Chapter 17

A week later.

Alpha Kalen, Valarie’s mate, stood across from me as we watched her get lowered into the ground at the rogue cemetery. Zoe and Macey stood beside me, and Macey’s mother watched our kids at the Hotel for us. Four people and the tow truck driver were the only people who attended and her lawyer. I tried my best not to look at the man responsible for her d***h.

We all spoke, sharing our stories with Valarie; her mate said nothing and remained silent. I wondered what he was thinking. Did he hate himself as much as I hated him? To do this to such a wonderful woman angered me. The coroner said she died from organ failure caused by the mate bond; there were no other health issues or any explanations.

It pissed me off that he was healthy and alive because he was an Alpha and male, while she was d**d because she was unmarked and female. It felt wrong that women de from neglect of the mate bond. It scared me because my health was already suffering, and if I wasn’t careful, this could be me. When we got the report, Macey and Zoe also voiced their concerns, saying I should just mark and mate someone, so I didn’t end the same way.

The coroner was shocked and said he had only seen two cases before because most people keep their mates. He also questioned and asked if we knew who the mate was to inform them. Kalen, Valarie’s mate, and Valen’s father said he had no idea as we sat in the office while giving me a pointed look, warning me to not say anything. That meant he saw me when I would catch him coming and going from the Hotel sneaking in like a thief in the night. I couldn’t understand why he bothered coming that day if he wasn’t even going to acknowledge she was his mate.

How did he explain his reasoning for being there? Though I could tell not even the coroner believed whatever bt Kalen fed him. I was listed as her next of kin which I was shocked about but glad to get some answers either way.

Shaking the memory away, I listen to the priest, and when the service is finished, I watch as Kalen speaks to the lawyer for a second before turning on my heel and following Macey back to her car when I hear my name being called.