26. Epilogue

Rainbow

Life with two men, one of them a vampire, the other a Were shifter, a pack, another vampire, a witch, and the strange but wonderful people of Umberwood could never be boring. They filled up my world in ways I would have never imagined.

Coming to Umberwood was a start of something new and exciting. Sure, I had been terrified. Who wouldn't have been? I literally had no one to support me until I accepted Sunny, then Griffin, into my little bubble.

Obviously, I'd missed my family, still did. Being apart from them was harder than I'd thought it would be. Especially given how sporadic communication was with them, particularly at the start. I understood they'd been busy. Dad being so sick, Mom caring for him and even Sky had stuff going on. There were so many days where they couldn't be on the end of the phone for me all the time. Even my texts and calls with August got more sparse with all he was juggling.

People change. Priorities change. It was just a fact I'd had to come to terms with. I did. Learning to live without their support had changed me, for the better, I hoped.

My insular life had grown, expanded, not just with my mates, but those who came with them. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Over the weeks after the fight for the pack, the hilarious camping trip Sunny suggested, and the time that followed, there was good news about my dad. His shifts had quickly stabilized. While they didn't want him to travel until after the full moon, they were confident he could after it and Christmas was done.

Westhaven had a bunch of traditions they didn't want my family to miss out on since they were still integrating into the sanctuary. It was more important for them to fit in there now that Mom and Dad had come to the decision to make Westhaven their home permanently. They'd made friends there. It was close enough that it was only a short flight for me to visit or vice versa, so it really made sense for them. Sky was also staying, having found a job she liked. Things with the person she was into were complicated. At least that was all I could get out of her.

The full moon had been another test for us to get through. We had to see if Baldr was lying to us about cures, calming remedies, everything he had promised to us during our visit.

Baldr told no lies.

Everything had worked exactly as he told us it would.

Rather than have the pack suffer and wait a month, they all used the magic I crafted for them with the directions Baldr had given me. It was just as well I'd taken on Coral to help, because Weres kept popping up asking for the potions to get them through the forced shift safely.

Griffin hadn't gotten around to fixing his cage outside, so me and Sunny camped out in the basement with him. He was chained, and we stayed at a safe distance from him.

Very quickly, we realized it was unnecessary. Griffin was as meek and mild as a puppy. Sunny caved first and went to him for cuddles.

We slept downstairs in the basement the first night. On the second night, the most intense, we trusted the magic enough to sleep in our bed together. The magic rewarded our trust with a comfortable sleep all night long.

Our wolf would never sleep downstairs or outside ever again unless he chose to, thanks to the magic.

As soon as we got through the full moon, we had the holidays. None of us were particularly religious, given what we were.

So what did a witch, a vampire, and a werewolf do over the festive season? Aside from taking a bunch of pictures with Jinx in a Santa hat, not all that much. Well, we ate a lot of great food, spent time with our friends, and once they were gone, had hot sex in every room of the house as we planned our bonding ceremony.

Yeah, we were doing it. Getting a witch to come and witness it as the new year started. It was fast, but fate was fate. My family was coming to visit, though August couldn't make it. He asked my sister to record it so he could see it.

Sunny's old coven leader, Kayden, was also coming to witness our bonding and meet us properly. I was pretty curious about the guy who treated Sunny like his only son. We'd had a couple of conversations and I thought I'd like him, even if I was still nervous around vampires when I just met them. Amara had taken no time to get used to, probably because she only wanted me for my plants! She had become a great friend.

News of the Westhaven remedies working spread fast. Soon there were shifters from Southridge extending the hand of friendship. Maybe there could be peace between the packs after all. Roscoe was still running it and apparently doing it well.

It took some of the stress off Griffin's shoulders, letting him focus on his business, which always got busy in the new year. His manager at the gym was pregnant, so while she took maternity leave, he would have to step in. There were a few months to go, but he was woefully out of touch with the gym thanks to all the Southridge drama.

He and Sunny spent time together planning a new roster of classes for the new year with Sunny's version of a spin class in the works. Good luck to all those attendees, they'd need it!

"Your parents and sister should be here soon. Are you nervous?" Griffin nuzzled my neck.

There wasn't room for us all in any of the vehicles we had, so Sunny had volunteered to go to the airport to get my family for me while Griffin and I finished up the end-of-year paperwork and made sure the house was clean. My parents were staying with us, Sky with Amara.

Kayden was staying at the hotel on the main street of Umberwood since he was traveling with his partner and didn't want to upset the pack with more vampires. I sensed history between Kayden and Weres in particular. Hopefully, whatever it was wouldn't upset the bonding.

"A little." I leaned into his touch. "They seemed to like you both when we were there, but they are staying longer than twenty-four hours."

"I'm still sorry about that."

"I'm not. We did what needed to be done. Besides, we'll visit them again. Well, if this visit goes well," I joked with an undercurrent of honesty. While I loved my family, I loved my men more. I hoped they wouldn't make me choose.

"How about we take a quick shower?" Griffin suggested, nipping at my neck, telling me exactly what he wanted.

An orgasm would calm me down.

"I like the sound of that."

Sunny

The road back to Umberwood from the airport was clear of ice and snow, which was perfect since I was in a hurry. I could buy some time to spend with Bow's family by feigning traffic or delays at the airport with bags but I really didn't have long for the surprise Kayden wanted to set up.

Traditionally, the father of the bride paid for the wedding, right? Okay, so this wasn't a wedding, it was a bonding, and there wasn't a bride, we had three grooms. Anyway, Kayden wanted to pay for a bonding celebration for me. Wasn't he just the best? So, I was taking Bow's family to meet him and iron out some of the details.

"Are you sure Rainbow will like this?" Aspen, Bow's dad, asked. He had a point. Bow was not one for fuss, yet something told me to indulge Kayden on this. He'd never steered me wrong.

"He'll love it because everyone wants to celebrate us."

I hoped.

Everyone was silent for the rest of the drive. I pushed the speed limit to get there, anxious to see my friend after these weeks without him. He was always on the end of the phone for me, which I appreciated.

Inside the lobby of the hotel, Kayden stood with Theodore, his partner, and a few members of hotel staff, looking at linen samples. He made a choice and turned to catch me as I launched myself at him.

"Kayden!"

"Sunny, I'm so happy to see you." Kayden sounded relieved as he hugged me tightly. It was a struggle to get him to let me go.

"Theo! I've missed you." I wrapped my arms around Kayden's stoic mate. He was one of the few men I knew who was taller than me. He towered over Kayden, who only came to my shoulder. Theo patted my back in return.

"Hey!" Kayden pouted. "You didn't say you missed me." Kayden caught my sleeve and pulled me back to his side, where he wrapped an arm around me.

"That went without saying. I wish you could live here."

"Maybe we can make that happen. The coven are a restless bunch. I'm not sure Umberwood is big enough for us and the shifters, though."

"There's Cloverdale and Doveron nearby. They're much larger."

"I'll give it some thought." He turned us towards his partner. "Theodore, darling, could you look into those towns for me, please? It would make me much more comfortable to be closer to Amara and Sunny. I know you worry about them both."

Theo didn't say a word, just nodded.

"Come meet Rainbow's family," I urged. Once I made the necessary introductions, we turned to the reason we were there, the planning.

Ten minutes later, okay, probably much longer than that, it took time to create the perfect event! We got back in my truck and headed for home. I felt good, so much was already done. Kayden had only spoken on the phone to Bow and still understood what he would like. I think he impressed Bow's mom with how understated he'd designed it.

All I had to do now was let my men know about our bonding ceremony changes. Bow and Griffin wanted it to be next to the greenhouse! Very cute, but barely anywhere for people to stand, let alone party afterwards! Also cold.

If they agreed to the change in the bonding ceremony, maybe we could open up the discussion of them having some of my blood. I wanted to keep them with me forever. Now wasn't the time, we needed to relax into what we were first. I just wanted to put it on the table for later.

"Hey," I called as I led our guests into the house.

We hugged, fussed over Aspen, and then sat down. I was just waiting for the right time to surprise them. Rose, Bow's mom, kept shooting me looks.

"What took you guys so long?" Bow finally asked.

His family looked at me. "Sunny can explain," Rose said, throwing me under the bus.

While I was sure they would like it, I was worried about their initial reaction.

"Kayden and Theo have booked a hotel—"

"To stay in, right?" Bow shot Griffin a nervous glance.

"For our bonding."

Griffin shook his head with a grin. "I knew you were going to say that." He took Rainbow's hand. "It'll be fine," he said to him.

"Anything Sunny has a hand in turns out great. Look at us, he didn't give up at the first hurdle, now look at how happy we are!" Griffin sounded a tad anxious then resigned. "Let's just see this through."

Both my mates smiled at me. "Okay," Bow agreed. "Sunny, you've given me such a great life. I can give you a party."

Phew. Now to tell them it was black tie.

Griffin

"Dammit, Sunny! This thing is squeezing the life out of me!" I ground out as I adjusted the collar of my shirt for the third time. The damn bowtie just wouldn't tie and I was cutting it fine to finish getting dressed on time.

"Here." Sunny popped up in front of me. With vampire speed and astonishing precision, he adjusted my shirt, tied the tie perfectly, and even put in the cufflinks he'd bought me, set with my birthstone and engraved with our initials inside a heart.

He kissed my nose. "Now for our Rainbow." He repeated the process for Rain, making him look incredibly handsome. Jinx, of course, was wearing his own bow tie. Amara was on duty to look after him during the ceremony. I couldn't keep my eyes off my men. They were heart stoppers. I still couldn't quite believe this was my life!

Thanks to them, I had my pack's future assured. There was a cure for what we were, caught early enough, of course, and magical help to lessen the pain and sheer fury being a Were shifter at the full moon brought. There was also the peace of mind that Rain was protected from any accidental turning with a rare amulet Baldr had made for him.

Not only that, though those were important things I wouldn't have had without them. They also brought me love, joy, and peace. Being with them opened my world up and gave me more than I could have ever expected.

"Let's go!" Sunny was almost bouncing. He was so excited. Deep down, I was the same. I wanted to get these two bonded to me before fate, or either of them, could change their minds.

Coral, Amara's girlfriend, performed the ceremony, after some arguments with the other witches of Umberwood. It came down to us preferring someone we knew to do it.

I barely remembered what I said as I tied myself, literally, with the red ribbon and figuratively, to both Sunny and Rain. They followed me, saying their vows with ease. Sunny looked a little emotional when Coral announced it was done, but none of us cried.

"I love you both," I whispered to them as I snuck in another kiss.

"Love you," they echoed.

Our families and friends, though, well, they cried some as we kissed under the massive floral arch. I caught Theodore fondly wiping tears from Kayden's eyes.

I might have had hidden reservations over holding an expensive party for our bonding, something akin to a human's wedding ceremony and reception, but when I saw the food, the effort and expense Kayden had gone to for his beloved Sunny, I knew it was worth it.

My mates glowed under the fairy lights as they danced together. I couldn't take my eyes off them. We took turns and even danced awkwardly as a throuple, laughing the entire time. Then we danced with everyone else.

"Thank you for loving him, for looking after Sunny. I would never have thought a vampire, and a werewolf were what my Rainbow needed, but you've made him so happy. You are the pieces of him he was missing." Rose and I rocked to a slow song as my mates fed each other cake.

"Turns out they are easy to love. I made it hard at the start. Thought they'd given up on me at one point. I was gutted when I thought I'd missed my chance at this. They waited for me. I couldn't be happier."

Rose squeezed me in a hug before returning to Aspen. I danced with Sky next.

"Never hurt him. Either of them. I can't believe we were scared of Sunny!"

I laughed. "You've never seen him snap a neck." She gasped. "He did it to protect Rain."

"Okay, well, that's alright then."

"Neither of us would harm a hair on his head."

"I know. I'm just warning you now. Make either of them upset and find out which of the thirty curses I could put on you."

"That won't be necessary," Rain said as he and Sunny swooped in to save me from his sister.

"We brought you cake!" Sunny spoonfed me a bite.

"Just as delicious as the both of you." Our bonding night in the honeymoon suite was going to be great.

The party went on until the ball dropped when we had a new reason to celebrate. I kissed my mates to welcome in the new year and start it how I hoped it would continue: surrounded by the men I loved, our friends and family around us, and a hopeful future ahead of us.

The End