Kelner's POV.

I rub my eyes as I lift the top half of my body from the bed. I can't believe it's midday and I'm shirking my duties as future Alpha to spend it with my mate. I don't think anyone will question why once we step out of the room and everyone will sense the change in our relationship. I look over at Natayshia to see her still sleeping, the creamy skin of her back exposed and I take a few moments to admire the beauty of her. I take a look at the clock and remember a meeting I have planned with my father I need to get ready for.

I lean over slightly and press a soft kiss to my mate's shoulder, and moving back slowly I get up out a bed. I walk to the bathroom and step in the shower. As I return to the room I see her still sleeping and so I begin to get dressed for the day, right before I leave I write a note on a piece of paper from my desk and place it on my pillow next to her. I walk to the door and slowly close it behind me.

I reach my office door without meeting anyone on the way, I notice the door is a crack open and assume my father is inside. When I push the door further open I see him sitting behind the desk already waiting for me with his back turned to me. The second I walk in his nose lifts to the air and he takes in a deep breath; in a speed I never knew he could move he's in front of me pulling me into his arms. "My son, I am so happy for you. Congratulations on your mating! I'm surprised, I thought you wanted to marry her first. You always spoke of waiting and wanting to honor your mate following in the tradition of your mother and I." I run my fingers threw my hair and take a deep breath before I answer him.

Looking into his eyes I tell him, "I wanted to do that but it seems my mate was wanting to consummate our bond before I could even ask her to marry me. I did tell her I wanted to marry first but she was fine with the bonding of our ancestors. Don't get me wrong, we will still be getting married following in human tradition, that I am sure of. I don't regret bonding with her last night though, it was something we both wanted." My father nods his head in understanding, "I'm glad to hear you're happy with your decision. She seems like a wonderful young woman and I think you will run the packs well together. I suppose now that you're mated we can focus on the wedding and the changing of Alpha for the pack, what do you suggest we do?"

"Dad I'm glad you ask, I was thinking we could combine the wedding and crowning of Alpha and Luna together?" My father smiles brightly at me, "wonderful! We are on the same page then but first and foremost we need to finalize the plans on the funerals of the family." A frown immediately falls on my face, he's right we do need to work on that first so that's what we do.

We push the upcoming joyful nuptuals from our minds and begin to work on the funeral details. We've been working on the plans for hours and as evening approaches a knock is heard at my door. Without looking up I call out to them, "come in!" Naya walks through the door with two plated sandwiches and drinks set on a tray. The sound of my stomach grumbling along with my father's simultaneously is heard in the room which has us all chuckling. "I heard that both of you haven't come out of this room since before I woke up so I figured you would need something to eat so took it upon myself to make you something."

My father turns around further to get a better look at her and asks "what did you make? It smells delicious." She sets the tray on the left corner of my desk, "I made sandwiches that my father taught me to make growing up. It's sliced steak strips with melted cheese and onions. Notice the small bowl with dip, that is a paprika aeoli dip that I made from scratch. If you dip the sandwich in it, it makes the sandwich taste really good!" By the time she's finished describing the meal for us I'm already drooling. My father wipes the side of his mouth of drool and immediately reaches for the food and I follow in his actions. At the first bite I moan out in appreciation, "babe if I wasn't already mated to you and the desire to marry, you this would have had me hooked. This is the best sandwich I've ever tasted."

I look at my father to see him with just half of his sandwich left in his hand, "this is the best sandwich I have ever tasted," he says in blissful awe without thinking. The second he realizes what he's said his eyes bulge out of his head, he quickly leans towards my mate, "those words never leave this room! If my wife finds out I like this sandwich better than hers I'll never heard the end of it."

The door slams open and my mother is standing there glaring at my father, "what was that you said, darling? You like her sandwich better than mine? The very one I've been making for you since the first day we got together?" My father looks at her mouth a gap. Without another word she turns around and walks away. My father pounds his fist on the desk, quickly stuffs the rest of his sandwich in his mouth and rushes out the door after my mother. I can hear him pleading to her with a half full mouth of food as he chases after her.

Naya and I look at each other and burst out laughing, oh the deeds of my father. I will not be surprised tonight if I find my father sleeping on the couch. The one thing my mother has always cherished is my father's love for all the special meals she had made for him over the years.

Naya walks around the desk and sits on my lap, "How is your day going? Have you been busy?" I reach for her hand and press her palm to my cheek. The weight of the funeral planning on my chest, "I have been working on the funeral plans of the deceased family with the help of my father. We're pretty much done but I just have a few phone calls to make to their extended family outside of my pack. The mother was actually moved here when she met her mate in my pack, I need to call her siblings and parents that are all in different locations." Naya begins to caress my cheek with her hand and gives me a kiss on the forehead, comforting me the way I need it.

Softly she says to me, almost on a whisper. "How about I help you out? Clearly your father is not going to come back anytime soon, at least not till he's done groveling for your mother's forgiveness," she smiles sadly and we both chuckle quietly, the melancholy mood still in our hearts. "I would truly appreciate it, here let's look at the list and split it up," I grab the paper with the names of the family members and bring it forward so we can both look at it. As we look at the paper I hear Natayshia gasp and when I look at her, her eyes are filled with unshed tears. "What? What is it?" She pulls the paper from my fingers and points at the last two names on the list. When she looks at me the pain in her eyes tell me it is for someone she knows "these two names right here, they are two elders in my pack. They are the parents of the mother who was killed."

I gasp, if they are from her pack her connection to this tragedy is closer than I first anticipated. I have a feeling this funeral will be much bigger than expected. If the mother's parents are elders in Natayshia's pack that means her pack will be coming for support. Elders in a pack are highly respected and if they are upset than so is the pack. We both mentally draw away from each other and I hand her my cell phone while I reach for the office phone. These phone calls we have to make are not going to be easy.