The Systems Prince (DISCONTINUED)

[2.10]

The week passed by in a blur. Since the night Carolyn got attacked, there haven't been any incidents with the Bloodmoon pack. It seems they gave up whatever they have planned... for now. Carolyn has gotten better, for the most part. Apparently, werewolf bites can be fatal to other werewolves. But, if survived, it can take a week or two to fully heal. Lance has been actively by her side during her recovery, which disheartened Cyrus. He wanted to know why the two were so close, closer than the rest of the pack members. Lance didn't want to tell him why just yet, but that only left Cyrus feeling more and more jealous at their interactions. How Lance would take it upon himself to clean her wounds, and cook her meals himself. Cyrus tried to convince himself they were just close friends, but his anxiety only continued to fester as he watched them.

When she wasn't constricted to her bed anymore, Carolyn joined the other pack members in training, even if she is just ordering them around or simply standing on the sidelines. The camp has been ordered not to leave camp grounds, so all of the training now takes place in the yard in front of the house. It's pretty crowded, but overall homely. Lance and Cyrus have been stuck together like glue. They take every opportunity to touch each other, or Lance does. Cyrus doesn't mind when Lance holds his hand, or slings his arm around his shoulder, or hugs him. He craved those moments of attention, when he wasn't so focused on Carolyn. With Lance by his side, Cyrus has found it pretty easy to befriend a few of the pack members. He stops to have conversations or to sometimes partake in training, showing off his strength. He gleams with pride when they praise him.

Cyrus has begun to get used to this life amongst his pack. Lance has insisted he partake in meetings with Rudy and Carolyn, and then a few of the other higher up pack members. Though he mostly stands off to the side listening, sometimes Cyrus picks up on useful information. Specifically, their battle plans for the blood red moon. Which route to take through the woods, where to camp out, how they plan to attack in groups with Lance leading the pack. He didn't particularly like how Lance wanted Cyrus to stay behind, safe and guarded here at the house. He voiced his argument, and Rudy actively areed with Cyrus, considering he had witnessed Cyrus's strength and how he could be a huge advantage. Still, Lance silenced the both of them, not wanting to put his mate in any danger. Cyrus knew he would have to somehow convince Lance to let him join the attack, otherwise he would have to sneak out and go against his wishes.

Five or six days into the week, Cyrus had began to notice something strange going on with Lance. He had begun to distance himself from Cyrus. He didn't touch Cyrus or smile as much as he used to. Cyrus at first thought it because of Carolyn, but he saw he was the same way around her and the rest of the camp. He grew more and more concerned as he spent a lot of time in his room. When Cyrus tried to join him, Lance would apologize and brush him off. Cyrus saw a glimpse of all the books strewn across his room.

When Cyrus asked Rudy about it, he said, "Oh, he gets like this sometimes. Don't worry so much about it."

Cyrus only worried even more. Just what exactly is he so focused on? What's more important than giving me attention? Once that question was brought up in his mind, he realized just how much he had grown dependent on Lance. How much he grown to care about him. Maybe even... no, Cyrus still kept his distance from Lance to a certain degree.

It was soon Saturday, the end of the week. It was midnight, and Cyrus was sat in his room, leaning against the wall where just on the other side was Lance. For about an hour now, Cyrus has been listening. He had found it hard to sleep, worrying so much about Lance, so to help him sleep, he sits in this exact spot and listens to Lance. The same noises, repeated. The flipping of pages, the creaking of floorboards as he walks around the room, the scratching of a pencil writing on paper... and his faint heartbeat. All of these noises have served as Cyrus's lullaby for the last few days.