’s application was denied.

She thinks it’s because of her rank, which I hope isn’t true because like her, my entire future is resting on gaining admission into that program. My brother can’t support the entire household on the money he earns, even if he becomes the delta warrior, and my mother can't keep rushing home between shifts to make sure that my father is okay.

The further in the past my father’s injury becomes, the lower our rank drops, and while people used to make accommodations for her, they are no longer as supportive as they once were, which is why I work as hard as I do.

As long as our family bank account stays above a certain amount, my parents don’t stress, so Dallas and I try to keep it as healthy as possible.

However, none of us can ignore that it’s becoming more difficult as my mother ages and has to lessen the hours she spends working. If I can complete the were-nursing program, I can easily afford to carry the family so that mom can become dad’s full-time care-giver, even without Dallas’ contribution.

“Happy Birthday!” Nora says, sitting next to me while our parents start to chat.

My mother is friends with Ms. Andrea, so they share the burden of taking care of us. Nora’s father died in the same attack that cost my father his legs, and the experience has brought our families together.

I don’t know when it happened, but they have become closer, and I overheard a conversation discussing the possibility of us moving in together. They were discussing how much it could save, since the rent for one larger home is less than the rent for two smaller ones.

That conversation, of course, was contingent on Dallas' pay raise for becoming the Delta warrior.

Although he’s more than capable, he hasn’t issued a formal challenge, and my father says that it's out of respect for the man he plans to unseat.

Apparently, when I challenged the top female fighter, I went about it all wrong, but the woman didn’t seem to care, and while angry about her defeat, she was happy for me. I saved her the embarrassment of stepping down, and now, she happily instructs a juvenile conditioning course which allows her to spend more time with her young children.

As I’m stuffing my face, and tooting my own horn while I’m doing it, Nora jabs me with her elbow, handing me a box under the table.

“Don’t open it here.” She says, turning slightly red. “It’s not much.” I’m poor too, so I know that Nora is embarrassed about getting me something that’s probably considered cheap.

“Can I at least peek?”

“Cheyenne,” she says, clearly not knowing what to say.

“Please?” I beg, and when I open the box, I’m blown away. “Did you make this?” Nora’s father used to collect and polish rocks for fun, and after being turned down for the were-nursing program, she started to dabble in his old hobby.

“It’s the first thing I ever made.” I hug my friend tightly, immediately taking it out of the box and putting it on. “Are you really going to wear it?” She questions, her shocked expression making me laugh.

“I love it, so shut up and let me enjoy my gift.” Nora chuckles, and when we realize that Dallas and our parents are staring at us, we laugh loudly.

Liam’s POV

I love my mother, but right now, I just want to eat. Everyone in the pack has been greeting and hugging me, but all I want is a plate of food. I suddenly hear loud laughter, and when I look over my shoulder, I see Dallas’ family happily chatting with one another.

I really envy him at times, not only does he think he knows who his mate is, but the plate of food that he’s devouring has sparked intense jealousy, and I’ll literally have a meltdown if I don’t get one of those biscuits.

As I’m watching, a pack helper approaches Chey, and she gets up, walking toward the kitchen and donning an apron. They must have asked her to join the shift, and when I look back at her family, they look saddened by it

It’s then that I notice the cake on the table, and knowing it's not Dallas’ birthday, I figure it must be his sisters.

“What was your mother thinking?” Royce questions over a mind-link.

“That we were responsible and didn’t drink our allowance away.”

“Oh… Yeah, I kind of forgot about that.” I start to chuckle, but then the strong aroma of food hits my nostrils and I’m seriously tempted to steal someone’s plate.

“Alpha Liam, beta Royce, gamma Kelvin; this came out of the kitchen for you.”

“Thank the goddess,” Royce shouts, snatching a plate and sitting at the nearest table. The three of us dive into the meal, chuckling as we make slightly uncomfortable eye contact. “Pack food is the best,” my beta says, and there is actually a little science behind it. Our taste buds are more sensitive than humans, so we appreciate good cooking more than the average person.

“Please remind me to thank the angel who sent us this meal,” I joke, but Kelvin takes it seriously, and he stops a random girl, oblivious to her blush as he asks her to ‘do him a favor.’

A short while later, the girl comes back, telling us that it was Chey. We all look toward the table Dallas is at, but the girl isn’t there, making me frown.

“Is she still in the kitchen,” he asks, and the girl nods.

“She’s helping get the service under control.” That’s interesting, but my food is better, so I go back to my meal, only stopping to get up and get seconds.

I get preferential treatment as the future alpha, so I’m allowed to enter the back, where I see Chey expertly directing the kitchen, while simultaneously kneading dough. She looks tired, and not wanting to disturb her I take what I want and go back to my seat.

I don’t know how much time passed but suddenly, the happy birthday song starts. Curious, we look toward the source, and see many people singing to Cheyenne, who is covered in flour.

“It’s her birthday?” Kelvin questions. “Why is she covered in flour?”

“Do you boys know nothing?” The three of us jump as we turn to face my mother. “Everything you're eating was prepared by that girl. I didn’t realize it was her birthday though.” My mother looks saddened, and is likely feeling guilty about something.

I then spot my father making his way over to their table, and just like she always does, Chey gives him a tight hug, but her parents scold her, and for the first time ever, I watch the girl’s shoulders fold in shame.

Cheyenne’s POV

“What are you doing back here?” I respond without even facing the head cook. I’m too busy to take my eyes off my task, and for whatever reason, people keep coming to me for instruction.

“The luna sent for me; dinner was packed, and we would have run out before everyone ate.”

“Why didn’t she call for me or your mother? I only went home to change.” I shrug, and realizing that she’s distracting me, the woman picks up an apron. “Where do you need me?”

“I’ve already prepared the stuffing for the chicken, they’re already being filled, dust them in the spice mixture I set to the side and get them in the oven.”

Time passes, and I breathe deeply when everything is done. I rejoin my family, and seeing that I’m sleepy, Nora starts the happy birthday song, knowing that I wouldn’t rush my family.

Just before we leave, Alpha Lucas comes to say happy birthday, and as usual I give him a tight hug. Mom and dad don’t know how much he does for me. Pack members my age have work limitations, but he bends the rules for me, knowing my situation.

“Cheyenne,” my mother sternly whispers, and I know she’s reminding me of my rank.

“Sorry alpha, I’ve forgotten my place.”