Chapter 30 Markus

Sleep finally claimed me in the early morning hours only a few hours before my alarm was blaring in my ear. Goddess today was going to suck on so many levels. Little sleep, pack business, and I wouldn’t get to see Amalie for hours. This was a recipe for disaster.

‘You know, it’s not fair Calyx and Zviad get to spend time with Ama and Beren,’ I smirked, a plan forming in my head.

‘You’re absolutely correct, it’s not fair. What is fair, is them coming to the pack office and suffering with us,’ Aziz growled in satisfaction at causing our twin problems.

‘We can have James take Rose to the hospital and spend time with Ama while we suffer,’ I said. We did not want Ama and Rose left alone, but James would protect them.

‘Agreed,’ Aziz said as he let out his own yawn.

I yawned myself. ‘Don’t do that,’ I scolded. I did not want to be yawning all day. I was about to say something else when tiny feet came running into my room.

“We go see mommy?” Rose asked as she stood beside my bed.

I let out a fake snore and kept my eyes closed.

“Wakie up!” Rose shouted at me.

“But I’m tired,” I pouted, opening one eye to watch Rose.

She huffed and danced one foot to the other. “Please?” Rose asked.

“Come here,” I smiled as I reached over the side of the bed and picked her up. Rose let out a squeal of delight as she was snuggled into my chest on the bed. “I say we sleep for a little while longer and let your mom sleep too. It’s really early.”

“Mommy tired?” she asked as she settled down in my arms.

“Healing takes a lot out of you. Beren had to heal a lot,” I told Rose.

“I miss mommy,” she whispered.

“I know Rosebud. But I promise Uncle James is going to take you to the hospital and you two will spend time with your mom,” I tell her.

“You not go?” Rose asked me in confusion.

“No, Calyx and I need to go to the pack house and get some work done. We will come see you both at the hospital later,” I told her.

“Okay,” she said, sadness evident in her voice.

“Well, now that you woke me up, let’s go bug Uncle Mike and Uncle Will for breakfast,” I grin as I get up. I pick up Rose from my bed and put her on my hip. Rose instantly leans into me and rest’s her head on my chest. I plant a kiss on the top of her head and walk out of my room.

We walk into the kitchen, the smell of pancakes and sausage, making my mouth water in hunger. I set Rose down in my chair and turn to get a mug of coffee. Once it’s made up, I go to the table. I set my mug down and pick up Rose. She is placed in my lap and waits for breakfast to be finished. Rose still refuses to sit in a booster seat, preferring to sit in someone’s lap.

Uncle Mike wheels over to the table with the plate of sausage links and pancakes. He set it on the table.

“Thanks Uncle Mike,” I say as I start to fill my plate. I cut the pancakes and sausage links up into bite size pieces. I drizzle syrup onto them.

“Thank you,” Rose says as she uses her fingers to start picking up her food.

I smile fondly at Rose as she eats. She is humming a tune as she eats. Her little legs kicking back and forth. Goddess, she is so adorable. I take a sip of my coffee as I listen to her hum.

“Fatherhood looks good on you,” Uncle Mike says with a smile as he takes a drink of his own coffee.

“I’m not her father,” I deny, ignoring the pain of the statement.

“Biologically, no. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t her father. Ama is not her biological mother, and she is still Rose’s mother,” Uncle Will says as he sits at the table with us. “Thank you,” he tells his mate. They pair share a kiss before they resume eating.

“I don’t think Ama is ready for me or Cal to be called Rose’s father,” I whisper so Rose does not hear.

“I understand, but you should all talk with her soon. Rose loves you both and is already attached,” Uncle Will tells me.

I know she is attached. She called me daddy last night as I put her to bed. Whether she meant to do that or not, she still did. I would be over the moon to be her father. I just didn’t want to overstep. Ama had been through enough of others taking her choice away. I did not want to be one of those people. Goddess, why was this so hard. Finding our mate and being together was supposed to be easy.

“Whatcha thinking about so hard kid?” Uncle Mike asked.

“Why is finding and being with our mate so hard?” I asked with a sigh.

“Life is rarely easy,” Uncle Mike said as he grabbed is mate’s hand. “But the trials make the good moments all more worth it.”

I couldn’t help but smile and place a kiss on Rose’s head. She continued to hum and eat her breakfast.