By the time we climb down, a small group is waiting near the warehouse—Kam, Thrall, Brokka, Joy, Grum… and, of course, my mother. The second she sees the ring glittering on Laney’s hand, she lets out a sound that’s half laugh, half sob.
“Finally!” Yara declares, sweeping Laney into a hug that lifts her half off her feet. “I’ve been cooking for days waiting for this.”
I blink. “You have?”
“Of course,” she says, entirely unapologetic. “I figured I might as well have enough food ready for a celebration.”
I shake my head, laughing. “And what were you planning to do with all that food if she’d said no?”
Yara’s eyes soften as she takes Laney’s hand. “Then I’d have fed you anyway,” she says simply. “But she’s your soulbound. I never believed she would refuse you.”
Laney laughs through her tears as my mom tucks her close. “Come on, daughter. There are a lot of people waiting at my house. There’s roast, pies, and a cake that saysCongratulations, Soulmates.Let’s celebrate properly before Kam eats the frosting.”
And just like that, we’re swept along toward my mother’s house—our family at our backs, the future warm and certain ahead.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Epilogue
Three Months Later
Laney
The morning of my wedding dawns clear and bright, the kind of perfect June day that makes you believe the universe is conspiring in your favor.
I wake to sunlight streaming through the cabin windows and the sound of organized chaos drifting in from outside. Brokka’s mate Marissa is orchestrating the setup crew with the efficiency of a military general. The scent of coffee and fresh flowers drifts into my room, mixing with the familiar animal sounds that have become the soundtrack of my life.
Boots curls in his usual spot at the foot of my bed, stretches and yawns, his black and white fur catching the morning light. He’s our cat now, officially.
The memory of Mrs. DeVrayne’s phone call last week still warms my heart.
“Laney, dear, I need to talk to you about Boots.”
My stomach had dropped. “Is everything okay? Is he sick?”
“Oh no, nothing like that. He was living with what I thought was a lovely family, but they contacted me and said he didn’t get along with their new puppy, and—”
“They asked if they could return him,” I finished her sentence for her.
“I remembered that he was sleeping on your pillow when I arrived to pick him up and wondered if…”
I almost instantly offered to take him, but that would have been the single me. Now that I was almost married, it became a joint decision.
A few hours later, when I spoke with Ryder, he chided me for not accepting her offer immediately. “You know he was my favorite.” And a few hours after that, the cat was sleeping in our bed.
“Morning, handsome boy,” I murmur, scratching under his chin. “Big day today. Your mom and dad are getting married.”
He purrs, completely unconcerned that I’m about to marry the love of my life in a few hours.
A knock at the door precedes Georgia’s arrival, carrying a tray laden with coffee, fruit, and what looks suspiciously like homemade scones.
“Good morning, bride!” She sets the tray on my bedside table and pulls me into a hug. “Your father sent me up here to make sure you eat something. He’s a little teary this morning, but they’re happy tears.”
Through the window, I can see the meadow transformation in progress. White chairs arranged in neat rows, an archway woven with wildflowers and greenery, tables set up for the reception. Brokka and his crew have been here since dawn, setting up the massive grills for what he promises will be “the best wedding feast the mountains have ever seen.”
“Emma–she’s married to Kam, right–and Nadira are champing at the bit to help you get ready,” Georgia says. “They’ve been arguing about hair strategy for twenty minutes.”
I laugh. “Tell them I’ll be out in fifteen minutes. And Georgia? Thank you. For everything.”
Her eyes mist. “Oh, honey. You were always part of this family. We just had to wait a while to meet you.”
