Page 70 of Blade

But for the first time in longer than she could remember, she had hope. Real hope. For healing. For safety. For a life where she could be all of herself, with a man who loved every part of her.

It was enough to make her believe that everything they'd suffered—all the pain, all the fear, all the bloodshed—might somehow be worth it in the end.

If it led to them. Together.

EPILOGUE

Six Months Later

Lily stood on the cabin porch, a warm mug of coffee cradled in her hands as she watched the sun rise over the mountains. October in Colorado painted the landscape in golds and crimsons, the aspen trees shimmering like flames against the backdrop of evergreens.

The air carried the first real bite of autumn; crisp, clean, with the promise of snow in the not-too-distant future. She breathed it in deeply, savoring the quiet and the stillness. The peace.

Six months ago, she couldn't have imagined this. Six months ago, she'd been fighting for her life in a hospital bed, her body torn by bullets, her future uncertain. Six months ago, The Rejects and their reign of terror had still carried weight, had still been a cloud shadowing every moment of happiness.

Now, Jose was gone. The threats were neutralized. And she was here, in this beautiful place, with the man who had somehow become the center of her world in the midst of chaos and violence.

The cabin door opened behind her, and strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her gently back against a solid chest. She leaned into the embrace without hesitation, a smile curvingher lips as Blade's scent enveloped her; soap, leather, and something uniquely him.

"You're up early," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Couldn't sleep," she admitted. "Too excited about today."

She felt his chuckle as much as heard it, a rumble against her back. "Nervous?"

"A little," she confessed, turning in his arms to face him. "It's a big step."

His eyes, warm and indulgent, studied her face. "Having second thoughts?"

"Not for a second," she assured him firmly. "It's just... it makes it real, you know? Official."

"It's already real," he reminded her, one hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Has been since that day at the quarry. Maybe even before."

She nodded, knowing he was right. Their commitment to each other had been forged in fire, tempered in blood and pain and sacrifice. The papers they would sign today were just a formality, just official recognition of what they already knew to be true.

Still. There was something significant about making it legal. About standing before witnesses and declaring their intent to build a life together.

"What time is everyone arriving?" she asked, glancing at her watch.

"Lucky said noon," Blade replied. "Trinity's handling all the legal paperwork, should have everything ready to go."

"And Doc?" she asked. "He's definitely coming?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Blade assured her. "None of them would."

The "them" in question was the club's inner circle; Lucky and Trinity, Savage and Savannah, Irish and Makenzie, Rampage, Arrow and Emilee, Kylie and Marcus (now fully recovered fromhis ordeal), and Doc, who had saved both their lives multiple times over.

Family, really, though not in any conventional sense of the word. Not by blood, but chosen. And sometimes, the family you chose was better than the one you were given. Although, she and Blade had wonderful families, and they would celebrate their marriage with all of them later this summer. This ceremony was planned for a small, intimate group. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

"Good," she said, the last of her nervousness easing. "I want them all here for this."

Blade's arms tightened slightly around her, his expression softening. "They love you, you know. All of them. Not just because you're with me, but because of who you are. What you've done for the club."

The simple statement warmed her more than the coffee in her hands. She'd found more than just Blade in the chaos of the past six months. She'd found acceptance. Belonging. People who saw all of her—the little and the warrior both—and valued her for exactly who she was. She’d spent six months playing and running through the clubhouse with the girls, getting her ass spanked too often by Blade, but also being included as an adult when big decisions needed to be made. Some of the girls lived as littles twenty-four seven, but she neither judged them for it nor did they judge her, for not being capable of doing so. She’d found the perfect balance not only in her relationship with Blade but also with the entire Club.

"I love them too," she said softly. "Never thought I'd end up part of an MC family, but..."

"But it fits," he finished for her. "Like you were always meant to be there."

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