chapter 17

One Week Later Alpha Kalen, Valarie’s mate, stands across from me as we watch her get lowered into the ground at the rogue cemetery. Zoe and Macey hover beside me; Macey’s mother offered to watch our kids at the hotel for us. There aren’t many mourners in attendance; just four people and the tow truck driver. Plus her lawyer. I do everything I can to avoid locking eyes with the man responsible for her death. We all speak, sharing our stories about Valarie—her mate says nothing and remains silent. I wonder what must be going through his head. Does he hate himself as much as I hate him? The fact that he could torture such a wonderful woman, over decades and decades, makes my blood boil. The coroner said she died from organ failure caused by the mate bond; there were no other health issues or explanations. It pisses me off that he is healthy and alive because he's an Alpha and male, while Valarie is dead because she remained unmarked and female. It feels wrong that women die from neglect