I didn't know how to put it into words. Scared. That was probably the most honest thing I could say. But I knew Kai wouldn't let me get away with such an understatement.

He turned to me, his gaze softer than I expected. "That was... I've never been that scared. Not since... I thought we might not make it out of there." His voice was shaky, and I could tell he was still reeling.

I swallowed, trying to calm my own nerves. Same was all I could think, but it didn't feel like enough. I couldn't stop picturing what would've happened if the creature had decided we were a threat, how quickly we'd be wiped out. I thought about how I might never get to tell Kai everything I wanted to say.

"If it decides we're a threat, there's nothing we could do," I said, my breath hitching. "We'd be..." I couldn't finish. The thought of losing him, the one person who made everything bearable in this broken world, had been too much. "And I couldn't stand the thought of... of losing you, Kai."

His heart-shaped face softened even more, his eyes filling with an emotion I couldn't name. I didn't know what came over me, but I couldn't help myself. I needed to be close to him, to feel him here with me, not just in this cavern, but in my life.

I watched him reach up, his fingers brushing over my jawline, making everything feel more intimate than I ever thought a moment could be. "I know," he whispered, and it was almost a confession, like he was finally letting go of something deep inside.

And just like that, everything in me shifted. The fear, the adrenaline—it all melted away, leaving nothing but warmth and an overwhelming urge to feel him, really feel him, like I never had before.

His lips brushed mine in the softest kiss, but it quickly deepened. I could taste the relief on his tongue, the need we had both been holding back for so long. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, and I felt the intensity of the moment surge between us.

But then, something inside me snapped. I needed more—more of him, more than just this. I broke away from the kiss, my chest heaving as I rested my forehead against his.

"We should... we should probably get out of here," I whispered, not wanting to, but knowing we had to. The thought of leaving this safe spot made my chest tighten, but I didn't want to risk the monsters finding us. 

Kai nodded, his fingers still entwined in my hair, his breath still shaky. "Yeah, you're right. But Alex..."

His voice, that low, husky tone that always sent shivers down my spine—it made everything inside me pulse in response.

"When we get back to camp, I want to continue this. If you want to, I mean."

I could feel my heart racing. Was I ready for that? But the truth was, I had been ready for a long time. I didn't have to think about it. "I do," I admitted, a little surprised at my own boldness. "I really do."

The walk back was silent, but the air between us crackled with anticipation. It was like we were both holding our breath, the distance between our bodies stretching out but still so close, charged with everything we hadn't said yet.

As soon as we made it back to our camp, I pulled him in again, not even caring who might see. His lips were warm, urgent, and it felt like I was finally alive. My body melted into his, and for the first time, the weight of everything that had happened, everything we'd been through, didn't feel so heavy.

We stumbled toward the tent, struggling with the zipper, laughing against each other's mouths in the mess of it all.

"We're making a mess of this," Kai murmured between kisses, his breath quick and warm against my lips.

I couldn't stop myself from grinning. "Don't care," I growled, finally getting the tent open. I pulled him inside and didn't let go.

Inside, the moment felt sacred, like it was just the two of us, finally giving in to everything we had been denying. Our clothes came off in a hurried frenzy, and my hands roamed over him, memorizing the feel of his skin beneath my fingers. It was more than just passion—it was like I needed to prove to myself, to him, that we could survive this, that we would survive this, together.

His skin was warm, and I could feel the tension melting between us, the walls we'd both built finally crumbling. Kai's hands trembled slightly as they slid over my back, and I kissed him deeper, wanting to show him all the things I had been too afraid to say for so long.

When I pulled back, his breath was heavy, his eyes dark with desire. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice low.

My heart was pounding. "I've never been more sure of anything," I whispered, my voice barely audible as the world around us faded.

He didn't need to hear anything more. His lips found mine again, and it was like everything we'd kept inside was finally being set free. The world outside didn't matter. Nothing mattered except this.

The rest of the night became a blur of urgency, tenderness, and the raw need for connection. With every kiss, every touch, I felt something inside me breaking open, revealing pieces of myself I had hidden away for so long. When we finally came together, it was like everything clicked. The world was right, even if it was falling apart around us.

 As we lay there, tangled in the sheets, Kai's fingers traced slow patterns over my back. The feeling of his touch, so tender and careful, made my chest tighten with a mixture of affection and fear. I wanted to tell him everything—about my struggles, my pain—but the words caught in my throat. I wasn't ready.

Then his fingers brushed against something different. A scar. I froze, my heart leaping in my chest. I'd almost forgotten about them. The thin, white lines that marred my skin, reminders of a time when I didn't know how to cope.

He stopped moving, his fingers lingering where the scars were most visible on my shoulder. I could hear his breath, shallow but steady, and I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes.

"Alex," Kai's voice was soft, but it carried an edge of concern. "What are these?" His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, like he was unsure whether to press or back off.

I bit my lip, my heart racing. I could feel his gaze on me, gentle and warm, but the weight of the question still made me feel exposed.

"...They're just scars," I murmured, trying to brush it off. But the words felt hollow, and I could tell by the way Kai's hand stilled that he wasn't buying it.

He lifted my chin gently, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes were searching, not judgmental, but full of concern and something else... tenderness.

"Alex," he whispered, "you don't have to hide from me. What happened?"

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. I couldn't lie to him. Not like this. Not when everything between us had felt so raw and real. I wanted to trust him, to let him in, but the fear still clung to me.

"I... I didn't always know how to handle everything," I said quietly. "I didn't know how to deal with the sadness, the guilt. And sometimes, hurting myself... it felt like the only way to make it stop." I paused, my throat tightening. "I thought if I could feel the pain on the outside, maybe it would make the inside hurt less."

Kai's eyes softened, and I could see the empathy in them. His thumb brushed over the scars, tenderly, like he was memorizing every part of me.

"I'm so sorry you felt that way," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wish you would've told me. I... I never want you to feel like you're alone in this."

I bit my lip, the tears threatening to spill. "I didn't know how to say it. It was easier to just hide it, you know? To keep pretending that I was okay when I wasn't."

Kai shook his head, pulling me closer so my head rested on his chest. "You don't have to pretend with me, Alex. You never have to pretend. Not anymore."

His arms wrapped around me, pulling me in tight, like he wanted to shield me from everything that had ever hurt me. I felt his heartbeat, steady and strong, beneath my ear, and I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of him fill the space where my doubts used to be.

"I'm here for you," Kai whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Always."

A long silence passed between us. I felt his fingers gently tracing the scars again, but this time, there was no fear, no discomfort. Just acceptance. It felt like he was telling me that it was okay, that I was okay, despite everything.

"I... I don't want to hurt myself anymore," I said quietly, the words coming out like a breath I'd been holding for years. "I don't want to feel like that. Not if I've got you."

Kai's grip on me tightened, and I could feel the sincerity in his words when he spoke next.

"You don't have to carry that alone, Alex. You have me. And I won't let you go through it by yourself." He paused, his voice softening, "And if you ever feel that way again... promise me you'll talk to me. Please."

I nodded, the weight of his words settling in my chest like a promise. I could feel a sense of relief wash over me, like something I hadn't known was heavy was finally lifting. Maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to carry it all alone.

"I promise," I whispered.

Kai kissed the top of my head softly, and I let out a shaky breath. "You're my world, Alex," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You're so strong. And I'll be here for you, every step of the way."

I couldn't stop the tears that welled up in my eyes, but this time, they didn't feel like weakness. They felt like release. I clung to him tighter, knowing that, for the first time in a long time, I wasn't alone, And then, out of nowhere, he said it.

"Alex?" His voice was soft, uncertain.

"Mm?" I mumbled, trying to process the haze of satisfaction that still clung to me.

His eyes met mine, and in them, I saw the emotion I had been holding back, the vulnerability that had been locked inside him. "I... I think I'm in love with you."

I couldn't breathe for a moment. The weight of his words hit me like a tidal wave. I had wanted this, needed it, for so long, but hearing him say it was like everything in my world shifted.

"Alex," Kai whispered, his voice breaking. "I think I'm in love with you too."

The smile that spread across my face was radiant, pure joy that I had kept hidden for too long. I pulled him close, kissing him again, slower this time, sweeter.

"Honestly," I said, my fingers playing with his hair, "I think I've been falling for you since the day we met. But I didn't know it until that moment. When I thought I was going to lose you... Kai, you're the light of my world, and if anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd do."

He smirked, that familiar playful glint in his eyes. "What about Lyra?"

I felt the weight of his words sink in, but there was no hesitation in my voice when I answered. "She has Finn. She has Grandpa Bob. But I have you, Kai. You're my world."

The truth hung between us, and I knew it was something neither of us would ever be able to deny again.

"We've wasted so much time," Kai murmured, his face buried in my neck.

I stroked his back, smiling to myself. "We have the rest of our lives, Kai."