12. Mine

Not only was I bandaged up, had a shoulder put back into place, and my ankle wrapped up, but I was in desperate need of a bath.

After Ellie scolded me and bawled in my lap, I limped off to bathe myself. Odie and Cy weren't happy about it and wanted someone to help me, but I refused. If I was going to be interrogated, I was going to be fully warm and clean.

They didn't think there'd be lasting damage to my arm, but only time would tell. What sucked the most was it being my right arm. I used it for everything, and my left was nearly useless.

Bathing was a challenge, but I got it done and didn't even get my bandaged foot wet. Thankfully, they cleaned it up before wrapping it. I scrubbed every inch of me that I could get to, but when I got to my left arm, I gave up and accepted that it would continue being a little dirty.

I was proud of myself for handling it on my own until I stepped into my room after half drying off and realized that I had no clothes in here and wouldn't be able to get anything on by myself anyway.

My head fell back, and I groaned. I was doing so well.

There was a knock on the door, and before I could cover up and answer it, a hand with a stack of clothes popped through the slightly opened door.

"Need these?" Ellie asked. She pushed the door open further, covering her eyes with her free hand. "Are you naked? Do you need help? I could call one of the others, but they're storming around and fuming, so I took the job."

I laughed and stepped back into the bathroom, half wrapping a towel around me. It wasn't perfect, and I now had no free hands, but it would have to do. Stepping back into the room, I nudged Ellie with my good shoulder.

"Oh, one for yes, two for no. Can I open my eyes?" She laughed, and I nudged her once. Ellie dropped her hand and looked up at me. I knew there was more she wanted to say, and I hadn't heard the last of it, but she kept quiet for now. "Let's get you dressed. They already yelled at me about keeping you warm."

She walked over to the bed and dropped the pile on it.

"Large T-shirt that I stole from Odie, some more sweats because they wouldn't let me give you comfy shorts, and some underwear that I pulled from your boxes and washed. I had a bit of time on my hands while they were out looking for you." She shrugged, and I wondered if she had seen the picture and if that was why it felt like I was getting off easily. "Anyway, I figured you could do the bottom half yourself, but with your busted shoulder, you'd need some help with the shirt. How does that sound?"

I nodded and twirled my finger as a way to tell her to turn around. She rolled her eyes but did as I asked.

I dropped the towel and struggled into the underwear and sweats. I'd need her to help me adjust them, but they were on. I grabbed the shirt and was able to scrunch it up at the neck hole and got it over my head. Since it was so big, it fell easily, so my right arm slid through the arm hole without problems. The other one was causing problems. I could move it enough, but it was still in pain, not only from the dislocation but the massive bruise that was forming where I fell on it too.

Ellie turned around after I tapped her shoulder, and she smiled at me.

"You did better than I thought you'd do. Sit down." I did and realized how sore my ankle was. I sucked at taking care of myself when I was in pain like this. "I'll stretch it as far as I can so it's at a decent angle, and you slide it on in." After a couple of adjustments, my arm was through the hole, and I was now fully clothed. "Let's get you adjusted, then we can go eat. Cy pulled things out, but I'm not sure what she was planning on making. If you find an eggshell in something, say nothing."

Ellie kept filling the silence, and I was grateful for it. I didn't want to think, but I also had nothing to say.

I stood up, she fixed the sweats, and we were off.

The living area smelled like bacon, and my stomach growled. On the island were a few large plates being slowly filled by eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. There was also a large pitcher of water and a few packets of some flavoring stuff by it.

"Sit," Odie said, pulling out a barstool.

"Don't mind if I do," Ellie said as she tried to take the seat, but her sister flicked her forehead to stop her.

"You know I was talking to Mine."

"Her name might be Mine, but she isn't yours," Ellie mumbled, then stuck her tongue out at Odie. For some reason, that comment made me sad, but it's not like I'd ever have a chance even in better circumstances, so I brushed it off.

"She's not anyone's." That hurt even more because it was all too true. "Sit, Mine."

I did, and Odie scooted in the stool so I was smooshed against the counter. She filled up a large glass of water for me, then picked up one of the packets and dumped it in, stirring the contents until it was dissolved. It was an orangey pink color.

"You need electrolytes. You're finishing this before you leave this table."

It's not—

I signed before the pain caught up with me, and I hugged my bad arm to my body.

"Do we need to tie it to you?" Cy asked as she filled the bacon plate up a little more.

I shook my head, but maybe it wasn't the worst idea.

"It'll be better in a couple of days. We will get some ice on it, then heat, and so on." Cy emphasized her words with the spatula.

I took back what I thought before. I didn't want their attention and pampering directed at me. I felt nauseous.

The color must have drained from my face because Cy's eyes grew wide as I shoved myself back, nearly knocking the barstool over with me on it, before I spun and gagged. Nothing came up. Not even stomach acid.

Odie rubbed soothing circles on my back as I remained bent over with my head between my legs.

"I need you to drink, then we can think about food. Not only are you recovering from your adventure," she ground out, "but you're also hungover."

I groaned, having completely forgotten about that. It's what led to this whole mess escalating.

Sitting up, I wanted to vomit all over again, but Odie moved the glass closer to me, and someone thankfully put a straw in it. If I had to hold up the glass to drink from it, I'd drop it, and we'd have more problems on our hands like ruined bacon thanks to the glass shards.

I sipped on it, and it was terrible. The salty sweet taste was nothing like I'd ever had before, and I never wanted it again, but I knew Odie would keep her word and keep me here until it was gone.

"Slowly, and here's some more toast." That reminded me that I barely ate any of the other toast they made me. Odie's hand remained on my back the entire time, and as comforting as it was, it was making everything worse, but I didn't know why.

The drink slowly vanished, and I hated every second of it. The toast helped, but the taste of butter was the only saving grace from this entire event.

Ellie created a breakfast sandwich, and Odie and Cy had a few of their own. Odie needing two hands to eat saved me from her touch for the time being.

They saved me some sausage and bacon, but cold eggs were a one way ticket to vomiting, so I was glad none of those were leftover.

With the drink gone and Odie satisfied with my efforts, she passed me two strips of bacon and two sausage links plus another piece of toast.

"Don't push yourself. We can always make more food later." They were being too nice, especially Cy, but this was still strange for Odie. I had only known them for less than forty-eight hours but still, this was not like the people I first met.

I ignored it. I needed food more than I needed to figure out why they weren't being the half nice dicks they should be.

Nibbling on everything, I took my time, ensuring I took sips of the electrolyte concoction every now and then so it would disappear.

Eventually, it and half the food in front of me were gone, and I needed to lie down.

Odie and Cy cleaned up while I was finishing my food, so when I was done, they were already off doing something else. Ellie stayed with me though.

"Are they acting weird, or is it just me?" she whispered almost to the point that I couldn't understand her.

I aggressively nodded and drew a question mark on the counter.

"I have no idea what's going on. I'll see what I can dig up though."

Ellie vanished, and Cy reappeared. They had a strange habit of doing that. It's like they somehow knew when I was left alone and made sure someone was with me at all times. Maybe that was the plan from the start, but they forgot that they hadn't shackled me to them while sleeping.

I stared at her, and she stared back. Her fingers twitched on her right hand, which was propped against her hip.

"Movie or a nap?"

I held up two fingers, then brought them together, saying that I wanted to nap while watching a movie. I had a greasy breakfast and some water. The next thing on the hangover checklist was passing out on the couch until the afternoon.

"I don't know what the Humans taught you about female Alphas, but scissoring isn't in our repertoire."

I gasped. Where the fuck had that come from? I burst into laughter, which hurt my head, but I didn't care. I needed that.

"And Ellie thinks I'm not funny."

From upstairs, Ellie yelled down, "That's because you're not!"

"Oh shit. Did you hear that joke?" Cy grimaced and looked petrified. I guess cussing wasn't the same as discussing sex with her kind of little sister.

"Yes, but I don't understand it!"

"Thank fuck," Cy said quietly. "Sounds like Odie's problem!"

"Thanks for that, Cy!" Odie responded, and laughter rang out throughout the entire cabin.

It was nice feeling slightly normal, but they were still acting strangely. I hoped Ellie figured it out and made it stop, but as long as I got my nap in and felt better, that was later me's problem.