Scum (Book 2)

109. Choices

Liam’s POV

I was wrong in my belief that the council is here on behalf of Cheyenne’s ‘rogue’ status.

They're actually here because of Porsha, who someone in this pack must be stupid enough to sympathize with, because they've reported my actions to the council on her behalf.

I really didn't think that life could get any worse than it already is, but it did, all because, for no reason other than jealousy, I kicked my mate out of the only place that she's known as home, I treated her like scum, and now, the woman she left believing was my chosen Luna, may have accidentally wriggled herself into a position of authority.

My hope now is that, after telling my rendition of the story, the council will side with me, and the pack will maintain its status.

"So, you're saying that all happened before you two rekindled?"

"Yes, but I didn't find out about her lies until after she was already on territory."

"Poor judgment isn't an excuse a future alpha has the luxury of leaning on. Regardless of what happened, she’s being mistreated for actions of the past, but council law states that she can no longer be held accountable for crimes or infractions committed before joining a new pack."

"Sir, I'm not exactly sure what you've heard. Porsha is not being punished in any way for her past actions, but for her behavior immediately after coming to join this pack. She’s been nothing but problematic."

"In what way?" I don't feel like it's a good idea to tell the council that, because Porsha lied, I cast my fated partner out in a fit of rage, so I shoot for the middle ground.

"A woman who dedicated her entire life to protecting and serving this pack was falsely accused by Porsha, and as a result, she was expelled. The fallback from that situation was grave, and still hasn't been fully resolved."

"What was the accusation?" This ‘interview’ is becoming a little uncomfortable for me because, if I tell them the truth, then it'll look like I chose someone over my mate, and it'll also be put on record. That would allow Porsha access to the truth, and her connections may help her locate Cheyenne before I can.

"That member and I were intimate. Things ended before Porsha came, but that wasn’t good enough for her, so she manipulated me into thinking that someone I still considered a friend was looking to destroy the power dynamic within the pack."

"And you were significantly convinced?" Again, I'm made uncomfortable because it's not that I believed Porsha, I just wanted to hurt Cheyenne the way I was hurting.

"At the time, I had no reason to doubt her."

"That's all I need to hear for now, but we'll continue to check in from time to time."

"Can you tell me what prompted this?"

"We haven't exactly concluded our investigation into this pack, but we have heard from several sources that you have become unhinged." Alphas who are like that are a threat to our species, but…

"So, my attitude sparked an investigation?"

"If that’s how you see it, I won’t correct you, but make no mistake, you are very lucky that Miss Porsha refused to speak ill of you.” It would be a lie if she did, but I feel like saying that aloud would work against me right now. “See to it that nothing major happens before I return. In the meantime, be good to your ‘ex.’ Your pack’s standing depends on it.”

Chey’s POV

Weeks Later

Maya, Bruno’s mate, has a lot of personal traumas that originate from problems that don’t even exist.

Her mother, a witch, poisoned her mind against werewolves, but no one has the heart to accuse the woman of using fear as a means of control out loud, but we’ve all talked about it, and we’re still talking about it now.

“How can someone be that jealous?”

“Jealousy may not be the issue.”

“Tell me… what else makes sense? She told her daughter nothing by lies about our species and fated mates, but you all know that she’s just bitter that her man moved on. Plus, she purposefully kept their child away from him.”

“I can’t blame her,” I add, thinking about Liam the liar again. “He found his fated mate. You know that's a threat to the safety of illegitimate children."

“But to make your child hate and fear half of themself because of it…” I say nothing because I honestly don’t see what the witch did wrong.

She lied, yes, but she may have done it to stop Maya from searching for her biological father, and she probably demonized our species to prevent the girl from accidentally conceiving with a relative.

Truthfully speaking, I can’t say that I wouldn’t do something similar if I were in her shoes, especially because I know Porsha would treat my child, if I had one, like trash, and I can’t confidently say that Liam would stop her.

“Whatever the case, that girl is likely to have an emotional breakdown. The best thing her mate can do is stay by her side. She’ll eventually learn the truth.”

“Yeah, but he’s already doing much more than he should. If it were me, I would have just given her the rejection she asked for.” Miguel is nice, but he’s no pushover, so I know that he’s serious.

“I know that’s right… She’s lucky.” Bruno is really the perfect person for Maya to have been fated to because… “He literally gave up everything to work in a warehouse for her.”

“...While still attending trade school no less.” I admire Bruno for sticking by his mate, but like everyone else, I also feel for him.

The man’s family isn’t as accepting, so they’ll no longer be paying his way, and all he has to show for the effort he’s putting into the relationship is an empty apartment that he can barely afford.

The situation is even more sad because Maya recognizes his sacrifice, but she loves and trusts her mother more than the man she just met, which is why she keeps jumping back and forth about wanting to join my pack.

She’s genuinely afraid, and anyone pretending that she shouldn’t be, is lying to themselves.

To me, it just sounds like Maya's mother was more familiar with rural wolves, so all the 'advice' she gave her daughter is very applicable in that setting, but in the city, it’s something different.

"Anyway, enough about Maya and Bruno. I haven't seen Chey’s little boyfriend around lately. Did you break up with him?" This conversation comes up any time I’m alone with Dyson or Miguel, probably because, according to them, I need stress ‘relief.’

"He isn't my boyfriend, and he's coming over later today."

"He's what?" Marissa is in her bed, but we all know that she's listening to our conversation, even though she's supposed to be sleeping.

"Stop acting like a crab," Miguel quips. "Our alpha is allowed to have fun."

“Yes, but not with him.” We hear the bed creak, and then see Marrisa in the doorway, prompting Dyson to rush to her side.

“I promised your mate that I would make sure you followed your doctor's orders. Why are you out of bed?”

“I don’t like that boy, and you know it.”

“Okay, but just because you had a bad experience with someone he reminds you of, doesn’t mean it’ll be the same for Chey.” Marissa never went into detail about her ex, but after what happened, she felt like she had to tell me everything about him.

Apparently, the man would disappear or become distant for days because he was balancing many relationships at once, but Noah wouldn’t have to hide a girlfriend from me because we aren’t in a relationship.

“I already told you that he can do whatever he wants. Just like I’m free to do as I please.”

“Chey, you’re young, so I understand why you don’t see it, but I guarantee that if that boy even thought you were seeing someone else, he’d accuse you of cheating on him.” I want to dispute Marissa’s statement, but I can’t.

The last time I went to the gym with Noah, I had a two-minute conversation with a random human who wanted to duplicate my routine, and he didn’t react well.

The entire ride home he kept asking me if I met the person before or if I was interested in him, but I wasn’t.

I just don’t see the point in being standoffish when a person is genuinely trying to learn from me, especially when I know they're not from the council.

“You guys are reading too much into our friendship.”

“If you really believed that, you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable going places with him.” I never even thought of it that way, but the truth is that most of the time I spend with Noah is in a neutral setting.

I don’t want to get the wrong idea from him, nor do I want to give him the wrong impression, so I’ve done my best to make sure that our friendship stays a real friendship.

“Cheyenne, don’t listen to Marissa, Okay? It’s perfectly normal for you to move on with your life by now. Yes, you may get hurt again, but that's just how living is. Think about it this way, is any relationship perfect?” I know they aren’t. Even among fated couples, there can be serious problems. “Your alpha was an as*hole, but so are many other people out there. You shouldn’t limit yourself because of anyone.” Miguel playfully mushes Marissa, who looks very annoyed by the conversation.”

“I’m not limited. I’m just taking my time.”

“Exactly. Cheyenne is a smart girl; she can make her own choices.” Marissa and Miguel start bickering about her wanting to keep me in a plastic bubble, and because I feel uncomfortable with the conversation, I end it, but I know it only switched to mind-link.

I consider everyone in my apartment a friend, so I know they mean well, but all they’re doing is making me more wary because I still don’t fully grasp the whole concept of boyfriend and girlfriend.

The closest thing I’ve had is Liam, who, admittedly, saw me as a hole to use when he was ‘bored.’

I don’t want to be anyone else’s ‘hole,’ but at the same time, I know that I can’t realistically cut myself off of intimacy forever.

From other conversations I’ve had, I’ve come to understand that, eventually, I’ll have the need to be with a man again.

I don’t feel that way yet, but whenever I do, I don’t want to make the mistakes I made in the past.