Scum (Book 2)

122. Proof

Elijah’s POV

My brother is a f*cking i***t.

Because Iris exaggerated the truth, he gave her the okay to basically sell Cheyenne’s information, and now he wants me to ‘fix’ things.

I really like Chey, but I know that because of how aggressive I was, my relationship with her is irrevocably broken. That aside, I’m not taking the blame for what’s happening.

What Noah did is a violation on so many levels that it could have consequences for our whole pack, especially since Cheyenne was, at the time, a visiting alpha.

“Please… She’s been calling me for hours. Just do this one thing for me. I need your help.”

“You should have just given her to me!” My brother literally cowers as though I'm going to hit him; probably because he knows he would deserve it. “Forget it… Chey isn’t property.” I hate shouting at Noah like he’s beneath me, but we both know that all he wanted from Cheyenne was s*x.

Even before what happened with Natalia, he was never the kind of man to settle down with one woman, but he hasn’t been caught because he refers to his girlfriends as ‘clients.’

I didn’t want to hurt Chey, so I didn’t tell her the truth about my brother, and I also wanted to win her over without resorting to sabotage.

That, sadly, isn't what happened, and I'm just as guilty in this situation as he is.

“Please Eli. If you do this for me, I promise that I’ll end things with Chey, and I won't get between you two.” I believe Noah's claim, but I still want to know…

“Did she tell you what happened at that place?” My brother’s expression is all the confession I need, and now, I’ve made my decision. “I’ll help you, but I don’t think either of us are going to like what I may have to do.” As a part of this pack's future hierarchy, it's my job to make sure situations like this don't spiral out of control.

Without telling my brother my plan, I head to my uncle's office and explained the situation in detail, drawing out a sigh from the man as he slumps in his chair, probably furious because, yet again, Noah and I have done some dumb sh*t.

Our cousin is no better than us though. The only difference is that he was better suited for college, but even still, my uncles always stressed out about something he'd done.

“Do you know that that girl's mentor is part of the council?” I knew Cheyenne was under a mentorship, but I didn't have the details. “She came here spewing out big words before she turned around and started talking about codes and standards; all because she wanted one of our pack members to join hers.” I know my uncle didn't protest a pack transfer request. Especially for someone who found their fated partner, so the woman must have been flexing her authority to let him know that she was not a force to be trifled with.

She also could have been trying to assure the continued safety of the girls who are staying to clean the pack house.

It makes sense that she would have no way of knowing if the position were reoccurring or not, and since I'm sure she's at least a little familiar with the relationship Noah had with Cheyenne, she probably assumed that her girls would be visiting the pack more often, thus she needed to lay down her dominance.

“If she finds out that we put her pupil in danger by selling her information, I fear that she may use her influence against us.” Our pack isn't in the greatest standing with the council.

We don't qualify for much in terms of grants, loans, or even aid, but we do have access to the rogue database, and we depend on them to help in hostile negotiations.

If we lose that, there are several larger packs around that wouldn’t mind annexing us or becoming outright confrontational and taking the land.

Disputes over territory that result in death are no longer common, but they can happen. In fact, Cheyenne inherited her pack through fatal combat, and right now, my uncle can't fight anyone and win.

“What do you suggest we do?” I have an idea, but I want to hear what my uncle thinks before I give my suggestion, specifically because I'm not the future alpha, and this situation has the potential to hurt my cousin’s reign.

“We call Alpine and find out what else they need to know. If they want her address, they’ll have to send reinforcements and double the p*****t. If we get the impression that Chey is in trouble, we contact Alpha Franchelle to give her a heads-up.”

“You want to play both ends of the fence?” My uncle just looks at me, his expression dead and annoyed.

“If you want this pack to survive, then yes. We can frame it in the light of helping her get revenge.” That’s smart, but…

“Did someone tell you that’s what she wants?”

“Her mentor said it's the sole reason she denied the council's request for her to join them.” I slide into my chair, feeling remorseful in many ways, but I’m mostly angry that Noah met Chey before I did. Otherwise, a woman like her would already be wearing my mark.

“And what’s going to happen to Iris?”

“Well, she helped to make this mistake, so she’s going to help us fix it.”

Liam’s POV

It really hasn’t been that long, but once I told the pack elders that I was ‘going’ to ‘choose’ my mate, the tides quickly changed, and Porsha’s influence began to wane.

It’s given me the confidence to make important pack decisions as I prepare for Chey’s return, because, at this point, I know that I’m going to find her.

Most of the people following her social media profile are in the area of a nearby state, so I’ve been able to narrow her whereabouts down to a general location.

“Liam, my office… That woman is on the phone again.” I can’t allow my enthusiasm to show, so I walk slowly, but my irritation becomes palpable when I spot Kelvin walking in the same direction.

We get to the office at the same time, and he immediately starts mind-linking to thank me for helping him. I really want to break his neck, but Royce slightly elbows me, reminding me that we still have to tread carefully.

As of right now, Porsha is fully under the impression that Chey’s return is strictly political. She’s also smart enough to know that I'll straight up kill her if she tries to outright take over the pack.

Two nights ago, she approached me in a way so humble that it must have hurt her pride, and I know because before I got the tip on Chey’s whereabouts, I was doing the same thing.

I couldn't just tell the pack elders that I was ready to settle down without giving them some sort of indication that I was serious, so I entertained a dinner date with Porsha, not wanting to complicate things even more by involving another woman.

When Cheyenne comes back, they can handle the situation as they see fit, but I will confidently be able to tell my mate that my actions were solely for her sake.

She may not believe me, but I have Royce, my father, and maybe even Dallas as back up.

“And why not?” My heart is racing as my father seemingly comes to a standstill with the woman who called with Cheyenne’s information.

She's asking for weird assurances that my father is becoming suspicious about, and because Kelvin and his father are in this meeting, we had to hang up because the information isn't worth the amount she’s asking for.

“Don't worry about it, Lucas. Jacob will understand that it was out of your control.” My father told his gamma his truth, meaning that Chey being cast out of the pack leaves him unable to fulfill his promise to take care of her.

It’s not far-fetched because my father and his cabinet were as close as brothers, and I remember him calling Mr. Lively for advice, and sometimes just to chat all the time.

“Can I leave now?” I know that this is my fault, but I just want my girl to come home, and right now, I need to break down in peace.

Unluckily though, Porsha was in the area, and she immediately embraced me.

“You don’t look well.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

“Am I included in those thoughts?” If I lose it now, I may lose everything else, so I’m forced to respond as though I genuinely care.

“Porsha, I still need time. You lied to me about things that didn’t even matter, made a fool of me by framing an innocent pack helper, then you attempted to extort me using rumors and the council.

“I told you; that wasn’t me.” Porsha has always maintained that lie, but…

“How do you expect me to trust you?”

“I-” The woman opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

She’s changed a lot since everything fell apart, and I think living in the real world has helped to humble her.

She’s no longer as haughty as she used to be, and even now, her hair is lazily styled in a simple bun.

If I didn’t know Chey was mine, I may have been able to overlook everything, but as of right now, the only emotion I hold toward Porsha is pity.

“Anyway, I’ve got to go…”

“I’ll prove it to you,” the woman says, clinging to my arm as though she can’t bear to let me go. “Just give me time.” I shrug, not understanding why the woman needs ‘time’ to tell me what I can guess.

However, I was only in my bedroom for an hour before the woman knocked at my door, pressing on my patience again.

“What’s going on? Why are you here?”

“All of our issues are because of that girl, right? I get it, I should have respected the fact that her father is a pack savior, and I shouldn’t have lied to you.” I’m so confused that I can’t speak, that is until Porsha hands me a note.

I recognize the handwriting as Kelvin’s, but the address jotted down doesn’t mean anything to me.

“What’s Valoria?”

“I think your gamma struck a side deal. He was planning to visit their alpha this week. I thought he would have told everyone in leadership already.” Obviously ‘Valoria’ is where Chey is.

“Does Kelvin know you’re giving this to me?”

“No, but I want this gesture to clear the slate.”