Epilogue Raena
Two Months Later
“The ceremony was beautiful. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling,” I say, giving them each a warm hug.
“Thank you for hosting us, Raena,” Helen says, squeezing me tightly before getting pulled away to other guests.
It was a simple, yet classy wedding. Ella’s mom fell in love with the view of Grimm River behind our home, so we offered to host the wedding and reception here for them. It made it so much easier to plan, since Helen also asked me and Ella to be her bridesmaids and Emera to be her flower girl.
“Come on, Rae,” Ella whispers through her forced smile as she nods to more guests on our way into the reception tent. She beelines straight to the open bar. “I need a fucking drink.”
“It’s a happy day, El. The wedding went smoothly, your mom is finally happy again,” I tell her. “And you're about to head off to college and start your life. Be happy, girl.”
“Oh no, girl. All of that is fine and wonderful. That’s not why I need a fucking drink,” she whisper yells, ordering two tequila shots from the bar before she turns back to me and pulls me close. “My new ‘step daddy’ just decided to drop the bomb of a lifetime on me, right before the ceremony, and I’ve been freaking the fuck out since.”
“What is it?” I ask.
“I overheard him telling my mother that he was sorry his sons weren’t going to be able to make it to the wedding.” She shoots the tequila back and slams the shot glass down on the wooden bar. “Two more!”
“Oh…. OH! Sons? As in more than one?” I ask as it hits me what she’s freaking out about.
“As in... I have brothers– I don’t know how many but more than fucking one. Who couldn’t even be bothered to attend our parents' wedding.”
“Well you’re going off to college anyway, babe. Plus, it sounds like they’re older, so I don’t think it’s something you’ll have to worry about. It’s not like you’re going to live in the same house and share a bathroom with them,” I say, trying to ease her worries.
“Yeah,” she shrugs, throwing back her next shot and relaxing against the bar, “but you don’t think it’s weird he never mentioned them? He’s been here for months and this is the first I’ve heard of him having children.”
“It is weird,” I agree. “But still, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You’re leaving and you have four years away from everyone to get used to the idea of having a big family.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she says, finally relenting as my Shadows walk up with our daughter in her beautiful dress and flowers in her hair. She looks like a woodland princess, ready to run off into an enchanted forest and play with her animal friends.
“Hi, baby! You look so beautiful,” Ella gushes, squatting down and twirling her around. “You did so good!”
Emera gives her a toothy grin as she tugs on my dress. “Can we go outside now?”
“Sure, baby,” I say, taking her hand, letting her lead me outside.
“We’ll be right behind you, Angel,” Royal says when I look over my shoulder at them before slipping out of the tent.
Emera’s favorite place to be is by the water, so it’s no surprise when she leads me right down the flower littered isle and past the bridal archway to the edge of the river.
It’s dark outside, but the hanging lights from the trees twinkle around us, creating an ethereal glow on the water. Em splashes her little bare feet in the shallow water, laughing and dancing around. Taking her lead, I kick my heels off and join her.
I listen to her jabber about the fish and watch as she picks up rocks and tosses them into the water, giggling every time it makes a splash. She asks me for the 100th time this week when Nanny Laurie is coming back, breaking my heart with how much she misses her. I wish I could have met her, but Ella said she was too scared to return to Shadow Forest, choosing to stay with Snow in White Harbor for now. When I finally turn around to look for our guys, my knees go weak, and all the breath in my lungs whooshes out.
“Oh…” I gasp, my hand covering my mouth as tears fill my eyes. “What are you doing?” I ask, grabbing Emera’s hand and walking back to them. Each step feels like I’m floating on a cloud.
Royal, Alek, and Maddox are down on one knee under the twinkly lights, smiling at us. Royal’s in the middle, holding a small red velvet box out to me.
Tears flow freely down my face as Royal speaks.
“Raena, from the moment you came into our lives, you’ve made me a better man. I wasn’t truly living. You’ve made every part of my life worth living. You've taught me that I don't have to survive the horrors we've endured alone but that together, we can thrive from them. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You love me fiercely, with unwavering passion and kindness. And if you’ll let me, I promise to love you and our daughter with everything I have for the rest of my life.” Royal finishes his speech and passes the box to Alek on his right.
“Baby Girl, everything my brother said is true. You came into our lives when we were barely surviving. You picked up our broken pieces, and molded them back together with yours. Our fates have been intertwined for a long time, but we just didn’t have all the pieces to the puzzle. You were our missing piece. I promise to love you and Em, with every breath in my body– every single day– until my last breath.”
When he finishes, he leans over Royal, passing the box to Maddox, whose little feral energy could light up this night sky. He bounces, even on one knee as he holds the box out and grins at us.
“I thought these two would never shut up,” he laughs, clearing his throat dramatically. “My Queen– Since the night I found you in that dark hallway at Twisted, when I first caught your sweet cherry scent– You imprinted yourself on my soul, calming my demons and quieting my mind with your unconditional love. I knew you were it for me the moment you stabbed me. I promise to love you and Sunshine the same way, unconditionally, in this life, and all the lives after.”
When he finishes, he hands the box back to Royal. Any words I could say to them are stuck so far down my throat, the only thing I can do is sob like a big baby, ruining my make-up, and smile back.
“Raena LaRoux, will you do us the greatest honor of becoming our wife?” Royal asks, taking the ring from the box and presenting it to me. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, with a crimson ruby sitting high on a thin silver band, sparkling white diamonds surrounding it.
“Yes! I cry, collapsing to my knees in front of them, letting Royal slide the stunning masterpiece on my left hand.
“One more thing,” Maddox says, scooting forward and taking Emera’s hand. “Sunshine, we’ve asked your mommy to become our wife, but we wanted to ask you something, too. You are the most beautiful, sweetest little ray of sunshine. When you smile at me, my heart is so big– so full, I think I might just pop. We have loved you since the moment you came into our lives, and nothing would make us happier than becoming your dads. Would it be okay with you if we marry your Mommy and take care of both of you forever?
“I get three daddies?” She asks excitedly, bouncing and swaying.
“You do, Sunshine,” Maddox laughs, pulling out a silver chain from his jacket pocket. A small pendant hangs from the middle, a little sun. He fastens it around her neck and kisses her cheek. “You are my sunshine, Em.”
Emera giggles, admiring the necklace before throwing her arms around his neck, “Thank you, Daddy Maddie!”
Royal and Alek wrap their arms around us all, bringing our beautiful little family together on the bank of Grimm River.
Applause and cheering erupt around us as the wedding party emerges from the shadows, Ella leading them.
“It’s about damn time!” Ella yells, rushing over to us and joining our group hug on the ground. “I was about to die keeping the little secret!”
The party continues on into the night, well after the Bride and Groom leave for their honeymoon and Ella offers to take Emera up to bed. I think the whole town showed up tonight, and I’ve never seen the people of Shadow Forest happier– more carefree– than I did as they danced and laughed with each other all night. All of the work the Shadows and I have been able to accomplish in two months blows my mind. This town is finally free of the oppressive evil that ruled its streets in terror– and so are we.
When people start heading out, we sit by the firepit under the twinkly lights. I can’t believe this is my life now. Engaged to the three loves of my life, my daughter alive and safe, and using my trauma– everything I survived– to help the people of this town rebuild to a place that our families can grow and thrive in.
“So…when do you leave?” I ask Ella, who’s had a little too much to drink tonight but manages to stay upright in her lounge chair by the fire.
“The end of the week,” she groans, and even though she acts like she doesn’t want to leave us, I know she’s excited about this new adventure, to leave Shadow Forest and see what else is out there in the world. “Doctor Daddy has already enrolled me in classes and set me up at his house on campus. Apparently, he is some big wig over there and has a fucking house… on campus. ”
“On the bright side, at least you don’t have to worry about a roommate cramping your style,” I laugh.
“That is sooo true…” she says, gazing off into the distance at nothing and swaying in her seat. “I would definitely have to cunt-punch a bitch.”
All of us burst out laughing at her drunken antics, though honestly, it’s something she would say completely sober. “I’m going to miss you so much, Ella.”
“Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little face, Rae. I’ll be back to plan your wedding. What kind of maid of honor would I be if I just abandoned you?” She asks, looking offended, as if I’ve forgotten our childhood promises to be each other’s maids of honor when we got married.
“Not a good one,” I agree, laughing, as Royal tightens his arms around me and kisses my temple. Maddox and Alek are sitting next to us, sipping their drinks and laughing with us.
“I’m going to miss you too, Rae. I’ll miss all of you– and my baby girl– I’m going to miss her so much. You better send Auntie El pictures every single day. I’ll be back before you know it, and hopefully bringing these big fuckers some new friends,” she winks at my guys, and even though they don’t know what she means, I sure do.
“Don’t worry, Cinderella. Your Prince Charmings are out there,” I say. “You just have to go out there and find them.”