"Can you... say something else?" Lance asked, with puppy dog eyes - fitting considering he was exactly that.

"What?"

Lance smiled even brighter, "Your voice... it's pretty."

Cyrus frowned, pretty? My voice is pretty? How can a voice be pretty?

Lance was quick to add to his words, blushing, "I-I mean... uh... sorry, that was a wierd thing to say, wasn't it? You're pretty too! Very pretty..." He trailed off, admiring Cyrus's features.

Cyrus found himself blushing as well under his intense gaze.

"Haha!" Lance barked out a laugh, then proceeded to cough, embarrassed. He awkwardly squirmed from where he was sitting, rocking back and forth. He smiled awkwardly, avoiding Cyrus's curious gaze. His face became even redder.

He was acting like a schoolboy with a crush. Like he had never once experienced a crush on anyone before, like he was new to this whole 'love' thing. Cyrus found this... cute. He subconsciously smiled at Lance, deciding to break the awkward atmosphere between them, "Thank you."

Lance looked back, eyes widening at the sight of Cyrus's smile. His face grew impossibly red, and he hung his head low, covering his face with his hands, "Fuck..." He mumbled.

"What?" Cyrus frowned.

"It's n-nothing." He mumbled, barely coherent.

For the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in this world, Cyrus didn't expect him to be like this. Wasn't he also the most powerful werewolf? Strange.

"A-Anyway!" Lance cleared his throat, finally lifting his head. There was still a faint pink twinge to his cheeks, but he looked more composed compared to a second ago, "We should head back to the camp. And you... you should step away from the edge, I don't want you to fall."

He was... worried about me? Cyrus glanced over his shoulder. His hands were gripping the edge of the cliff. If he moved back even a inch, he would fall to his death. He hadn't realized he was this close to the edge, and his heart rate immediately picked up. He was obviously distracted with the whole information transfer thing, and the fact that werewolves actually exist.

He turns to find Lance with his hand outstretched, ready to pull Cyrus away from the edge. He was nervously glancing towards the edge of the cliff and towards Cyrus. Cyrus hesitantly lifted his hand and placed it in Lance's. It was big, and warm. The exterior was tough, and it wrapped around Cyrus's hand tightly the moment their skin made contact. Cyrus's breath hitched as he was pulled away from the edge and into a warm embrace. His eyes widened as his head leaned against a hard chest. He could heard Lance's heartbeat fast inside his chest, and his voice vibrated as Lance spoke, his breath tickling his ear, "Sorry, I don't really like heights."

This... this was different than what Cyrus was used to. This type of touching, it wasn't forced, compared to what Adonis used to touch him like. This was warm. Welcoming. He was comfortable, and he didn't have any thoughts of pulling away and running in the other direction. In these pair of arms, he felt safe. He felt... at home.

Lance didn't feel the need to pull away either. He gently wrapped his arms around the boy, pulling him even closer. He nuzzled his face into the nape of his neck, breathing deeply. That scent... Cyrus's scent... it drived him wild. He had never smelt something so sweet, so intoxicating. It drived his inner wolf crazy. After wanting for so long to hold Cyrus in his arms. He was finally convinced this wasn't a dream, like he had thought last night. For his mate to suddenly appear like that, right in front of him, after so many years of them being apart - it was surreal. He had held him in his arms and brought him back to his camp. By then everyone was asleep, or gone out hunting. He placed the boy in his bed, and was convinced when he woke up the next day that Cyrus would be gone. That this would be just another one of his torturous nightmare. But then he woke up, and he was still in his arms. He is right here, in his arms. Real, and alive. Safe, and with him.

This time he wouldn't let him out of his sight. This time, he would tell him what he truly felt for him - for he had regretted not doing so so many years ago.

But he needed to control himself. He didn't want to scare Cyrus, he just only got him back. So he pulled away, looking down at the boy. He stared into those innocent big brown eyes that stared back up at him. Damn it... he cursed at himself, forcing himself to look away. Everytime he looked at him, he felt like smothering him in kisses. No, control yourself, Lance. You are the Alpha, act like it.

He stood up, pulling Cyrus up along with him. He feigned a more composed expression, nodding his head towards the woods, "Come on."

He started walking towards the woods, pleased when he heard footsteps follow after him. He looked back multiple times to make sure Cyrus was still behind him. Worried Cyrus might disappear out of his sight, he slowed to walk shoulder to shoulder with Cyrus. He avoided eye contact as Cyrus looked over at him curiously. The pair walked in comfortable silence. Even when they were both lost in thoughts of each other, both peeking glances at each other when they thought they weren't looking. They once locked eyes with each other and equally looked away within a second.

They soon reached the camp after about ten minutes of now awkward silence between them. Everybody who was in the field now focused their attention on the pair. Cyrus noticed Lance now seemed more composed, dignified even, now under the eyes of his pack. He also noticed everyone seemed to hold an air of respect for him, as expected, he was their Alpha. They were more interested in the boy at his side, who has remained a mystery the entire morning. It was strange to Cyrus to think that all of them were supernatural creatures. Each and every one of them.

Cyrus focused on the house he hadn't gotten a proper look at until now. It was huge. There seemed to be rooms upon rooms, and there was quite obviously more than one floor. It was more a mansion than a house. A rustic cabin-like mansion. This must be this pack's base. Due to Sai's sudden information hard drive, he knew that not everyone lived here. Only the most important members of the pack lived here. Others lived not too far away in their own houses or camps. Those who live here are the Alpha, Lance. His trusted beta, Rudy, who was the heavily accented boy Cyrus had met earlier. One of the few omegas, Carolyn, the girl he had met earlier, and then a couple of higher ups that acted as body guards if anything to keep this place secure.

Lance guided Cyrus towards the front porch, with a hand placed on his lower back. Everyone but Cyrus focused heavily on this detail. Lance and Cyrus climbed the steps. Already waiting on the porch were Rudy and Carolyn. Rudy was at the very top of the staircase, eagerly waiting to greet his Alpha, while Carolyn lingered in the back, staring holes into Cyrus.

Rudy piped up, "Lanny, you're back! Knew you'd find the little runt."

A glare from Lance quickly shut up Rudy and made him bow his head in submission. Carolyn snickered.

Once the pair had reached the top of the stairs, they had both turned around. Knowing their Alpha was requesting an audience, a crowd soon formed at the bottom of the staircase. Everyone was silent as they awaited his words.

Lance spoke with authority, "Everyone, meet Cyrus," He moved his hand from the small of his back to his side, protectively pulling him closer, "My mate."

The crowd was silent as they now acknowledged the boy by his side with new found respect. The Alpha's mate deserved just the same amount of respect as the Alpha. Rudy and Carolyn were both silent as they now knew why their Alpha had been obsessing over this boy. Lance then smiled down at the boy, and that seemed to shock everyone more than the fact their Alpha had finally found a mate. Their Alpha never smiled. He was usually quiet, reserved, stoic. And yet, he showed a completely different side when he was next to this boy.

Lance walked away in towards the front door with a quiet Cyrus by his side. Once they had entered through the front door, a stir of conversation flooded throughout the small crowd. The crowd soon dispersed as they continued on with their day, yet the Alpha and his new mate would remain the center of conversation for the rest of the day. Including the Alpha's smile, whom some considered lucky having witnessed it.

Rudy approached the silent Carolyn as they were still standing on he porch, "You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" She clapped back.

Rudy cleared his throat, "Well I know that you and Lanny were - "

"I'm fine," She interrupts, "Don't you have anything better to do?"

Rudy sighs, running a hand through his hair, "Yeah, I'm in charge of running a group through the woods. Wanna come along?"

"No."

"It's better than moping around here all day."

"I'm not moping!" Carolyn hisses defensively.

"Just c'mon, stop being so stubborn."

Carolyn rolls her eyes, "Ugh, fine." She pushes past Rudy and races down the steps towards the woods where a small group is waiting. Rudy smirks down to himself before following after her.

-

Cyrus allows himself to be dragged by Lance into the large mansion. Lance doesn't seem to notice he still has his arm wrapped around Cyrus's waist, but Cyrus does. He doesn't say anything about it though, decisively.

They walk past an open kitchen and a living area. Each are as grand as the outside of the house proved to be. They walked up a set of stairs and to a door. Cyrus half expected it to be Lance's room, but was proven wrong,

"This is your room," Lance opens the door and allows Cyrus to step inside.

The room was huge, neatly and nicely decorated. It fit the whole rustic feel of the entire rest of the house. Lance leaned against the doorframe, "I figured you'd be more comfortable in your own room, so I had Rudy fix up one of the guest rooms for you to stay in while you were uh... gone."

Mates would usually share a room, but Lance had been considerate and understanding of what Cyrus must of been feeling at the time. Cyrus was more comfortable with having his own room. He had processed the whole 'mate' thing, but he still wasn't entirely comfortable with it.

Cyrus turned to face Lance with a small smile, "Thanks, it's perfect."

Lance looked away immediately, a blush creeping up on his cheeks, "Yeah, course!" He then cleared his throat, "I'll give you some time to settle in. My room is right next door if you need anything."

"Okay."

Lance slowly looked back to meet Cyrus's eyes. He shined a shy smile, "Okay. I'll be leaving now." He then turned, his hand on the handle, ready to close the door, "Again, I'm right next door."

Cyrus nodded. Lance nodded as well, and then slowly proceeded to close the door. He peeked his head through the small space, "Oh! The bathroom is across the hall, and uh... there's already some spare clothes in the dresser for you. You sure you don't need anything? Water? Soda? The fridge is stocked."

Cyrus shook his head and Lance slowly nodded, "Okay, I'll leave you be then. Dinner's at five. I'll stop by then." He finally closed the door, leaving Cyrus alone in his new room.

Cyrus shook his head, smirking. Cute...

He then looked around his room some more. He walked over to the wide dresser, where a mirror was overhead. It was strange seeing yet another new face staring back at him. He was starting to forget what he himself, Ethan, looked like.

This face was a diamond shape. His skin was golden brown and soft. Starting from his hair - it was short and black, coarse and textured. His eyebrows were a matching black and were slightly arched, and sat perfectly above his gentle chocolate brown eyes. His nose was short and stocky, and his lips were full and plump. Cheekbones highlighted his cheeks, but his face still held a certain softness and gentleness.

He was also taller. 5'11 perhaps, but compared to Lance he was still short. That man was 6'2, maybe taller. Cy's body was fairly average. He didn't have very much muscle definition, but he was still relatively fit. As he was checking out his new body, he noticed a strange birthmark peeking out from underneath the hem of his sweatpants. He pulled them down a bit to study the birthmark. It was strange. It almost looked like a moon. A crescent moon. It was right next to his hip, and he wouldn't have noticed it unless he were looking. It was small, but noticable. The color was a faint red, a tint brighter than his skin tone.

He decided not to think much of it. He stared into the mirror, deciding to call for Sai yet again. Sai was obviously there, he had clearly heard him earlier with his montone voice echoing in his head.

'Sai?' He called.

[Yes, host?]

He sighed with relief, 'Finally! Where the hell were you?!'

[My system was being updated, Host. The previous Sai proved faulty and has been replaced with an updated version.]

Cyrus frowned, 'Updated? Faulty? So you're... a different Sai?'

[Correct.]

He asked the one question that still hadn't been answered in his time being here, 'Sai, how am I here? I hadn't completed my mission in the last world, I don't understand how I'm here right now.'

[Host is incorrect. The mission from the previous world has been completed. Host was most popular during his death.]

He thought back on the countless students surrounding him before he died, 'My death... saved me?' He scoffed, 'Hah, how ironic. Then, what about this body's memories? Why haven't I recieved a memory transfer?'

[...]

'Hello?'

[Information unknown.]

'Information unknown? What do you it's unknown?!' Cyrus became frustrated. He wanted to know why he woke up in the woods, naked. He wanted to know who that mysterious figure was. He wanted to know about his forgotten past with Lance.

'Fine, then answer me this - why did you make my mate the one I'm supposed to kill?'

[Host does not have to kill Lance Greywolf in order to achieve his mission, Host must become more powerful than Lance Greywolf.]

'I don't have to kill him?' He didn't know why, but he felt relieved. 'Then, how do I become more powerful than him?'

[Host must awaken his inner wolf.]

'My... what? How do I do that?'

[Information unknown.]

'Again with this? Are you serious? I'm done with you, you're absolutely no help whatsoever.'

[Sai must inform Host that 10,000 points has been transferred to his account after the completion of the last world's mission. Host now has a total of 10,200 points.]

'Yeah, like I'm ever using the store again...'

Cyrus took a deep breath as he processed the new information. Okay, so killing Lance was just an option. The easiest option, but also the most gruesome. There wasn't a chance in hell he was going to kill somebody - that was out of the question. So his only option was to become stronger than Lance. How? Apparently he had to 'awaken his inner wolf.' That meant that he, too, was a werewolf. He didn't exactly feel like one. He felt human, but then again, what does being a werewolf feel like? But that did explain some things... like how he had been able to jump from a second story window without breaking his legs. And how he was able to run for so long, so fast, without breaking a single sweat. He was superhuman. That was kinda cool.

But how was he supposed to awaken his wolf? Why wasn't it already awake? He couldn't just say "wakey wakey" and expect it to wake up, it was never that easy. He knew something was there, however. That this body didn't only belong to him. His wolf was with him, like it had always been. Wake up, you bastard, Cyrus thought to himself. There was no response, as expected. Luckily, Cyrus still had two months to figure this out. It was less time than he had for his last world, but it was enough.

Maybe he would try to ask someone else for help with his little issue. Someone that, too, was a werewolf. Perhaps his mate knew something about this.

He decided to go ask him.