Epilogue

Phoenix

One Year Later

McKenzie smiles at me as she walks toward me. She's wearing the same dress I bought her five years ago. Today is our five-year anniversary, and she wanted to commemorate it by renewing our vows. This time her father is walking her down the aisle and she has friends here instead of it being just people I know.

She's like a dream. I can't believe I get to spend the rest of my days with this woman. The first time we did this, I had so many doubts, wondering if I would really be able to keep her. At the time I was determined I would, but I know deep down if she ever told me she wanted to leave, I would have let her. I think.

But now, watching as she steps up beside me, I know this was meant to be. I think back to all those years ago when her memory hadn't returned, and she thought I was married to someone else. She asked me if my wife was my fated mate and I told her yes. I meant it. I still mean it.

We're getting married at the property I built for the auctions. She told me this place was not going to sit dormant and only be used once a year because it was too beautiful for that. So, today marks the day of the first event outside of an auction and starting next month after we return from our honeymoon, we'll begin to have other events here.

It's already booked three years out. And at a few of those, Kenz is making the desserts. So much has changed over the past two years. It's hard to believe this is my life. She smiles up at me as her father hands her over to me. We say our vows. Since this time is different, we chose to write our own.

When it's my turn, I swallow down my nerves and look her in the eye, making sure she sees the emotion of everything I'm trying to say.

"The first day I saw you, I knew you were mine. The day I bought you at the auction made it official. I wasn't going to live without you. I couldn't. I don't regret one single day with you. Every single up and down got us to this point." I place my forehead against hers and grip the back of her neck. "It was worth it. I love you with every fiber of my being. I chose you then. I choose you now. I'll choose you every day for the rest of my life. The rest of eternity."

Her eyes are shining with unshed tears, so I kiss her. I vaguely hear the priest say to kiss the bride and the guests laughing as I wrap her in my arms and kiss her like no one else is there.

McKenzie called me and told me I had to come home. We were on our honeymoon for almost a month and we've been home for about a week, but if she needs me home, everything else can wait. She asked me if I'd stop on the way and grab her some chocolate from the candy shop on River Street. So, I grab the candy and get back as quickly as I can. When I get home, she greets me excitedly, but not as excited as when she sees the chocolate. I try my best not to get jealous.

She takes a big bite and hums. "So good." I cock an eyebrow and wish I had better control of my dick because it gets hard at the noises she's making. She smirks at me like she knows. After she takes a few more bites, she puts it down and turns her attention to me.

"Where is everyone?" I ask as I settle in next to her on the couch in the library. She puts her legs in my lap and I massage her feet and calf muscles. She leans back and groans.

"I asked everyone to leave."

I pause in my ministrations as I study her. "Why?"

She perks up and sits up slightly. "I have something I need to tell you."

I stare at her and wait. My heart begins to pound and I don't know why. I do know whatever she's about to tell me will change my life forever. She sits up and gets on her knees, kneeling beside me on the couch.

She hands me a small box and I glance at it quickly before looking at her. "Open it."

I swallow and open it slowly. It's a long rectangular box. When I open it, I pull my lips between my teeth, staring at it to make sure I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing. I glance from it to her, then back to it. "What does this mean?" I ask.

"I'm pregnant," she replies breathlessly. For the first time in my life, I think I might cry. I stare at the pregnancy test for a few more moments before I sit back and wrap my arms around her, pulling her into my lap.

She wraps her arms tightly around me as I bury my face in her hair. "Are you sure?" I whisper.

"Yes. I took twenty of those. I have an appointment in a few days."

We hold each other tight as I process this. I wasn't sure if I wanted kids, but after that night, she told me she thought I'd be a good dad. I"ve thought about it on several occasions. I want the opportunity to prove to myself I could be a better parent than my parents were. But with the auctions and the requirements of the auctions, I didn't think McKenzie would have kids with me and I sure as hell wasn't doing that.

Not with the likelihood of us having a daughter and having to sell her or having to arrange a marriage for her, but with those rules being abolished, it was on the table. I just didn't know if McKenzie really wanted kids. I know what she said, but it could have been her way of trying to encourage me in the moment, and I didn't want to get my hopes up.

"How?" I finally ask. The last I knew, she still had the IUD.

"When I went to the doctor a few months ago, he said it was time to replace my IUD, but I chose to have it removed. I mentioned it to you."

I pull back and finally look at her. "I know you said something about not getting it replaced, but I didn't realize you had actually done it. I forced myself not to be too hopeful."

She grips my face between her hands. "Our lives are going to be different. You're going to be a great father and our children are going to grow up knowing how much their parents love them and how we fought to make the world a better place for them."

"Children?" I ask.

She chuckles. "Of course we have to have more than one. I mean, we're very good at the act that makes them."

I laugh and kiss her. "I love you. So much."

She smiles at me and straddles my lap. "Have you heard that pregnant women get very horny?" she asks as she slowly unbuttons my shirt.

I rub my hands up and down her back. "Is that so?"

She leans forward and begins kissing my neck, sucking my skin between her lips and teeth. "Oh yes, are you up for the challenge?"

I grip the edge of her shirt and pull it off, my lips landing on the tattoo just below her ear. "Always, love. Always."