Page 59 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)

EPILOGUE

One year later

“ M um, please,” I say as I swat her hands from my hair. “It’s windy, okay?”

She pulls back and sighs at me, a bright grin forming. Her delicate fingers rest against her lips as she watches me in awe, then she turns to my dad, who rubs her back gently.

“Mum, I’m not even in the gown yet. Please, don’t start crying.”

My dad laughs softly. “Leave her be. This is a big day for all of us.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she says as she waves her hands in front of her face. “I’m so proud of you, my Kayleigh baby.”

I roll my eyes at the silly nickname.

My mum steps forward to wrap me in a tight hug, and I close my eyes, enjoying the warmth of her body. After a moment, my dad joins us, and I never thought they could be in the same room and be civil, but today they are because it’s not about their differences; it’s about my hard work.

“Right,” I say, attempting to pull away from them both. “I need to go and get my gown fitted.”

“Okay, we’ll wait over here.” My dad points to the little cafe on campus.

I’m finally graduating after three years of endless nights, coursework, and lectures that made my eyes want to burn. My lips curl as I walk towards the main reception. The sun shining down on us is a bonus, and there is a vibrant buzz on campus, the feeling of success and inspiration potent in the air.

After having my gown fitted to me and the hat delicately placed on top of my head, I suck in a breath as I stare at myself in the mirror. I have worked so hard to be in this position. Every high and low has been worth it to make me who I am today.

I beam with pride as I walk back to the cafe to find my parents.

“Kayleigh!”

My body turns to face Evie as she rushes towards me in her own gown, her parents following behind her with Nathan, her boyfriend. I burst into a grin and meet her in the middle before wrapping my arms around her tightly.

“Evie,” I exhale. “Oh, I was worried I’d miss you today.”

She pulls away and holds onto my shoulders, looking up at me. “As if,” she scoffs. “After everything we’ve been through?”

“I wouldn’t be here without you,” I tell her sincerely. “And I owe you everything.”

“You don’t.” She shakes her head. “It’s what friends are for, right?”

“Yeah.” I blink back the tears in my eyes. “The bestest friends. You’re one of a kind, you know that?”

Evie shoots me a wink. “Obviously.”

I quickly greet her parents and Nathan as he slips his arm around her waist and kisses her temple. My stomach flips at the sight of them. Her happiness is everything and more to me.

After agreeing to see her later for a celebratory drink, my eyes scan the room for my parents amongst the swarm of other students and visitors until my eyes rest on him. I do a double-take because I don’t believe what I’m seeing.

Kayden is standing with my parents, smiling and talking. He’s dressed in a white button-down shirt and a dark blazer with matching pants. My entire body erupts into flames.

I slowly make my way towards them.

He starts to tell my dad something before tilting his head, and then his eyes catch mine. He stops talking instantly, keeping his gaze firmly on me.

All I can do is stare back. He matches my actions and walks towards me. We stop when we’re merely inches from one another.

“You’re here,” I exhale.

Kayden’s lips twitch into a smirk. “You think I was going to miss the chance to see my girl graduate?”

My girl.

We’ve been in a relationship for over a year, but those two words somehow hit me square in the chest every single time.

“I-I thought you had stuff to do with Jaxon? Important stuff,” I murmur.

He shakes his head. “I wasn’t going to miss this for the world, blondie, and you know it. You are the most important thing in my life.”

Kayden’s eyes glance over my gown and my white lace dress. “You look so beautiful,” he whispers, leaning forward.

My cheeks burn as I beam up at him. “Thank you.”

His left hand holds the bouquet of red roses. To me, they’ll always be timeless. “Congratulations,” he says as he hands them to me.

“Kayden.” I blink back the tears in my eyes. I know they’re only flowers, but they’re much more—and he knows that. “They’re so beautiful. Thank you.”

He grins and leans down, wrapping an arm around my waist to tug me closer. “You’re welcome,” he says before planting a kiss on my lips.

“Oh, my. Look at you,” my mother gushes as she steps forward to look at my gown. “You look so beautiful, honey.”

My dad nods in agreement. “You look lovely, Kayleigh.”

“Thanks.” I beam at them both. “Right, we should probably head over. The ceremony will start soon.”

We walk across campus to the auditorium before my mum hugs me again. “Good luck. We can’t wait to see you out there,” she coos.

Then my dad points a finger at me. “Don’t stack across the floor.” He winks. “You got this, champ.”

I release a nervous laugh. “I’ll try my hardest, Dad.”

I turn towards Kayden as his hand gently presses to the side of my cheek. Those dark eyes analyse me as he releases a soft sigh, a smile forming on his handsome lips. “I don’t have anything to say because I am so in awe of you and everything you have achieved, Kayleigh,” he whispers. “You deserve this.”

My throat tightens, and I swallow back the lump forming. “Thank you for being here,” I say, my hands beginning to tremble.

“I’d never forgive myself if I missed this.” He leaves a lingering kiss on my forehead, making butterflies erupt in my stomach.

This might be the best day of my life.

If there is anyone who can clap louder than my dad, it’s Kayden.

Their support got me through this journey in the first place, and I’m grateful they can be here to help me get out of it.

After the ceremony, it takes me a while to find them after slipping through the sea of people. I spy my parents and Kayden at the Student Union bar. As I inch closer to them, I hear Kayden’s voice. “She’s incredible,” he says simply, and I stop in my tracks.

“Did you hear?” my mother gasps. “Before they announced her name, they said she also won an award for the best final project on her course.”

Kayden nods with a grin. “Yeah, she’s one hard worker. She deserves it.”

My dad chuckles. “Trust me, she’s always been an over-achiever.”

“Do you guys know what else she’s done this past year?”

“No.” My mother shakes her head. “What did she do?”

“The girl’s safety society,” Kayden tells them with pride in his voice.

“What’s that?”

“Well, she created this society to help girls build confidence and not feel so alone in the things they have experienced. She’s taken something that used to get her down and turned it into something positive to help other women on campus. She is amazing.”

My face throbs, and the tears in my eyes sting.

“She even created a ‘get home safe’ club. She wants girls to be able to go out without the fear of something happening to them. She cares a lot about others. In the past year, she’s not only focused on herself and her studies but the lives of others who need help and guidance.”

My mum blinks once. “Oh, my. I had no idea. That’s—” she cuts herself off. “That’s incredible.”

I wipe my eyes and walk straight towards them. “Hey, I was looking everywhere for you guys.”

“There she is, my graduate daughter,” my father says before wrapping me up in a tight hug. “Nice one, kid. You didn’t fall over.”

“It was a struggle,” I say into his shoulder.

My mum hugs me after, and we sit and share a drink to celebrate.

“We need to hit the road before we are stuck in all that traffic,” my dad says as he checks his watch.

“Okay.” I nod as I stand from my seat.

“Enjoy tonight, won’t you?” my mum says as she circles the chair to hug me. “You deserve it.”

“I will,” I say, hugging her for the final time.

We walk my parents back to the car park, where we wave them off.

“Let’s go to the fountain,” Kayden says, lacing his fingers through mine.

My brows raise. “Why?”

“So I can get pictures of you.” He grins.

I huff out a breath. “Fine.”

Kayden slips his phone from his pocket as we reach the fountain, and I turn to find the camera aimed at me. He beams behind the screen. “Throw your hat,” he tells me.

My fingers latch onto the rim of the hat, and I throw it in the air before magically catching it. We get pictures of a thousand different poses and angles.

“I think that’s enough,” I say, reaching out to take Kayden’s phone.

“I dunno.” He shrugs, moving his phone out of reach. “I could have gone on forever.”

My eyes roll. “You’re obsessed with me.”

“Obsessed with my soulmate? Yes.”

A small laugh bursts from me as I lean forward to kiss his lips.

“I’ve actually got a surprise for you.” Kayden beams, and I pause.

“What?”

“Turn around.”

I hesitate for a moment and twist my body to be met by Ava, Jaxon, and Aurora. My heart clenches at the sight of them as they walk towards us.

“W-what are you guys doing here?” I exhale as I wrap my arms around Ava’s shoulders.

She chuckles softly. “You’re a part of our family now, Kayleigh. Of course, we were going to come down and celebrate with you.”

I clench my eyes together to push away the stinging sensation. Jaxon leans down to hug me after Ava, and I smile up at him. “Congratulations, Kayleigh,” he says sincerely. “And thank you for all your help with the pack over the last year, especially when we all knew you had exams and studying to do. It didn’t go unnoticed.”

“Kayden’s life is my life, and I told him I wanted to be involved,” I say as I pull away. “So thank you for letting me be a part of it and welcoming me so warmly.”

Jaxon nods at me. “Always. You’re one of us now.”

I release a laugh as tears build in my eyes. My head tilts down to find Aurora wearing the sweetest yellow dress. “Oh my goodness,” I mumble as I lean down to pick her up. She flashes me a toothy smile. “You are a little lady now, missy.”

Kayden wraps his arms around us and kisses my forehead. “We’re going to celebrate Kayleigh today. Aren’t we, Aurora?”

“Yes.” She waves a hand and giggles. “Mama, cookie.”

Ava groans. “We need to go and find this little one a cookie.”

I hand her back and turn to Kayden. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I’m so grateful for you.”

“I know, blondie, I know.”

“Can we go take a pit stop at my dorm so I can change my shoes? My feet are killing me.” I murmur as I hook my finger into the back where it’s starting to rub.

“Sure.” He winks and turns to Ava and Jaxon. “We’re gonna head back to Kayleigh’s dorm real quick. There is a shop over there to find cookies, then I’ll text you after for us to head to dinner?”

Ava nods in agreement. “Sounds good.”

They walk in the opposite direction, and before I can take another step, Kayden leans down to take off my stiletto heels. I watch him as he stands back up and collects me in his arms with ease, my feet coming off the floor.

“Oh my God,” I squeak. “Kayden.”

He grins at me with those gorgeous dimples. “If you keep wiggling, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder.”

“No,” I cry out with laughter. “Please, no.”

Kayden’s fingers latch onto my ribs, and I gasp out a breath.

“I might do it just to hear you laugh,” he murmurs.

“No, I’ll scream bloody murder.”

“You wouldn’t,” he chuckles. “You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

Except there isn’t anything unfortunate about it at all.