Chapter 28 Amalie

“Goddess, I don’t know why she still has a job here?” Gretchen asked the ceiling. “I’m sorry about her. I could hear what she was saying about your mates from down the hall.”

“Thank you,” I told her sincerely. “She was a little much before we even left my room.”

“All she wants to do is gossip,” Gretchen sighed. “Now, let’s get my granddaughter’s leg looked at.”

“Oh, you don’t have to refer to me as that,” I told her. This was more embarrassing than the Cal’s attempt to seduce his way into my shower.

“Nonsense, I want to. I know that you don’t have any family outside of the twins and Rose now. If you would like, because I don’t want to take that decision away from you, you can put me down as family for anything you need. I told you last night that I would be here for whatever you need,” she told me as she tipped my chin up, so I was looking in her eyes. “I have a feeling that you could an older female in your life that loves you.”

Now I was crying, again. Goddess, you think I would have run out of tears over the last three days.

“Now, you don’t have to refer to me as grandma or anything like that. I did know your Grandmother Rose, she was a dear friend and I figured I could step up to help fill that void she left,” Gretchen stated as she hugged me.

“Thank you,” I told her as I clung to her and cried some more.

“Now, we really do have to get your leg x-rayed before that mate of yours comes looking,” she laughed as she assisted me up and onto the bench.

Ten minutes later, Gretchen was wheeling me down to shower number two. Ann was standing by the door. She looked a little awkward standing there.

“Oh miss, I can help her,” Ann attempted to cut in.

“Nonsense, I have seen this girl naked since she was a baby. I am still more than capable of assisting her shower now that she is grown. Go start on the inventory in the medical supply closest. We never know when there will be an attack,” Gretchen said, dismissing her.

“Actually, if you don’t need me to help with the shower, I was hoping to go on break,” she said hopefully.

“You started your shift not even an hour ago, and you were late. No, you may not go on break. I have two other nurses who have put in a few hours will need to go on break first,” Gretchen told her.

“But the Alpha and Beta are here,” she whined again. “I want to see them.”

Goddess, did she know how not to whine like a pup. Rose didn’t even whine as much as Ann did.

“No, do your job or find a new one,” Gretchen ordered.

Ann stomped off in a huff.

“Okay dear let’s get you showered,” she told me with a smiled and wheeled me into the shower room.

Goddess above, the shower felt heavenly. Hot water and not time limit, it was a dream come true. Marie had monitored my shower time and hot water usage. I was allowed five minutes with warm water, every other day. Those five minutes were also used to wash Rose too.

Gretchen smiled as she assisted me in scrubbing my hair and back. She had even let me sit on the bench for twenty minutes. I just sat there, the water cascading down on me. No one shouted at me to hurry up or cut off the water because I had taken too long or made the water to warm.

When I was done, she assisted me in getting dried off. I felt like a pup again staying with Grandma Rose. I was being taken care of, and it felt nice.

“Alright my dear, I’ve stalled your mates as long as I can,” she laughed as she wheeled me into the hall once I was dressed.

“Mommy!” Rose shouted as she spotted me first. “You in a wheelie chair?”

“Just for now little one,” Gretchen smiled as she put the brakes on and then picked up Rose. She sat my daughter in my lap. She then continued to push us back towards Cal and James.

“Hi,” I said as I stared at Cal.

“Hi,” he whispered back. He looked at me like we were the only ones in the world.

James coughed to get our attention. “Alright, you’ve seen her. Now you need to get to the pack house and go over a few things with Mark,” James said as he attempted to push Calyx towards the exit.

Calyx growled at his beta.

“Is Mark alright?” I asked, my worry starting to grow. Different thoughts raced through my head.

“He’s fine love, we have been putting off pack business for the last two weeks,” Cal told me as he kissed my forehead. “James is going to wait here with you two until you are able to be released.”

“Okay,” my worry abating for the time being.

“Go on, we’ll be fine,” James smiled as she shooed Calyx again.

Calyx gave him a warning growl before he walked away.

“Yeesh, I thought he would never leave,” James smiled to me.

I gave him a slight smile in return.

“How’ve ya been Ama?” James asked me, his smile dropping some.

Before I could answer, Gretchen spoke up, “I’ll leave Amalie in your care Beta. I need to go find a pair of crutches for Ama.” She then walked away from us.

“Come on, I’ll wheel you to your room and we can talk,” James said as he took up Gretchen’s position. He pushed my wheelchair with me and Rose in it, to my hospital room.

Once back to my room, I was able to move myself back into my bed. Rose sat back in my lap before I started talking. “I’ve been okay,” I told him.