Bella lifted the ring to her mouth and kissed the band of gold. She smiled as she ran her thumb along it. She stole my fucking heart. “Mrs. Bella Carter,” she said, and I froze. Her eyes met mine as she said that surname. I wanted to hate it, everything it stood for . . . but the pride on her face made that impossible.

Mrs. Bella Carter.

I swallowed. “You know that our marriage wasn’t legal, Bella. We were married in The Order. It’s not even real.”

Bella clutched my hand tighter. “It is real,” she argued. “Our marriage is real. I believe it, we live it.” She glanced at the ring again. “And if this is not enough of a vow from me to you, know this. It is my eternal right to love you. And I will fight for that right until the sun sets on my life.”

“Bella,” I hushed out.

“It is true, Rider. I am happy, and I am yours. This is my dream.”

Bella’s breathing hitched as I rewarded her with a smile. Because it was true. She was mine.

She was my fucking wife.

I guided Bella to lie back against my chest and closed my eyes. I treasured this moment. I treasured every single second I took breath. I had survived when many had died. And I had a love I never thought I would gain.

I had no idea what the days ahead would look like. I had no idea how things would go with the club. But right then, in that moment, I only let myself feel the beautiful woman in my arms. The woman who won my heart through a wall of stone. The one who fought for me with an unrivaled intensity . . . and one I would die to protect.

I focused solely on the moment, letting the past drift away. Because only this was important. No religion, no duty, no club . . . just us. Just her.

The woman in my arms.

My heart.

My soul . . .

. . . my deepest redemption.

The End