Lessons in Purrsuasion: BBW Paranormal Werelion Surprise Pregnancy Mob Romance (Chicago Catastrophe) (17 page)

Epilogue

S
elina fidgeted
with her dress as she stood in front of a full-length mirror. Kate was beside her, sticking a couple of bobby pins into her hair.

“I’m definitely showing. Isn’t that trashy? To have a baby bump at your wedding?” Selina asked, anxious.

“You are having a child with the man you love and are vowing to spend the rest of your life with. What’s trashy about that?” Kate answered, giving her updo a final once-over with her overly critical, but perfectly knowledgeable eye.

Selina took a deep breath and ran a hand over her growing belly. Kate was right, of course, and it wasn’t like anyone in the wedding party was clueless to the fact she was expecting.

Okay, so ‘wedding party’ was probably an exaggeration. There was her family, a couple of her closest girlfriends and then Stone’s side consisted of… Kate, pretty much. They shared her brother, Joe, who also happened to be Stone’s best man. Stone and Joe had really rekindled their friendship after Stone saved her from the lovesick lunatic who had turned all their lives into hell for a week that had felt like it had lasted forever.

Kate’s villa had been restored to its previous glory, meaning she and Stone could have their little ceremony in her gorgeous backyard. Kate had it decked out in white flowers and even added a wedding gazebo, ignoring all their protests.

Selina gave the mirror one last twirl before heading out to get married to the man of her dreams. Adrenaline seemed to pound through her veins harder now than it ever had during the endless chases and kidnappings and fighting for her life three times over. It felt good.

Her dress was simple, yet striking, flowing over her curves in a perfectly tailored way.

“Ready?” Kate asked, looking as cheerful as she had ever seen her, not a furrowed brow or a sarcastic smirk in sight.

Weddings really are magical.

“I’m ready,” she answered, drawing a brave breath.

Kate walked her to the backdoor before rushing off to take her seat on one of the tasteful chairs spread out on the lawn. She twirled her finger at someone hidden behind the corner of the house, and the wedding march flowed out from unseen speakers. As usual, Kate had planned everything to perfection.

Selina stepped outside, following the trail of rose petals on the grass. All eyes turned to her, but all she could see was Stone, standing tall next to the priest and Joe at the end of the makeshift aisle. His dark suit fit him perfectly, emphasizing his lean, muscular frame and narrow waist.

He smiled as she walked towards him, emerald eyes glowing in the sunlight.

Am I the luckiest girl in the world or what?

The music stopped as she reached her man, heart fluttering at the thought of being his wife. Stone took her hand and suddenly, it was as if they were the only two people in the world. All her nerves faded away. They were meant to be, after all. She believed that now, more than she had ever believed anything.

The ceremony was simple and fast, just enough time for the guests to get teary-eyed, and before she even knew it, the minister was asking the all-important questions. She knew it was mostly for her family, as Stone had made it clear that shifter ceremonies worked differently and it would only be the two of them there, but Selina was happy to keep things ‘traditional’ too.

“Stone Calloway, do you take this woman, Selina Rozack to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to cherish and protect, love and honor her, in both good times and bad?” the minister’s steady voice flowed over the garden.

Stone turned to face her, a smile on his full lips. His emerald eyes sucked her in as they had the first time she saw him and every time after that when their gazes met. He took her other hand in his as well before speaking.

“I love you. You have given my life meaning. Getting to spend the rest of it with you is a gift that I will never take for granted. I take you to be my wife, now and forever, until death do us part.”

Selina almost jumped to kiss him right then and there, but managed to hold back. She had no doubts that Stone meant every word. At first, Selina was concerned that moving back to Chicago to be with Selina and help her family expand their bakery would be awfully dull for Stone, the man of action he was.

To her surprise, Stone reveled in it, taking pleasure in the simplest of tasks, grinning at Selina every chance he got. He even learned to cook, something he was totally horrible at when he first moved in to her tiny apartment.

After giving the money they stole from Parker back to Parker’s organization through a proxy that Kate organizes, their lives had been nothing but boringly normal. Seeing as Stone took out one of Crimson Claws’ top lieutenants along with a bunch of his best men
and
found their cash stash, they were steering clear of Selina’s whole neighborhood now.

Selina had a feeling the organization was using the returned money as a front, something they could use to justify leaving them alone. In truth, they were probably too scared to retaliate.

The minister asked Selina the same question he had of Stone. Her heart swelled with emotion as she answered.

“I have never loved anyone like I love you and I never will. I only hope to make you as happy as you’ve made me. I take you to be my husband, now and forever, until death do us part.”

The minister didn’t even have a chance to say anything before Stone grabbed her into a fierce kiss that didn’t end until the guests’ initial “awws” and “oohs” turned to awkward silence. They broke apart with Selina out of breath and blushing while Stone was smiling from ear to ear.

Joe cleared his throat with a suppressed smile, diverting Selina and Stone’s attention to the rings he was holding. They had both gotten carried away and completely forgotten that part. Stone took the rings, giving Joe a pat on the back in the process. Joe wasn’t having it and pulled him into a straight-up bear hug. He whispered something in Stone’s ear she couldn’t hear.

Stone turned back to her and slid the gold band on her finger. Selina could swear she could hear a low purr emanating from his chest as he did. She slipped a matching ring around Stone’s finger, a huge smile spreading across her face.

It just felt
right
.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife!” the minister said and Selina almost couldn’t believe it.

We did it! We’re married!

Stone got on his knees and kissed her belly as well, before accompanying her down the aisle surrounded by cheers from friends and family. Selina tightened her fingers around Stone’s.

Could life get any better?

Stone scooped her up into his arms, twirling her around and whispering “I love you, Mrs. Calloway,” into her ear.

Probably,
Selina mused, answering her own question.
I have a lifetime with him, after all. What could be better than that?

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Looking to read more? Check out one of Anya’s latest novels here:

When Time Stops

If you’ve missed Anya’s
Shifter Squad Six
series, then pick up the first book here:

Bear My Baby

Don’t miss the excerpt of the third book in the series,
Meow or Never
, on the next page!

Meow or Never Excerpt

S
he was so preoccupied
with her thoughts of oncoming relaxation that she almost screamed when a hand gently tapped against her shoulder. She hadn’t even heard any steps behind her, only adding to her panic. She whirled around, ready to use her car keys as a weapon, but froze when she saw who it was.

“Troy?” she asked, incredulous.

What’s he doing here?

Her heart beat faster, but not due to fear any longer. As much as the Crimson Claws had dominated her thoughts that day, Troy had grabbed his fair share of time from her as well, and for good reason. He wasn’t the kind of guy that was easy to forget.

Seeing him again, standing tall and with those delicious lips curved in a way that made her want to kiss the smirk right off his face, only confirmed that.

Troy’s smirk turned into a grin as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Hey. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He was still just as disarmingly good-looking as before, blue eyes sparkling with something mischievous. But it wasn’t just his looks that drew her in. There was this air of calm confidence and control about him that made her gravitate to him like a ship to a lighthouse on the stormy seas.

“It’s fine. You just caught me off-guard,” she answered, still wondering what the hell he was doing lurking around her place.

Not that she minded. Not entirely, anyway.

“We didn’t really get a chance to talk this morning. You can tell me to take a hike, but I’d really like to take you to dinner. Since I knew nothing about you except for your first name and where you lived, I hung around here to wait until you got back. I swear I’m not a stalker, Hailey!”

He raised his hands, putting on his best show of innocence, batting his lashes. She smiled slightly, appreciating the gesture.

So he does remember my name. Score one for Romeo.

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Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
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Wrapped Up in a Beau by Angelita Gill
The Mating Project by Sam Crescent