Bonus Chapter The Wedding
Bonus Chapter
The Wedding
Aspen
The farm has never looked like this before.
Lights are strung from the barn to the fence line, glowing soft against the evening sky.
Wildflowers line the aisle—some planted, some gathered, some a little crooked because Dylan insisted on helping.
And honestly?
It’s perfect.
I stand just inside the house.
Dress simple.
Soft.
Nothing fancy.
Just… me.
Because that’s what this is.
Not a show.
Not a spectacle.
Just us.
“You ready?” a voice asks.
I turn.
Ace.
Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, trying—and failing—not to look emotional.
He steps closer.
Glances at me.
Then nods once.
“You look…beautiful,” he says.
Then he gestures toward the door.
“He’s out there waiting.”
My heart skips.
Of course he is.
The music starts.
Soft.
Simple.
Not perfect.
Just real.
And everything slows.
It’s a small wedding.
His Team.
People who fought beside us.
People who stood with us.
People who stayed.
Dylan stands at the front.
Trying so hard to look serious.
Failing.
Completely.
Buddy sits beside him like he’s part of the ceremony.
Which… honestly?
He is.
And then—
There’s Havoc.
Standing at the end of it all.
Waiting. With a black suit on, he’s more handsome than ever.
He looks different.
Not in the way he stands.
Not in the way he watches everything like he always does.
But in his eyes.
They’re softer.
Still strong.
Still steady.
But… open.
Like he’s not just here to protect anymore.
He’s here to stay.
I walk toward him.
Step by step.
Heart pounding.
But not from fear.
Not anymore.
When I reach him—
He doesn’t take his eyes off me.
Not once.
“You’re late,” he murmurs quietly.
I smile.
“Thought I’d make an entrance.”
His mouth tilts slightly.
“It worked.”
The officiant starts speaking.
Words about love.
Commitment.
Promises.
But honestly?
I barely hear any of it.
Because all I can see—
Is him.
The man who walked into chaos and never walked away from me, Dylan, or grandpa.
The man who chose me… over and over again.
“Do you—”
“Yes,” I say before they even finish.
Laughter ripples through the crowd.
I don’t care.
Not even a little.
Havoc looks at me.
That same almost-smile.
“You always do that?” he asks quietly.
“Only when I’m sure.”
A beat.
Then—
“Good,” he says.
When it’s his turn—
He doesn’t rush.
Doesn’t fill the silence.
Just looks at me.
And then—
“I’m not good with speeches,” he says.
More laughter.
Soft.
Warm.
“But I know this,” he continues.
His voice steady.
Certain.
“I don’t walk away from what matters.”
My breath catches.
“And you?” he says, looking right at me.
You’re everything that matters.”
That’s it.
That’s all he says.
And it’s more than enough.
“Rings,” someone says.
Dylan rushes forward like he’s been waiting his whole life for this moment.
Almost trips.
Recovers.
Proud of himself.
We laugh.
We take the rings.
Hands shaking just a little.
Not from fear.
From feeling.
“I love you,” I whisper as I slide his ring on.
His eyes lock onto mine.
“Yeah,” he says softly.
“Me too.”
And then—
He looks at me. “I love you more than anything or anyone in this world.”
“You may—”
He doesn’t wait.
He kisses me.
Slow.
Certain.
Like everything we’ve been through led to this exact moment.
Cheers break out.
Laughter.
Applause.
Buddy barks.
Dylan whoops like he just won something.
And for the first time—
It’s not about what we survived.
It’s not about what we fought.
It’s not about what’s still out there.
It’s about this.
This moment.
This life.
This love.
Us together.