Epilogue
One Month Later
Dawn stirred, warmth cocooning her as the soft morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains. She stretched beneath the covers, reaching out instinctively, and found nothing but cool sheets beside her.
She cracked one eye open, smiling as she caught the scent of coffee in the air. Gunner was already up. Their apartment—their home—still felt new in some ways, but in others, it felt like she’d always been here.
A month had passed since she’d left behind her old life, stepping fully into Gunner’s world, and she didn’t regret a second of it. The club, the brotherhood, the family—she was part of it now. And most of all, she was his.
Sliding out of bed, she padded into the kitchen, where Gunner stood shirtless, sipping from a mug of coffee. His tattoos stretched across his broad shoulders, his muscles flexing as he turned, his sharp eyes softening the second they landed on her.
“Mornin’, baby,” he greeted, setting down his cup.
Dawn wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing herself against his solid frame. “Morning.” She sighed contentedly. “You ready for this weekend?”
He smirked. “Been packed since last night. You?”
“Almost.” She looked up at him, excitement flickering in her eyes. “It’s gonna be perfect.”
He kissed her forehead, then smacked her ass lightly. “Damn right it is. Now, go get dressed. I wanna hit the road before the sun gets too high.”
The wind whipped through Dawn’s hair as she clung to Gunner’s back, the rumble of his bike vibrating through her bones. A month ago, she might have been afraid of the ride, of his world, of everything he represented. But now, she wasn’t just along for the ride. She belonged here.
The open road stretched ahead of them, the scent of pine and fresh air growing stronger as they neared the campsite. She held onto Gunner a little tighter, pressing her cheek against his back, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart beneath his cut.
She was safe. She was home. When they reached the site, Gunner parked the bike and swung his leg over, immediately turning to help her off.
“You okay?” Gunner asked her.
She smiled, nodding. “More than okay.”
They worked together to set up camp, the ease between them effortless. The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows as the sun began to dip behind the trees. It was peaceful—just the two of them, no noise, no distractions.
But Dawn’s heart raced, her pulse thundering in her ears. She had news, big news. Dawn twisted her hands together in a nervous dance as she sat on the edge of the blanket they’d laid out, watching Gunner add another log to the fire.
The crackling flames cast flickering shadows around them, but all she could focus on was him—his broad back, the way his muscles flexed, the steady rhythm of his movements. When Gunner turned back to her, his brow furrowing in concern, her breath hitched.
There was no easy way to say this, but she couldn’t keep it in any longer.
“You good, baby?” Gunner asked.
