Chapter 22 Markus

I tried not to growl as Rose and I exited the hospital. Amalie was spiraling and I was charged with babysitting duty. Cal got to stay and calm Ama down. He got picked and I had to leave with Rose. It wasn’t fair! I should be there with them. She was my mate too.

“Mommy be okay?” Rose asked, her voice barely even a whisper. She was waking beside me.

If I hadn’t been a werewolf, I would have missed her question. I stopped walking and so did Rose. Kneeling down so I was closer to her eye level, I stated, “Your mom is so strong. She will be okay. It just might take time.”

Rose launched herself into my arms and started to cry.

“Hey, hey, it’s going to be okay. She loves you so much and will be okay,” I tried to sooth as I picked up Rose.

She snuggled into my neck and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Want mommy better,” she whispered.

“I know Rosebud,” I said as I hugged her. “Hey, how about we go get a present for your mom?”

“Present?” she asked in confusion.

I had to bite a growl for a different reason now. This was not the first time, and I highly doubt that it would be the last time, that Rose became confused at a term that we used. I wanted to go demand how Thomas, Marie, and Mellisa could have such a sweet girl and abuse her. I would have to attribute Rose’s good behavior to Amalie’s love and parenting skills. “A present is an item or something for a person. We can go pick out flowers or something for her?” I offered Rose.

“Something pretty?” Rose asked, hope shining in her eyes

“Something very pretty. Something as pretty as your mom,” I tickled Rose’s belly. She let out a giggle as we continued to walk. Okay, a plan. I could do this. Ama wanted me to watch Rose because Rose is important to her. Ama was stuck in the hospital and Calyx was needed there. I was needed here with Rose. I was needed to watch, entertain, protect, and take care of Rose for now as Ama couldn’t. “Let’s go to the flower shop?”

“Shop full flowers?” Rose asked in awe.

“It’s a big shop that is so full of flowers,” I told her. I took off towards the center of town. On our main square, there is a couple that own’s the Rustic Florist. I walked the few blocks from the pack hospital to the center of town. I walked into the shop with Rose still in my arms. The smell of flowers was slightly overpowering.

“Hi, welcome to the Rustic Florist,” Vickie said from where she worked the counter. Vickie looked up from her book. She was in her thirties. Her and her mate, Jimmy, ran the shop as well as the both of them being warriors. Whoever said warriors couldn’t have a soft side had never met Vickie and Jimmy. They would beat someone seven ways from Sunday and then start professing their love to each other. Sometimes they would start talking about how much they loved each other in training and other times; it was on the battlefield. It was very cute in a sickening way.

“Hi Vic,” I smiled as I adjusted Rose.

“Hey Alpha, what can I do for you?” Vickie asked with a smile.

“Well, Rosebud and I need to pick out flowers for her mom,” I said as I tried to get Rose to look at the flowers. “She’s in the hospital at the moment.”

“Ooh, special lady,” she teased as she set aside her book that she had been reading.

“She is,” I smiled, finally able to coax Rose to look around.

“You found your mate?” Vickie asked, excitement lacing her tone.

“We did,” I confirmed.

“I know that there was rumors flying around when you and Calyx took over the pack. But we had hoped!” she shouted in excitement. “I need to send out a message to everyone!”

“Wait!” I shouted, fear tinging my tone. Calyx and I did not want to confirm rumors until we had time to talk with Ama. I watched Vickie give pause and Rose jump in my arms. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout,” I apologized. “Cal and I need to talk with Rose’s mother a little bit before we make the official announcement. We’re hoping to make the announcement by Friday.”

“That’s four days away. Fine, I can live with that,” she huffed playfully. “Alright, let’s get back to business. Flowers for a pretty lady from her beautiful daughter and strong mates.” She got out from behind the counter and started to move around the shop. “Miss Rose, what color does you mom like?”

“Green?” Rose asked.

“Any other colors?” Vickie asked as she picked out greenery to fill in the bouquet.

“Blue,” she said with more confidence.

“Hang on, let’s go to the back and make a bouquet,” Vickie said as she was not finding what she wanted. “Jim! I need you to run the shop!”

“Busy darling,” Jimmy shouted from the back room.

Vickie huffed and stormed into the back. She came back dragging Jimmy into the front room. “I need to help the Alpha, and you need to run the front.”

“Alpha?” Jimmy asked me in confusion as he looked between us and his mate.

“Hi, we’re just picking out flowers,” I tried to dismiss.

“Nope, we are making a hand-crafted bouquet from the two of you for your mate,” Vickie laughed as she walked into the back room. She had a pronounced pep in her step as bounded into work shop.

“Well, you better follow her,” Jimmy sighed with a fond smile as he watched his mate.

I just nodded and followed her into the back. Rose was snuggled into my arms as she finally started to look around the shop.

“Okay, let’s get to work,” she smiled excitedly.