The air in the forest was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Elara stood in the bedroom of her childhood home—she and Kael had decided to host the ceremony there instead of the cabin, so her parents could be more comfortable—adjusting the delicate lace sleeves of her wedding dress.
"You look absolutely beautiful," Maya said, stepping into the room with a smile. She'd spent the morning helping Elara get ready, and her eyes were bright with happy tears. "Mom and Dad are already outside—they can barely contain themselves."
Elara looked at her reflection in the mirror, touching the silver band on her finger that matched the one Kael would wear. "I still can't believe this is happening. A few months ago, I thought I'd be spending my life chasing stories alone."
"And now you're marrying the most powerful man in the city—who just happens to be the kindest person I've ever met." Maya tucked a strand of hair behind Elara's ear. "He loves you so much, Elara. You can see it in everything he does."
From outside, they could hear the sound of guests arriving—Maria and the rest of Kael's team, Lena and her family, even Eleanor Torres had come to show her support. The backyard had been transformed into a beautiful outdoor space, with white flowers and greenery decorating every surface, and a small arch made of branches from the surrounding trees standing at the far end.
"Are you ready?" Maya asked, holding out her arm.
Elara took a deep breath, then nodded. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life."
As they walked down the aisle, Elara's eyes immediately found Kael standing at the arch. He was dressed in a dark navy suit, with a single white flower pinned to his lapel, and the look on his face—pure love and wonder—made her heart swell with emotion.
Her father took her arm from Maya, walking her the rest of the way to where Kael stood. He squeezed her hand tightly before placing it in Kael's, looking at him with a seriousness that made Elara smile.
"Take care of my daughter," he said.
"I will," Kael replied firmly. "With everything I have."
The ceremony was small and intimate, led by a friend of Elara's parents who'd known her since she was a child. They exchanged vows they'd written themselves—promises to stand by each other through everything, to build a life filled with love and purpose, and to never stop fighting for what was right.
"I, Kael, take you, Elara," he said, his voice clear and strong as he slipped the ring onto her finger. "To be my wife, my partner, and my greatest love. I promise to protect you, to support you, and to always be the man you believe I can be."
"I, Elara, take you, Kael," she said, her voice thick with emotion as she placed his ring on his finger. "To be my husband, my partner, and my greatest strength. I promise to love you, to understand you, and to never stop seeing the good in you."
With a gentle kiss, they were married. The guests cheered and threw flower petals as they walked back down the aisle hand in hand, their faces filled with joy.
They spent the next hour greeting their guests, sharing hugs and laughter as everyone celebrated their union. Elara was talking to Lena when she noticed Kael had stepped away from the crowd, standing by the edge of the woods with someone she couldn't quite see.
She made her way over to him, her heart skipping slightly when she saw who he was talking to—Marco Torres, dressed in a prison uniform, accompanied by two guards.
"Kael, what is he doing here?" she asked quietly, moving to stand beside him.
"I asked him to come," Kael said, looking at Marco with a steady gaze. "I wanted him to see what's possible when you choose to build instead of destroy."
Marco looked at them, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and hope. "I heard about the wedding. I wanted to say… I'm sorry for everything I did. For what I tried to do to you both. Eleanor told me about the programs you set up in prison—about the chance you're giving me to start over."
"It's not about me giving you a chance," Kael said. "It's about you taking it. The city needs people who understand what it's like to come from nothing, who know how hard it is to make the right choices. We could use someone like you on the task force—once you've served your time and proven you're ready."
Marco's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you. I won't let you down."
As the guards led Marco away, Elara wrapped her arm around Kael's waist. "That was the kindest thing you could have done."
"He deserves a chance to be better," Kael said, pulling her close. "Just like I did."
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the backyard, they gathered their guests for dinner. The music started, and Kael took Elara's hand, leading her onto the small dance floor they'd set up under the stars.
They danced slowly, holding each other tightly as they looked into each other's eyes. The dark, cold, dangerous man everyone had once feared was gone—replaced by a husband who loved her deeply, a leader who was building a better future, and a man who had finally found his way home.
"This is perfect," Elara whispered, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Only because you're here with me," he replied, kissing the top of her head. "Everything else is just extra."
As their friends and family watched them dance, surrounded by love and hope for the future, it was clear that Blackwater City had been reborn—and that Kael and Elara would be at the heart of building its new story for years to come.