A month after Brandon Updike was arrested for the murder of his brother Chuck, Dana stood in the antechamber outside the atrium at Fate Mountain Lodge. She stared at herself in her wedding dress, unable to believe how beautiful she looked.

Jessie had asked Dana to marry him the day Rollo and the Bear Patrol arrested Brandon. As they were resting that night in his living room and chatting over a few glasses of wine and his homemade lasagna, he got down on one knee and popped the question. He’d even presented her with a big diamond ring.

She’d said yes, the minute she'd seen the box, and said it again when she saw the ring. It had been one of the most romantic moments of her life. With all the romantic moments Jessie gave her, it was one in a string of many. She hoped to have millions more in their lives together.

All the wives at Timber Bear Ranch had gathered around her in support, taking her shopping for her wedding dress. The ladies took Dana into the city and helped her play bridezilla. The guys had been just as nice. Leland had even offered to give her away.

Sylvia helped Dana straighten her veil down her back, and Daisy helped her apply one last coat of lip gloss. She stood back and looked in the mirror as Maria handed Dana the bouquet she grown in the Timber Bear Ranch greenhouses.

The white lilies were interspersed with sprigs of lilac and a cascade of ferns, baby’s breath, and orchids. Her dress was a classic princess cut with a fitted bodice in pale pink with white beading and a frothy tulle skirt that fell in wispy layers all around her. It was a fairytale and a dream come true all mixed up into one.

Two months ago, when she was still planning her getaway from the Updikes, she would never have believed her life could turn out to be so beautiful. She'd been on Mate.com for years without a single bite. Then on the very day she took her bravest step forward to save herself, she was doubly saved by Jessie Kincaid, her mate, her lover, and best friend.

Just thinking about Jessie made a tear form in the corner of her eye. Maria was quick to dab it away with a cloth handkerchief.

"Don't mess up Daisy's makeup," Maria said with a giggle.

"The fragrance of these flowers are making me swoon," Dana teased. "I think I'm going to step away into a crystal palace of my daydreams."

"Dana, you're a poet," Sylvia said.

"Maybe I'm more than just a French maid after all," Dana giggled.

"You’re anything and everything you want to be," Daisy said. 

"I believe that, now that Jessie is in my life."

The women all gathered around her, wrapping their arms around her waist and shoulders. They all looked in the mirror at the beautiful bride at the center of the three lovely bridesmaids. The bridesmaids wore lavender silk dresses that accentuated their curves and brought out the color of their eyes. Everyone looked beautiful and happy, and Dana could feel the love and kinship radiating from each of them.

After her family died, all Dana had wanted was to find a family again. Now she had one.

"Are you ready?" Sylvia asked.

"I'm so ready," Dana said with a sigh.

They walked to the door of the antechamber and opened it. On the other side, Leland stood in a tuxedo and black cowboy hat, looking dapper and strong, like the alpha of the Kincaid clan should. He offered his arm to Dana and she took it with a smile.

"You look beautiful. My brother is a lucky man,” Leland said.

"Now they all have mates. Just like we wanted in the beginning," Sylvia said.

Maria handed the other bridesmaids their bouquets and everyone gathered in front of Leland and Dana. Cyrus walked with Daisy, and Buck walked with Maria. Jessie had invited Rollo to be a groomsman in his wedding. At first, Dana had thought it was a joke, but now she understood that it was his way of showing that there were no hard feelings for what happened. Sylvia took Rollo's arm and they were the first to walk down the aisle.

Cyrus and Daisy walked next, followed by Buck and Maria. The wedding march started and Leland led Dana down the aisle. When they walked into the atrium, the first thing she saw was Jessie standing on a rise in front of the minister, wearing a tuxedo, his blue eyes blazing. It sent a thrill through her body and a rush of anticipation into her belly.

As shifters, the moment they had claimed each other was the moment they had married. But they were also human and enjoyed these rituals because this was how they got to share their love with their family and friends.

Dana couldn't take her eyes off Jessie as she walked down the aisle. She sensed the warmth of the guests as she passed. Leland handed Dana off to Jessie and he helped her up the rise to stand with him in front of the minister. Sylvia took Dana's bouquet, and she and Jessie held onto each other's hands, gazing into each other's eyes.

The minister started the ceremony, but Dana could barely hear a word. All that she could see in the world was Jessie. He was all that mattered. All of this, the ceremony, the dress, the guests, it was all just an expression of how much she loved him.

When the minister prompted her to say her vows, she almost forgot what she had written down. She gasped and giggled and Jessie squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Jessie Kinkaid, you came into my life at exactly the best and worst moment. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I waited for you for so long, but in the end, you saved me more than once. I just hope that I can save you too. You are my family. My heart. My love. Together we’re capable of anything. We already know we can overcome all odds, our future together should be easy after this. But no matter how hard it ever gets, I know that every moment is worth it as long as I can spend it with you."

"Dana Myers, you are the most beautiful girl I've ever met. Like an angel sent from heaven. The minute I saw you standing on the side of the road, I knew it was over for me. I told my brothers a thousand times that I didn't want to mate. But that one moment was all it took for me to realize what a fool I'd been. You and I do know what we can overcome, and my hope is that I can protect you from the difficulties of life. Even now, I know you can take anything that life throws at you. But my job is to make your life as beautiful as you are. And I'll spend the rest of mine doing my best to make you smile."

Dana felt tears threatening to run down her cheeks again. Jessie’s words made her heart jump into her throat and she could barely breath through the overpowering emotions.

"Dana Myers, do you take Jessie Kincaid to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and health, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?"

"I do,” Dana managed to say in a clear strong voice.

"Jessie Kincaid, do you take Dana Myers to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?"

"I definitely do," Jessie said, smiling wide.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the minister said.

Jessie swooped in and gathered her around the waist, pulling her against him as he pressed his lips to hers. Dana groaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his soft lips pressing hard against her. Heat rose in her core and in her cheeks, knowing that everyone was watching. She let him kiss her, long and hard on the stage in front of everyone. When he pulled away, she was breathless and hot from blushing. He took her hand and led her down the aisle. Above them the lodge’s resident parrots swooped over the party, squawking their words of love.

"True love," squawked the red one.

"Beautiful," squawked the blue one.

Dana beamed love and happiness as Jessie led her around the corner into the dining room. It was already set up for a reception, with tables lined up and chairs all around. The rest of the guests filtered into the room behind the couple. The band stood onstage, playing Dana’s favorite song. Jessie scooped her into his arms and danced with her as the party circled around them.

"Let me be the first to present the new couple. Congratulations Jessie and Dana," Leland said into the microphone.

There was laughter and talking that intermixed with the music as Jessie and Dana danced in each other's arms. "How about some champagne, wife?" Jessie whispered, after several songs.

"That sounds perfect."

They went to the wedding table and sat down as the waiters brought out dinner. Jessie filled their champagne flutes, and Dana took a long sip of bubbly. The sensation matched her emotions perfectly. She wanted to laugh and cry and sing and dance all at the same time. Her heart was bursting with happiness and she could barely keep it in her chest. She emptied her glass, hoping the effervescence would help her keep feet on the ground.

Jessie's brothers stood at the ends of the wedding table, competing for who would give their speech first. It was Cyrus who won the staring contest as he lifted his pint glass of beer to the happy couple.

"Jessie, most people don't take you seriously. But that's never been me," Cyrus said as laughter filled the room. "I've always known what a loyal, heroic, and intelligent man you are. When I was playing hermit up on the mountain, you were the one who helped me out without judging my choices. I've always appreciated that more than you could possibly know. Now that I have my mate, Daisy, it does my heart so good to see you with your own mate. Everyone deserves happiness, but you deserve it more than most. Here's to a bright and happy future to you and your lady," Cyrus lifted his glass and everyone applauded.

"I can hardly follow a speech like that," Buck said, standing.

He had his baby Joy on his hip, and she played with his bowtie. "As the baby of the family, we've enjoyed pigeonholing you as the troublemaker. But that's never been true. You've been the glue of the family all along, Jessie. Now that you have Dana, you can grow into the man you were always meant to be. I couldn't be happier for you. Now that I have Maria and my daughter Joy, my life is better than I could've ever imagined. Raising our families together on Fate Mountain will be a privilege and a triumph for all of us. Congratulations, Dana and Jessie, you deserve all of the happiness you can manage to hold."

Maria looked up at Buck with stars in her eyes and squeezed his hand as he sat beside her. Joy climbed into her mother's lap and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, kissing her with her wet little mouth on the cheek. Maria smiled at her daughter and smoothed down the child’s wavy black hair. Dana watched Maria and her daughter with a sense of longing in her heart, just then realizing how much she wanted a child of her own.

"Little brother. Jessie," Leland said. "As the oldest of the Kincaids, it was easy for me to see my baby brother as a kid forever. But I was wrong to ever do that. You are strong, intelligent and loyal. Like Buck said, you are the glue of the family, more than any of us, more than even me, as the alpha. We all owe you a debt of gratitude for your commitment to the family. Sylvia and I are always here for you. Anything either of you needs, just let us know, and we will do our best to help you in any way we can."

After Jessie's brothers had spoken, Dana felt like she might cry. The display of brotherly love was too much to bear. She has lost her own family and her fox pack and now she was beginning to be accepted into the Kincaid clan as one of their own. Being surrounded by these faithful and loyal grizzlies, who gave love so freely, was beyond a dream come true.

She couldn't help but feel like she had everything she'd ever wanted. A mate, a family, home, and her freedom. With Jessie by her side, nothing was impossible. She didn't even know what she wanted out of the future, but it didn't matter as long as she had Jessie and her new clan.

"All these speeches are making me uncomfortable," Jessie chuckled in her ear.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one," she said.

"Want to get some air?" he asked.

"You know I do," she said.

He took her hand and let her out onto the deck off the restaurant. The sun was setting behind the mountain and the light glowed orange and pink across the sky. They held hands and Jessie offered her the bottle of champagne he had in his hand. She took a long swig directly from the bottle and smiled as she leaned over the railing.

"Do you regret losing your freedom as a bachelor?" she teased.

"Hell no," he said, retrieving the bottle to take a long swig.

"Just making sure,” she giggled.

"You're worth a hundred million women who aren't my mate; who aren't you."

"I think that my luck has officially changed for the better," she said, gazing into his eyes as the fading sunlight made them glow and sparkle like crystal blue diamonds.

 "Fate gives us what we need. And all I need is you,” he said, kissing her with the taste of champagne on his lips.