Scum (Book 2)

110. Diplomatic

Chey’s POV

I’m at a place in my life where I finally feel like I can relax. The council isn’t bothering me as much, my boss stopped picking on me, Alpha Franchelle is a great mentor, and her daughter is really such a beautiful person that even I’m proud of her.

It also helps that I’m around people who are supportive of most things I do, so it’s given me a confidence boost in areas I didn’t even know I was insecure.

On top of that, I’m re-enrolled in were-nursing classes, and I’m only about one week away from completing the term requirements.

The next phase is an intensive three-week program that I’ll have to show up for in person, which is fine because there’s been no attack in this state, so classes meet at 8PM, for six days a week.

I get off work by 5PM, so I’ll have plenty of time to get there, and homework won’t be an issue because, I can get some of it done during my lunch, and anything else can be finished before class starts.

I’m so excited that I can barely sit still, and I’ve been pushing my more active pack members to work out with me, including Marissa, who has been cleared to take walks to help with her upcoming delivery.

As of right now, we’re about fifteen minutes into a stroll with Maya, who joined our pack after she caught her mother in yet another lie.

I didn’t want to get involved in that situation because sometimes I get unnecessarily angry when something reminds me too much of my family issues, but from what Dyson told me, Maya needed to get away from the woman who was using magic to prevent her from fully experiencing her emergence.

I thought I was bad, but she’s completely ignorant about our species, making her a pack liability. It’s not all terrible though, people around are helping her, and in the process, I’m learning a lot about myself, like how it’s unusual that I’ve yet to go into season.

I was curious, so I asked one of my course instructors if it was normal, and she said it was.

Basically, when women have a low percentage of body fat, it can delay their body's hormonal response to coming of age, which isn’t an issue unless it’s long term.

Thinking back, the top female fighter of Alpine was child free for years after meeting her mate. After that, it was like she was pregnant every year, so I had to wait until she wasn’t carrying to issue a challenge. My guess is that she was trying to ‘make-up’ for the time she lost due to her muscular body composition.

“Should we start heading back? We’ve lost our pace.” Maya is skilled in natural medicine; ironically, she learned it to support her mother.

The girl typically works with children, but lately, she’s been spending all her free time ‘monitoring’ Marissa.

We’ve not asked her for anything because just like everyone else, she’s only responsible for following the rules and paying her taxes, but for whatever reason, Marissa is the exception.

She doesn’t really talk to me much, which is why I was shocked when she decided to take a walk with us, but then again, Marissa and Miguel are a lot like our pack moms, and she probably wants to be available just in case the woman goes into labor, a very real possibility.

I don’t want to deal with it at all, but if it does happen, Maya is the best person to have by my side.

“I think that's a good idea. Dyson will be happy to have us back to help with dinner too.” That was an excuse so that Marissa doesn’t feel bad about the distance we covered, but I’m also picking up scents that I don’t recognize.

I don’t want to alarm the women I’m with, especially because there are very few humans around, but the people show themselves before we make it halfway.

“Noah… what’s going on here?” Maya isn’t a fighter, she’s a runner, and Marissa is pregnant, so being surrounded by people who I can see are physically fit isn’t ideal.

Even if I give it my all, I won’t come out of this situation alive; the numbers are that stacked against us.

“So, you’re the little girl my brother just can’t shut up about.”

“Eli, please just listen to-”

“Be quiet, Noah!” I’m not sure what’s happening, but if ever there is a time for me to learn to back down from a challenge, it’s now.

Maya is panicking, Marissa is having trouble staying calm herself, and I can’t see everyone.

“What kind of sh*t have you been telling my brother?”

“I don't know what’s happening, but your issue seems to be with me. Please let my friends go.” The man looks genuinely shocked by my words, but he gestures for a small pathway to open.

“Alpha Chey, I don’t want to leave you.”

“Fine then. You can stay and watch her die.” My eyes dart to Noah, who looks conflicted.

“Can you at least tell me what this is about?” I ask, struggling to remain diplomatic.

“Don’t play dumb with me. You’re the reason my brother spends all of his time away from his duties, and I want to know what it is you promised him.” Staying calm in this conversation is becoming difficult, but every time I look at Noah, I feel like this situation has something to do with whatever woman used him in the past.

“I didn’t promise anything. He’s my friend, and yes, we spend time together, but if you want, I will never talk to him again.”

“You think your words can erase the damage that’s been done?”

“I don’t even know what you're talking about,” I growl, slowly losing my patience. “I really don’t want to fight you, but if you insist, I will show you that I’m not an alpha in name alone.”

“You want to try me, little girl?” The man takes a step forward, making Noah drop to his knees.

“Please Eli… I promise you that she had nothing to do with anything. She didn’t even know I left.” I’m confused, but as the men go back and forth, I get the picture.

“You moved closer to me?”

“Chey, let me explain… I-”

“Stop talking to her.” Clearly this isn’t my fight, but it’s getting darker, and all I want is to get my pack members home safely.

“Whatever issue you have with your brother has nothing to do with me. We work out, sometimes he comes over for dinner, and then he leaves. I don’t know anything about him moving away. I don’t even know where your home pack is, but I do know that he wouldn’t want us to fight because I can guarantee you that one of us will die.” If Noah can be believed, his brother is a professional competitive fighter, meaning that I won’t be able to just run him into the ground, especially with Marissa refusing to leave me.

“You talk a lot for someone who’s in a bad situation.”

“And you do too much talking for someone claiming to want me dead.” The tension has grown to a point too great to ignore, but instead of immediately attacking, I try doing what Alpha Franchelle said.

She told me that most deadly encounters can be avoided with a simple conversation, but I haven’t mastered the art of communication, and I feel like inviting Noah’s brother to my home will only give me more of a reason to kill him.

“Listen… I don’t know what you’ve heard, but as an alpha, I have people I care about. If you really want to take this to the next level, do it professionally. Ask your brother, I’ve killed before, and I have no issue doing it again.” While waiting for a response, another unfamiliar scent catches my attention, and I can see that both Noah and Eli have become tense.

“So, this is what my i***t nephews do the second I take one step away from the pack.” Everyone bows except myself and my pack members, telling me that the man who just came is their alpha. “Okay, so… I don’t know what the issue is, but just return whatever money my nephew gave you and we’ll all pretend this never happened.”

“Your nephew has never given me a dime, nor have I ever asked him for money.” The man looks to Noah, who must be mind-linking him because he then turns an accusing gaze to Eli.

“Then why are you here?”

“This is the woman responsible for convincing Noah to leave us.”

“She didn’t! I moved because I was making more money in this neighborhood. I told you that!” I’ve never seen this level of weakness in Noah, making me feel just a little bad for him.

“Elijah, it seems like you owe this young lady an apology. I told you before, Noah isn’t a child. You’ll have to learn to stop blaming other people for his mistakes.” I’m angry, but this is my chance to get away safely. “Miss, I’m really sorry about my nephews. Please accept my apology as their uncle and alpha.”

“Because I’m outnumbered, I will… But if it happens again, I promise you that I will retaliate.”

“Understood.” That was much better received than I expected, and as the men leave, their uncle is verbally assaulting them about picking the dumbest fights.

“Alpha Chey, that was… but my mother said… Was that man really an alpha?” I don’t want to sound all knowing, but this is a good opportunity to help Maya, and later, I will absolutely thank Alpha Franchelle for her advice.

“Yes, he was. You could tell by the way everyone reacted to him, and no he wasn’t weak.”

“So, he just ignored your threats?”

“It’s hard, but possible.”

“And you aren't angry at all?”

“I’m livid, but you and Marissa are more important than-”

“Oh, sh*t…” I’ve never heard Marissa curse, and then I smell ‘it’ and gag. “Really Cheyenne?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s disgusting.” I’m trying to stay composed, but childbirth was never a field I was interested in, nor do I want to ‘dabble.’ “Can you make it to the apartment, or should I run to get the car?”

“And leave us?” Maya asks, actual fear in her bulging eyes. “What if those people come back?” Lifting my shirt, I remove all my knives and hand them to the women.

With that, I sprint away, mind-linking Miguel as soon as I’m within range.

“Call Jett! Tell him to get to the hospital. The pack’s first baby is about to be born!”