Epilogue

F inn

The Phantom River sparkles under the noon sun, its ripples catching the light like a thousand tiny diamonds. The air smells of wildflowers and pine, fresh and heady, as if the mountains themselves are celebrating today. My cabin— our cabin now—stands proud and welcoming in the distance, surrounded by Tessa’s vibrant plants that seem to bloom brighter since she moved in.

I tug at the collar of my shirt, unused to the feel of stiff fabric against my neck. A tie? Hell, no. Tessa might’ve softened me, but not that much.

“Relax,” Ridge mutters, smirking as he hands me a flask. “You look like you’re walking into a firing squad, not marrying the love of your life.”

I grunt, taking a sip of the whiskey. “Not used to this kind of attention.”

“Attention’s all on her,” Liam adds, leaning against a tree with a lazy grin. “No one’s here to see your grumpy ass.”

“Except Shep,” Fox chimes in, nodding toward the dog, who’s lounging under a nearby tree. “He’s the only one who actually likes you.”

“Jealous?” I shoot back, earning a laugh from the group. My friends—the brothers I chose—have stood by me through everything. It feels fitting they’re here now, witnessing this moment that still feels surreal.

Grady claps a hand on my shoulder, his smile genuine. “She’s good for you, Finn. Don’t screw it up.”

I snort, but the weight of his words sinks in. Tessa isn’t just good for me. She’s everything.

The crowd gathers as the ceremony begins, a mix of our friends, neighbors, and a few faces I don’t recognize but know must be from Tessa’s world. Zane Warner officiates, because he insisted. His voice is steady as he starts, but his smirk grows wider when Shep trots forward, the rings tied to a ribbon on his collar.

“Shep, bring them here, boy,” I call, holding out my hand. But the dog pauses, his tail wagging as he sniffs at the crowd, clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

“Guess he’s not in a rush,” Tessa teases, her voice carrying across the clearing. My eyes snap to her, and for a moment, the world fades away. She’s a vision in white, her dress simple but perfect, her hair cascading in soft waves. She’s barefoot, of course—she always says she feels closer to the earth that way.

When she finally stands before me, her hand sliding into mine, I swear I feel the ground shift beneath my feet.

“Thought you’d run,” I murmur, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.

“Not a chance,” she whispers back, her smile teasing but her eyes brimming with emotion. “Even if you are Mr. Wrong–I promise to love you everyday anyway.”

I laugh, loving her even more with every passing moment.

The vows are short, heartfelt, and just us. No fluff, no pretenses. Just promises to love, to fight, to grow together. When Zane declares us husband and wife, I waste no time pulling Tessa into a kiss that earns cheers and wolf whistles from the crowd. She laughs against my lips, her hands clutching the front of my shirt as if she can’t bear to let go.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life fighting Shep for your attention.” I say as we part, my voice low enough for her ears alone. The dog barks in response, earning laughter from everyone.

The reception is a mix of food, music, and stories that make me both cringe and laugh. Ridge, Liam, and Fox toast us, their words a blend of teasing and sincerity that reminds me just how lucky I am to have these men in my life. Barron and King came in from Copper Mountain with their wives, Tamlyn and Indie–who’s from Devil’s Peak.

“To the woman who tamed the untamable Finn Taylor,” Ridge says, raising his glass. “And to Finn, who finally figured out how to smile without breaking something.”

The crowd roars with laughter, but my eyes are on Tessa, who’s smiling at me like I hung the damn moon.

Later, as the sun dips behind the mountains, Tessa and I slip away from the crowd. Back at the cabin, she steps into the garden she’s transformed.

“I can’t believe you moved all these plants,” I say, watching as she kneels to inspect a bloom.

“They belong here,” she says simply, glancing up at me. “With us.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, in the best way. I close the distance between us, pulling her to her feet. “You belong here,” I say, my voice rough. “With me.”

She smiles, her fingers brushing my jaw. “Forever, Finn.”

“Forever.” And as I kiss her, with the mountains standing sentinel around us and the Phantom River singing its eternal song, I know we’ve found something rare and unbreakable. A love as solid as copper, forged in fire and meant to last.