Scum (Book 2)

98. Offer

Chey’s POV

I know when I’m being threatened, and now, I want Alpha Mateo gone.

“Don’t come back here.” I’m using the authority within me to issue a command, but I know that he’s unlikely to be heavily affected.

“I hope you don’t come to regret turning me down,” he adds, moving toward the door as he speaks. “But don’t worry, I’ll still do what I said.” I almost forgot about having my information posted in the rogue database, but any threat coming my way will be dealt with accordingly. “Fair warning, I probably won’t be the last person they send to appeal to you.”

“Then ‘they’ better set up an appointment because I’m not the same little girl who attended that conference.”

“Oh, but you are,” the man replies. “You’re only just realizing it.” That was cryptic and annoying, but the man already walked out, and I don’t want to chase him.

“Alpha… What was he talking about?” Jett and Marrissa don’t have a great relationship with the council because their issue was dismissed like it was nothing, but they look like they’re seeing a new hope.

“I got into it with a rankist Alpha,” I say, explaining the story to them in detail. “Later, the man tried to get revenge, but I killed him instead.”

“You must be amazing to have survived unscathed,” Marissa reverently adds.

“Not really. I could’ve died from my injuries, but I was given a healing potion.”

“Let’s stop talking about this.” Jett says, realizing that my mood has plummeted, something that happens anytime I think of Liam or my life at Alpine. “I shouldn’t have even questioned you, but if you do join the council, can you allow Marissa and I to run first?” Legally, I would have to turn the couple over, but…

“I will never ever abandon you.”

“But-”

“No buts,” I interject, realizing that I misread. They aren't hopeful, they're worried. “You and Marissa are my friends, and Jett… You’re my gamma.” Immediately a connection is made between us, and we suddenly start chuckling like fools. “You two will never understand how much you’ve done for me.” Back at Alpine, I was always lonely.

I worked hard, I barely had time to focus on building friendships, and the only reason I bonded with Brandon, Hector, or even Nora was because of school or work.

Marissa, Jett, and I met with nothing, and despite not knowing me well, they were the ones who suggested for us to stay together, specifically because we found out that, at eighteen, a lot of places aren't willing to rent to me.

They could have gotten a studio apartment for much cheaper, but they didn’t want to leave me alone, and it was then that I realized how important true friendships are.

Nora is my best friend, like a sister to me, and my brother's mate, but she’s not even sent me an email. Brandon didn’t come to see me off after being ousted, something that will no doubt affect his schedule since he and I were patrol partners.

The least guilty in this is Hector because he’s no longer a member of Alpine, but you would think that he would want to know how I was doing after being hurt so badly that I needed a magical aid to fully recover, but no.

If I take too long to come out of work, Jett is immediately worried, and more than once he’s come inside of my job looking for me.

In that aspect, he reminds me of Dallas, but my real brother must have forgotten all about me because, just like his mate, he’s made no attempt at reaching out.

“Thinking about them again?”

“I am,” I reply. Only this time… “I don’t miss them as much anymore,” I admit, smiling because it means that I’m one step closer to letting everything in my past go. “Anyway, did Miguel text you?”

“He hasn’t.”

“Call him.” Marissa takes out her device, but we hear the man’s phone ringing outside of the door, which makes us laugh as we open it.

He’s only just stepping off the elevator, and based on his expression, he isn’t happy.

“What the f*ck aren’t you telling us?”

“Huh?” Somehow, Miguel and Dyson know how to make being rude seem friendly, so I can’t even get mad.

“Don’t ‘huh’ me. Why were we approached by a member of the werewolf council?”

“Just now?”

“No. He came to our apartment.”

“Quick, come inside.” I don’t like this, and I want more details, which Miguel wastes no time giving.

“Do you know how hard it was not to accept the money?”

“Why didn’t you?” Jett asks, a little put off that men who claim to be working toward a large savings goal turned down an offer to speed up the process.

“If they're willing to offer us 5k just to talk to you, then holding out should get us a better payday.”

“So, you’re going to sell me out?”

“I’m telling you, aren’t I? I plan to give you half of whatever they offer; if it’s any good, that is.”

“Did he tell you what they want?”

“He mentioned some nonsense about the potential to be greater than what you are now, but I’d rather not stick my nose in places it doesn’t belong.”

“You aren’t curious at all?”

“Oh, I’m very curious, but we’re also running late, so go put this on.” Miguel hands me a garment bag and sits before he realizes that I haven’t moved. “I get that you don’t trust us, and I understand why, but my mate and I have little sisters, so we know what the world is like. Anytime money is being exchanged for a person, it’s never a good thing.”

“Would you guys be interested in joining my pack?” I know that question seems out of place, but I’m confident that Miguel and Dyson would fit right in with my group.

“It would be dangerous for us unless we move.”

“Would you be willing to do that?”

“Could we come here anytime we’re bored?”

“Absolutely.” Dyson takes a deep breath, one that I know is his attempt at masking the mind-link conversation I’m sure he’s having with his mate.

“It won’t be easy, but we’ll do it in exchange for your biscuit recipe.”

“Nope!” Everyone bursts into laughter, and although I was rejected, it wasn’t a hard no, so I’m pretty confident that I can steal Miguel and Dyson as soon as I’m in a healthy financial position.

However, I can hear Marissa selling me as the greatest alpha in the world, and when she playfully mentions Dyson running ‘our’ pack’s kitchen, the man becomes just as talkative as his mate.

Packs in the city don’t have cafeterias, and they usually host dinners to get closer, so the premise is something she had to explain to him, and I feel like he’s at least halfway sold.

“Ta-da.” I say, coming back with open arms like I’m walking toward someone to give them a hug. “How do I look?”

“No.” Miguel says, pushing another bag at me as my expression falls.

“But you picked this. You altered it for my measurements.”

“And I changed my mind now.” I walk back into my bedroom, but when I walk out a second time, I’m met with complete silence.

“Change?” I question, feeling like I must look hideous, but I’m hit with a ‘no’ from everyone.

“You better win this fight,” Miguel whispers as he picks up his camera.

His mate already set up some lights and cleared a spot for pictures, so all I have to do is pose.

“Alpha Chey, you really ought to be careful going forward.”

“Huh?” I wasn’t expecting Miguel to say something like that. In fact, he’s not been his typical smiling self since I stepped out of the room; no one has. “Listen, I’m not particularly good with this sort of awkwardness. If I don’t understand, I will ask questions, but someone here needs to tell me what's wrong.”

“There's nothing ‘wrong’ per se,” Marissa says, stepping forward as the voice in the group. “It’s just that you look amazing, but you look a little too amazing. None of us want something bad to happen if some i***t decides that you’re a prize worth stealing, but at the same time, asking you to change is just… Cheyenne, you’re incredibly beautiful.” I’ve been called beautiful before, but each time was when someone was flirting, unlike now.

My parents don’t count, and neither does Liam the liar.

“Do I really look that good?”

“You do,” Miguel says.

“Then… I’ll look even better after I beat Cornell to within an inch of his life.”

“Wait…what?” I’m hysterically laughing, knowing that no one was expecting me to say that.

“I just can’t wait to legally put my hands on someone.”

“You know, anyone else would have just said thank you.”

“Or I could wear anything you make for me to fight in.” On that note, Miguel runs out of the apartment, ranting about not having time.

“You are so sweet,” Marissa says, kissing my cheek affectionately, “but you’re also running late.” The couple is dropping me off because they don’t want me to go alone, but I don’t want them to come inside, so I’m treating them to dinner somewhere else.

_________

The pre-fight dinner is being held in the private dining hall of a very fancy-looking restaurant, but my appetite has been ruined by the many, many advances that have been made towards me.

I wish I would have brought a date with me, but then again, most of the men here probably wouldn’t have cared, just like the men at the pool party I attended with Liam.

It’s actually shocking how many of them haven’t found their mates, but I don’t pity them the way I used to because, even though it ended badly, I know what it’s like to love a person just because, and I no longer believe that you need the mate bond to experience that feeling.

That, however, does not mean that I’m interested in anyone here, and based on the smirk Alpha Mateo is wearing, he set this awkward situation up.

“So, you're in the midst of registering your own pack?”

“Yes,” I dryly reply, hoping the man next to me takes the hint.

“I can help you with that.”

“I already have assistance, but thanks for the offer.”

“No problem, but maybe you should take my number, just in case you need advice.”

“Because you’ve done it before?”

“Um… well… No, but…” Several of the men are now chuckling, but I find nothing funny about this situation.

“Leave her alone. She clearly isn't interested,” a handsome man says.