The first rays of light peeked over the horizon, streaking the sky with pinks and oranges. Salt clung to my hair and skin as I turned my face to the cool morning breeze.
If chemo made me lose myself, the sea was helping me come home again.
The sun was over the horizon now and the last visible star twinkled before giving way to the morning. My mind turned once more to the image of the Star—the woman leaning down to the water with the night sky around her. “She is you,” the universe whispered, and I turned my palms to the sky, receiving her gift.
I caught a hint of my own scent swirling on the wind. I pressed both hands to my chest, unable to contain everything I was feeling and for once, being utterly at peace with it. I knew now with certainty that even death wasn’t strong enough to keep me from the ones I loved, because when I died, the dust of my body would find the stars of theirs.
I lifted my face to the sky, feeling my mother was watching over me, and knowing that the universe had goodness in store.
120
WESTIN
8 MONTHS LATER
“Shit,” I said, looking at my phone as I walked into the kitchen.
I let out a squeak as Henry took advantage of my preoccupied state and snagged my waist, pulling me so I was standing between his legs. He was sitting at the kitchen island of our new home. We’d closed on it a couple of months ago, and it was finally starting to sink in that it was real andours.
“What is it, darling?” he asked, running his nose down my neck.
I was momentarily distracted as his hands flexed against my hip. The top few buttons of his shirt were undone, and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms.
My cheek rubbed against his, the scruff of his beard rough against my skin. “The game machine supplier is at the arcade now. He got the times mixed up and thought he was supposed to come today instead of next week.”
“Do we need to go meet him?” Henry asked, not quite meeting my gaze.
“Yeah.” When he didn’t respond, I added, “But I can go alone if you’re busy?”
“No, not at all. Let’s go get it sorted.” He squeezed my hips before releasing me and grabbing the keys.
“Are you working on the Fund paperwork?” I peeked at his open laptop.
In the end, I’d decided to use the money the vigilante sent to start the Omega Fund to help omegas in need. I worked with the Omega Center to accept applications, and Henry was in charge of all the paperwork and legal aspects.
“Just dealing with a small banking issue, but it’s resolved now,” he said.
I nodded, grabbing his hand as I followed him to the car. “I’ll text the others and let them know where we’re going.”
Bear was working late at the shop and Liam had picked up a shift at the hospital. He was working at a new omega clinic in town, but his friend had asked him to cover his hospital shift tonight. I frowned when I realized I didn’t know where Gray was. I sent him a separate text asking what he was doing.
Henry’s hands tapped nervously on the steering wheel during the quick drive to the arcade. I kept stealing glances at him, confused about his strange mood. I would have asked what was going on, but he had turned the music up and was singing along loudly.
I glanced back at my phone, waiting for Gray to respond. A blue checkmark told me he had seen my text, but he hadn’t sent anything back. I poked the bond, but didn’t get anything back.
Everything felt off today, but I didn’t know why.
Henry parked in front of the arcade. The sun was setting, the golden light reflecting off the new Starlight Arcade neon sign. It didn’t matter how many times I saw it, I still felt a jolt of pride.
When Cillian told Liam he was planning to retire, I’d been heartbroken. I begged him to change his mind, unable to standthe idea of the one place I was happy as a teenager disappearing. Cillian hadn’t budged, but my guys had given me the surprise of my life by buying the arcade for me. I’d been working long hours getting it renovated. I wasn’t removing all the quirks—the Abba posters and Irish flag were here to stay—but I was adding my own flair. I wanted it to be a real community space where everyone—omegas included—could hang out together.
Henry opened the door for me.
“I don’t see a delivery truck,” I said.
He extended his hand to me, helping me out of the car. “Maybe they’re out back?”
“I don’t know, and now they’re not answering,” I said, huffing out a frustrated breath. Henry’s arm went around my shoulder as he kissed my forehead. I frowned as I caught an anxious tinge to the bond.
