Theo's POV
I held Jax tightly in the small storage room, my arms wrapped around his waist. His scent filled my lungs, strong, warm, and comforting. Being this close to him always made my heart feel both full and heavy at the same time.
I pulled back just enough to look at his face. Jax had always been the braver one between us, but tonight I could see the same fear I felt reflected in his eyes.
"I'm really scared, Jax," I whispered honestly. "Not just about my family. I'm scared that one day this will blow up and I'll lose you. I don't know how to live without these secret moments anymore."
Jax gently stroked my cheek with his thumb. His touch was so soft it made my chest ache.
"You won't lose me," he said quietly. "I'm right here. I'm choosing you, Theo. Every single day I choose you, even when it's hard."
His words made my eyes sting. I blinked quickly, not wanting to cry in front of him. Two Alphas weren't supposed to be this emotional, but with Jax, all the rules I grew up with felt wrong.
I leaned in and kissed him again. This kiss was slower and deeper than the last one. There was no rush of heat, just pure emotion. I poured everything I felt into it,the love, the fear, the hope, and the frustration of having to hide.
When we broke apart, I rested my forehead against his.
"I never thought I would fall for another Alpha," I admitted softly. "All my life they told me I would mate with a sweet Omega and build a strong pack. But then you came along… and nothing makes sense anymore. You make me feel things I've never felt before."
Jax smiled a little, but it was a sad smile.
"Same for me," he said. "I used to think something was wrong with me because I never wanted Omegas the way other Alphas did. But being with you feels right. It feels like I'm finally being myself."
We stayed pressed together, holding each other in silence. The ship hummed around us, completely unaware of the two Alphas hiding their love in a tiny storage room.
After a while, I spoke again.
"Captain Vael really said he would introduce us to someone?"
Jax nodded. "He did. He said the person is also hiding something big. Maybe… maybe we won't be so alone anymore."
That thought gave me a small flicker of hope. For months it had only been Jax and me, stealing moments whenever we could. The idea of having even one more person who understood felt huge.
I kissed Jax's forehead, then his temple, then his lips again, soft, gentle kisses that showed him how much he meant to me.
"I love you," I whispered against his mouth. I had never said it out loud before. The words felt scary but right.
Jax's breath hitched. His arms tightened around me.
"I love you too," he replied, voice thick with emotion. "So much it hurts sometimes."
We held each other even tighter after that.
I allowed myself to imagine a future where we didn't have to hide. A future where we could walk together openly. A future where two Alphas in love wouldn't be seen as wrong.
It was still far away. But because of Jax, I was starting to believe it might be possible.