Making A Choice book 2 of chosen by the cursed alpha

the burial 25

Chapter 25

Alpha Creek's POV

What have I done? It took her blowing up at me to realize I was treating her poorly. Even my family kept telling me to spend more time with her. I was a busy man with tons of family, so I worried about all of them. Even my own mother once told me that my mate is my equal. Treat her with love and kindness. Make her strong. But instead, what did I do? I ended up hurting her and making her angry because I prioritized business and family over her. My sister warned me about this, to put my mate first, but instead, I put her down, told her she was nothing but a breeder for me, and then see what happened - her mother is gone now. She wouldn't even look at me, and when she did, all she did was glare at me. I need to make this right; I need to let her know that I really do need her by my side. She needs me right now. I hurried to the morgue where they were cleaning her mother for the burial, and she was there watching their every move, knowing I was there.

“You know, my mother wanted me to accept you so she could come back. This pack is where she was born. The only reason she left is because she found my father. She waited for me to leave so she could rest in peace. She knew I would freak out, and I did. The fact that I was not present when she left made me even stronger, strong enough to leave here on my own. After the burial, I'll get some rest, and then I will find another pack to go to. That way, you can find a worthy Luna to be by your side. I won't go back to Jaspers; he has his hands full right now. I need to go so I can get ready for her burial. You can come if you want, if you don't have any other business to take care of." She went to leave. I held onto her arm gently, and she slowly turned around. We were close, and she said, “Let go of me. You have no right to do that anymore.”

“Rice, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you and my family. Please, just give me one more chance to prove to you that I can be a good mate. Let me court you for ten days, please. You will see.” I heard her softly sigh. I knew she didn't want me to touch her, so I tried my best to hold back. My cat was cussing me out; he knew this was going to happen. He blamed me for everything, and I didn't blame him. I had always put my pack and family first. I should have listened to my mother when she said everything would change when I got a mate. I didn't think it would. Yes, I hurried the mating, marking, and the ceremony because I had things to do. The ceremony didn’t last long, and neither did the mating and marking. I rushed it, and I should have never done that. Now my mate wants to leave. I'm hoping she will give me these ten days to court her so I can prove to her that I love her. I waited as she looked at her mother laying on the table while the nurse gently dressed her.

“I will give you my answer after we bury my mother. Until then, leave me alone. I need to be by myself for a few minutes.” I wasn't going to give up my hopes, but I let her walk away from me. I walked over to her mother and then said,

I'm sorry I let you down. I remember you. You used to give me cookies when I was just a little boy. I know the real reason why you left. My father was in love with you. You were my father's true mate. I promise you, I will never tell her. Rest well, my old friend. I promise you, if she gives me these ten days, I will show her everything there is about being my mate. I kissed her cheek, then I walked away. I wanted to be there for Rice.

Rice's Point of View (POV):

It's been a heavy day. I was standing there watching the nurse wash my mother up. She had her laying on a table with her head on a soft pillow. I will miss my mother, but I know she doesn't want to be here anymore. She came home to rest, and that's what she did. When I was a young child, my mother always sang to me when I was hurt or crying. Then, she would hold me and rock me until I fell asleep. I will always remember my mother. I went to Creek's room and headed into the walk-in closet. I never liked wearing dresses, but today I will wear one. I picked out a short-sleeve black button-up dress that went past my knees. I let my hair down, but I decided to put it up in a bun. Then I put on my sandals. Looking into the mirror, all I saw was a lost girl who had no family now. I was an orphan now. Sighing, I opened the bathroom door where Creek was standing, waiting for me to come out. He was already dressed.

“If you don't mind, I would like to be there for you, Rice. You need someone by your side right now. I promise I will not try to touch you unless you want me to.” I didn't say anything at first. I was thinking he would be too busy to come, but he insisted. This was his home and his pack. What right do I have to say he couldn't? But I didn't say that. I did not want to argue with him, not now, not today. When I did talk, I spoke in a soft voice.

“I don’t mind you coming. She knew you when you were a child. She was a part of this pack most of her life. Thank you for being there for her. I'm thankful for that.” I knew I needed to make a decision, but I just can't right now. We headed outside. We used to burn our families so they could go up to the Moon Goddess, but the hunters would be watching for the smoke. They would follow it and find us. Now we bury them so the hunters won't be able to find us. We stood at the cemetery where I saw his father's tombstone. And then I saw my mother's grave right next to it. I thought that was pretty weird. But if he wants to do that, I didn't feel very comfortable about that. My mother wasn't his father's mate. Why would he do that? I'll ask him once this is over. It took four warriors, two on each side, to bring my mother's coffin. The coffin was beautiful. It was all white with roses on it. She loved roses, and now she can go to the Moon Goddess with them. They placed the coffin into the ground, then buried it. We never said anything in our burials, but Creek decided to say something.

My dear pack members, we are gathered here today to bury one of our dearest elders. She was once a member of this pack, but she left with her mate and then returned so she can be at peace here. When I got into trouble as a child, I would run to her, and she would give me cookies. I would play in her house all day long until I had to go home. Now she's back with us, she will always be remembered. I didn't know any of this. Why did he wait until now to say something? It doesn't matter now. This was his memory of my mother. His mother's name is Summer; she was standing next to him. She came because he called her. She kept looking at me with a sad expression. I didn't want pity; I just wanted my mother back.

After the funeral, Summer came up to me and hugged me tightly, then she whispered in my ear, "Listen to me carefully, I know what you are thinking. You are not an orphan; you still have me. You will always have me, okay? Any time you need me, any time you need to cry, or need a shoulder to cry on, I will be here, okay?" I sniffled and shed a few tears. I was trying to hold them back, but when she said that, I let them flow. She held me until my tears dried up, then she pulled me away just a little.

"You go rest up, okay. I am going to talk to my stupid son for just a few minutes, okay?" I nodded as I headed back into the pack house. I asked for help if they could move my things to another room, but they were worried that Creek might be upset if they did. So, I have to do it. I packed two bags of things, my bathroom essentials, and then I was done. I left a bunch of items there. I moved to the room across from him. I still need to do some thinking, and if I did it in that room, then I wouldn't be doing any thinking at all.