Kayden

I stood at the edge of the yacht, smiling as I pressed my palms against the railing while looking out at the horizon.

The sky was a vibrant, endless blue, stretching out so far that I couldn’t tell where the air ended and the ocean began.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the salt and the crispness of the sea air, letting it fill my lungs. It felt good to just breathe without that heavy, stifling feeling of the heat weighing me down.

I was so lost in the view that I didn’t even hear him coming until I felt a familiar warmth against my back. Rhys’s arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back until I was tucked firmly against him. His pine scent mixed with the salty breeze, and I instinctively leaned my head back against his shoulder.

"How do you find the sea?" he asked, his voice low and vibrating right against my ear.

I looked out at the sparkling water one more time, a small smile appearing on my face. "It’s beautiful," I said softly. "The sea is such a beautiful sight to see."

"The sea is one of the most beautiful things in the world," Rhys said, letting go of my waist and raising his hands, spreading them wide as if he were trying to embrace the entire ocean and the sky all at once.

He looked so ridiculous standing there like he owned the world that I couldn’t help it—I let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing over the roar of the waves. I turned around to face him, my smile still wide, but then a thought struck me and my expression softened.

"Rhys," I said, looking up at him. "What about Starlight? Who is going to look after our furbaby while we’re out here?"

Rhys chuckled, reaching out to ruffle my hair. "Starlight is fine, Kayden. Don’t worry. I made sure our furbaby was in good hands before we left." He gave me a reassuring look that finally made my shoulders relax. "Come, let me show you something."

He reached down and grabbed my hand, his fingers interlaced with mine as he pulled me toward the plush lounge area on the deck. We both sat on the white leather. On the table, chilled drinks were already waiting, the ice clinking softly against the glass. Elena stood by, making sure everything was perfect.

"Thank you, Elena," we both said at the same time.

Elena offered a polite bow. "You’re welcome, Mr. Calder. Mr. Kayden." She stepped away toward the cabin for a second, then returned with an iPad in her hand. She walked over and handed it to Rhys, bowing one last time before heading back inside to leave us to it.

Rhys moved closer to me until our shoulders were brushing, the warmth of his body seeping into mine as he tapped the screen to start a video. The first thing that popped up was Starlight. She looked tiny and adorable being carried by Miller, who was currently letting her chew on his finger. Miller looked into the camera and gave us a reassuring smile.

"She’s doing great, guys," he said, his voice calm over the recording. "She’s in good hands, so don’t even think about worrying. Just focus on each other."

Then Leo popped into the frame, leaning his head into the shot. "Enjoy your vacation," Leo said, though he couldn’t help but huff a little. "You both definitely needed it. I’m a bit jealous, honestly, being stuck back here while you’re out on the ocean."

Before he could keep complaining, Miller leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You have me," he reminded him with a grin. "It’s going to be a great time with just us, Leo."

I chuckled at Leo’s silliness, shaking my head as the video continued. "Oh, these two," I said, a smile tugging at my lips as I watched them on the screen.

Next on the screen, Soren and Rio appeared. Soren looked a little sad, sighing as he spoke into the camera. "I looked for you after the game, Kayden, but then I heard that you’d already left," Soren said. His expression shifted, becoming more determined. "Congratulations on winning the cup. The confession you made in front of everyone... it gave me so much courage. I’ve decided I’m going to come out, too, once Rio and I win the gold medal in the Olympics. I am so glad I met you on that bridge."

Rio nodded beside him, looking firm and supportive. He looked directly at the camera. "Thank you both for helping Soren these past few weeks. We are both really grateful to you. If not for both of you, we would have never made up."

"See you later!" Soren shouted excitedly, waving at the lens before the clip ended.

I smiled as I finished watching them, tears welling up in my eyes knowing how much I had influenced their relationship.

"I’m glad they have each other," I whispered, looking at Rhys.

Rhys nodded at my words, his eyes softening as he watched my reaction to Soren and Rio. I reached for my cup and took a long drink, the cold liquid refreshing my parched throat. Just as he was about to tap the screen for the next video, Rhys stopped, a frown deepening on his face.

"Leo made me include this next one," he grumbled, looking like he’d rather toss the iPad into the ocean.

"Who is it?" I asked, leaning in closer with curiosity.

As Rhys reluctantly hit play, I nearly choked on my drink. "Nico Park!" I screamed, my eyes nearly bulging out of my head. "OMG, Nico sent a video?!"

Rhys rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck, which only made me burst into a fit of laughter. In the video, Nico looked as effortless and cool as ever. His message was brief and straight to the point. "I’m glad I was able to watch you guys," he said with that signature smirk. "Congratulations on winning the game. Hockey sure is a fun game to watch, but nothing is topping F1."

"Pompous jerk," Rhys muttered under his breath.

I laughed even harder at the rivalry between them. It was so typical of Nico to stir the pot even from a distance. After all, he had a title in the F1 world as the "rage bait king."

"He really doesn’t change, does he?" I said, wiping a tear from my eye as I looked at Rhys’s annoyed expression. "He is so handsome and..."

Rhys played the next video before I could finish, and as soon as the images flickered to life, the faces of Rhoda and Gabriella filled the screen. My heart warmed instantly at the sight of them.

"Hello, sons, and congratulations!" Rhoda started, her eyes bright with excitement. Then her expression turned a bit more serious, pointing a finger toward the camera. "You should have told me you got your heat, Kayden. I was so worried! Rhys told me you are fine now. I am glad to hear that. Take care of yourself, son."

I felt my face heat up again, but I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my lips.

"I want grandbabies when you both return!" she added firmly, her voice full of hope.

Gabriella let out a hearty laugh beside her, shaking her head. "Oh goodness, Rhoda. Let the kids have fun first." They both leaned in, blowing kisses toward the lens. "We love you! Goodbye!"

Rhys ended the video, the screen of the iPad going dark as he set it aside. "Coach Reddick promised to send his own video later, and the rest of the team is putting something together, too," he said, his voice soft as he watched my expression. "We didn’t say goodbye properly, so I had hoped you’d like something like this?"

I felt a stray tear prick at my eyes and I sniffled, wiping it away before it could fall. "It warms my heart to see all of this, Rhys. It’s like you knew exactly what I needed to see."

"I wanted you to know you aren’t alone," Rhys murmured. He leaned in and kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering there for a moment before he pulled back slightly. "I’ll be honest with you—I checked the internet earlier. There is positive news, but there’s plenty of negative news, too, now that you’ve come out as an Omega. Right now, the negative is outweighing the positive, but don’t worry, public opinion will change soon."

I looked down at my lap, the weight of the world trying to creep back in, but Rhys caught my chin and forced me to look at him.

"Don’t worry about any of that," he insisted. "None of it matters out here. I’m going to give you the best vacation you’ve ever had. We’re leaving the noise behind."

I took a shaky breath and nodded. "I knew what I would face when I came out. I knew it would be a mess. And yeah, I’m a bit afraid of what happens next, but I’m okay because you’re by my side to help me."

"Always," Rhys said, his expression fierce and determined. He reached out and squeezed my hand, his fingers locking firmly with mine. "Whatever happens, we face it together. To a new Chapter, Kayden."

"To a new Chapter," I repeated softly. I looked at him, feeling the surge of affection and desire inside me. "Rhys? I need one thing from you. Just one request." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Anything," he replied, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "What is it?"

I leaned in closer, my chest brushing against his, until my lips were hovering just inches from his ear.

"I want you to mark me," I whispered, my voice thick with a sudden, desperate need. "And I want you to fuck me right here—out in the open, under the stars tonight."