His eyes soft.
Happy.
Certain.
“This time,” he whispered, “I’m never letting you go.”
I smiled through my tears.
“You better not.”
He kissed me again.
And as the sun warmed the pasture around us, I looked down at the ring on my hand.
At Beast.
At Dad.
At the people who had become family.
At the life waiting ahead of us.
This time, when Beast took my hand, I knew he wasn’t saving me from the past.
He was walking with me into forever.
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.
