Scum (Book 2)

111. Apologies

Dallas’s POV

The council being around filled me with a shred of hope that my family would be able to get away, but they came to defend Porsha, and now, I’m terrified for the safety of my newborn son.

I didn’t want him to spend his first days in this pack, but without our phones, or transportation, my family has no way to leave, and Nora can’t even step foot out of our home because Porsha has already accused her of being a hostile pack member, despite the fact that my mate literally wouldn’t hurt a fly; she shoos them out the door.

I know this is all because of Cheyenne, and I hate that my sister, if she’s alive when Liam manages to find her, will have to come back to the sh*t show that Alpine has become.

No one knows who’s really in charge, and everyone is afraid that if something isn’t done, Liam will actually be forced to fulfill his ‘promise’ to a woman we now know manipulated him into believing that my sister was trying to indirectly ‘push’ Porsha out of the way to secure the luna title for herself.

He should have known that my sister wouldn’t have done anything of the sort, but I’m kind of happy that Liam’s losing everything he planned to fall back on, which is why the elders in the pack have been trying to proposition me to take his place.

I don’t want that, never have and never will, but Royce and Jenna aren’t cut out to lead this pack, Kelvin is a fool who aligns himself with anyone with power, and there’s literally no one else qualified.

Fortunately, Alpha Lucas isn’t ill or unfit, so he doesn’t have to step down anytime soon.

I may hate his son, but I don’t hate him, and I honestly feel bad for the tension that’s grown between us, especially since it’s negatively impacting my young family every day.

My son should have seen a pediatric doctor, but he can’t because we owe the pack money, and we’ve been forbidden from leaving.

There are challenges to that because it means that we can’t go out to buy our everyday needs, and even when we order, we have to depend on another pack member’s kindness to get them from our postal box.

Even that’s starting to become harder for us because, with Porsha’s growth in influence, the unwillingness to be on her bad side also grows.

We almost convinced Brandon and Mac to let us use their phone, but somehow upper leadership found out, and they’ve had their devices stripped as well.

“Are you not tired?” Nora just came into the living room, likely wondering why I’m not in bed.

“I’m exhausted,” I admit, but I can’t sleep because Liam has been crying in my mind all day, begging me to help him, but I refuse.

He didn’t care about my sister until he knew that she was his mate, but before then, it didn’t matter whether she lived or died, and truthfully, none of us know if she’s actually okay.

Those willing to talk say that she hasn’t posted anything on social media since she left, which isn’t odd considering that she only started posting pictures again in order to help Liam get over Porsha; ironic since that woman is now the reason the man can’t openly declare Chey as his mate and ask the pack to help find her.

“Did I wake you?” Nora is a light sleeper, but even before then, she liked having me by her side, so when I’m not there, she can’t sleep well.

“No, but Kaleb will wake up for a feeding soon; I can feel it.” My mate is a great mother, which, oddly enough, makes me wonder if Cheyenne could really be carrying Liam’s child.

He said it himself; there is a possibility, and every day that my sister is gone, I fear that she’s somewhere unsafe while preparing to be a single mother.

“Dallas… I told you before. Cheyenne would have told us if she were pregnant.”

“Would she even have known?” Nora frowns because we both know Chey was never properly educated about her body.

She depended on notes from others, and, while rare, conception is possible, even more so since Liam is actually her mate.

I knew Nora was mine and I still didn’t take the chance, not because I wasn’t tempted, but because if I were wrong, I didn’t want to ruin her life.

I cared about her enough to put my desire behind me, but Liam… he knowingly took the risk, and then, he kicked Chey out.

“Please Dallas… You see what’s happening around the pack. I’m begging you. Just send her a message. Let me at least know that she’s okay.” There Liam goes again, lying to me because I know that if I reach out to Cheyenne, he will then try to convince me to talk her into coming back.

“Alpha Liam, I’m a new parent. I need to sleep, and I’ve already told you, I’m not getting involved. You don’t deserve my sister, and I won’t help you further ruin her life.”

“If Chey is pregnant, she’d be somewhere between six and eight months. Would you really condemn her to a life of struggling just to get back at me?” I haven’t condemned my sister to anything, but because of my nature, Liam knows words like that get to me.

“Ignore him,” Nora says, resting her hand on my cheek.

Sadly, there are only a few times when a werewolf under an alpha can block out a mind-link, and it’s typically during moments of intimacy.

My mate can’t have s*x yet, but even if she could, we can’t do it all day, so despite my best efforts, Liam is always in my head.

“What if he’s right though? What if Cheyenne is homeless and pregnant?”

“Do you really think your sister can’t take care of herself? Chey financially carried this household for years, and the last time I checked our account, she deposited that money she saved.”

“But…”

“Dallas, stop letting him get to you. By now, Liam is no longer feeling the effects of bond affliction. He may regret losing Chey, but I think he’s more concerned about his title. Cheyenne told me that it was all he ever talked about.” That may be true, but for some reason, Liam’s pain doesn't come off that way.

Chey’s POV

“Go away.”

“Please Cheyenne, just listen to me.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Because of Noah, Marissa’s baby was born weeks early, there were complications during the delivery, I had to help pay for the medical bills, and the smell of ‘birth’ is still in my car.

“Please? I’m begging you.”

“No need. Just stay away from me and anyone in my pack.” Every day since the night Marissa gave birth, Noah’s been showing up anywhere I might be.

He’s even waited outside of my school, but I want nothing to do with him or his idiotic brother, who has also followed me with countless apologies.

Apparently, Noah used a lot of his family savings to move out; inspired by 'my' example.

He doesn’t know that I’m barely staying afloat, and now, I’m out thousands of dollars I was supposed to use for uniforms and food for the pack’s kids.

Fortunately, as my mentor, Alpha Franchelle mediated a settlement for me, but Alpha Peter, Noah’s uncle, said that his nephews are old enough to pay for their own mistakes.

That means I have to wait for the men to pay me back for the ‘inconvenience’ they caused, but Noah is 'broke' from his move, and Elijah is using it as an excuse to drag his feet.

"So, our friendship doesn't mean anything now?" I remember desperately wanting to ask Liam that question, which is the only reason I'll respond. It feels wrong not to.

“Noah… I liked you, but not anymore. This is my final warning. Leave me alone.”

“You liked me?” That’s all Noah heard, and in response, he hugs me from behind. “Please don’t push me away like this. If I get Elijah to pay you in full, will you forgive me then?”

“Maybe if you can arrange that, and for me to punch your dumb jerk of a brother in the-” My nose scrunches as I pick up the scent of the person I was just talking about.

“Noah, let her go… We don’t need any more trouble.”

“We wouldn’t be in trouble if you had just listened to me.”

“What did you want me to think? It’s not like you haven't done this before.”

"I was sixteen when that happened. When are you going to let it go?" I don't know, or care about what the men are talking about, so while they’re arguing, I slip into my car and slam the door. I don't need the stress of this, nor do I want it, but it seems like trouble still has a liking for me; something my father used to say to get my mother off my back whenever I did something wrong at school.

I miss my family, and now that there's a newborn in the house, I can’t help but think of them all the time.

Nora should have already given birth, and I wonder what name she ultimately gave her son, and if she’ll post pictures for me to see who he looks like.

I don’t know much about newborns, but for now, little Sophia, looks like both Jett and Marissa, making me curious about my own lineage because I don’t look anything like either of my parents.

Sadly, I don’t get the privilege of just living in my thoughts because Noah is now standing in front of my building… with… his… brother…

“You’ve got three seconds to leave.”

“So, you don’t want me to pay to have your car professionally cleaned?” I have pride, but right about now…

“I’m listening.” Elijah smirks, probably because he’s ‘won.’

“I won't make any more excuses for myself, but try putting yourself in my shoes."

"I have, but you didn't approach me just looking to talk. You threatened me, and by default, the women I was with. No matter the situation, I can't just forgive you."

"What if I can get you into a position that will pay 50k whether you win or lose?" I'm not money hungry, but I'm curious.

"I'll hear you out after you get my car cleaned and pay the council fines." I can’t be too obvious about how I feel, but I know it's obvious that I want the details.

"Give me your number and I'll send it to you now," the man says.