The secrets we keep [bxb]

Chapter -10

Yuri munched on his sandwich as the car pulled into a dirt road, the uneven path making the car wobble and shake as they went. They had to grab some breakfast and lunch in town for their little trip Thomas had planned out, so they were now stocked up with delicious food because of the hungry wolves that could literally eat a whole table full.

"Oh, look at all the flowers." Yara happily smiled while looking outside, the rest following her eyes.

"How much further?" Zara asked Thomas the longer they went on without seeing a sign anywhere.

Thomas hummed, looking at his GPS. "Almost there. You need to take the first turn on your right and we're there."

Rae turned his attention back to Yuri and noticed his big, curious eyes being mesmerized by the nature all around them. The corners of his mouth turned up at the adorable sight, just remembering that Yuri wasn't from around here.

Thomas screamed out of nowhere that they were there, taking everyone off guard with a small heart attack. He got a few slaps on his head from Yara while the others exited the car, stretching their legs with groans.

"Man, it's hot today." Zara wheezed, fanning himself with his hands as if that would cool him down.

"Don't cry big boy, just walk in the shades if you can't handle the sun." Yara smiled sweetly.

Zara shot her a glare, ignoring her comment by grabbing their bags from the trunk. Rae grinned and helped him out.

"Which path are we taking? Yellow, bl—"

"Let's do black." Thomas grinned.

Zara whined at that. "No! Don't listen to that psycho, let's just take the blue one or something."

"But we are stronger then that, Zara." He pouted, Zara noticing the double meaning behind his words.

"Yes well, not everyone here can handle such a thing, you idiot." He laughed, his eyes shortly shooting Yuri a glance.

Yuri noticed and hid ashamedly behind Rae's arm, feeling like he had ruined their fun now. "W-we can do the black one i-if you guys want."

Rae quirked his eyebrow as he looked down at his mate. "Are you sure?"

Yuri bit his lower lip while he tilted his head. "Yes?" He said, though it sounded more like a question.

"Hell yes, that's the spirit!" Thomas smiled, flinging his arm around Yuri's shoulders, pulling him away from his safe place that was Rae's arm.

Yuri sucked in a breath as his body stiffened. His stomach turning in an uncomfortable way, leaving him with a nauseous feeling and a lump in his throat. Rae's hand immediately shot out to grab Yuri's arm, pulling him out of his friends grip the moment he realized what was going on.

Thomas looked kind of confused as the smaller male hid his face in Rae's chest, heaving quick breaths while trying to ignore the flashbacks.

"I-is he alright? Did I do something wrong?" Thomas asked worriedly, kind of looking like a kicked puppy that was told he was a bad boy.

"Just... give them some time." Yara mumbled, pulling him away by the arm to give the two some privacy. Thomas glanced at Rae for any answers, but he just smiled apologetically and refocused on his hyperventilating mate.

As his friends and sister walked away to give them some space, Rae cupped Yuri's cheeks to see his face properly. "Hey, it's alright. Don't cry." He hushed quietly when he saw the tear stained cheeks, his thumbs immediately trying to wipe them away.

"I just... —I'm s-sorry for ov-overreacting." He hiccuped sadly, embarrassed to spoil all the fun they were having with his stupid panic attack.

Rae scoffed angrily at that, his hands pushing the younger's chin up so they could lock eyes. Yuri's hands shot up out of instinct, lightly placing themselves on top of Rae's to interfere if something went wrong. Though Yuri knew the older would never do such a thing, he couldn't help but still be scared.

"Don't ever apologize for that, do you hear me?" He said, but the low bass of his voice almost sounded like a rumble. A growl. "And you're not overreacting. It's okay and Thomas didn't know, so don't drag yourself down just because you need to take a breather."

Yuri pouted as tears still streamed down his flushed face, Rae's words trying to fight off the bad thought he was having.

"You're okay, just take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. Alright? One, two, three—" Rae took a breath in, Yuri unsurely following him, and slowly breathed out through his mouth after a few seconds. He nodded when Yuri did the same and smiled reassuringly. "That's right, you're doing great baby."

Yuri blushed at the sudden nickname, but continued that same strategy until the tears stopped and his mind could only focus on the warm hands still carefully holding him. Rae smiled and rubbed his cheek lovingly with his thumb. "You did great. Are you feeling any better?"

Yuri nodded and leaned into Rae's hands with a sigh. "I promise it isn't always this bad."

Rae laughed at that. "It's alright, don't ever feel bad about something like this ever again. Alright?"

Yuri nodded quickly and wiped his leftover tears away with his hand, Rae retracing his own to give him some space. Just now noticing how he hadn't really given him that, feeling bad. "Sorry for holding you like that by the way, I didn't—"

Yuri cut him off quickly. "No, y-your touch is um... very calming, for some reason." He confessed, his cheeks burning up when the brown eyes of Rae sparkled at those words. Though they looked more golden in this sunlight.

"I want to tell you so much, the reason behind some things, but I don't know if... you're ready." Rae mumbled absently, causing the younger to frown in confusion.

"You can alway just... try." Yuri softly said.

"It's a bit more complicated then that." Rae chuckled. "Let's just say that I'm... kind of like you."

Yuri tilted his head at that, the words not really registering until a few seconds later. He gasped in shock, not believing the older's words at all as he eyed him up and down. "But... you don't have—"

"No, no. Not exactly like you, but... just kind of." Rae tried to explain. "Let's just talk about this when we get back, I've said too much anyway."

"No! —Now I wanna know!" Yuri pouted, his little hands clinging onto Rae's arm desperately, wanting to know what the hell he was talking about. He better not be joking about this, because if he was, then Yuri would be absolutely disappointed in him.

He trusted him. So he better not be joking.

Rae grinned and leaned down until he was on the same level as Yuri, his lips close to the younger's ear to whisper his proposal. "What about... I'll answer every question you can come up with, in exchange for you to go swimming with me tonight."

Yuri slightly shuddered at that. Not knowing if it was because of the older's warm breath fanning against his skin, his low voice whispering in his ear or the actual words he was saying, but it made him turn his head so quick, he almost headbutted Rae on the nose. "But... I can't show—"

"It's gonna be dark." Rae smirked, his fingers teasingly tracing his boyfriend's arm. "We're gonna be all alone, nobody around to see or hear us. What'd ya say?"

Yuri swallowed at that. "Alone?"

"Just the two of us."

"In the dark?"

"So nobody can see."

"Every question?"

Rae chuckled, but nodded, his fingers coming to a halt when they found Yuri's hand. He softly grabbed it and pulled the other closer, causing Yuri to gasp and stumble into his chest clumsily. "Anything you want to know." He whispered again, the younger's clammy hand tightening in his as they locked eyes.

Yuri pondered for a few seconds before he slowly nodded, accepting his little proposal. "Alright, deal."

"Deal." Rae smirked, softly kissing Yuri's hands before pulling the younger with him back to their awaiting friends.

The book has 300+ views :)
I'm so happy !! —Thank you <3
Had a rough few weeks, so this made my day !

And the last few chapters have been a little short, sorry! I'm going to try and make the next ones (hopefully) a bit longer in the future :)