Scum (Book 2)

104. Meetings

Chey's POV

The first few meetings with my new pack members have gone exactly the way I thought they would. Terribly.

Some of the people I met had their guard up so high that they wouldn't even touch the food I bought for them, and absolutely none of them were eager to uproot their lives based on the promises of an eighteen-year-old brand-new alpha, but at least they've been showing up, which is already asking for a lot.

"You sure you should be throwing away your money like this?" After our 'date' Noah has been spending much more time with me, mostly at the gym, but today he's coming with me to a member meeting.

I made chicken tenders, seasoned sweet potato fries, which our species tend to prefer, and too many cookies.

“I don’t consider helping people a waste. They’re taking time out of their day to meet me, and I respect that.”

“Your time is valuable too.”

“Absolutely, but an alpha shouldn’t think solely about themselves.” I’ve never asked Noah about his pack experiences, but based on comments he's made, I don't think they're great.

I know that he’s high ranking based solely on his level of inability to complete mundane tasks, like laundry, but he doesn’t like talking about where he’s from because according to him, it can get him into trouble, so I don't pry.

“How many pack members do you actually have though? Surely you can’t afford to feed them all the time.”

“It costs about thirty dollars to prepare fifteen meals. I may not be rich, but I can afford this.” I don’t need to tell the man that Dyson has a food vendor's license that allows him to shop at a wholesale restaurant supplier.

“It seems like I’ve offended you a little. I didn’t mean anything; I just don’t want you to be used. It’s happened to me before, and even after I found out, it took me a long time to believe it.”

“Ex-girlfriend?” Noah nods, then ‘steals’ a cookie, but I don’t want him to feel like he’s the only i***t in the car. “I already know how that feels. He wasn’t my boyfriend, but it still hurt.”

“Then why put yourself in a position for it to happen again?”

“The same reason you’re sitting in this car with me.” The man chuckles, shaking his head because, according to him, ‘that’s different.’

“You’re my friend, you’ve put down hard lines between us, and you haven’t asked me for a single thing since we met.”

“I asked you to call the police.”

“Come on Chey, that doesn’t count.” Also after our date, Noah realized that I wasn’t looking to start a relationship with anyone, and thus far, he’s been respectful of that.

I wanted to stop communicating with him altogether, but Miguel and Marissa said I needed friends closer to my age so I could experience life.

I’m not, I'm just being cautious, and then there’s my issues with the council.

Now that they know being flirted with overwhelms me, they’ve upped the antics.

I’ve received marriage proposals, the promise of land grants, flowers sent directly to my job, and even fruit baskets that, while annoying, taste and look rather good, so I actually appreciate them.

Noah has no clue how much of a relief it is that he doesn’t flirt with me anymore, and truthfully, it's part of the reason I’m still friends with him.

To me, it just seems like he’s looking for someone to talk to about random things. Preferably someone who doesn’t know anyone he knows because, like my father always said, there are three sides to every story: his side, her side, and then the truth.

However, I believe that Noah feels stifled by his older brother, who he claims tries to control everything he does from making money to going out.

It’s not malicious though, it's because he’s afraid of what could happen, but Noah and I haven’t gotten close enough to share the details of what triggered his brother to become overprotective in the first place.

Mid-conversation, Miguel calls to tell me that he’s already waiting, which is good because I’m running late.

“Oh, I didn’t know they were coming too.” Dyson and Miguel are officially my pack members, so they’re giving Jett and Marissa the day off.

The woman has been working so hard that I feel guilty, but her mate says that she's happy to be helpful. Sadly, she's out of shape and heavily pregnant, so her aid has limitations, and I don’t like the way she pants anytime she does anything.

I know it's normal, but it’s scary, and she still doesn’t have her crib set up yet, so she and her mate need some time to prepare.

While I’m looking for a parking spot, Noah absentmindedly opens the folder I asked him to hold at the beginning of our drive, then scoffs.

“What's that sound about?”

“Are these the questions you've been asking them?”

"Yeah, it’s a basic questionnaire."

"No, it’s weird… What does 'follow into all situations' mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like…"

"Chey, I’m not making fun of you, but this isn’t normal for anyone born or raised in this area. It sounds like you're asking them to go to jail for you."

"Miguel didn't say anything, and neither did Dyson."

"No offense, but I've met those dudes, and they're super ‘different.’ Besides, they know you… the people you’re meeting don't." Noah may have a point, so I let him reword a few of the questions.

Worst case scenario, no one trusts me, but in the best case, things will turn around.

Out of respect, Noah didn't want to come too close, so he sat on the furthest bench while I approached the anxious looking family waiting for me.

"Hello Mrs. Abigail, I'm your alpha, Cheyenne Lively." I already know who I’m meeting, and I hope memorizing her name helps show the woman my sincerity.

Our meeting spot is a large open space with a nearby playground because I want my new pack members to see that I won't be using dirty tricks to win them over, nor will I be using force… for now.

"Are these all your children?” I ask.

"Those two are mine, the other two are my chosen’s, and this one belongs to us both."

"Where is your mate?" The woman shrugs, prompting me to switch over to mind-link.

Deadbeat dads seem to be the trend for city wolves, at least within my pack it is.

"He met his fated mate about a year ago. I've rarely seen him since then."

"So, he just left his children with you?"

"Can't say I wouldn't do the same, but at least he cares enough not to reject me. I heard it's deadly." Even I know that's not true, especially not for chosen partners.

"If I could organize it, would you like to be free of his mark?"

"Do I get to keep the kids? I wouldn't want them to grow up apart." I know that abandoned and orphaned children belong to the pack where I'm from, but the city is different, so I'm not sure if I can manage what Abigail's asking for.

Humans have guardianship laws that our species don't necessarily see as a necessity, but I get that they were made with the best interests in mind.

"I might be able to help with that, but you'd have to be able to prove to me that you could support them, and not just financially.” I don't know their family dynamic, so I won't assume, and as if the woman guessed what I was thinking, she gave me permission to ask her non-biological children what they want.

“How are those fries?” The kids are just nodding, but based on the sound of their chewing, they’re happy. “Would you like to move in with your father?” I feel bad disturbing their meal, but I have to.

“No. Why? He isn’t taking us, is he?” The children are staring at their stepmother with literal tears in their eyes, and now I regret asking.

“As you can see Alpha Cheyenne, we cannot be separated.” I hate how this played out, but Dyson and Miguel were close enough to hear what just happened, so they came over with some of the cookies Noah was holding for me.

They’re good with kids, so they’ve helped me control the situation before it got out of control, and it allows me to immediately apologize to the woman I indirectly accused.

“I’m sorry for making your children cry. I wasn’t trying to imply that you were a bad person, but I’m sure that you understand my concern, and why I have it.”

“Thank you for apologizing, and thank you for thinking about them as well, but my position stays the same. I will not separate ‘my’ kids.” I feel good about this woman, so I’ll go ahead and offer her an apartment, which I haven’t done often. “I bring home one thousand dollars after local taxes. I can’t afford three bedrooms,” she links, probably not wanting the children to overhear.

“The rent will be fixed for three years. There’s an elementary school less than six miles away, and the bus stop is within walking distance. Childcare after school can be arranged so you can take more hours at work if necessary, and meals will be provided during that time.”

“And who’s paying for all this? The goddess?” I know the woman is being sarcastic because a large number of our species no longer believes in the moon goddess since, even according to our own lore, she’s more of a spirit than a deity.

“I’m not going to beg you to take me up on the offer, but as your alpha, I feel like it’s my job to help those who want to be helped, and you seem like you could use a lot of it.” I’m not saying that the children are dirty, but they’re definitely not clean.

“This is terrifying,” Abigail says, making me realize that, for most of my life, I’ve only had myself to depend on, so when I left Alpine, I did so confidently.

Other people may not have the experiences I have, and because I’m at a loss, I mind-link Dyson and Miguel to help me with the conversation.

“But she killed someone to get where she is now. How do I know she won’t turn her claws against us next?”

“You think this cute little alpha is capable of being evil?” Abigail immediately becomes alarmed, likely thinking I’ll be offended by Dyson’s joke, but the kids are oblivious, so they openly laugh, making everyone smile, and that was all it seemed the woman needed to actually agree.