Scum (Book 2)

123. Closure

Chey’s POV

I’ve been calling Noah for days, but all I ever get back is a text, and the last one seemed like I was bothering him.

Concern can get annoying, especially when it's unnecessary, but he didn't look good when I left his pack, and I was at work when he sent someone to pick up his car for him.

Maybe if I'd been able to see him, I wouldn’t feel so terrible, but as of right now, it almost feels like I wasted our time together because I couldn’t get over Liam.

I admit that it took longer than it should have, but now that I know how I feel about Noah, I need to know that he’s okay.

I don't really understand why Elijah behaved so aggressively with me, but I’m afraid he may have done something stupid in order to make me regret not saying ‘yes.’ However, I also think I know the man well enough to say that he wouldn’t physically hurt his brother, although that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt him at all, and I’m more than familiar with the kind of hurt that comes from mental trauma brought on by a loved one.

“Is he still not responding?” Jett is the only person sympathetic to the way I feel because everyone else believes that if Noah really cared about me, he would have left his pack when I did, not send me away in his car like a coward and continue to avoid me nearly a week later.

“He said he was okay and that I should stop worrying.” Jett scoffs, likely because, like me, he finds Noah’s response a little off-putting.

“Leave him alone then. You’re young, you haven’t met your mate, and even if you don’t have one, you can definitely do better.” That’s exactly what Miguel said, but Noah isn’t just someone that I like; he’s my friend.

A few days pass with me feeling kind of heavy, but eventually I snap out of it, realizing that it’s better for my relationship with Noah to have ended sooner as opposed to later.

Aside from that, I have bigger issues now that I’m under investigation for my supposed anti-council rhetoric.

I’ve said a lot of things about the council, but that isn’t a crime, and Alpha Mateo told me that it’s a scare tactic.

They can do whatever they want, but until I’m able to get justice for myself, I have no plans to join an organization that would forbid me from killing Liam the way I want.

“Alpha Chey, someone is out front looking for an audience,” Dyson mind-links, but I can tell he's distracted because he neglected to give me details.

“Jett, can you check in on Dyson and Miguel?”

“Sure,” the man says, grabbing the clipboard we use to keep track of general issues before leaving.

“Do you smell that?” I don’t know what it is, but the scent of river water and cedar wood is emanating from right outside my apartment door, and it’s making my heart race.

“Are you okay?”

“I think my mate is out there.” As if on cue, the person rings the bell, but I’m so nervous that I can’t move.

Marissa is closest to the door, so she puts Sophia down while asking if it's okay for her to let them in.

I didn’t get a warning from anyone stationed in front of the building, so I’m not worried. The person may have just picked up my scent and followed it, but I’m still terrified, because what if Noah comes back, what if I can’t choose between the two, and what if he’s part of the council?

“Should I?” Marissa mind-links again, drawing my attention back to the present. “Or should we ask them to make an appointment?” While I’m thinking, the bell rings again, but I can’t make up my mind. “Alpha?”

“Open it,” I reply aloud, holding my breath as I prepare to meet my fated partner for the first time, but as soon as my eyes meet his, my fear and excitement turns into a bitter chuckle.

“You don’t have to worry,” I say to the man, hating that this is the path my life has taken. “I already accept your rejection.”

Liam’s POV

Kelvin claimed that he was afraid to tell me where Chey was just in case I tried to forcibly make her return to the pack, but I promised that I wouldn’t.

To ‘ease his worry,’ my father ‘ordered’ Royce to accompany us on the trip, but as soon as we arrived, and I picked up Chey’s scent, I grabbed the man’s arm, careful not to let my intrusive thoughts win by breaking it.

“Cheyenne is my fated partner.” Kelvin’s expression contorts, making me feel guilty enough to let his arm go.

He put a lot of effort into locating Cheyenne, so I’m grateful for his help, even if he thought he was doing it for himself.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Because I don’t trust you.” Kelvin must be kicking himself for all the things he’s said not knowing that Chey was mine.

“Then you could have spared me and left me behind.” I could have, but Porsha is also a worry of mine, and…

“I couldn’t take the chance that you’d tell Porsha, and that I’d lose Chey forever.” Kelvin doesn’t even defend himself from my accusation, not that he was given a chance because someone is staring at us, and he looks unhappy about three males showing up, especially since Royce just pulled a bouquet of flowers out of the trunk. “Wait here,” I instruct, feeling slightly sorry for Kelvin.

Cautiously, I approach Chey’s building, smiling to appear friendly.

“This sounds like bullsh*t, but I know my mate lives here,” I say. “I’ve never met her, but I can smell her, and I would like to meet with your alpha about it.” I can tell the man is mind-linking because it takes him some time to respond.

“Our Alpha doesn't appreciate unannounced visitors, but she will see you.” A female alpha…

Based on the scents swirling around, there are mostly women and children living in the building, so I know Chey must have joined Valoria because they needed her.

“Chey definitely lives here,” Royce mind-links, referring to the spotless hallway leading to the elevator.

Maybe we were wrong, maybe Cheyenne is just a pack helper who fights on the side, which makes me feel less guilty, but I'm still terrified.

“I want you to wait here…” I say to the man, slightly trembling as Cheyenne’s scent permeates through the door of the Alpha's apartment.

There’s also the scent of a newborn, which means that she could be acting as a childcare provider or guard.

Chey was always a resourceful woman, so I have no doubts that she'd fit in anywhere.

Shakily, I ring the bell, expecting an immediate answer, but I only hear hushed whispering, letting me know that she can smell me.

Sadly, it doesn't sound like she’s thrilled about it, so I ring again, this time at the edge of panic.

I'm willing to do anything to get Cheyenne back, including killing her alpha.

Eventually, though, the door swings open, and I come face-to-face with the woman I love.

Only, the excitement on Chey’s face turns into visible disappointment as she chuckles in sadness.

“Don't worry, I already accept your rejection.” The bouquet of flowers I'm holding suddenly makes me feel foolish, so I slowly toss them aside and step into the apartment.

There's another woman with a Chey, probably the alpha, and the infant is in a bassinet close to her.

“Chey, I understand that you're hurt and angry, but you need to come home now.”

“Home?” She mocks. “This is my home.” I look around the apartment, seeing nothing that indicates what Cheyenne is saying except her overwhelming scent.

“Let's go…” I reply, reaching toward the woman as the alpha in the room just stares between us. “People are waiting for me to-”

“You don't have to reject me on your territory. We can do it anywhere safe. I know the law.” Chey saying that physically hurts, especially since…

“I'm not going to reject you, Cheyenne.”

Chey's POV

I really don't know how to feel, but I do know that finding my mate has given me closure in a weird way.

“I’m not in the mood for games. I have a lot going on in my life. If you want, we can set a date to officially end things and be done with it.” After our rejection, Liam will be a distant memory, one that I now realize I don't need to kill to overcome.

“Chey, my love… I don’t want to do that.” I just registered what Liam meant by asking me to ‘come home.’

He must think that I still want him after what he's done; after how he humiliated me for the benefit of a woman he loved before me and probably still does. “Chey, can we talk in private please?” I will not allow Liam to sweet talk me now because I’ll only regret it later, and since I’m already on the council’s watch-list, I might as well give them a valid reason.

“I, Cheyenne Genevieve Lively, re-” Before I can even say another word, Liam grabs Marissa, extending just his claws as he squeezes her neck. “Let her go,” I growl, also extending my claws as I mind-link for reinforcements, but Royce suddenly enters the apartment and shuts the door, locking us inside.

“Hello Cheyenne,” he sadly says. “It’s really good to see you alive and well.” Ignoring Royce, I glare at Liam, fully aware that if he wants, he can break Marissa’s neck with ease.

The woman is so scared that she can’t scream, but I’m sure she’s more worried about her daughter.

“Call them off…” Liam orders, referring to the pack members who've started to pound on the door.

It's reinforced, so it'll take some time before it's knocked down.

“Please listen to him, Chey.” Royce is talking as though he's not been stalking closer to me, but I'm a fighter, so I've noticed.

“Don't try me, Royce… I'm not the same little girl you knew. This is my pack, and I will do anything to defend it.” The man looks confused, but I can’t focus too much on expressions because Marissa whimpers in pain.

That split second of distraction was all Royce needed to pounce.

I got away, but the man used his failed attempt at grabbing me to pick up Sophia.

“Put her down!” I shout, making the man flinch before he tries to do as I ordered, but Liam counters my command by ordering him not to.