“Ready?” I whispered to myself. I wiped a stray tear out from under my eye and thought to myself that I was finally finding my happily ever after.
My heart was thundering a mile a minute, sweat beading between my breasts, down my spine. My hands were shaking, but I’d never felt better, never felt happier.
I just wanted to make it official with the male I loved. I just wanted to be the wife to this incredible man.
“You’re going to do great,” India said. “Take a deep breath so you don’t pass out, okay?”
I nodded.
I faced the four women. “Thank you for being here for me, for everything.”
They all came up to embraced me, giving me words of encouragement, making me feel like I actually belonged.
I took a step back and inhaled deeply. “I’m ready,” I whispered, tightened my hold on the small bouquet of wildflowers in my hand, and grinned, turning around. Bethany—Asher’s mate, Ainsley—Oli’s mate, India, and Maddix’s mate, Allison, all stood in front of me, smiling, their happiness increasing mine.
The children ran around, giggling and singing.
I felt tears start to form in my eyes, tears of joy and excitement, of feeling finally complete.
I stepped outside and made my way toward where the wedding was being held, our closest family and friends gathered around our very intimate ceremony, the woods our backdrop, the wildflowers and massive trees picturesque.
I saw Cason standing there, watching me, the love he had for me reflected back tenfold.
I closed my eyes and felt a tear slide down my cheek, laughing softly at how ridiculously happy I was.
The wedding music played and I started making my way toward Cason, my father holding onto my arm, the forest floor beneath my feet my aisle.
When I was in front of Cason, he immediately cupped my cheeks and wiped the tears of joy away.
“I hope these are tears of happiness?”
I nodded and grinned. “Always.”
“I love you, little bear.” He leaned forward and kissed me softly even though we probably should have waited until our vows were said. The guests chuckled softly.
As we said our vows, the words we’d written for each other from the heart, facing each other, I saw my future staring back at me. Cason grabbed my hand and slipped the ring on it. I cried harder now, my happiness and love for this shifter taking control.
“This is it, my little bear girl.” He ran his fingers over the mark on my neck, and I felt it tingle and warm. “Never gonna let you go,” he muttered to himself.
“Good,” I whispered.
And just like that, my reality was right in my hands.
Epilogue Two
Mena
Eighteen months later
I could s
ee how happy my mother and father were as they grabbed covered dishes off the breakfast island and brought them over to the massive oak table Cason had made just this past summer. It was big enough to seat everybody, my parents, his brothers and their mates, and any future children we’d have. I thought that as I placed a hand on my belly, the growing bump having this flutter of excitement filling me.
I’d gotten pregnant on my honeymoon, something that was special and exciting and had a perpetual grin on my face, because this was our future. The part of our forever.
I looked down at my left hand, at my ring finger. I had to take my wedding ring off given the fact that my fingers were starting to swell, and the truth was I hated not being able to wear it. It didn’t matter that I didn’t need a ring or piece of paper to know Cason was mine the same as I was his, but I liked the symbolism of it all, loved having the weight on my finger—as well as the mark on my neck—to show everyone that I was taken.
This baby, our baby, growing inside me was altering me, changing us for the better. I felt strong arms wrap around me, sliding over my arms and covering my hands that were on my bump. I rested my head back against Cason’s chest, closing my eyes briefly as I just absorbed the love he had for me. I could feel it as if it were a living entity, washing over me, surrounding me. It gave me power, made me relaxed and content, confident in everything that was around me.