Epilogue Two

*Melina*

I’ve been planning this behind his back for the last three weeks, right after he realised I loved him and he didn’t need to force me into marriage, but it turned out I was the one forcing him into it. He would taste a bit of his own medicine. Funny shit! I didn’t think he’d imagine I’d be this bold. Well, surprise. I was freaking out! Nervous. Pacing in my bedroom getting ready for tonight, and it was about five in the afternoon when Ella came in.

“How is he?” I asked as soon as she dropped herself on my bed.

The woman was tall, maybe a head taller than me, and her husband? I felt like a midget near him. The man was gorgeous with a color of eyes you don’t see every day, but with a wary look on them. He never strayed too far from Ella as if he needed to touch her all the time, but after I learnt their story, I think I’d do the same if it was with Henry. Ella was a brave woman and lived to the fullest. And I felt so happy to have her here, and even though they weren’t siblings, she considered me her sister-in-law and I’m sure we’d be great friends.

“Just like you, freaking the hell out. I’ve never seen that man so out of his pants! When I showed him his supposed tux, you had to see his wolfish face!” Ella said, snorting a laugh. It was funny to see at least someone was having fun. But something on my face made her sit and stare at me. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“Do you think I’ve gone too far with him? That I’m pushing my luck. I didn’t know what else to do to dissuade him from giving us up, Ella. He got dead-set on the idea.” I twisted the hem of my shirt, thinking of him.

“He’s fine, Melina. Don’t worry. I know him enough to know if you hadn’t acted, he’d be gone by now. He’s so in love with you, Melina, that he doesn’t know how to act, and after Velasquez put his hand on you, he acted by instinct and didn’t think straight.” A wide grin came to her face. “He’s a shitty mess. Your uncle put all his mobsters onto him.”

They shared an impish grin and Melina hugged the woman tight. “Thank you for being here. It means a lot to us.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for anything. I love to see their stupid faces when they look at us all mushy.” She let go a short laugh, winking to me. “Come, let’s get you ready, and by the way, I loved your ideas. Can’t wait to see his face.”

Yiayiá’s house had a pleasant terrace, and I thought it was the best place to put my plans to work. I did nothing fancy or elaborate. There were a few guests. My uncle and his family, plus a few men to keep track of Henry, Gabs and Xan with their dates, Yiayiá, Eve and Ella with her little family. And of course, Henry’s crew, if they didn’t see what he was wearing yet, they’d give him a hard time when they did. It wasn’t anything flashy, but a more sophisticated version of the real thing. I had snuck one of his suits, so they knew his size, and gave it to Yiayiá and her friends to do their miracle, and it came out perfect. It was the only way I found to make this man understand once and for all.

Ella helped me with my makeup and hair. Since it had grown a little, we put it up, with a few curls falling on my face. I wanted to look in the mirror, but she didn’t let me do it. She headed to my closet, and when she came with my gown in her arms. I didn’t hold back the tears. Thank god for water proof makeup! It was perfect. My grandma was the best person ever, and she helped all this to happen. On the contrary of princess dresses, I had asked for a trumpet dress, molding my curves, hugging all the right places, in light golden fabric and a few details resembling a princess dress.

“Are you ready?” She asked me with tears in her eyes, and when I nodded, she turned me to face the mirror and I didn’t believe what I was seeing. “You are so beautiful! Oh my gosh, I’m emotional. Hailey is fussing with my hormones again. You do look like a fairy-tale princess.” Ella sobbed, giving me a bouquet of wildflowers from Yiayiá’s garden. It was time, and my heart went haywire and I felt sorry for the flowers in my hand. I nodded and Ella left to take her place beside her husband as I stayed there, staring at myself in the mirror for a few more moments.

“The Beauty and the Beast! Just perfect!” I sighed to myself and inhaled sharply, trying to calm my nerves.

***

Yeah, it was a syrupy fairy tale thing, but so perfect for us. When I walked on the terrace, and I took him in, everybody else evaporated and it was only the two of us. Henry was standing there all handsome, staring at me with stars in his eyes. Goosebumps crawled all over my body, and I felt his gaze caressed my skin, sending fire coursing through my flesh. What I wouldn’t give to be alone with him. He didn’t wait for me to reach him, coming to meet me half the way, stopping in front of me. My breath caught in my lungs when he stared at me. His beautiful honeyed irises were nowhere to be found, his eyes darkened with so many feelings in them I couldn’t decipher any of them.

“My Belle…” He whispered in a sob.

“My Beast…” Tears streamed down my cheeks, and happiness filled my soul, and I couldn’t stop smiling even if I wanted to.

“Sorry for everything. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but you were right. I was a coward. A fear I’ve never felt before ate me up while you were gone, and I’ve never felt so powerless. I wasn’t there to protect you.” His arms flung around me, bringing me to him as he desperately showered my face in kisses.

“It’s over Henry. Don’t worry about it anymore. I told you, I wasn’t letting you get away from me, and you didn’t believe it.” I winked, trying to ease the moment, because he was nervous, in a good way though, but I wanted him to let go of the past. Stop thinking about it and start anew with me. “Gosh, you look handsome. I can’t wait to get you alone.” I whispered in his ear, extracting a laugh from him.

“Daddy! Mommy!” It was then a joyful scream brought us back, and a little someone entangled herself in our legs under whistles and shouts from everybody watching us. We blushed crimson, and Henry picked up Eve in his arms. My family was complete, and a beautiful future awaited us.

Everything passed in a blur once the three of us walked down to the officiant, and when I realised Eve was running around dragging poor Tommy by the hand, chasing the cats. And we were there, receiving everybody’s good wishes and compliments.

“Hey Xan, I’m so happy you’re okay, and I see you and Catalina are on good terms!” I couldn’t help myself but hug him, to Henry distaste, pulling me away from him.

“Yes, we are and thank you for talking to him.” Cat answered, staring at Xan with wonder.

“Look, phony god, Cat is an amazing woman, not with much taste, might I say… Ouch woman!” He turned to me as I elbowed him in the ribs, glaring at him.

“That’s for me to decide, cousin!” Catalina gave him the stinky eye. But, my now husband didn't stop after that.

“Let’s look on the bright side. My first thought was to hire a sniper, but blood is kinda messy, you know.”

“Henry! Hank!” Catalina and I yelled at him, but his only reaction was to laugh at Xanthos’ outraged face.

“Serious, man.” He grabbed Xanthos hand for a handshake. “I’m sorry for the chaos I created, but I’m happy for you and Cat. She’s a beautiful woman, in and out. Take good care of her. Remember, I know where you live.”

“I may give you the same warning, Hank!” Xanthos smirked at him, swooping Catalina away and laughing with her.

“Good, now that the alpha males puffed their chests and established the limits of their territory, can you please fulfill a promise you made me over fifteen years ago?” I asked him when Ella gave me a thumbs up, and the music resounded in the air.

“And what’s that, wife?” The way he said wife and smiled at me melted my heart.

“Teach me ballroom dancing…” The surprised look on his face was priceless and turned into a wide smile as the first chords of The Beauty and the Beast played.

He extended his hand to me and bowed down. I took it and he led me to the center of the terrace, and once again everyone disappeared and the world narrowed in our eyes, fixed on each other, and we danced our hearts out. He wasn’t kidding when he told me he loved dancing back then, as he whisked me around the floor, spinning and swirling me in his arms, waltzing away until the last note.

“Henry?”

“Yes?” He smiled at me.

“You were never the beast… You were my Charming since day one, and I love you more than life itself, silly man.”

“Thank you…” He choked in his words when emotion took over him as his lips pressed on mine, in a gentle caress as I opened to him. Henry kissed me without rush, savoring each moment, and I let him transport me to a place where all the fairy tales happen, and the happily ever afters were real. Because ours turned out to be, and there was so much love between us that words would falter to describe it. Our lives may have started the wrong way, but as a wise friend of mine said once, ‘sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually fall into place. Not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path.’

The End

Author’s Note

Thank you so much for reading Henry and Melina’s story. Please, if you liked it, leave a comment on the review section. It would make my day. If you like paranormal, you can try Love beyond Death and Alchemy of Time. I’m on social media and if you want to know more about Ella’s story, please you can find lots of info on my books there. IG: annabelravenspells, and if you also want to know more about motivational quotes, here is the IG of the wise friend I mention at the end of the book: humble.motive

Love you all!