Scum (Book 2)

121. Game

Noah’s POV

My brother is playing a game I can’t afford to lose, so I reluctantly agree to send my uncle half the bill for cleaning.

I don't have extra money just lying around, but even if I did…

“I haven't used the pack house in years.”

“Are you implying that you shouldn't have to contribute to this pack?” My shoulders droop with a deep sense of betrayal. “Your parents worked their asses off for this place. I know that if they were still around, things would be better, but this is all our family has left, and we need you.” I hate being guilted into anything using my parents' death, but my uncle isn't the type to do that without reason.

Losing my mother, his twin, was devastating to him, but rather than let the pack they started die, he kept their dream alive by using money left to him through her life insurance policy.

If it hadn't been for that money, we would have lost the family land, and my cousin, the future Alpha, wouldn't have been able to work on his degree.

“Come on, uncle. You know that's not what I meant.”

“Perhaps, but I know how it sounded. I also know all about that girl you've been chasing."

“I'm not chasing her anymore; she's mine.”

“You say that now, but no woman with self-respect would pit two brothers against one another.”

“Whatever Elijah told you is a lie. Chey has never done that.”

“Then she's an idiot.” In some ways, Cheyenne is extremely dense, but she isn't a dumb girl, she's just a little sheltered. “Anyone with eyes could see the way you both look at her.” I'm not sure how my uncle knows that, but before I ask, he shows me a picture Eli posted from his celebratory party.

“She's just really inexperienced. It's already gotten her hurt in the past.”

“Assault?”

“He told her that it ‘slipped.’ It was her first time.” My uncle scoffs as his expression becomes bitter.

One thing he’s never played with was teaching people under his tutelage respect for boundaries.

Our pack members may be rude as f*ck to outsiders, but not to one another, and what happened to Chey wouldn't have flown if she were one of ours.

As soon as I could, I got away from my uncle, wanting to find Cheyenne and tell her what my brother did.

He doesn’t know that Chey and I are past the point of being friends only, but if he's gone as far as to try and sabotage me, then he must have guessed.

On the way to confront the man, I ran into Iris, who was crying so bitterly that I had to stop, but before I could say anything, the woman unloads on me.

“They were doing what?” I ask, shocked to hear that my soon-to-be girlfriend would do what Iris said.

“He told me they weren't messing around, but I saw them… I saw them with my own eyes.” Eli told me that his relationship with Iris was only for Chey's safety, but now I feel like he may have played me.

Cheyenne isn't very emotionally aware, so my brother may have had to spell it out for her, and she may have decided that he was a better fit for her lifestyle.

I like working out, but I've never liked fighting, and I hate the idea of leading anyone into anything.

Now that I think about it, Eli really is better suited for Cheyenne. He's even old enough to not have to worry about a fated partner, but that doesn't change the way I feel.

I've been burned before, but the betrayal of having my brother come in and take a woman he knows I like is too much.

So, if I can't have her, neither can he.

Liam's POV

I've not been able to stop throwing up since someone called with information about my mate.

The woman was at first talkative, calling Cheyenne a wh*re among other things, but before I could get any real details, she hung up.

“Liam, you need to calm down. A few pictures don’t mean anything.”

“A few pictures? She's sandwiched between two men! Imagine if she were yours.” Royce could never understand how I feel, and although it's making me sick, I can't stop scrolling through Chey's new social media account.

I can't tell if she's become a model, a sport fighter, or a high-end prostitute the way the informant claimed.

The worst part is that Kelvin is also aware that we've gotten a call, which could mean that Porsha knows.

“I can’t let either of them get to her first.” Royce knows who I’m referring to, but he’s under the impression that Chey can still handle herself, but I know my girl, and she’s out of shape.

She’s still fit, but she’s gained weight, similar to the way I gained weight when I lived on campus.

I’ve seen more clips of the fight she had, and I know that she would have absolutely killed that Martha person had she been in prime condition, but she was slower than normal.

Even in pictures where Chey is smiling, I know they aren’t all real, at least in most of them, but in some, like the ones that she’s tagged in, but didn’t post herself, she seems happy and comfortable with a man who I hope and pray is just her personal trainer.

“I understand your haste, but you have to consider what your father said as well… Chey may have-”

“I don’t care who she’s with!” I shouldn’t shout at one of the few people still loyal to me, but I don’t want to hear that. “She kept the ring… That has to mean something, doesn’t it?” I gave Cheyenne that ring as a gesture that she would one day become my luna.

I didn’t know that she was my mate at the time, and she didn’t know that I’d chosen her.

I’ve emptied every drawer, looked under every surface; I’ve even turned out the pockets of the clothes she left behind, but I wasn’t able to find it.

She doesn't seem to be wearing it, but that’s understandable. It’s a delicate piece of jewelry that isn’t meant to fight or work in, but the point is that she still has it, and to me, that signifies that she still cares.

“Liam… I didn’t want to tell you this before but…” My ears start ringing as Royce tells me that the hope I’ve been clinging onto is nothing more than a dream. “It just never seemed like the right time to bring it up.”

“Where did he get it?” Royce just told me that Kelvin has Cheyenne’s ring, and he’s had it for a while.

“All I know is that he wanted to return it when he found her.” Something about that doesn’t sound right to me, but Royce can only tell me the facts he has.

I really want to ask the man how and why he has it, but that would probably lend to the fact that I’m the one who bought it.

However, it’s lost its meaning now that I know he has it, just like the bracelet Porsha stole out of my drawer.

My only consolation is that Chey and I don’t need trinkets anymore, but now I feel like the race to find her is really on.

Noah's POV

“I said let go of me.” Because Cheyenne is here as ‘my’ guest, I'm the one who has to dismiss her, but I wasn't expecting to hear her arguing with my brother.

“What's going on?”

“Noah…” Chey pulls away from my brother and stands by my side, drawing my eyes to her red wrists. “I want to leave now.” She looks so upset that I forgot all about what Iris said, especially since my brother is still shouting at her.

“What are you arguing about?” Eli is being overly aggressive, which makes me think Iris was mistaken about what she saw.

“Noah, you need to leave…”

“I need to leave? Cheyenne is here with me.”

“And right now, she and I are talking.” This isn't talking, and it's clear to me that Cheyenne is only showing restraint because of me.

“Chey, did he try something with you?”

“Yes, and his girlfriend saw, and now he's saying… Noah, do you know anything about an information request on me?” F*ck!

Immediately, I mind-link Iris, telling her not to turn Chey over.

I should've confirmed it before I made the petty decision to give her up.

“I-I’m already on the phone with someone…”

“Hang up!” I hope the woman didn't give away too many details because an information request can mean anything, and since I know Cheyenne was kicked out of her pack to make a jealous chosen mate happy, it could be that her life is on the line.

I can’t even focus on the situation at hand because my mind is split between what’s happening with Chey, and my foolish mistake, so I’m forced to turn to the only person who has always had my back.

“Elijah… I did something stupid…” My brother immediately goes silent, probably because he’s confused about why I’m mind-linking, which cuts Cheyenne out of the conversation.

“Who’d you knock up this time?” I’ve made that stupid mistake once, but the girl had a miscarriage shortly after we found out. “Just tell the truth, break up with Chey, and let me take care of her.” Right now, my brother might actually be the only person capable of taking care of a complicated person like Cheyenne, so instead of becoming angry, I have to fold.

“Noah… Whatever he’s saying, don’t listen to him.” The way Cheyenne is holding the side of my face is literally breaking my heart, especially because I can tell she’s being genuine.

“This is a family issue, okay?” I remove the woman’s hand from my cheek, kissing her forehead because I don’t deserve to kiss her lips. “Take my keys and go. I’ll call you later.” By now, Elijah can probably guess that it’s something serious.

“Are you sure? Alpha Franchelle is still here.” I nod, still unable to come to terms with how stupid I was for acting on hurt emotions.

“I’m sure. Just take the girls with you and I’ll call you later.” Chey looks disappointed, but she’s not the type to get involved in what I described as a family issue, so with a final glance in Elijah’s direction, she leaves.

“You must have done something pretty f*cked up,” Elijah mind-links.

I don’t even want to tell him, but I need his help, so once I confirm Chey has driven away, I confess.