Epilogue
Alana
KINGSTON AND brYNN hired me to be the photographer for their wedding.
It’s the largest job I’ve ever had so far in my career and I’m a nervous wreck.
This will either make or break me as far as landing more jobs in the future.
That’s why I came to Pine View a few days early so I could spend time with my friends and get to know the space I’ll be shooting.
Because there are going to be members from the Phantom Bastards MC, the Wild Kings MC, and King’s Vengeance MC, they decided to get married at the clubhouse because it has the most space and no one will complain about the reception.
Brynn has been on bed rest for the last month and only just got taken off of it as long as she doesn’t overdo things.
Hope has been giving me the tour of where everything will take place and how Brynn wants her big day to go.
It’s been nice catching up with her as I try to figure out how I’m going to do all the pictures and where the best spots will be for the photos after the ceremony is over.
I’ve got a ton of ideas and Brynn loves them all.
Instead of staying at the clubhouse and being in everyone’s way or taking someone’s room from them, I got a room at a hotel close to the clubhouse.
Honestly, I should’ve just stayed at the clubhouse considering I spend most of my days there.
I’ve been helping prepare food, cleaning the rooms that have been empty, talking to everyone I grew up with and reconnecting with them, and now helping decorate the backyard of the clubhouse for the big day tomorrow.
All day today I’ve felt as if I’m being watched and yet I don’t see anyone standing out.
It doesn’t feel creepy.
If anything, I honestly feel safe.
Not because I’m at the Phantom Bastards compound but it’s as if this person is watching over me to make sure I don’t get hurt as I race around to help out wherever anyone needs me.
Everyone is helping get things set up for the wedding tomorrow in one way or another.
I’ve been moving back and forth between the kitchen and out back.
The only time I don’t feel eyes on me is when I’m inside the clubhouse with the ol’ ladies as we cook and prepare as much of the food as we can before tomorrow.
“Ghost, did you need something?”
Annabell asks as I turn around with a ribbon in my hand to tie on the chair at the table we’re currently decorating.
“I was told to ask if you need anythin’ else done out here,”
he answers her, his deep voice washing over me as I get lost in his eyes.
“No.
I think we’re almost done out here.
The guys are gonna close up the sides of the tent once we’re done with the tables.
None of the flowers can be brought out until they get delivered tomorrow and the dance floor will be here first thing in the morning.
I don’t know what else has to be done,”
Annabell answers him as we continue to stare at one another.
“Ghost do you remember Alana?”
“Yeah.
It’s been a long time since I last saw ya,”
he says, his voice going even deeper if that’s possible.
“Kaden?”
I ask, it suddenly hits me out of the blue who I’m staring at.
“Yeah,”
he responds with one of those sexy smirks on his face as another guy walks up to him.
“Colton?”
I question the newest arrival of our small group as I finally break eye contact with Kaden.
“Hey, Alana.
How have you been?”
Colton asks me, a smile aimed at me as my heart starts racing with these two men in front of me, staring as if I’m the only girl in the world.
“I’ve been okay.
How have you guys been?”
I return, surprised I’m able to find my voice with how fast my heart is beating.
“I’ve been good.
Ghost here is as broodin’ as normal,”
Colton tells me as his friend turns a glare in his direction.
“He’s not brooding,”
Annabell says, laughter filling her voice as she looks between the three of us.
“He just prefers not to make an ass of himself on a daily basis like others around here.”
“Damn, Annabell!”
Colton says, placing his hands over his heart as if she’s truly hurt him with her words.
“I thought you were the nice ol’ lady around here.
I’ll have to rethink that.”
I can’t help but laugh at the banter between Annabell and Colton.
It reminds me of the way we all were growing up.
This happened on a daily basis whenever any of us were together.
Colton doesn’t seem to have changed that much since we were younger in this aspect of his life.
I can certainly say the two men in front of me have grown up and turned into the sexy bikers I never thought I’d feel an ounce of attraction to.
They are proving me very, very wrong as my eyes continue to drift to them every few seconds.
“You haven’t been stayin’ at the clubhouse, have you Alana?”
Colton asks me as I work on tying the ribbon on the last chair for the reception.
“No.
I didn’t want to take someone’s room away knowing the empty rooms are being prepared for all the guests coming in for the wedding.
I have a feeling the clubhouse is about to be very busy and noisy.
I know Fox and Kim are here already and Blood and his family will be here within the hour.
At least that’s what Hope said a little while ago,”
I answer him, standing up once I’m done and inspecting my work.
“Are you stayin’ for dinner tonight? We ordered a ton of pizzas and everythin’ to go with them for everyone.
We had to place the order a week ago just to make sure it would be ready for tonight,”
Colton asks me as Ghost remains at his side silent like normal.
“Probably.
My parents and brothers should be here at some point today or tomorrow.
They aren’t sure if they’re stopping in Cedar Bay before heading here.
If they go there first, they’ll all just ride in together tomorrow.
I think a lot of the Wild Kings members are heading for Cedar Bay first so there isn’t such a strain here,”
I answer him, not sure if I should make the trip to Cedar Bay myself to see my sister and everyone else I grew up with.
“You can eat with Ghost and me if you want,”
Colton invites me before the two men turn and head to Vault to see what else needs to be done.
I watch them walk away before following Annabell back toward the clubhouse to find out what else has to be done with the cooking and meal prep for tomorrow.
Really, I want to go back to the hotel and hide from the two men who have piqued my interest in ways I’ve never experienced before.
The rest of the night is filled with talking, laughter, and avoiding Colton and Kaden at all costs.
I can’t allow myself to get close to them when I have no clue what the future holds for me or where I’ll end up.
T he day is bright and there isn’t a cloud in the sky as I show up at the clubhouse to get ready for Kingston and Brynn’s wedding.
Someone has put out the flowers so they line the aisle, cover the harbor they’ll get married in front of, and Brynn’s bouquet has been put in the refrigerator so it doesn’t start to wilt before the ceremony.
The flowers lining the aisle she’ll walk down are wildflowers filling mason jars with dark purple ribbons wrapped around them.
I walk around and take pictures of everything before people start filling the area and it gets harder to get images of before the guests started arriving.
Plus, I want to go in and get pictures of the bride and groom getting ready for their special day.
Once I’m done outside, I make my way in the clubhouse to find Kingston.
I know he’s already showered and dressed for the ceremony because one of the Prospects let me know.
There was no way in hell I was about to take inappropriate pictures of Brynn’s soon-to-be husband and ruin anything between the two of them.
I find Kingston in the common room of the clubhouse surrounded by men as he talks and laughs.
This is when I start taking pictures of him and those around the room.
My lens finds Ghost and Colton more often than I’d like to admit as I snap pictures of them with everyone else.
I only stop when my family shows up so I can spend a minute with them before getting back to work.
“How are you doin’, Sweetheart?”
my dad Cage asks me, wrapping me up in one of his hugs and holding me close.
“I’ve been better,”
I answer honestly.
“He still callin’ and messagin’ you like crazy?”
Joker, my other dad, asks me with a serious tone to his voice.
“I blocked his number but random numbers have been calling me repeatedly each day.
I block them all and another one just pops up in its place,”
I tell them honestly as I think of my ex-boyfriend who doesn’t get that I don’t want to be with him anymore.
“He better fuckin’ hope I don’t see him.
Have you thought about what you’re gonna do?”
my mom asks, pulling me in for a hug of her own.
“I have to leave Clifton Falls.
It’s not like I have anything more than you guys holding me there.
And you’ll still have Brandon and Kyle home with you.
I just don’t see any other way to get away from him,”
I say as Colton and Kaden walk up to us with smiles on their faces.
My family greet them and they spend time talking and catching up with one another.
I used this as an excuse to get back to work and head for the kitchen.
It’s almost empty with the exception of Genesis, Annabell, and Savannah.
They’re putting the finishing touches on everything before getting ready for the ceremony.
I start taking pictures of the cake my mom made and brought down along with the rest of the food that’s already finished and ready to be taken outside for the reception.
When I’m done there, I make my way up to Kingston and Brynn’s home where she’s getting ready.
I have the most fun there as I snap a million pictures of the glowing bride as her family, by blood and marriage, help get her ready for her wedding.
I have to say I think my favorite ones will be when she’s getting her something old, something, new, something borrowed, something blue.
I leave them alone to go down to the clubhouse and find most of the seats filled and Kingston standing at the front by Slim who will be performing the ceremony.
Jinx is standing next to Kingston and I know Zoey, Brynn’s sister, will be standing next to Brynn.
That’s all they want with them because it’s just too hard to choose so none of the clubs feel left out or anything.
I get pictures of everyone and everything as I move around the space as discreetly as possible.
The only time I go to the front is when the wedding party starts to come out.
Henrik, Jinx and Hope’s little boy, and Torrin, Vault and Annabell’s little girl will be the ring bear and flower girl.
They’re so adorable in their little outfits.
Henrik is wearing a pair of blue jeans with a button-up shirt on in a deep, dark purple.
He’s got the smallest boots on his feet and the largest smile on his face.
Torrin is wearing a light purple dress with bare feet as she walks next to Henrik, throwing flowers out when her mom tells her to.
Annabell is following behind them so they don’t race off on their own like they did last night during the rehearsal.
As Zoey makes her way down the aisle, I get in position to take pictures of Kingston and Brynn.
I need to have a picture for them of the very first second he lays eyes on his bride.
That’s a moment in time that always needs to be captured and I always do my very best to immortalize it forever.
Kingston doesn’t disappoint.
The second Brynn comes into his line of sight, his eyes tear up and the smile on his face gets even bigger and brighter than I’ve ever seen from him.
Jinx has to hold him back from going to his woman before it’s time.
Turning my lens to the bride, I get some of the best pictures of her and her dad.
Scathe is smiling down at his daughter, his face full of emotion as his eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Brynn is looking up at him and doesn’t stop a few tears from sliding down her face.
She’s looking at him as if he’s her hero and with all the love she has for him.
Brynn’s family is extremely close now and I hope to capture more moments of it for her.
I don’t stop taking pictures throughout the ceremony, moving around to get different angles and viewpoints of the bride and groom and the guests in attendance.
This is what I love to do and how I want to spend the rest of my life—capturing the memories people make on the best and sometimes worst days of their lives.
After the ceremony is over, I get the wedding party and family members through the photos.
I do all of the traditional and a few others Brynn wanted to get.
When we’re done, I’m ready to get off my feet for a few minutes and grab a bite to eat before it’s time to get back to work.
This time, I’m not able to escape Colton as he grabs my hand and pulls me to a table that’s out of the way where Kaden is already sitting and a plate of food waits for me.
“You didn’t join us last night,”
Kaden says, resting his hand on the table next to my plate of food.
“I know.
I’m sorry,”
I say, not bothering to make up an excuse as to why I didn’t sit with them.
“You scared of us, Alana?”
Colton asks me as I take a bite of food.
“I’m not scared,”
I answer after swallowing my food.
“I just got out of a horrible relationship and I’m not looking for a hook-up.
You two are sexy as fuck and can have any woman you want.
I can’t be a notch on your bedpost.”
“Not gonna be a notch on anyone’s fuckin’ bedpost,”
Kaden growls out, his voice deep and low as he stares at me.
“The fucker put his hands on you, Alana?”
I turn to face Kaden, shocked he’d ask me that question until I see where his eyes are.
He’s staring at a large bruise I have on my side from my ex.
He was very abusive and hid that side of him for a very long time.
My dads and other family members did nothing to scare him away.
He’s too arrogant and narcissistic to believe they’ll get their hands on him and beat the fuck out of him before burying his body so no one will find him ever again.
“Yeah, Kaden.
It took me a while to get away from him, but I finally did.
Now, I have a lot of choices to make and can’t let anyone get close because I have no clue where the hell I’m gonna end up,”
I state honestly as I look between the men on either side of me.
“Move here, Alana.
If he’s never been around the club, he won’t know there’s a tie to our club here.
We’ll protect you and make sure he doesn’t get close to you,”
Colton says, looking at me with anger filling his features as he looks for other evidence of the abuse on my body.
“I’ll think about it.
Thank you for the food,”
I tell them, digging in so I can get back to work.
“Save a dance for me, Alana,”
Kaden says, getting out of his seat and making his way over to sit with my family a few tables away.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they’re talking about what I’ve been through.
My dads are angry and Kaden is talking with his hands gesturing wildly as his dad, Stryker, makes his way over to them.
Great! I’m gonna be the topic of conversation on Kingston’s wedding day.
That’s the last thing I wanted to happen.
After eating my food, I get back up and move around to take candid pictures of everyone.
This is my favorite part because I don’t look at the screen of my camera as I take each picture.
I want to give the bride and groom a range of pictures to genuinely capture every moment of their special day.
Sometimes, the couples like the candid photos more than anything else.
I do this until it’s announced that the dancing will start.
I move around and get all the pictures of the bride and groom during their first dance.
Of Kim dancing with her son as tears slide down my face with the gentle way Kingston helps his mom move on the dance floor to take the pressure off of her back and legs.
Scathe and Brynn dance and I watch a grown man cry as he holds his daughter in his arms like the last thing he wants to do is let her go even though she’s grown up now.
In this moment, Brynn is that little girl who only loved her dad and the other men in her family.
He’s envisioning her with pigtails in her hair, dirt smudged on her face, and no taller than his knee.
Maddox, Ace, Tucker, Damien, and Blood also dance with Brynn before she’s given back to her husband.
Though, Kingston also dances with his sisters, Zoey, his aunt Gwen, Faith, and Hope.
We all laugh our asses off when Kingston and Brynn shove cake in one another’s faces.
They’re covered from their hairline down to their chin with frosting and cake.
Kingston presses a cake-filled kiss against his wife’s lips and I make sure to catch that moment because it’s so damn funny.
The longer I spend taking pictures of the reception, the more I long to have what Brynn and Kingston have found in one another.
The only time I stop is when Kaden walks up to me and pulls me in his arms after handing over my camera to Colton as he dances with me to a slow song.
I rest my head on his hard chest as we move to the music and for the first time in a very long time I feel completely safe with a man who isn’t my family.
Colton dances with me after Kaden and then I get back to work.
The day is long and I’m ready for bed by the time Kingston carries Brynn back to their home.
They’re not taking a honeymoon right now because of her pregnancy and the scare they just had that put her on bed rest.
Instead of heading back to the hotel, Kaden finds me and leads me up to his room.
I have no clue where this night is about to take me, but I’m here for it.
I’m too exhausted to fight my attraction to them and what it could mean moving forward if I move to Pine View.
That’s something to figure out another day.