Bonus
SADIE
One Month Later
The Magnolia Ladies had taken over my wedding.
Completely.
Entirely.
Without apology.
Mrs. Jenkins was in charge of flowers.
Doris was in charge of food.
Betty was in charge of making sure nobody cried too much before the ceremony.
She was failing.
Mostly because she was already crying.
So was I.
“You look beautiful,” Dad said softly.
I stood in the little room behind the chapel, staring at myself in the mirror.
My dress was simple.
Soft white.
Lace around the sleeves.
Nothing too fancy.
Nothing too big.
Just perfect.
The kind of dress I could breathe in.
The kind of dress I could walk toward Beast in.
Dad came up behind me.
His eyes were wet.
He tried to hide it.
He failed too.
“You ready?” he asked.
My heart pounded.
Not from fear.
Not this time.
From happiness.
From knowing Beast was waiting for me.
From knowing that when I walked through those chapel doors, I would be walking toward the man who had protected me.
Loved me.
Chosen me.
Every single day.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Dad held out his arm.
I slipped mine through it.
Then the chapel doors opened.
And everything disappeared.
The flowers.
The guests.
The soft music.
The Magnolia Ladies sitting in the front row with tissues already in their hands.
Wolf and Trigger standing beside Beast.
Dad walking beside me.
All of it faded.
Because Beast was waiting at the end of the aisle.
He wore a dark suit.
His shoulders were broad.
His hands were clasped in front of him.
And his eyes?
His eyes were fixed on me.
Like I was the only thing in the world.
He looked nervous.
Not scared.
Beast didn’t scare easily.
But emotional.
Overwhelmed.
Happy.
His eyes shined.
And that nearly ruined me.
I smiled through my tears.
Dad walked me down the aisle.
One slow step at a time.
Then he placed my hand in Beast’s.
Beast closed his fingers around mine.
Warm.
Strong.
Certain.
Dad looked at him.
His voice rough.
“Take care of her.”
Beast looked at Dad.
Then back at me.
“With everything I have.”
Dad nodded.
Then stepped back.
The preacher began speaking.
Words about love.
About promises.
About choosing each other.
But I barely heard any of it.
Because Beast kept looking at me.
Like he still couldn’t believe I was there.
Like he had spent his whole life waiting for this moment.
When it was time for vows, Beast took both of my hands.
His voice was low.
Steady.
But I could hear the emotion beneath every word.
“Sadie, I promise to stand beside you when life is easy and when it isn’t. I promise to make you laugh when you forget how. I promise to repair every fence you don’t need repaired.”
A soft laugh moved through the chapel.
I smiled.
Beast’s eyes never left mine.
“I promise to protect your heart as fiercely as I protect your life. I promise to be your home. Your partner. Your best friend. And I promise that no matter what comes, you will never face it alone again.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Beast wiped one away with his thumb.
Then it was my turn.
I took a breath.
Looked at the man I loved.
The man who had come back into my life when I needed him most.
The man who had shown me that love could be safe.
Strong.
Patient.
Real.
“Beast,” I said softly, “I promise to love you even when you pretend a fence needs fixing just because you don’t know what to do with your hands.”
The chapel laughed again.
His mouth twitched.
“I promise to remind you that you don’t have to carry everything alone. I promise to stand beside you. To make you laugh. To tell you when you are being stubborn.”
“That might be often,” Trigger muttered.
Wolf elbowed him.
Everyone laughed.
Even Beast.
Then I looked back at him.
My voice softened.
“I promise to be your home too. I promise to choose you every day. And I promise that whatever comes next, I will face it with you.”
The preacher smiled.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
My breath caught.
Beast’s hand tightened around mine.
“You may kiss your bride.”
Beast didn’t hesitate.
He pulled me into his arms.
Kissed me slowly.
Deeply.
Like he had waited his entire life for this moment.
The chapel erupted.
The Magnolia Ladies cheered.
Wolf whistled.
Trigger shouted, “Finally!”
Dad laughed.
And when Beast pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine.
“My wife,” he whispered.
My heart filled so completely I thought it might burst.
“My husband.”
He smiled.
That rare, beautiful smile that still belonged only to me.
Then he took my hand.
And together, we walked down the aisle.
Out into the sunlight.
Out into our new life.
Not as Sadie and Beast.
But as husband and wife.
And this time, when Beast took my hand, I knew he wasn’t saving me from the past.
He was walking with me into forever.
THE END
I have a new series coming out in August. Hidden Currents.
Book one is Hidden Depths.
Here is a sneak peek at book one.
My Book
"The sea whispers her secrets before she gives them away."
— James Sinclair