A Family Reunion

A Family Reunion
“Ama,” I called out from the front porch of my family’s home. “Can you bring me some Agua Frescas?”

“I’m already ahead of you, Mija,” Ama said as she walked out the front door. “It’s thirsty work feeding a baby.” She bent down and kissed the top of my son’s head, cooing at him in Spanish as she handed me the cold glass.

“Where is mine?” My mother asked her mother, a humorous smile on her face. “It's hard work being a grandma.”

“Oh, don’t I know it!” Ama exclaimed with enthusiasm. “Just look at me, caring for my granddaughter as she cares for her baby. Maybe I should make you serve us instead.”

Mom laughed, holding up her hands in defeat. “Okay, okay. Yes, I will get the next round of drinks and snacks.” She stood up and kissed the top of my head. “I have homemade tortillas inside. What if I make you a quesadilla to go with the frescas?”

I smiled at Mom. “You don’t have to, Mom. I’m sure Nyte is going to show up with lots of food when he gets back.”

“Oh, a little snack now won’t hurt your appetite. Breastfeeding burns the calories so fast,” she argued back, my grandma chuckling as she took my mom’s seat on the porch swing beside me.

“That’s a good abuela,” she teased.

I smiled at my baby as Mom walked into the house, yelling at my brother to get out of the tortillas. I laughed at his whines, telling her he was hungry and reminding me of that morning when I woke up to Nyte and my brother asking for food. Thinking about that day brought a smile to my face. It had been the morning after my premonition. I had been so scared and unsure of the future back then, unaware that I was falling into place according to the fates.

I stifled a laugh as I thought about how I had approached Nyte, unaware that he knew fully well that I was his mate and that he was mine. He and I often laughed over what I had said to him—my swearing that this was only temporary and explaining that I was searching for a way to escape my fated mate. He often teased me about telling my fated mate that I was planning to break the bond, even as I protested that I would never have considered rejecting him if I had known it was him.

“What is so funny?” Ama asked, pulling out a knitting project from her purse she had been working on.

I smiled at her. “I’m just reminded of a fond memory I have out here on this porch,” I explained.

I felt the baby unlatch, looking down at his sleeping face. Gently, I pulled my shirt back in place and lifted him to rest against my chest, careful not to wake the sleeping baby. Ama watched with a tender smile, cooing at his sleeping face turned towards her.

“He is just perfect, Mija,” Ama sighed, unable to help herself but to touch his hand. She frowned, looking at the red bracelet around his tiny wrist. “It’s fraying; you had best come to the shop soon and replace it. We don’t want any evil eyes on our little alpha prince.”

I nodded, glancing at the red braided bracelet. “It must be working extra hard; that’s his third one this month,” I commented.

“Heavy is the crown,” Ama sighed and returned to her knitting. “Speaking of the crown…”

Just then, Nyte pulled up in front of the house, climbing out of the driver’s seat and waving to us. I smiled at my handsome mate, the werewolf king of San Diego and Alpha of the Oceanside Pack. He strutted up the walkway and onto the porch with his Betas at his side, bending down to kiss my lips before brushing a gentle peck on our son’s head.

“How was your full moon?” I asked, smiling behind him at Thompson and Madi.

“It would have been better with you there,” he answered, smiling at Ama. “But I understand that couldn’t be done this month.”

“I promise, Nyte,” Ama said with a smile. “Next month, we will bring the coven out to that forest. Paige has told me so much about the spring inside the cave. It sounds like a wonderful place to spend the full moon.”

I smiled between my grandma and Nyte as I nodded. “On the full moon, the spring glows with so much magic,” I added with a sigh. “It’s beautiful.”

Ama grinned at me. “Then it will be the new tradition for the San Diego Coven to join the San Diego werewolves on the full moons. Moon water baptisms in the spring would be a wonderful way to cleanse ourselves of the old ways.”

I smiled at my grandma. “That is a wonderful idea, Ama.”

“Moon water baptisms?” Madi asked, leaning against the railing of the porch. “What’s that?”

“It’s a cleansing ritual,” Ama answered. “Full moons are meant for shedding old habits. Taking a dip in moon water is a perfect way to shed our belief of being separate beings. It’s a way of welcoming new habits and going into the future as one.”

Madi smiled brightly. “That’s beautiful. I wish I could be there next month for that.”

Ama frowned. “Why can’t you? Shouldn’t both the Oceanside Betas be there?” She looked between the two Betas expectantly.

“Madi is going to the Rigel Pack next month,” I explained. “She is to train with them and shadow their Beta.”

Ama’s eyes brightened. “You’ll be working with the Crete witches too! Their coven is an inspiration, and I knew their Luna’s parents a long time ago. Such wonderful witches. I’m so happy to see their dream of unity reaching out across the world.”

Mom and Anthony stepped out then; Mom’s eyes brightened at the sight of her son-in-law. 

“Nyte!” she exclaimed, setting down the quesadilla she had made and grabbing his face to kiss both cheeks. “How is my favorite son-in-law? Are you hungry? I can make you some food.” She looked at her mother. “Ama, would you help me make some tamales?”

Ama grimaced at Mom and rolled her eyes. “How much time do you think they have? Tamales.” She scoffed, “If he’s hungry, make him a burrito.”

“I’m fine,” Nyte laughed. “I actually grabbed some food on the way here. I have more in the car for Paige, too.”

“I could use a burrito, Mom,” Anthony mocked.

“Go make yourself one then,” Mom told him, much to my brother’s dismay. She leaned over me then, smiling at the baby. “Does this mean you are taking my baby home?”

I smiled. “Don’t worry, Mom, Baby Baer and I will be back to visit in a week.”

She smiled at me, touching my face. “I meant you, Paige.” She kissed my forehead. “You will always be my baby, though I hate seeing my grandson leave too.”

She helped me stand, both of us careful not to wake my sleeping baby. “I’ll be back soon, Mom,” I promised, kissing her cheek.

“Your dad is going to hate that he missed you,” she pronounced and sighed. “Maybe he and I will make a trip up to Oceanside to visit you sooner than a week.”

“You are always welcome to do so,” Nyte said, picking up the diaper bag. He turned to Anthony and punched his shoulder. “All of you.”

My brother smiled, punching Nyte back playfully. “I got the hint, and I’ll come visit soon.” He turned back to Mom. “Now, Mom, about the burritos. You know that I like the way you roll them.”

I laughed as Mom rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in the air. “This boy, will he ever grow up?” They both went inside, saying their goodbyes before closing the door behind them.

Ama chuckled, still swinging and knitting. “She asks, but the day will come when he has a wife of his own, and she will complain that he doesn’t need her anymore.”

I smiled. “Does she not need you, Ama?”

Grandma smiled at me and winked. “Oh, you know she does, mija. Just as much as you still need her. That’s what family is all about. Needing and helping one another.”

I smiled, turning to Nyte. “You are right, Ama,” I said, my gaze moving to the two Betas. “Family is all about helping, even when we don’t think we need it.”

I kissed her cheek goodbye, letting her kiss Baer on his head before following Nyte and the others down the steps and toward the car. Nyte took the baby from me, fastening him between the two Betas in the backseat while I took my seat in front, waving up to Ama on the porch and thinking over what we had just discussed.

The pack was and had always been my family. They didn’t think they needed me, and I didn’t think I needed them, but in the end, we needed each other in order to reach this happily ever after.

I smiled, “And Little Riding Hood lived happily ever after.”

“What’s that?” Nyte asked, climbing into the front seat of the car.

I turned my smile to him. “Nothing, just talking to myself.”