Epilogue - Bigby

"Take a deep breath, man," Aris says, nudging me to the side.

"I'm trying," I say, my heart absolutely pounding out of my chest. Of everything we've gone through together, this is the most nerve-wracking day of my life. It's more important than any battle, any fight, any rogue alpha we've had to take out.

Rosa appears at the top of the hill, and my stomach drops to the ground.

Deep breath , Aris urges, as I struggle to breathe. Rosa turns the corner, taking Hector's arm, and I can't tear my eyes from her.

She's a vision of beauty in her dress—a modified version of her mother's dress, with more pearls sewn in to show her love of the ocean. Kaila and Araya are in the front, completely turned around in their seats, their empty baskets from throwing flowers at their feet. They giggle and gasp to themselves at the sight, murmuring about how beautiful she is.

And she is. The most beautiful woman I've seen in my entire life.

My heart palpates as she walks toward me slowly, steadfastly, like she always is in everything she does. The strongest, most intelligent woman I've ever known.

We're on the lake. As far as I see it, it's where everything started, and it's the most beautiful option in Rosecreek for a ceremony. I can't go for my morning run around the lake without thinking about heading to Aris's for the first meeting about Rosa, or bringing Kaila here to swim for the first time. The lake was a core element in my reunion with my girls, and I know it'll be a key player in our future, living here in Rosecreek.

"Bigby," she had said, a few months before, "I've been thinking about this a lot, and I would like to take your last name. Justine is from my father, and I don't want to carry on that name, that tradition. Your family's name is about kindness, it has a reputation here."

"Are you saying that you want to marry me, Rosa?"

She'd hit my arm, but her face lit up, and I knew I had to plan a proposal to her. Given my tie to the human community, we decided to go with a more traditional human-esque wedding, with a few extra shifter traditions thrown in.

Rosa and I obviously decided to forgo the blood-bonding part of the ritual due to Kaila, and any future kids, but she was very excited about having a wedding. Araya and Kaila picked out the flower girl dresses together. We had Percy as our adorable ring bearer, with the adult Percy to assist.

Olivia stands in a pretty pink dress as Rosa's maid of honor. Linnea and my sister are her other two, all waiting for Rosa to get to the arch.

Now, in her wedding dress, walking toward me confidently, her head held high, Rosa is impossibly radiant, her hair curled down her back, her veil pushed back so we can see her face. As per usual, her makeup is understated but elegant, and her smile is radiant.

My classic summer beauty.

When she comes to a stop in front of me, Aris has to remind me to breathe again, or I'm going to pass out here, in front of all these people.

In the front row, next to our flower girls, is Rosa's mother, who is fanning herself, desperately trying not to cry. She decided to move to Rosecreek after learning of Amon's passing, wanting to join a new pack and jumping at the chance to rekindle her relationship with her daughter and get to know her granddaughter.

My parents are next to her, holding hands and beaming at me, and Hector takes a seat with Rosa's mother, standing in place of her father.

It's a full house, with everyone from the pack, and in fact, pretty much everyone from Rosecreek, in attendance. Lisa made our cake and the other desserts. A local restaurant catered for the event, and the flowers are from Linnea's friend and florist from the square.

I blink when Rosa winks, pulling me out of my trance. It's hard to believe that after all these years, after all the strife and battling, I'm finally settling down with my girl and family, in the place where I grew up, with nothing but a bright future in front of me.

Hey, she projects, grinning at me.

Hey, I send back, hoping she can sense everything I feel for her through that one word.

The officiant starts their speech, and I wait patiently for the cue for us to do our vows. When it's my turn, I clear my throat, staring right at Rosa.

"There are some moments in life when one decision changes everything. Ten years ago, I made the wrong decision, and it almost cost me the love of my life. Rosa, when I had another chance at you, I knew I couldn't waste it. You hated me then, and I know you only barely tolerate me now, and I'll spend the rest of my life striving to be the man you deserve. You're my mate, the mother of my child, and the love of my life. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

I hear Rosa's mother let out a breathy sob and clear my throat, willing myself not to cry. When I first wrote it, my vows were a mile long, but Linnea insisted short and sweet was better, and helped me narrow it down to the most important points.

Rosa smiles softly, taking a paper from her breast and unfolding it.

"Bigby," she says, "when I had Kaila, I thought I would forever be a small family kind of woman. But you—and all of the Rosecreek pack—changed my mind. I am so proud to be marrying you and joining your family, and I want to take this opportunity to announce that here soon, the Rosecreek family will be one stronger."

I stare at her, not understanding her vows, until I hear my mother gasp, tears coming to her eyes. I glance between the guests, who are all smiling with their hands to their mouths, and Rosa, who is looking at me knowingly, waiting for me to catch on.

She's pregnant , Aris sends, you idiot.

" What ?" I breathe, and when Rosa nods, tears in her eyes, I can't help it; I move forward, wrapping her in a hug and twirling her around.

"Hey," I say to the officiant, who's laughing at my little stunt. "Can I kiss my bride?"

"Of course, you can," the officiant says, and after I press my lips to hers, keeping it chaste for the audience, he laughs and says, "I now pronounce you man and wife."

Man and mate , I send to Rosa.

Mate and better half , she sends back, and I grin, letting my forehead fall against hers as our audience—our family, friends, and pack—erupts in cheers.

***

"I could get used to this," Rosa says, smiling up at me languidly as she twirls a little umbrella around between her fingers. It's all virgin drinks for her on this honeymoon, but that hasn't stopped her from going through her daiquiris at record speed.

"Of course you could," I laugh, slathering sunscreen on my arms. "I've never seen you happier than when you're being waited on, hand and foot."

"Ah, yes," she says, absently rubbing her belly. "I see a lot of that in my future."

I stand, leaning over to press a kiss to her belly.

"Yes," I say, smiling up at her, "I do, too."

When her phone starts to buzz on the table next to her, and I see it's Linnea calling, I pick it up and hand it to Rosa.

Rosa answers, waving at the camera.

"Hey, girl," Rosa says brightly, "how is it going? How's Kaila?"

"She's good," Linnea says, her face nearly filling the whole frame. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good, of course," Rosa laughs, "I just miss Kaila. And honestly, the rest of you. I can't help but think this thing would be more fun with more people."

"You know," Linnea says, winking into the lens, "I had a feeling you might say that."

"What?" Rosa laughs, and then we hear the slapping sound of flip flops slapping against the pavement, and two little girls around the corner, hurtling toward Rosa and stopping short when I put my hand out, guarding her belly.

"Gentle," Kaila whispers, remembering what I told her about how she has to treat her mom now.

"That's right," I say quietly, smiling as Rosa starts to cry, holding the girls close to her. Aris and Linnea come around the corner a moment later, already dressed in their swimsuits.

"Let's get this party started!" Aris says, as Byron, Ado, Percy, and the rest of the group follow. My sister and Olivia are right behind, chatting animatedly. Rosa turns to me, beaming.

"You did this," she says, softly, and the expression on her face makes it more than worth it.

"Yeah," I say, sitting beside her and brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "You said you wanted them here. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life giving you exactly what you want."

I love you , she sends, and I don't hesitate, sending I love you more right back.

*****

THE END

Hi lovely! Thanks so much for reading Rosa and Bigby's story. I hope you enjoyed it. Would you like to read Veronica and Percy's story too? Then be sure to…

Order book 3 in the "Rosecreek Special Ops Wolves" Series:

Betrayed Pregnant Mate

A Special Ops wolf shattered my heart, then kidnapped me. Next, I'm blood-bound to him.

He kept me locked in his basement for months. He claims he's forgotten all about it.

I want to run from him, but our blood-bond forces my human butt to stay.

And the next thing I know, the monster who kidnapped me knocks me up…

It's forbidden for shifters and humans to be together.

It's considered cruel because he would cause my body irreparable damage.

And yet the blood-bonding ceremony binds us together, whether I want it or not.

So now I'm inescapably tied to him in the most intimate of ways. Forever.

The bond makes me lose control of my body, and it's unbearable not to touch him.

My broken heart lies before him, exposed and bleeding.

My vulnerable body aches for him, helpless and begging.

But when he has me up against the door, will he break me again?

Or can my baby daddy heal my heart?