Page 117 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

“Oh, Calum,” Étienne said. I smiled a little and took another step forward.

“Asher,” Calum said, holding out his arm. “I promise they won’t bite. No, Dad might hug you until you can’t breathe, but he’s just friendly like that.”

I grinned as I came closer and immediately glued myself to Calum’s side. These were his parents, and I wanted to make the best impression I could. As it was, I felt I was already causing a huge inconvenience.

“Hello,” I said to both of them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

“You were right. He’s adorable,” Étienne said. “I’m Étienne. You’re welcome to call me dad if you so wish, but I won’t push.” Étienne grabbed ahold of his mate’s arm, and if I’d not been staring at them, I would have missed Calum’s sire roll his eyes.

“I’m Rainier, and as my One said, it is very nice to meet you, Asher.”

“Thank you.”

“Welcome to the family. We understand you two might need some assistance to get to Montana,” Rainier said.

My eyes dropped, and immediately, Calum’s arm tightened around my shoulders. “Hey,” he said, using a hand on my cheek to move my face up to meet his gaze. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

I sighed. “But you said you wanted to show me places and we would be here for a few days. Now I’m ruining it because even if we don’t claim each other for days yet, I still might have a fertile period, and then we’ll still be in the same situation.”

“Fertile periods, although a bit of a frustration in the beginning,” Rainier said, “they are easier to control when they happen after the first one after claiming.”

I deflated and nodded. “I understand. I just feel inadequate because I can’t take us where we need to go. The two of you have taken time out of your day to help us.”

Rainier chuckled. “Well, if you were a shifter, we’d have to do the same for the pair of you. The fact that you have magic and are not able to use it because you are unaware of where to go shouldn’t be any different. We’re here to help. That’s what family does.”

I nodded and then chanced a look up at Calum. He was grinning down at me.

“I just need to finish packing my bathroom things,” Calum said. He took a step toward the bedroom but stopped. “Did you want to come back with me? You’re welcome to stay out here with my parents though.”

I glanced between Calum’s fathers and my mate, but it was Étienne’s face that was begging for me to stay with him and Rainier that won.

“I’ll stay here. You’re not far, and it will be nice to get to know your parents a little.”

Calum grinned. He bent down, quickly kissed my forehead, and then went back to the bedroom to finish packing.

Étienne seemed to be at the end of his ability to hold himself in check, and he made a little bit of a squeak, and then he held out his arms seconds before I was pulled into a tight hug. He quickly started swaying back and forth at a somewhat quick pace, and I could just sense the happiness coming from him. I happened to look up at Rainier to make sure he wasn’t upset at his mate holding me as he was, but there was only a smile on Rainier’s face.

“He was right. You are adorable,” Étienne said. “You two will make such beautiful babies together.”

Rainier sighed. “Love, what if they don’t wish for children.”

Étienne quickly turned a glare toward his mate. “You know Calum wants children. And I can just tell that Asher does as well.”

Étienne turned me slightly, wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and started walking me toward the couch.

“Tell me, you do want children, no?”

I chuckled. “Yes. A few would be nice. I’m the youngest of four.” We sat on the couch, and Rainier pointed over his shoulder toward the bedroom before he turned and walked in the direction Calum had gone. I got it. He was probably going to ask his son all of the fatherly questions that needed to be asked. Étienne would distract me, and I’d do my best to make a good impression on my mate’s omega father.

“Youngest of four. Not a bad place or number. I’m sure you know Calum is the middle of three. We’d hoped for a few more, but it simply wasn’t meant to be.”

“I’m sorry,” I told him. I had seen fae couples that were torn apart because they only ever were able to have just one child. They’d wanted more, but fate hadn’t blessed them with more than their first.

“Thank you, but it’s not anything to truly be upset about. I have three amazing sons.” Étienne sighed. “Yes, even the grouchy firstborn is amazing. He just likes to keep to himself, and we’ve let him be that way for too long now. That is in part our fault.”

“I really am sorry to cause all of this.”

“Nonsense. This is nothing. We are beyond happy that Calum has been gifted a mate. And I understand it will take time, but we are more than ready to welcome you into the family.” Étienne took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Benjamin is going to be just as happy for the two of you. And Eli, I’m sure the two of you will become fast friends. He’s twenty-nine, so I’m not sure how close in age the two of you are.”