BK 5 - Chapter 30 - Welcome to the Family
Emma couldn't believe Roger had met his mate the day after she met hers. She figured at least she was still first. She and Asher were packing their things to go to Granite Bay for the Winter break. His sickness lasted a whole day, but he was better and looking forward to meeting the family now that he was becoming one of them.
Once they had everything ready, they loaded their luggage into Emma's car. When they were on the road, Asher couldn't take his eyes off her. They couldn't really talk safely while she was driving, so he just stared at her.
He was still coming to terms with the fact that she would be his forever. Becoming a bear was an added bonus, but having a woman to love him for the rest of his life was more than he could have ever hoped for. Emma glanced at him and smiled, taking his hand and putting it on her thigh as she drove. Even with the denim in the way, he could feel the sparks.
Several hours later, when they pulled up to her parent's home, Emma was ready to burst with excitement. She couldn't wait to show off her mate. As soon as they parked, she saw people coming onto the porch. She turned to Asher with a smile as she signed.
"Are you ready?" She asked. Asher leaned over and kissed her before responding.
"As long as I'm with you, I'm ready for anything." He replied. When he looked toward the house, he saw several people waiting for them. He recognized some of them from the pictures Emma showed him on her phone. Kiersten was easy to pick out because she and Emma looked like they could be sisters. He assumed the large man beside her was Emma's dad, Alex. Asher swallowed past the lump in his throat. That guy was huge.
When they got out of the car, everyone began walking toward them. Emma ran to her mother and hugged her while Asher got the luggage out of the vehicle. He looked up when he felt someone next to him. It was Emma's dad. Asher wasn't sure how to greet him. He didn't believe anyone other than Emma knew how to sign. However, Alex smiled while raising his hands and mouthing the words as he signed.
"I'm sure I'm not going to get all the words right, but I've been trying to learn sign language since Emma met you. I hope you can help me get better while you're here. I'm Alex, Emma's dad. It's nice to meet you." Alex was proud of himself. He'd been practicing that phrase for hours in preparation for Asher's arrival. He remembered how Kiersten felt being different from everyone else when they first met, and he wanted to make sure their daughter's mate was comfortable from the start. When he saw the young man beam at him with gratitude, he knew it worked.
"Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Asher mouthed clearly while signing so Alex would understand. He couldn't believe Emma's dad had tried to learn how to speak to him. Most people wouldn't have cared. Alex shook his head.
"Call me dad or Alex, not sir. It's too formal, and we're family." Alex patted him on the back and helped grab the luggage from the trunk. Asher was too stunned to move. Alex said to call him Dad. He'd never been able to call anyone mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or anything else. He moved slowly as he picked up the remaining items from the trunk.
As they approached the porch, he walked up to Emma and Kiersten. Of everyone there, he wanted to talk to Kiersten but wasn't sure how that would work when she was blind and he was deaf. Emma pulled out her phone and opened the app they'd used for the phone call. She turned to him so he could read her lips while she spoke.
"Mom can talk into the app, and you can read it. Then, when you type your response, it will say it out loud for her." Emma says with a smile. Kiersten took the phone, spoke into it, and held it out in front of her. Asher took the phone and read what it said. Once again, he had to swallow past the lump in his throat. This family was going to make him cry, and they would think he was a weak fool. The message said.
"I'm so glad you came to meet our family. Just as my mate said, don't call me anything formal. I would prefer you call me Mom, but if you're uncomfortable with that, please call me Kiersten. Everyone is so excited to meet you." Asher had to let his vision clear before he could type out a response.
"Thank you. I'm so happy to meet all of you and can't wait to get to know you." Asher knew it sounded like a generic message, but he didn't know what to say. It was his first time meeting anyone's family, and he was nervous. Kiersten smiled as Emma played his message. She then reached out and touched his face lightly, felling every crevice. Asher stood completely still. When she was done, she mouthed slowly.
"You're very handsome." Asher felt his face flaming, but he stopped breathing when Kiersten pulled him into her arms and hugged him. He closed his eyes, begging his tears not to fall. When she let him go, she put her arm in his. Asher was amazed at how well she could maneuver up the stairs when she couldn't see.
Everyone else began greeting him when they got onto the porch. Some, he could tell, had tried to learn some sign language. He didn't laugh when what they were signing was more gibberish than actual words. It touched him that so many people had tried to learn at least a few words. The last couple Emma and Kiersten took him to was Cat and Trey. They both smiled warmly at him.
"Hi, Asher. Welcome to the family. I'm Grandma Cat, and this is Grandpa Trey. That is what we'll go by from here on out, okay?" Cat signed to him. He could tell she was fluent.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Grandma Cat." He stumbled over the last words as his hands shook. He could no longer hold back the tears as the damn broke. Asher was mortified that he was crying in front of everyone.
Cat moved forward and wrapped her arms around him. She could feel his embarrassment, so she led him into the house, away from everyone else, while Emma and Trey followed. She mindlinked everyone else to stay outside. When they were in the living room, she had him sit down and face her so he could read her hands.
"Don't be ashamed to show your feelings. Emma told us some of your background. I understand how emotional it can be when suddenly surrounded by so many people who love and care for you just for being you. In this family, you will never be ridiculed or made to feel unwanted. We're a close family, and we love each member of this family equally, and that includes you." Cat wiped his tears away and kissed his cheek. Asher couldn't explain why he felt so calm each time Cat touched him, but he appreciated it.
"Thank you. I hadn't been hugged by anyone until I met Emma. I'm scared I'll mess up, and people will begin to only see my disability or think I'm stupid because I don't know how to act." He responded. Cat smiled and nodded.
"I get it. I was much the same way when I first met Trey. I didn't want to be touched by anyone. Now, I'm the first one hugging everyone. I don't believe you have a disability; you're perfect in every way, and you have a unique way of conversing. So, don't think of yourself as having a disability. That's not what defines you. Your heart and actions make you who you are, and I can see that you're an incredible man." Cat couldn't stand when people referred to others by what made them special as though it were a curse.
"Emma, why don't you show Asher your room and get freshened up? We'll have lunch ready when you come out." Cat signed while speaking to Emma. She'd had several kids in the group homes who were deaf and knew sign language was a must. Several within the family also knew sign language, which she was grateful for now more than ever.
Emma stood up and took Asher's hand, leading him to the wide staircase and up to her room. She grew up in this house and was used to its size, but Asher looked around in awe. He'd never been in such a nice place. When Emma showed him her room, his mouth fell open. His entire apartment could almost fit inside. She turned to him once the door was shut, and he noticed their luggage was inside, waiting on them. He figured Alex must have brought it up.
"So, what did you think of everyone?" Emma asked with a smile. Asher kissed her and pulled her against him. She was incredible on her own, but to make him part of what had to be the best family in the world made it feel like Christmas had come early. When he pulled away, he could see Emma was breathless.
"I love them. I never knew families could be so close and radiate so much love for everyone. They're all amazing. Is it really okay for me to call your parents mom and dad?" Asher signed excitedly. Emma bit her lip so she wouldn't chuckle at how happy he was.
"You better, or they'll be all over you for not doing what they said. Our family is family, meaning Grandma Cat and Grandpa Trey are grandma and grandpa to everyone. Even the kids in the group homes and the neighborhood refer to them that way. We're an enormous family, but we know when to give people their space." Emma replied. Asher smiled and kissed her again. He knew they were supposed to be getting freshened up for lunch but he wanted something before rejoining the others. He lifted Emma in his arms and carried her to the bed.
"Do we have time for me to make you feel as good as you make me feel?" He mouthed while sliding a hand inside her jeans. Emma giggled and slipped her pants off.
"They'll wait." She mouthed. Asher needed no other words as he removed the rest of their clothes.
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"Emma and her mate just arrived at the family home. We're still waiting for a few more family members to meet their mates. Once that's done, it will be time for introductions." The man said into the phone as he drove from Granite Bay back to Sacramento.
"Great. The New Year is supposed to be a time for change. What better way to celebrate than the elimination of the werelion family and the witch's magic that was gifted to them. Soon, it will be time to celebrate." The man on the other end of the line responded. Neither liked being on earth; they preferred their own realm, but all good things came to those who wait. Everyone that is except the werelion family.
