Three weeks passed. Three weeks of brutal training that left Cyrus utterly exhausted. Carolyn was there to guide him the whole time, and point out his weaknesses. She didn't go easy on him in the slightest. If he was hungry, he had to run for it. If he was thirsty, he had to lift the 10,000 pound boulder Carolyn found deep in the woods. Over time, his training got a little easier. His trust with his wolf had increased by handfuls. His wolf had began to speak to him more and more, mostly about what he wanted and what angered him. His wolf didn't appreciate how he had neglected his mate in this time. He whined and whined, but Cyrus told him everytime that this was for his own safety.

He still slept in the same room as Lance, and in the same room, of course. It would be suspicious if he suddenly moved rooms. Only, he brushed off Lance's advances claiming he was too tired. That wasn't completely a lie. Still, he felt bad dismissing Lance like this. Their love language was touch, after all, and all he would allow him was cuddling.

Lance at first assumed his mate's sudden interest in training had to do with his plan of defeating Drake. So, he supported Cyrus as much as he could. Helping with training, helping to cook his meals, and letting him rest when he came home. He believed when the time came they would defeat Drake and then have all the time in the world to spend together, and Cyrus wouldn't have to worry about any of this anymore. He was hopeful for the future, so he was content in the present.

But, as they got closer and closer to the night of the red moon, he could sense Cyrus becoming more and more restless. He tossed and turned in his sleep. He exterted his body during training, and ignored his injuries. He seemed desperate to become strong. He seemed scared. Lance became more and more worried. He sensed something was wrong. He also knew Ethan was hiding something from him. He knew from the look in his eyes he sometimes caught; when Cyrus wasn't smiling or bickering with him. That look, it was torment to his heart. Those brown eyes were always far away, but lately they were alarmingly aware, of everything. Of everyone. It was almost as if he were trying to capture everything in his memory as if he would lose it the next morning. Those eyes roamed his face and studied each detail with extreme desperation, and then took a screenshot. Before Lance could question him on it, the look would be gone, and Cyrus would be back to his usual self. Lance couldn't continue to ignore this, especially when it caused his mate, and his heart, so much torment.

It was like every other day when Cyrus got up early for training. Lance asked to join him, and the pair started on the jog up and down the mountain. Cyrus seemed too absorbed in his training to notice Lance's frequent glances. Lance's eyes focused on the number of injuries he had surmounted. No matter how many times Lance would treat his injuries, the next time he saw him, he would have new ones. Cuts and bruises, and blisters on his hands and feet. Of course they would heal, but the bandages just moved to a different part of his body. Lance sighed. He knew this training was brutal, but he wished Cyrus wouldn't be so reckless with his health.

Lance smiles, running backwards ahead of Cyrus, "How about after this, we just lounge around all day? That sounds fun, right?"

Cyrus locks eyes with Lance, his smile sloppy, "We just started. Don't tell me you're tired already."

"Huh? Of course not. Do you I need to remind you who I am?"

"Yes, Alpha, sir," Cyrus chuckles, pushing past him, "C'mon, first lap is almost done."

Lance is running at his side again, picking up his pace to match Cyrus, "You've been working really hard these past few weeks, we can all see that. I just think you deserve a day off, you know?"

"If you're worried about my legs falling off, don't. I'm the big bad wolf, I can handle it."

"That's not what I mean," Lance sighs, catching Cyrus's shoulder and bringing him to a stop. Cyrus turns and frowns as Lance's brows pull together, "I'm worried about you!"

"Me?" Cyrus breathes. He smiles quickly, "I'm fine!"

"No, you're not."

Cyrus shakes his head, continuing to smile. Lance takes his hands, tracing his thumbs over his hardened skin. Cyrus watches him, confused. Lance brings his lips down to gently kiss his skin, murmuring, "I'm not blind. I notice everything about you. It hurts to see you in pain, E. So, please, trust me enough to tell me what's wrong."

That aware look appeared in Cyrus's eyes once more. And second by second, his smile fell. "I can't. Not here..." Cyrus whispered, his voice barely audible to anyone who might be listening in the surrounding woods, "Too loud."

Lance frowned, looking around. They were alone. Was Cyrus worried someone was listening in on them? He looked back down at Cyrus, who was focused on their hands, taking a screenshot. Lance smiled gently and squeezed his mate's tough hands, lowering his voice to the same quiet volume, "Let's sneak out tonight. I'll make sure no-one follows us."

Cyrus hesitates. The cameras, Adonis would notice immediately. Maybe if I ask Carolyn... she'll know what time is the best to leave. After all, Drake had to sleep at some point during the night. Maybe she would know that period of time we could escape unnoticed. But, is it too risky? I can't afford to screw up now. Not with how far I've come. Then again, when will I get another moment alone with Lance? A moment where we are truly alone, and I can make just one more memory with him. Just one more time I can feel that... spark, as strong as it can possibly be. Is it possible?

He looked up at Lance, who smiled so very kindly at him. He knew his memories would never compare to this moment, where he could witness its magnificence in person.

Without giving it another thought, Cyrus agreed, and Lance beamed, "Let's head back, then."

Cyrus allowed Lance to take his hand and pull him back to camp. And of course, this warmth, would he ever have the chance to experience it again? Nothing would compare. This hand, how could he ever capture its warmth?

-

They spent the rest of the day together. Cyrus 'took the day off,' in Lance's words. Cyrus was on edge for most of the day, but he was relieved to simply be still for once. Just to sit on the couch in the living room, eat snacks, and watch a sitcom with Lance on the television. Cyrus was worried Adonis was watching him through the cameras, analyzing his every move. Would he find this too suspicious? Would he know he was up to something? Despite his worries, he tried to enjoy the rest of the day as much as possible.

After dinner, he talked Carolyn into going outside for a short run. When they were a safe enough distance, he took out his headphones and began playing music. Carolyn noticed he wanted to talk about something Drake related and was quiet as Cyrus asked about a period of time where he might be unnoticed from the cameras. She thought about it and said between 2-5 in the morning she had never gotten a message from him. It wasn't confirmed Drake was sleeping during this time, but Carolyn said she would cover for Cyrus if anything went wrong. She also told Cyrus to hurry with whatever it was he wanted to do with Lance, as she absolutely wanted no harm to come to her family if Drake did find out about their disappearance. She had made it clear she would hold Cyrus responsible if anything happened to them. They agreed on one hour as enough time to be able to sneak out and back in.

He had his second thoughts about this plan as night-time approached. When he entered his bedroom with Lance, the pressure kept building. He knew Adonis was watching him. He was always aware he was being watched, he just ignored it for the past few weeks. Now, it felt incredibly hard to ignore, and even more difficult to act as normal.

The two got into bed, and the lights were turned off. Both Lance and Cyrus pretended to fall asleep. Cyrus kept one eye open to watch the alarm clock beside the bed. Time passed quicker than he wanted it to. The arms around his body reminded him why he was going through with this dangerous plan in the first place. Lance's presence calmed his mind so he could think clearly. Just wait until twenty minutes past two. Just twenty more minutes... ten... five... now!

Cyrus was quickly out of the bed, and so was Lance. They stuffed the bed with pillows and then escaped out of the window, closing it behind them. Lance guided him as they dashed into the trees.

Cyrus breathed heavily. Was he watching us? It's too late to turn back now. I repeated the same schedule everyday for weeks, there's no way he would still watching me so intently. He didn't notice, Ethan. Don't worry so much about it. You'll be okay. Lance will be okay.

"We only have one hour, okay?" Cyrus speaks up, "Then we have to go back."

"That's plenty of time. We're not going far." Lance reassured him.

They arrive at the pond. Their special place. Cyrus smiled, of course. The moonlight peeked through the trees and the wind was cool against his cheeks. The pair sat on the ledge above the pond, their legs dangling. Lance takes one of Cyrus's hands and traces circles on his palm; as if he had noticed how anxious Cyrus was and wanted to calm him. It worked, and Cyrus sighed heavily.

"So what is it you're not telling me?" Lance asks.

Cyrus looks past their feet at the pond. He knaws on the inside of his cheek, "I don't want you to be angry."

"Just tell me."

Cyrus sighs, "It's Drake. He... threatened me."

Lance tenses, "Drake? When did you meet with him?"

"That doesn't matter. He had cameras put up in the house just to watch me. I've tried not to do anything to piss him off... so he wouldn't hurt you..."

Lance's lips settle into a tight line, "So that's why you've been so distant."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's alright. But who put up the cameras? He couldn't of possibly snuck into the house, I would sniffed that bastard out the second he stepped foot inside."

"It was Carolyn. He threatened her, too. Don't blame her, she was just trying to protect her family."

"Carolyn?" His brows furrow, "I see."

"I've been training so hard so I can get stronger and beat him. So, on the night of the red moon, don't worry about him. I'll take him down. Just focus on getting me an opening and I'll-"

"Ethan." Lance squeezes his hand, stopping him in his tracks. The look in his eyes is stern as he continues, "I won't let you do this alone, I thought I told you this already."

Cyrus swallows the lump in his throat, "I know... but I'm stronger than everyone else, so I'll have a better chance on taking him on alone. That way no-one will get in the way and get hurt. He won't hesitate to kill you, or Carolyn, or Rudy. So you don't have to worry about him, okay? You just focus on protecting your pack." Cyrus pauses after seeing the furrow in Lance's brow deepen, "I've been getting stronger and stronger every day, I can take him!"

"Ethan!" Lance snaps, and Cyrus flinches, "I'm not letting you do this alone! I am the Alpha of this pack, and you are my mate. I don't care if I'm weaker than you, or if I lose my life in the process; there is no chance in hell I am risking your safety. You are my main priority, over everyone and everything. Understand?"

"But-!"

"We're a team." Lance states. His lips tremble as he struggles to smile, "So please don't try to do everything yourself. I hate it. If I can't protect you, too, then what use am I?"

Cyrus purses his lips, his heart breaking as he sees the desperation in Lance's watery gaze. No, don't look at me like that. Please don't cry.

Cyrus nods, smiling in hopes to reassure Lance and get rid of the tears threatening to fall down his sweet face, "Okay, I'm sorry."

Lance calms down, taking a deep breath, "Okay. No more training so hard. You'll have me, and everyone else by your side."

"I..." Cyrus sighs, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll take it easy from now on."

Lance smiles warmly, "That's what I like to hear. So no more being depressed, you hear?"

"Depressed? I'm not depressed."

"Then why do you look at me with that sad look in your eyes all the time? Don't think I haven't noticed."

"Oh." Cyrus's heart drops. And instantly, he was reminded of his time in this world. As soon as he defeated Drake, he would have to leave Lance's side.

"There it is, that look. What's wrong?" Lance frets.

"No, it's..." Cyrus struggles to maintain his smile as Lance studies him intently, "It's nothing."

"I can tell it's not just nothing. You don't have to hide things from me, Ethan. Is it about Drake? Did he do something to you?"

"That's not it..." Cyrus trails off and studies the hand that holds his own, and the warmth of that hand.

His eyes glance towards where he first wandered out of the woods and came across Lance, in this pond. The memory floats gently into mind as he remembers being taken away by the sheer beauty of Lance standing underneath the moonlight. And when those eyes... those piercing brown eyes met his own, he remembered when his heart skipped a beat for the very first time. His eyes flickered back up at Lance, and his heart still felt as it were struggling to balance itself. Tears stream down his cheeks before he can stop them from doing so. And, in an instant, Lance's hand was cupping his cheek. Cyrus leaned into the warmth that seemed inescapable.

"You're going to leave me, aren't you?" Lance muttered.

Cyrus's eyes shot open, suddenly alert. Cyrus's response only confirmed Lance's question, and Lance's expression dropped like an anchor being thrown into the sea.

"I wish I could stay here with you forever, Lance! You've made me happier than I ever have been before. Living the rest of my life with you is all I want. I love you, so much," His voice breaks, "But I don't have a choice. My time in this world ends in two weeks. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, I just wanted you to keep being happy. I know that makes me stubborn, but I just... I just..."

Lance cups Cyrus's hands in his cheeks, forcing him to look at him with his blurry vision, "It's okay, Ethan. All that matters is that we're here, together, right now. And no matter where you are, no matter the time or the space, I'll always be with you. My heart is yours to take wherever."

Cyrus continues to cry and Lance holds him, rubbing his back gently. A tear streams down his cheek but he wipes it away quickly.  He mutters under his breath as he looks up at the trees, "I guess we're both cry-babies, aren't we?"

After about five minutes Cyrus has stopped crying. He stays cradled against Lance who continues to rub his arm gently, his head leaned against Cyrus.

"Who knows, maybe I'll be able to follow you to your next world, like Charlie did. I mean, have you forgotten what a mate bond is? It's a bounding of souls." Cyrus watches Lance speak underneath his lashes, "Us wolves have a belief that if mates are torn apart, then they will find each other in another life. So I will meet you again. Even if I don't remember you, my soul will. And I'll fall in love with you all over again, in the next world and all of the worlds after that. I refuse to let you go that easily, Ethan."

Cyrus felt his heart spark with hope, but he quickly diminished that flame, "Lance, the only way that could happen is if you die. You have a life here, a family! I can't ask you to give all of that up for me. No, I refuse to."

"You don't have to ask. I've already made my decision."

Cyrus pushes himself away from Lance, "You don't know what you're saying! You need to move on. After I'm gone... it'll hurt, but, you'll find someone else."

Lance glares and Cyrus is taken aback by the furiosity in his voice, "How could you say that?! I will never find anyone better than you, so don't you dare say that!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Don't say that ever again." Lance orders.

"I won't..."

Lance sighs, running a hand through his hair, "You've already made such a huge impact in my life, Ethan. I couldn't move on from you even if I tried. If there is a chance to be with you again, no matter how slim, I'm going to take it."

Cyrus twiddles his thumbs, "I'll look for you." Lance blinks over at Cyrus who smiles sweetly, "In the next world."

Lance returns the smile. A smile that outmatched both the sun and the moon, "You better."