Epilogue

Bethany

One year later, life in Sweetberry Hollow had settled into a rhythm so beautiful, it was hard to believe it was real. Looking back, the past twelve months felt like something out of a fairytale—a twisted, chaotic, absolutely wonderful fairytale. The small town was thriving, and the little candy shop at its heart, Sugar Rush, had blossomed into a community hub. Not just a place to buy candy, but a place to share stories, to create memories, and to enjoy the small, sweet moments that made life special.

Drake and I had taken over the shop together. After everything that happened, he decided to buy out the franchise and make it ours. He'd told me that he couldn't imagine being anywhere else, and I felt the same. We raised wages, hired more staff, and gave our little corner of the world a new purpose. Sugar Rush had become a place where people came to feel like they were part of something bigger—a place where smiles were plentiful, and candy was never in short supply.

I took on the official role of Head of Human Resources. It was a title that meant more than just managing people's paychecks; it was about making sure everyone felt valued and seen. I loved it. Drake handled the business operations and kept an eye on growth and strategy, with the occasional brooding glare at spreadsheets when he thought no one was looking.

Noah was thriving as the lead pastry chef, creating masterpieces that had customers flocking to the shop from all over. His " Miss Scrumptious Originals " line of candies was a huge hit. From chocolate sculptures to intricately designed truffles, every piece had his flair, his heart, and a little bit of his trademark sparkle.

Alice was now our marketing executive, and she had turned out to be a natural. Her flyers and social media campaigns were whimsical and heartfelt, perfectly capturing the spirit of Sugar Rush. And she had a new beau, a lovely man named Ed who owned the cozy bookstore down the street. I'd never seen Alice so happy, and it warmed my heart to see her laugh and blush whenever she talked about him.

But it was really when I introduced Drake to Gran that I knew he was a keeper. The two of them took to each other like peanut butter and jelly, and Drake even enjoyed taking Gran for walks, and window-shopping along the square, trading jokes all along the way. Even Moonbeam deigned to grace him with her majestic feline presence.

And now, Halloween was rolling around again, and the town was buzzing with anticipation. We had outdone ourselves with the shop decorations—glowing jack-o'-lanterns, strands of twinkling autumn leaves, and displays filled with seasonal candies that Noah had crafted with painstaking care. The windows were full of caramel-dipped apples, marshmallow ghost pops, and tiny chocolate coffins filled with sweet surprises. Kids in costumes pressed their noses against the glass, their eyes wide with wonder, while parents held their little hands and pointed out their favorite treats.

It was perfect.

And yet, there was something more in the air this year—a feeling of excitement that had nothing to do with candy or decorations. It was something else, something that sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine whenever I thought about the future.

The day before Halloween, Drake was acting a little...strange. He'd been disappearing at odd intervals, leaving Noah and Alice to handle the shop while he ran mysterious errands. I didn't think much of it, assuming he was probably just preparing for the Halloween rush. I was used to his mysterious ways by now.

But I wasn't prepared for what he had planned.

It was late in the afternoon when he came back, his coat dusted with leaves and his eyes bright with excitement. He walked over to where I was helping a customer decide between two bags of chocolate-covered popcorn, and he flashed me a grin that made my heart skip a beat.

"Hey," he said, his voice holding a hint of amusement. "Got a minute?"

"Always," I replied, handing the customer the popcorn they'd chosen and excusing myself. "What's up?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped candy. It was an intricate chocolate rose, the petals delicate and gleaming with a hint of edible shimmer. I immediately knew it was one of Noah's creations—one of the specialties he reserved for special occasions.

"For you, my angel," Drake said, holding it out to me with an almost boyish grin.

I raised an eyebrow, taking the candy cautiously. "What's the occasion?"

Drake's grin widened. "Just try it."

I rolled my eyes but unwrapped the chocolate rose carefully. As I took a bite, I expected to taste the usual blend of rich chocolate and sweet raspberry filling, but instead, I felt something hard against my teeth. I pulled back, frowning, and carefully retrieved the object.

It was a ring. A diamond ring.

For a moment, I just stared at it, my breath catching in my throat. And then, I looked up at Drake, who was watching me with an expression of nervous excitement.

"Bethany," he began, his voice steady but full of emotion as he got down on one knee, "I've been thinking about this for a while now. You've changed everything for me. You've given me something I didn't think was possible—a life. I used to think I was just a dead thing, some sort of monster walking through life. But you made me feel alive again."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to him, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I've fallen madly in love with you, and I want to spend all the days I have left on this earth with you," he continued, his voice trembling slightly. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion as I collapsed into his arms, "Yes!"

The customers and staff who were nearby erupted in applause, and I barely had time to react before Drake pulled me into a kiss, right there, in the middle of the community we treasured. Autumn leaves fluttered outside the window, and the soft glow of the Halloween decorations surrounded us, casting the moment in a warm, golden light.

When we finally pulled apart, Drake was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. "You've made me the happiest man in the world," he murmured, his forehead resting against mine.

"And you've made me the happiest woman," I replied, my voice full of joy.

That night, as I lay in bed with the ring glinting on my finger, I couldn't help but reflect on everything that had led us here. A year ago, I was lost, searching for redemption and a way back to heaven. I thought I needed to prove myself worthy, to earn my wings, to make up for the mistakes I'd made. But now, I realized that heaven wasn't somewhere up in the clouds, waiting for me to earn my place.

Heaven was here, on earth, in the small, sweet moments of everyday life. It was in the laughter of a child holding a lollipop in the shop, in the warm embrace of the community that had welcomed me back with open arms. It was in the joy of working side-by-side with Drake and seeing the way he opened his heart to the people around him. And it was in the love we shared—a love that was unexpected and unconventional, but perfect in its own way.

I used to be obsessed with getting back to heaven, with proving that I deserved to be there. But now, I knew that my wings could wait until it was truly my time. There was so much life left to live, so many moments to savor. And I wanted to spend every one of them with Drake, building a life and a future that we could be proud of.

Who knew that I would find my heaven on earth in the arms of a vampire?