Epilogue Sofia
Iwalk down Main Street, nodding to people I know. When I get to the café, Yolanda greets me at the door with a little cup of foam. She drops to her knees and holds it for Danger, who buries his muzzle in it.
“You spoil him,” I protest, but there’s no heat behind it. We all spoil Danger. He and Sully have become the best of friends, and all of Sunshine loves them.
“He’s kind of perfect. How can we not spoil him?” She asks, and she’s almost glowing with happiness.
I notice a wound on her neck and smirk.
“How’s your match going?”
Yolanda blushes. “He’s perfect.”
We both found love on Valentine’s Day, and she is now happily packed up with an alpha named Grigori.
Who is moving to Sunshine and fits in like a glove, being that he’s falling in love with a baker, and he’s a chocolatier.
He was hired to make the massive chocolate Smitten Knot Bitten centerpiece and got roped in at the last minute.
Harry spots us through the window and rushes in. “Is it all ready?” he asks urgently.
Yolanda laughs. “I love that we are so invested in each other’s lives. It isn’t creepy at all.”
I snort. “Invested isn’t the word I would use. This town’s codependency borders on pathological,” I hesitate before I let out a laugh. “But I love it.”
Yolanda giggles, reaching up to touch her bond mark. “Same.”
“How’s the bookstore?” Harry asks. “You and that place were as fated as you and your scent matches.”
Danger lets out a woof that draws Harry in. He crouches and tickles Danger’s belly.
“Oh, it’s a dream. Marla said to do whatever I want to make it mine, so I’m going to close it next week, and everyone’s coming to help paint it and rearrange the shelves.”
“I’ll bring lunch!” Yolanda and Harry say at the same time.
“Chips and schnitzel rolls?” Yolanda asks.
“With gravy and potato cakes?”
They bump fists, looking far too pleased.
“Deal.”
I look between the two of them and shake my head. They are the perfect team. I know everyone was worried about a café and a chip shop right next to each other, but they make it work.
Sunshine Cove makes it work. If you come here with an open heart and you fit in, we’ll make space for you. That’s how it’s always been.
The door slams open. “What are you doing? Come on, you need to get ready.”
Mum’s face is red, and she fans herself as she adjusts her beautiful turquoise dress.
“Is it time? Oops, sorry, Lorelei. We’ll close up and head down there.” Yolanda says.
I don’t get an option. Mum grabs my arm, hands Danger off to Pops, and drags me to the pub where she pushes a bag into my hands.
Nerves dance, but Mack soothes them through the bond.
“Go put this on.”
I look down at myself. “I was just going to wear-”
“Go get changed,” mum growls out in a voice that would terrify anyone.
“Yes, Mum.”
I go and get changed, and when I come out of the stall and see myself in the mirror, it suddenly hits me.
Butterflies fill my stomach, dancing on the eddies of my nervousness.
The white dress is simple and stops at mid-thigh.
The material floats with every movement I make.
I lift a hand to the dolphin necklace and see the shell bracelet courting gift on the omega in the mirror.
I’ve got my sapphire ring on, and I’m sporting the silvery scars of my bonds, two of which are visible. My hair is glowing. I look happy.
The door opens, and Cordelia and Asher slip inside. They come straight to me and hug me.
“I can’t believe you’re really doing this. You always swore you would never. You sell out!” Cordelia teases.
“You try saying no to my mother. And she went to them first, I had no chance,” I say in my defense, though I know I wouldn’t have argued hard. Especially not when I saw how happy it was making Elijah.
“A bonding ceremony, though?”
I snort a laugh. I remember when we were all thirteen years old, sitting on the beach eating ice cream, and we had made a pact never, ever to have a bonding ceremony. With one exception, unless we found true love.
“It’s true love.”
Asher laughs. “Happy for you, sis.”
Cordelia groans. “I guess I’m happy for you. But, seriously, find someone for Sebastian so he stops picking on me.”
“He loves you,” Asher and I sing together, then burst out laughing.
“No, it’s bad. Sebastian is getting crazy. Something has to be done.”
“I heard there’s a little something in the pipeline,” Asher teases.
Cordelia and I look up sharply. “Like what?”
Asher mimes locking her mouth and throwing the key away.
“Hurry up, girls!” Mum shouts.
Cordelia turns, hugging me properly. “Truly, I am so happy for you and for them.”
“Me, too,” Asher says.
“I might be Pack Hart’s omega, but I’ll always belong to Sunshine.”
“You'd better remember that; we Sunshine Omegas have to stick together.”
“Come on, let’s go before our mum comes hunting.” Asher drags us out, and I find Felix dressing up Danger in the cutest little doggie tux.
“Aww,” we say together.
He looks up, smiling, and winks. “Can’t have your best man looking anything less than perfect.”
“That’s so adorable, thank you, Felix.” I go over and hug him hard. “Honestly. Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” he says quietly. He’s reserved, and there’s something in his eyes that looks uneasy, but now isn’t the time. I make a mental note to check on him later.
“Okay, everyone down to the beach!” Mum barks out and claps her hands.
I watch as everyone disappears but Dad and Pops.
“Mum’s having fun.”
“Thank you for indulging her. It’s been a good distraction from the Light Knot Night event she’s planning. We’ve only got a few weeks until it starts, and it’s promising to be huge.”
“She’s doing another?” I ask, aghast.
“Of course, this was a roaring success. They are going, bigger, harder, flashier, and it’s all spooky themed.”
I splutter, but Dad and Pops hug me.
“We are so proud of you, kiddo.”
“Thank you for being the safe place I needed to fall.”
“That’s what family is for,” Pops says. “But now you need to go out there and share your joy with Sunshine.”
“And it’s time,” Dad says, checking his phone. “Are you ready?”
“I have been ready for this moment for years.”
“Good. Let’s go, then.”
They hold out their hands, and we walk down the empty main street, with its “Back In An Hour” signs on every store front. We pause at the top of the stairs, and I gasp.
There’s a white runner on the sand, and everyone from Sunshine Cove is standing on the beach looking up at me.
Soft music plays, and as I search, I find them. They have the biggest smiles.
I toe off my shoes, leaving them at the top of the stairs. Devon laughs. And then I step down one at a time, my family, my friends, all around me as I walk towards my alphas.
Sunshine Cove isn’t an old jumper that doesn’t fit anymore; it’s this beautiful white dress, transforming me into the someone I didn’t know how to be. The someone who has found happiness right where she left it.
Dad hands me Danger, and then they kiss me and step to the side, and all that’s left is me and my pack.
Devon, Mack, and Elijah.
My first crush, first boyfriend, and first kiss, who will now be all my firsts and lasts, right here in the place that has always been home.