In a bed of red and white striped carnations awoke Ethan.

The first thing his eyes met were the dark starry night sky. The stars were impossibly bright, the sky incredibly clear. Ethan raised a hand to his chest, confused when he pulled away and found there wasn't a single trace of blood. He then took a moment to examine his hand. His skin was a light shade of umber brown. He was in a different body. But how?! He died, didn't he? He didn't complete his misson, how was he here, in his next world? It was impossible.

Ethan quickly sat up, taking time to examine his surroundings. He was in a perfectly circular parting in the middle of the woods. The tall oak trees surrounding him whistled in the cool night breeze, and crickets sang a sweet tune. Ethan looked down at his body. He was naked. But, strangely, not cold. He furrowed his brows and plucked one of the flowers from the bed underneath him. They were placed here, that much was obvious, but by who?

Ethan shook his head, 'Sai? Are you there?'

No answer. He started to panic, 'Hello? How am I here? What happened?'

But he was alone. No voice boomed in his head, monotone and robotic. And no memories either. There were no memories of this body or this new world. Ethan had absolutely no idea who he was or where he was. All he had were the painful memories of the previous world, that would continue to haunt him every time he closed his eyes. But this time would be different. This time, he wouldn't get close to anyone. This time, he would focus on completing his mission and that was it. It was best this way.

Ethan grew alert when he heard a branch snap. He looked towards the direction he heard it coming from and froze when he saw someone standing there, watching him. They were donning a long black cloak that covered their entire body and most of their face. It was hard to make out what they looked like as they were standing in the shadows.

"H-Hello?" Ethan spoke. He rubbed a hand against his throat as his voice was deeper than what he was used to. He was parched as well - incredibly thirsty.

At the sound of his voice, the figure suddenly dashed off into the trees. Ethan looked on in shock before standing to his feet and chasing after them. This person might have answers, this person had to know something. It was hard to keep up with them. They dashed in and out of trees, close, but always a step ahead. It was almost as if they weren't running away from Ethan - they were leading him somewhere. Ethan was concerned on how his legs weren't tiring. He was somehow full of energy. His legs were long and took swift strides. The adrenaline coursing through his veins felt good. He felt... alive.

The chase went on for a good ten minutes before Ethan had lost sight of the mysterious cloaked figure. He slowed to a stop and looked around. They had disappeared, just like that. He was sure he had his eyes right on them - and then he blinked, and they were gone. He was now in the middle of the woods, naked and alone. He took a deep breath and started taking a few steps forward. It was dangerous to be out in the middle of the woods this late at night. Who knows what is lurking and waiting to have him for dinner. Ethan didn't really want to find out.

"Cyrus..." An ethereal voice called to him from the right. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned his head, looking in the direction the voice had called to him from. The voice belonged to a woman. An older woman.

"Cyrus..." It called again, this time further away. Cyrus? Is that this body's name?

Having no where else to go, Ethan followed the sound of the voice. It continued to call to him, and he followed. He didn't question where the voice was coming from, or who it was. For whatever reason, it felt... familiar. He felt he could trust this voice, and wherever it led him.

He soon came across a clearing of trees, and along with his discovery, the voice had stopped. Ethan figured this is where is was leading him to. The moonlight shined through its branches, and Ethan took step after step until he had reached the clearing. It was a pond. The moonlight reflected off the clear crystal like water, and rippled in the wind. But what Ethan focused on more was the person standing in the middle of the small pond.

It was a man. His back was to Ethan. His muscles flexed when he moved to scrub a hand through his wet and dark chestnut hair. He turned to the side, and looked up towards the moon. His eyes were closed as he basked in the moonlight. The water that sat across his tanned skin sparkled like a thousand little stars. His perfectly plumped lips curved into a smile, so impossibly bright that the moon paled in comparison. Hair littered his sharp jaw into a small beard. That hair sprinkled across his defined chest and abdomen, where he very clearly sported a chiseled set of abs.

Tears ran down Ethan's cheeks at the sight of the man. Tears of familiarity and an overwhelming sorrow. The man snapped his head towards Ethan, finally noticing his presence. His eyes were a magnificent shade of amber. Gold seemed to swirl in his pools of amber - reaching out and capturing Ethan completely.

And then Ethan found himself falling forward, and into the warm arms of the man he seemed to have been looking for for a very long time. He let himself drift into unconsciousness, feeling safe and... at home.

Ethan was unaware of the man who stroked his face, smiling at the boy cradled in his arms who he once thought was lost to him forever. Whose inner wolf was screaming,

"Mate."

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