Ten months later.

Max was nervous. He had been preparing for this moment for the last few weeks, but he was still anxious. Wilson and his parents had helped him, making sure every little detail was just perfect. Even Jack and Hugo had been enlisted for the occasion. The Bosch family, Vivienne’s parents and her grandmother, had arrived and were talking with his parents. Everything was just as it should be. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel like a teenager at the first school social.

What if Vivienne didn’t like his idea of a romantic gesture? After performing a mating bite while she was unconscious, he wanted to make sure the second time around he wouldn’t screw up things.

He checked for the tenth time that Amber Rose’s pink bow was secured to her head.

His daughter giggled when he made a face. “Da da!” she happily squealed as she always did when he was around, which happened quite often since he had started working more hours from home.

Almost a year had passed since Amber Rose and Vivienne entered his life, and many things had changed for the best. Besides becoming a father and a happily mated man almost overnight, Max had won the lawsuit. After Louise Dortmund’s criminal activities became public knowledge, Mrs. Catalani’s new lawyer quietly asked for a settlement; the judge refused on grounds of moral corruption. Several Prize Games’ employees had come forward to offer testimony against Mrs. Catalani, uncovering how she had leaked the schematics for several games which cost the company several millions in lost revenue. Max didn’t seek legal remedy against the ex-employee; that chapter of his life was closed.

Following the events that led to Max and Louise’s final fight, a large scandal rocked Seattle Shifter PD. Supernatural Internal Affairs opened an official investigation to shed light on how Louise Dortmund had escaped a maximum-security cell that should have contained a dragon shifter. It turned out that she was able to bribe several guards which resulted in the firing of all the officers involved and their immediate superiors who looked the other side.

In the meantime, Martin’s FarmLife had been released, and was currently the most downloaded game of the last five years.

There were other changes as well. Nowadays, home wasn’t the penthouse where everything had started. Two days after Amber Rose came back from the hospital, he and Vivienne bought a house on Bainbridge Island. Max flew to his Seattle headquarters when he was needed at the office or flew his employees over when he didn’t feel like leaving his soulmate and daughter for even an hour.

Perched on top of a ridge, the house overlooked a hidden cove, and they had spent the summer sunbathing on the private beach that came with the property. Presently, Max was pacing the lower terrace, waiting for Vivienne to come home after a day at the spa he had organized for her. As soon as she left, his family swept in, decorating the terrace with candles and floral arrangements Max had flown from Kauai. In the meantime, he baked and cooked from a selection of Vivienne’s favorite dishes and desserts.

By the time Jack called, telling him that his sister was on her way, Max couldn’t bear to wait a moment longer for her to arrive.

Half an hour later, he finally heard Vivienne’s car enter their driveway and pulled Amber Rose up, checking her bow one last time.

“Max? Where are you?” Vivienne called from the balcony above the terrace.

“Down here,” he answered from under the pergola that had not been there in the morning. His heart beat faster and faster.

He followed Vivienne’s progress as she descended the winding steps hewn into the rock wall of the cliff. Her eyes widened, and a big smile spread on her face when she took in all the changes that had taken place in her absence.

“Daddy has been quite busy,” she commented, entering the terrace.

Unable to talk, he opened his arm, beckoning for her to come closer.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked.

“We are the occasion,” he managed to say, motioning for her to hurry.

Vivienne threw herself at Max as if they had been separated a month, not mere hours. She kissed him before brushing Amber Rose’s head.

“What’s this?” Vivienne leaned down. “Oh!” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh…”

Max let go of Vivienne only to kneel in front of her. He plucked the diamond ring from Amber Rose’s bow and presented it to her. “Vivienne Bosch, would you marry me and adopt our daughter?”

Before Vivienne could say anything, Amber Rose raised both hands toward her and gurgled a word she had never said before. “Ma ma!”

“Yes,” Vivienne cried. “Yes, yes!”

“What about now?” he asked, winking.

“Now?” Her puzzled expression was just adorable.

Max nodded. “Yes, now. I’ve convinced Wilson to become a minister so that he could marry us, and I have the adoption papers ready for you to sign afterward.”

“Yes.” Vivienne laughed.

He gently turned her to face the other side as their families and friends came out from hiding behind the greenery. Applause and laughter filled the night, and hugs, and tears, and more laughter followed. And so much love Max’s heart burst at the seams.

During the ceremony, Wilson was as moved as Max and Vivienne and had to stop a few times to wipe his eyes and straighten his voice.

“Max and Vivienne, we’ve gathered tonight to celebrate the beginning of a family,” he intoned. “Might the Goddess bless your eternal vows.” He signaled for Max to speak.

Max took Vivienne’s hand in his. “Vivienne, I promise to adore you until my last breath. You are my soulmate and my best friend.”

Wilson smiled at Vivienne. “Your turn.”

Max squeezed her hand in encouragement.

Vivienne took a fortifying breath before repeating his words. “Max, I promise to adore you until my last breath. You are my soulmate and my best friend.”

As soon as she finished her vow, Max swept her away in a passionate kiss that caused several whistles and calls to get a room. Vivienne’s parents and grandmother separated them soon after to hug and congratulate the bride. His parents, too, came forward for their hugs, and soon, everyone was hugging.

Later, when they were finally alone after having said dozens of goodbyes, Max and Vivienne danced a slow tango. Amber Rose was with her grandparents and she would stay with them for two weeks, while Max and Vivienne spent their honeymoon in Bali.

“Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world,” he whispered to her.

“I am the luckiest woman alive to have you as her soulmate.” She rose on her tiptoes to kiss him.

“I love you.” He took her in his arms, swinging around in slow circles. “Forever.”

“I love you. Forever and ever,” Vivienne said.