- PROTECTION [BXB] -

- 16: "No More Hiding" -

Cortez's POV:

My arms involuntarily tightened around my mate as I felt that he was drifting into sleep again. I used one of my hands to idly rub across his back, loving every moment and every second that our skin touched. He was just perfect. I placed a kiss on his forehead while I had the moment, I felt him calmly sink into me more as a response. Just another factor added to my love for him.

".. Love you mate."

"No more hiding now, Cortez." Bravian said sternly as the sun started to rise. "You've hid it long enough and look where it got you. I mean seriously-" I cut him off before he was able to lecture me, much to his disapproval. But I hate to admit it..

Bravian is right for once.

"At least you know."

I absolutely cannot hide from Wesley anymore. Nor could I even attempt to hide. Not that I really wanted to anyway, we communicated even throughout my phase. Plus, I promised him we would talk as soon as he rested up and processed everything. Which, if I am correct about my mate and his sleeping pattern, he should be waking up around this time. It is around 5:15 I believe.

"I can feel him about to wake up too." "I will admit, it does feel good to finally talk to him about this." "Bravian one, Cortez zero." "Whatever."

We were both brought back to reality when our mate shifted and started to lift his head off my chest. He looked up at me, still obviously tired, and smiled at me. His drowsy state as he looked up at me, combined with his soft smile was enough to make me want to claim him fully. But I held back myself and Bravian thankfully.

"What a damn tease, even when he doesn't realize it." "Behave." "You were about to do it too, so you behave aswell." "That.. is a fair point."

"Good morning, mate." Bravian spoke that time. While Wesley was still sleepy, I could realize the gears turning in his head about how my voice changes from time to time. He picks up on this stuff fast. I nodded, "Good morning, Wesley."

That time his face looked like he was fully able to figure it out. "Good morning as well Cortez.. and uh.." "Bravian." "Bravian. Good morning Cortez and Bravian." He rolled off me sleepily, which Bravian wanted to protest against heavily, and stood up to stretch.

"I remember reading about the voice change." "I've done it a lot." "It definitely explains a lot now. Though it still doesn't explain why you didn't just tell me about it." I rolled my eyes at that last statement out of embarrasment. I know he did not intend to scold me, but anything that feels like disapproval still hurts and makes me annoyed with myself.

"Like I said, I promise that I was going to tell you about this." I sat up in my bed as he turned on the light to see better. Bravian almost jumped at him just from seeing the sight of him shirtless and bare. "I just wanted to ease you into this instead of throwing you into it. I have a bit of a learning curve as well, so my apologies." Wesley put on a black tank top, and it finally ended Bravian's desire, much to his dislike.

"Oh, I see, that's why you gave me the book right?" I nodded. "Well, I can't argue with that kind of reasoning.. though I have a question." "I have many answers." "Can you shift into your wolf form? I wanna check something."

"I know where he's going with this." "Me too." I saw no reason to fight his wishes. It was only a matter of time before Bravian wanted to shift in front of him anyway. I stretched before standing up and towering over my mate, giving him a kiss in the process. In a split second, my bones cracked into place as I morphed into the giant wolf. Due to the size, and the space between our beds, I had to be pressed up against Wesley. Bravian took no time to rub his snout into his stomach, taking in the scent of our mate fully.