Fatal Romance

Chapter 28

Natayshia's POV.

I remove my clothes and crawl into bed exhausted after the funeral. My eyes swollen and sore from holding in my tears throughout the rest of the funeral. Being strong for your pack members in the face of tragedy is the hardest thing I've ever had to experience.

I'm disappointed in myself, I was so distraught and with the effort to keep in my tears becoming too much, when it was my time to take the stand I couldn't say a word. First Rodney made his speech, then when I was to stand my mind went blank. In my stead Kelner had to speak for the both of us, holding my hand and giving comfort to those under our charge. Oh, how can I be so blessed to have met a man like him, especially at a time like this.

I let gravity pull me down onto my bed, landing face first into my pillow. I groan when a heavy presence lands next to me and begins to smoothingly run his fingers through my hair. My sweet Kelner. "That feels so nice. I could feel a headache coming on."

A sad chuckle escapes his lips, "Yes, I know. I could feel it in the back of my head."

I sit up and push him back against the bed, allowing his hand to fall from my head and cuddle myself into his embrace. I rest my right cheek against his chest, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to affect you too."

"Don't apologize I know why its there and I understand, my brave mate." He lifts his hand up and runs his thumb under my cheek, "I just want you to know that you don't have to be strong when it's just you and my." A tear escapes my eye right eye, quickly followed by it's partner on my other cheek. "Let it out, you'll feel better once you do. I'm hear now." It's like his words open up a dam inside me and all of a sudden I'm weeping against him, making way for the release of my pain.

A little while after my tears begin to slow I hear sniffling that isn't coming from me. I lift my head to find Kelner crying silent tears that tear at my heart. I reach forward to wipe them away and kiss his left cheek. I pull him closer to me, both of us silently allowing the other to lend comfort. We both need this.

"You don't always have to be strong for me too. We are meant to be there for each other, to share each other's joys and sorrows. I am here for you also Kelner. Even when you're hurt and crying you will always be the strongest man I know." I lean up and press my lips softly to his, lingering only for a second before pulling away.

His hand reaches up and pulls me back to him, his lips turning our contact quickly into a heated meeting, and he rolls me under him. Our hearts needing the comfort our bodies.

*****

I wake up to find myself alone and the place beside me left cold. Looking at the clock I realize I've over slept and everyone must be awake and moving about. I need to check on my pack, and see how Rodney and Judith are doing. Making their speeches at the funeral couldn't have been easy for them.

When Rodney stood up before the packs he spoke of the past and reminisced about their daughter's life, when she met her mate and when they did as well. When he spoke of the love shared for their grandchildren Judith broke down in tears. She would have fallen if Rodney wasn't there to catch her. To calm her anguished wails.

Kelner silently took steps toward the mourning couple and motioned to Judith to hold him for comfort while Rodney continued. I remember in that moment realizing how much they aged, how death takes years from your life. It's as if the weight of realizing their lives as parents has exceeded that of their only child and their grandchildren has taken a physical toll on their bodies. I will have to take greater care for them. This is the first murder, without plausible reasoning as to its cause, is the first I've encountered and it stirs a feeling in my belly that this is not the end.

In my naked form I quickly gather clean clothes to change into after a hot shower. As I bathe myself my mind drifts back to last night and the time Kelner and I shared in each other's arms. Our love making was so sweet it made me fall for him all the more.

It was as if neither of us wanted to let the other go. Knowing that two mates are gone from the world makes me treasure mine all the more. I have a feeling Kelner feels the same way too.

Once clean and dried from my shower, I don't take too long to dress and walk out the bedroom door leaving my hair down to dry. I make my way to Kelner's office after a few minutes of confusion trying to find him with just my sense of smell and unreliable directions from one of his pack members. I put to memory my path as I'm still trying to memorize the lay out of the place. It may be smaller than my pack house but it doesn't make it any easier to navigate.

I knock on his office door and receive a clipped bid to enter. Walking in without further ado I find Kelner sitting behind his desk with a large collection of files and papers scattered across it's surface. "What is all this? What are you doing?

"Its the beginning of my investigation. I'm looking into their lives and seeing if there are any clues as to who could have done this but my mind is blank and I've discovered nothing. I don't know what to do or what to look for." My ears pick up on his rising frustration, and I walk over, and rub his shoulders in an attempt to sooth him.

Instead the moment I touch him he roughly pulls away from me and moves out of reach. "Stop, I don't need you distracting me. I'm trying to work here and right now you trying to calm me down isn't helping. If you're not going to help me than leave me alone to do my job," he raises his voice at me angrily, almost yelling.

I take a deep breath and try and push the hurt away but with each word I speak my anger rises, "Kelner, you don't have to pull away from me and speak rudely. I was only trying to calm you down so we could think about this together but clearly you know what you're doing and don't need my help. If you're going to act like this I don't want to help or be around you at all until you can show my some respect as your mate and partner. I have better things to do than to allow myself be treated so poorly. I'll leave you to your work now."

I quickly stride away from him and to the door. Just as I'm about to close the door I hear the beginning of my name on his lips but I'm too hurt to look at him and see the building regret cross his face. I slam the door shut behind me in anger and stride out the house in need of a brisk walk to cool my temper. 

If he wants to be left alone then that's  how he will be. I'm not going to stay and be a target of his angst. He can eat his foot for all I care, it seems he has it in his mouth already anyways.

*****

A figure creeps along the edge of the forest looking in at the house. Watching the Alpha couple argue was the cherry on top of all of this. Their plan is working out better than expected.

Slinking away the shadowed figure swiftly moves to their destination. In the shadow of a great oak tree they observe two small toddlers under the watchful eyes of their mother. Their peaceful life will not last much longer. The time to strike is only a day away, and their need for patience will not last much longer. Then stage three can begin. Just a little more time and there will no longer be any doubt of the vandette held against them.

The peace that once was shall be gone forever. They sinisterly smile as their mind focuses on the future and what they have in store.