Chapter 19 Amalie

Once Rose was situated on my lap, she reached up and put both of her hands on my cheeks. She looked over my face and then looked me in the eye. “All better?” she asked, her face pulling the most serious look I had ever sen from her.

“Almost all better,” I assured her. “Beren has healed everything but my leg.”

“Beren goodest,” she smiled as she let go of my face. She wrapped her arms around my neck.

Beren preened under our pups praise. My wolf was wagging her tail with excitement. ‘I’m the best,’ she gloated.

“That she is,” I agreed with Rose and Beren.

“Hey, I thought I was the good one?” Markus asked jokingly.

“Beren goodest, you good, he strong,” Rose declared matter-of-factly.

I smiled widely at my daughter. “You are the best,” I said as I tickled Rose’s stomach.

She let out a squeal and tried to get away from my tickles. “Mommy!” Rose laughed as she was finally able to escape my hold.

I was about to try to recapture her when my stomach let out its own growl.

“Okay little one, time for lunch,” Calyx smiled softly. He still stood by the door with the two trays. He came over and set them both on the bedside table. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted. I know you used to love fried chicken and mashed potatoes. But Uncle Will said nothing that rich to eat for a few days.” Calyx took the lid off the bowl of broth. “Jane, the head of the cafeteria omegas, said that broth and some bread would be best for now.”

I wanted to argue that I knew what my body could handle but I didn’t. I had been in a coma for two weeks. I hadn’t had a proper meal since the night before I was beaten. My stomach probably couldn’t handle greasy foods yet. I bit back my sigh and accepted the soup.

Goddess, I missed Rachel’s fried chicken. I would never eat her fried chicken again. My fath-, no Thomas had drank heavily the night she was killed. The whole pack mourned her death. Once he was done drinking, Thomas had decided that I needed a reminder of how much everything was my fault. I still scoffed about that night. How was a rogue attack, that happened four years ago, that had killed Luna Rachel, my fault?

“Hey, you okay?” Mark asked as he finished his bite of sandwich.

“What?” I asked, snapping out of my thoughts.

“You’re crying,” Cal said as he used his thumb to wipe away my tears.

“I was just thinking about your mother. I loved her fried chicken,” I stated, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

“Mom made the best chicken,” Mark agreed with a soft smile.

“I’m so sorry about her passing,” I whispered. “I’ve wanted to tell you both that for so long.” More tears streamed down my face. I wasn’t sobbing yet, but I was getting close to it.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Mark said as he took my soup from my trembling hands. He handed the bowl to Cal and then wrapped his arms around Rose and I.

I knew that Cal must have set down my soup as I felt his arms wrap around us too. Unfortunately, this did not calm me down. It made me start crying harder.

Mark was about to say something when my door opened again.

“Will you two stop upsetting my patient?” Dr Will demanded as he strode into the room. He shut off the machine that had been beeping wildly.

“Uncle Will, mommy sad,” Rose stated as she looked around at all the males. She was trying to figure out why I was so upset.

He sighed and looked towards the ceiling. “I can see the pumpkin. I know the twins have done something to upset her.”

“Hey!” Mark squawked in protest.

Rose ignored the twins and whispered to me, “He sounds like the big duck from the park Uncle James took me to.”

I smiled at Rose through the tears. “Big duck? I think you are right.” I vaguely remembered going to the park and watching the geese honk at everyone who would get close when I was younger. Mark, Cal, James, and I had been chased from the park once when we were in sixth grade. I filed the thought about James and Dr. William being called Uncle away for later. If they were going to be called uncle, then they would have to step up to be her uncles and protect her. I was not going to let anyone be considered family for my pup unless they protected her. Was I being demanding and harsh, definitely. But I didn’t care. This was my baby I was protecting.

“We didn’t mean to upset her. Cal brought up fried chicken and then that brought up mom,” Mark tried to defend.

“Fine,” Dr. Will sighed, his features softening. “Now Amalie, why don’t you finish your lunch. Once done, we will go over your chart and what wounds you still have. Then, we’ll go over psychiatrists that we have on staff or we can have one come in from one of the surrounding packs. After all that, we’ll see about what else we need to go over with. Sound okay?”

I nodded my head. “Is Cal still able to be here with me?” I asked as I swallowed back my fears.

“That is perfectly fine. I’m sure Markus can find something to do with Rose for a few hours while we talk,” Dr. Will said with a smile and a look directed to the younger twin.

“Sure, Rose and I can go to the park,” Mark smiled. His smile did not quite reach his eyes. I knew he was hurt at me choosing Cal to be with me over him.

“Will you protect her for me?” I ask him, making sure he knows that protecting and looking after Rose is very important to me.

“Of course,” he said. His face losing the hurt.