Scum (Book 2)

136. Cold

Liam's POV

I can't see Cheyenne through the walls, but I keep imagining what she's doing, and the mental image of her laughing and smiling with her family is enough to keep me pacified.

Dallas has already asked me to leave twice, and wanting to be respectful I have, but when I think I'm going to my room, I find myself right back where I started.

It's cold, so I shifted in order to keep warm, but that only worked until lightning started to strike, and the cold autumn rain began to fall.

I couldn't stay shifted and ended up completely naked in the rain, patiently waiting for my mate to invite me inside.

I know she won't, but I'm afraid to leave and miss catching just one more glimpse of her through the window.

“Liam what the f*ck. Are you trying to kill yourself?” I didn't hear or smell Royce approaching, but I'm glad he's here.

“Did my mate ask you to come?” I didn’t even realize that I was naked until he started wrapping me in a blanket.

“It was Dallas.”

“But… Did she ask him to call you?”

“Let’s talk about that when we get you inside.”

“Ask him first.”

“Liam, man… Your going to kill yourself.”

“I’m fine.” That’s what I’m saying, but my teeth are chattering so hard that my jaw hurts.

“No, you aren’t.” Royce tries to pull me along, prompting me to push him away.

“I’ll leave when Cheyenne asks me to.” That statement makes Kelvin scoff, not ideal when I already want to kill him, and sensing where my mind is, Royce tackles me.

Sadly, I’m freezing, so the only damage I’m capable of doing is to the muddy grass.

Somehow, Dallas also ends up rolling in the mud with us, and then I hear my mate's voice.

“Why are you out here, sweety? It's too cold, please go back inside.” The season is changing, and this rain is close to freezing.

“You go back first. You need to rest unless you're trying to get sicker.” I didn't want to go, but Cheyenne asked me to leave, so I did, but I’m still trembling, and I can't get warm.

I end up being taken to the infirmary where I’m treated for hypothermia.

My parents were called, Jenna cursed me out because Royce has a scratch on his face, and when I’m better, I have to report to the pack’s dungeon.

“Are you really not going to let me see my mate off when she leaves?”

“Can I trust you not to attack her when she does?” It’s crossed my mind a few times, killing us both, but I don’t want to hurt my mate any more than I already have.

“I will not.”

“I believe you, but my order still stands.” I don’t know how long it’ll take for my body temperature to stabilize, but I do know that I’m suddenly exhausted.

“Sleep Liam…”

“What- Did you…” I can barely keep my eyes open, but I know that I was given something.

“Don’t fight it. You need to sleep; a nurse will monitor your vitals while you rest.” I don’t want to sleep, so I try to get up, but my eyes won’t open, and my legs won’t move.

Chey’s POV

Things have been relatively peaceful since Liam entered the hospital, but I haven’t left my family’s home because I don’t want people to start doing what Royce did.

He came over, just to ‘visit,’ but about mid-way through explaining how scared he is about becoming a father, he started to talk about the ‘amazing’ feeling of having a fated partner.

He thinks that I should give Liam more time to explain himself, but I don’t trust the man to tell me the truth about anything, especially since he seems to be telling me one thing, and Porsha another.

The sad part is that I used to believe what Royce believes, but I know from my time away, and from experience, that the bond can also hurt.

Unfortunately, knowing that doesn’t stop me from feeling sorry for the man, who, I’m told, was the most helpful with keeping the peace.

If Liam were just a random guy that I met in passing, and not someone that I loved and looked up to, I think it would be easier to forgive him.

“Chey, someone is here to see you.”

“Who…” My voice trails as a large bouquet of flowers comes into view.

I don’t know the woman coming in, but I recognize the little girls behind her.

“I know it’s a bit late, but…” The woman gets down on both knees, making my eyes snap to my mother, who, in the past, would have wasted no time in putting me down to show respect for the upper leadership. “We weren't sure we were going to stay, but with you as our Luna, Alpine can only get better.”

“Your what?” I don't know why the woman wanted to leave the pack, but I'm more concerned about why she's now planning to stay. “I’m sorry, but I am not your Luna.”

“But… I heard that…” Understanding dawns on the woman before she can finish her statement. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. Do you know what pack you'll be joining, because...” Children are sometimes more aware than we give them credit for, so while the woman is speaking, her daughters are interrupting, trying to figure out why the conversation moved to joining a new pack.

“But mommy, I like it here, and Daddy doesn't want to leave either. You want him to come with us, don't you?” After another apology, the woman quickly grabs her girls and leaves, confusing me to the point where I have to ask Nora what just happened.

“A lot of people wanted to leave after what happened to you. Alpha Lucas had to go on an extreme damage control campaign to stop them.” That makes me feel queasy, and then, another visitor with flowers arrives.

“This is about to get uncomfortable,” my brother says, which wasn’t enough warning to combat what begins to unfold.

I don't like being begged, especially when it’s something that I can’t actually do.

“Do you understand what you're asking of me?”

“We do, but Chey… without you, this pack is dead.”

“Alpine existed before my daughter was born, and it will still be around after she’s gone. I don't know who you're working with or for, but I will not allow you or anyone else to guilt her into accepting a position that's already been promised to someone else?” My eyes narrow as my mother speaks because I've only just noticed that when she's angry, her words are weighted with the authority of a command.

“We’re sorry Regina… it’s just that-”

“Leave my home, and don’t come back,” she interjects, making me even more suspicious.

Sadly, I'm unable to ask her about it because my father starts complaining of back pain.

“Chey, sweety, please help your father. I’ll handle anyone else who comes here.” My mother roughly gathers the flowers left behind and attempts to throw them away, but I stop her, not seeing the need to be unappreciative of what I know was meant to be a kind gesture.

“Nora, can you just put them outside? They can take them back if they want.” My friend looks confused, so Dallas steps in, probably mind-linking her in the process.

“Chey… Do you understand what you're doing?” My mother questions, but I don’t think people would be foolish enough to believe that I’m decorating the property that I’m leaving.

“Whatever anyone thinks is irrelevant. We’ll be gone soon anyway.” The event for my father is tonight, and hopefully, Liam and I will have agreed upon a rejection date soon, so all that'll be left to do is secure a ride into the city.

It'll be tight, but my family will have to move into my apartment with me until we can find something more suitable.

I genuinely hope that Marrissa and Jett won’t mind putting up with us for a few months because Valoria is the only pack that I feel comfortable bringing my father.

Any other place may treat him unfairly, and I can't promise that I won’t get myself into trouble by trying to protect him.

“Are you sure you can make it out tonight?” My father seems to be in serious pain, prompting me to check his lower back. “You haven’t been using your medication?” Being in a wheelchair doesn’t just come with the burden of being semi-immobile.

There are skin conditions that can get really bad if not properly treated, and my father is on the cusp of what looks like an infection.

“Hey, Dallas; any word on when I’ll get my things?”

“I’ll ask Royce about it. Why? Need something specific?” Maya told me that she packed a healing potion, and I want to give it to my father.

“There’s medicine I want to give dad. I need it as soon as possible.”

“You don’t have to stress over me, baby girl. I’ll be fine.” Ignoring my father, I ask my mother why they’ve been neglecting his care, and I’m shocked to hear that no one in the family has been working.

“We thought they’d kick us out,” my father adds, trying to make light of the situation.

I knew they were struggling financially, but I was under the impression that it was because I wasn't there to help them.

I remember seeing a purchase at our local pharmacy on my bank statement shortly after I left, but there really wasn't much activity. I assumed it was because they opened up a new account, not because they had no money coming in at all.

“Why didn't you just use my money? You know how much I had.”

“We didn't want to put you in a situation where you didn't have enough to take care of yourself.” “So then… How were you getting by?” I ask, looking at the sandwich in my hands much differently.

“Since we weren't working, we had enough time to make it to free breakfast, lunch and dinner,” my mother adds, probably noticing that I'm not happy with what I'm hearing. “There were also people who helped us. Just because they couldn't call you doesn't mean that they didn't care.” My mother can be a prideful person, so the fact that she accepted help lets me know that things must have gotten very bad for them.

“And… What was Liam doing during this time?” I don't know why it matters, but I'm genuinely curious because if I find out that he intentionally backed my parents into a corner, I will kill him the way I originally wanted.