Scum (Book 2)

128. Failed

Chey’s POV

I just told myself that Liam wasn’t worth my anger, but hearing his chosen say that ‘I’ was going to destroy everything ‘he’ worked to build, presumably with her, filled me with a rage I didn’t even know I could feel.

I suddenly recall taking care of the man when he drank himself stupid over Porsha, and since I’m being blamed anyway, I might as well…

“Chey, please stop it.” Tearing the sofa feels good, so I start breaking other things, not even paying attention to what they are. “Cheyenne please… This is our home.” Home?

Clearly Liam forgot the things that he’s done to me, so I remind him as I destroy his kitchen.

Still, my anger isn't satiated, especially when Liam points out the blood on my hands.

I've seen much more blood, most of it my own, and someone needs to pay for it.

“Want me to show you?” I told my wolf that I would always respect her, so I won't stop her from pushing forward.

She's even more enraged when she notices that Liam's shielded his chosen mate with his body before shutting the door, making it impossible for me to kill either of them.

I've shifted before, but not for more than fifteen minutes at a time, a side effect of living in the city, so after a long and violent rampage, I feel like my body weighs a ton.

I'm barely aware of myself when I finally collapse, too tired to even push away the sharp shards of whatever is poking into my skin.

I don't know why, but I feel like…

“I failed…” I mind-link, hoping that Marisa and Jett are close enough to communicate with me.

“Please don't die here,” Jett replies, a heaviness in his tone that tells me he also felt every single emotion flowing through me. “People are waiting for us to come home.” People are waiting on us, more specifically, they are waiting on me.

All I have to do is survive my time in this pack for one more day. Then I'll be free of Liam and his lies forever.

Liam's POV

Cheyenne didn't wake up even when I touched her face, but fear stopped all of our nurses from checking on her because, in the past, she's accidentally hit someone for treating her.

It was a genuine accident, one I wasn't around for, but I was told that she felt so guilty afterwards that she punished herself.

She was just a kid back then, so the injury wasn't serious, but after that she had to be restrained anytime her treatment could cause pain.

It makes me think back to the time I accidentally dislocated her shoulder, and how many clues I should have had that, not only was she my mate, but she was an alpha.

I always believe that Chey's natural instinct to lead was because she was mostly raised by her father, but now, her past actions make much more sense.

“Should we bring her a change of clothes, Alpha Liam?” Since no one wants to touch my mate while she’s sleeping, we’ve had to leave her sleeping on broken glass, wood, and even plastic, but I’m sure that, when she wakes, she would at least like to change into something clean.

“All her clothes were in my closet,” I quietly reply, unsure if they survived my mate’s claws. “If they are destroyed, call Nora to help you pick something.” Because I don’t like how bad it looks for me to be sitting next to my blood streaked and naked mate, I stand, but I won’t leave because I have no doubt that Dallas will accompany his mate when she comes.

Sure enough, the man is the first person I see, and he looks murderous.

“Don't do anything stupid,” I link. “I didn’t touch her. She injured herself while doing… this…” I point to one of the holes in the wall, which draws Dallas's eyes to the many, many others. “No one wants to treat her because they're afraid, and we can't force them to risk their safety. That's why I called you and your mate.” It's nearly 7AM, so the pack is about to be extremely busy. “I want my mate to be woken, cleaned, and possibly treated. Can you and Nora help her?” Dallas slightly nods, so I leave, mind-linking him to ask for anything he needs.

Chey’s POV

I could hear what sounds like my brother softly calling out my name, but the pain I’m in doesn’t allow me to respond.

I let out a whimper as I moved, and because I accidentally placed my palm on a pile of glass while trying to lift myself, I ended up screaming.

I remember falling asleep here, so I can’t blame anyone but myself for the injuries I have. However, I am confused by my brother and his mate staring at me.

“Why are you here?”

“Liam didn’t want anyone to see you like this.”

“Naked?” I’m confused because many people have seen me hurt and bleeding, so it wouldn’t be shocking.

“Chey… I know you don’t want to hear this, but Liam really wants you to be his Luna.”

“Liam already has a luna.” Nora takes my calm demeanor as an indication that she can approach, so she starts helping me pull glass out of my hand and arm.

My brother on the other hand is acting weird, and I don’t like it.

“If you can’t ignore his links, I would rather you leave. I don’t like spies.”

“It’s not Liam. Mom and dad are hearing some things.”

“Like?”

“Do you really have your own pack?” I nod, trying hard to ignore Nora’s claws digging into my skin. “Since when?”

“Tell your mother that if she has questions, she should be bold enough to ask them herself.”

“‘My’ mother?” Dallas questions.

“Do you genuinely believe that we share parents?”

“YES!” the man shouts, startling me because I wasn’t expecting him to get so angry. “Picking up recessive traits doesn’t mean sh*t. You will forever be my little sister, who can’t beat me in a fight by the way, and no title is going to change that.” My eyes flood, shocking my brother who darts to my side. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I want to hug him, but because I’m holding my blanket up, I can’t, and he immediately notices my dilemma. “I’ll get you something to change into after a shower.” I don’t want to shower in Liam’s room, but right now, my options are limited.

“Where’s Kaleb?”

“He’s with your parents and your friends. Sophia isn’t much younger than him. So we had all the things she needed.”

“I hope mom is treating them well.”

“They aren’t alone.”

“Liam?”

“No…”

“Alpha Lucas?”

“Not him either.” I’m confused, but somehow, I also know it’s not Royce. “Kelvin?” Nora's expression goes sour, telling me that I’m missing something. “What is it?” I have never used a command on my friend, but I accidentally let it slip.

“He was close to ‘that woman’ while you were gone. I just have trouble trusting him.”

“Of course, he was close to ‘her.’ After all, she is Liam’s Luna.” Again, Nora makes a face; almost as though she agrees with Dallas. “I know it’s hard to believe, but Liam is a very good Liar. He may have made you think that he was done with Porsha, when in reality, he simply had her on standby like he did to me.”

“I just can’t imagine that woman taking over this place. She’s… Vile,” Nora replies.

“She’s exactly the same as the man who chose her. They deserve everything that comes to them and more.”

“Yes, but do the people who live here?” Sadly, that's not the case.

Alpine has its issues, but they aren’t bad compared to other places.

Food is available for those who need it, childcare, while not free, is affordable and reliable, and housing is practically guaranteed.

I remember thinking that all packs operated equally, but I now know that where I came from was way above the curve in terms of innovation.

Likewise, Alpha Lucas has land, and he uses it wisely. He has excellent credit among humans, so he is able to expand as necessary.

In comparison, other packs, including my own, are limited by their surroundings.

“I know that it’s tough to swallow, but I cannot play savior to them all. When my mentor comes, I may be able to find some people better homes, but I cannot guarantee their transfer requests will be granted, or if they’ll have to go rogue.” While I was away, I learned pretty quickly that taking on the burdens of others was mentally draining for me, although I still find myself getting pulled in despite my responsibilities as alpha.

I can’t imagine doing that for more people than I’m already responsible for, but I also can’t bring myself to say that I no longer care about the people who I now know were forced to forget about me.

“I need to eat,” I randomly add, wanting to change the subject. “Please don’t tell anyone from leadership that it’s for me.” I’m not sure if anyone knows I’m around, but just in case they do, I don’t want to be poisoned by someone who may have been close to their chosen Luna.

“This is all I could find,” Dallas says as he comes back into the room, holding up dresses I recognize as my own.

“Did you help him move my things into that closet?” I don’t know why it matters, but it does because, if my brother is too much on Liam’s side, he’s dead to me.

“Hell no. He made up some random excuse and got pack members to put it in pack storage. I didn’t find out until later that he moved them from there to here.” I don’t know why that thought makes me sick, but it does.

“What time is it?”

“It’s almost 8AM. I’m told the council will be here by noon.”

“Can I leave this room?” My brother goes silent, probably mind-linking. “If you have to ask, I assume the answer is no. Once I’m done with my shower, you can return to your son. I’ll be fine without you.”

“I’m sorry I failed you.” This isn’t the first time my brother is saying that, but I’m in a unique position to respond to him now that I know what being an alpha is all about.

“You didn’t fail me, Dallas; none of you did. The failure is Liam. He used me because he knew that he could.” It hurts for me to say that aloud, but the truth can’t be denied. “But I'm smarter now.”