* * * 

The day had finally come, and Remus knew that tearing the family away from the sanctuary would be new and worrying, so he decided that today they would shift.

It wasn't that hard to herd them out of the den, it was more of keeping them inside the den that caused the most trouble. And Ronan had already tried to sneak past his father on multiple nights to get a better glance of the moon, and while Sage laughed—She encouraged him to go out with Ronan and look up and enjoy the goddess and her light.

Rue was absolutely terrified of the dark, so Remus curled around her for protection and it earned him a thankful few whines and whimpers. But he didn't want her to be afraid of the dark—He didn't want her to be afraid of anything.

So while Ronan was adventures, Rue was cautious. But either would get up and didn't give up in terms of playing and wrestling back and forth.

This morning, in particular, Remus had sought out early and hunted to bring Sage breakfast as she hadn't eaten since lunch. Neither had he.
Their methods of eating had been back and forth, though if the pack hadn't caught wind of their Alpha's scent in a timespan of two whole days—Eli had ordered a few hunts to leave them one at the ready, and it was fairly easy to smell the blood from where they were stationed in the sanctuary.

After Sage had gotten a bite to eat, and he finished off the rest—The two cleaned one another's faces from the blood before getting down to business.

Tomorrow would be the day they returned back, but Sage was a wiggling mess at the idea of seeing the lil munchkins shift. And thus she barked impatiently for their attention, and they gave it to their mama.

Though their bums were hovering off the ground and their tails flapping this way and that.

Remus had been the first to shift, his bones aching as they hadn't needed to be rearranged for long that it felt unnatural. But he trusted his wolf to submerge back into his subconscious and thus, he was displayed as a human before his pups.

And they stared at him in full fledge shock, until they whined and hid in between their mother's legs at the strange-looking creature.

Pups don't like skin?

"I guess not...Ronan? Rue?"

Of course the pups could hear their parents speaking over the family link, but they didn't have anything more than sounds to respond to the conversation.

But their heads tilted at the sound of their names that Sage's excitement had been issued in the tippy tapping of her front paws. But after a few moments of no movement, Sage nudged her son and daughter both before looking at the male.

Soon she rose and came into a greeting hug to her mate, and he welcomed her in open arms. "Careful shifting hun, definitely going to be a little sore." He said in between receiving kisses from Sage, and that interested Rue right then and there.

She had taken the first few steps, until Ronan tackled her and growled at his father in defense.

He's protective.

Good. I feel bad for Rue's mate in the future.

Long time, Remmy. Go say hi.

She said, parting to the side as Remus let his hand become the offering to the two pups. And it ended in the two fighting over being in their father's hold.

Leaving Sage the opportunity to shift.

Remus was right, Sage's bones felt strange—Stranger than normal. The last time she was in skin, she was still pregnant with the twins. And the painful groans and sharp breaths caused him to worry.

They were going off Jade's experience, but then again. Twins had done a lot more to her body than a single pup.

When she found herself shifted, it was clear that she was crying from the pain. Her hand had gone to her lower abdomen and she laid down further into the patch of grass to get her breathing in order.

However the scent of their mother was much larger than that of their father, and the stampede of the two puppies caused her to huff. In warning that she couldn't entertain them at the moment.

"Munchkin?"
"Hurts." She responded, her eyes squeezing shut as she tried to lessen the tension. When the pups had tried to approach their mother, Remus scooped them up and tried to handle them and their squirming.

"Mama needs a minute..." He whispered, kissing both on the top of the head. But to make Sage feel all the bit better, just as they were calming down, Remus passed Rue just beside her mama.

And it was easy for the pups to identify her, as her tender breasts still produced the same milk that they needed. And when Rue licked, it caused her mama to giggled and pick her up. Letting her rest in between them, distracting her from the pain.

Remus found himself going to lay beside her, and while Ronan wanted to run around a bit more, he was very curious about the change of his parents.

"Can you shift for me, bud? You can do it too, this fur is only temporary." Remus dwelled, his hand scratching just behind the pup's ear. And it earned him a rather happy yowl that Sage had done the same to Rue, and the little girl ended up licking her mama's fingers instead.

"Maybe they're not ready to shift?" Sage asked, and it earned her the attention of both pups and she smiled. "Ronan? Can you shift?" She said, speaking ever so calmly. And the pup had risen up from his stomach, his little paws tickling his father as he started to feel the beginning stages of shifting for the first time.

Both his parents gave words of encouragement, but Rue was whining in complete and utter worry. Curling up and away from the image before her, and before either knew it—A babbling baby had taken the place of the pup—and he resembled an almost five-month-old human child.

Though their diet would still be breast milk for a few more weeks, that was the main difference between the two.

Ronan had caught sight of his sister on mama's chest and wiggled, but realized he was rather limited in this form than the other. Leaving him to make a grumpy and pouting face.

And Sage giggled. "He doesn't like skin..."
"He's a pup either way, it's alright bud. Soon you're going to be crawling in skin too, just have to wait, alright?" Ronan hadn't a clue of what his parents were saying, and instead starting knawing on his hands. Liking the difference between this than his paws.

His eyes looked beautiful, and Sage felt herself growing lost at how perfect her pup is—The both of them.

But now her interest laid to rest in seeing what Rue would look like.

"Little flower? Shift." It was an ingrained word for their kind, and it was meant that a wolf would simply know. But Rue whined again, almost like she was saying no.

"Rue, sweetheart...You can do it, just like your brother. There's no need to be scared, come." Remus whispered so softly, and Ronan added a smile at the end of their father's speech.

And so Rue found herself stretching her limbs this way and that, blinking rapidly before her back hunched and a sharp painting pierced the air.

Remus had known plenty of fear in his life, but he didn't think it would already involve the survival of his daughter. This was a conversation he had private with Kenzie, and the signs of a dying pup started to check the boxes for Rue.

But Sage continued to whisper to her, her guttural growls were firm and made directions that Rue could surely hear. And just like that, Remus' fear had diminished the second he took in the sight of Rue's human form draped over her mama.

"See...You could do it." Sage reminded, giving the girl a kiss on the top of her head. And the four of them laid in the dirt, listening to the giggles and gurgles of the babies before it was time to shift back into fur for their final night.

Remus compromised with Sage, that perhaps they can come and visit one day with the pups later on. But it wasn't right, the next time Remus and Sage would find themselves here would be for their next pup.

The night had seemed to pass far too quickly, and before Remus knew it...He found himself hunting for their final meal. After killing it, he threw his head back up and howled—Alerting the pack that they were returning back, but the sound was to Sage.

So when she shared her own tune, it was only then that others found it acceptable.

The pups were ecstatic to hear others like them, their little 'whowho' fueled Sage's excitement as well. Urging them to keep playing, and keep practicing their howls.

Sounds like I'm missing a party.

They listen to pack howls, very excited.

Remus dropped the collected bunnies to his mate's feet, it was much lighter and they would probably be eating dinner in their house. So it didn't need to be a lot, just enough to last a few hours.

Sage took the time to eat the first two, while the pups pawed the furry creature. But Remus thought it rather funny to move his paw, making the pups jump in the thought that it was still alive as his paw simulated that it had indeed hopped.

That was mean!

Sage laughed, her wolf enjoying it just as much as he was. But that didn't take away the aspect of scaring the pups, it only caused Ronan to tackle the dead bunny, nipping at the skin and tearing just a bit to draw blood. Sage nuzzled her way in between her son and the bunny, and once she locked it into her mouth, she growled lightly that this was not for him.

This was her meal.

Ronan backed off, sitting back on his bum with his tongue out. While Rue leaned into her brother, watching their mother in pure astonishment in eating their former toy.

Need more?

No. I want a chicken sandwich when we get home, and maybe a shower...Pups need a bath too.

Remus groaned, he doubted bath time would be as fun and excited as Jade made it out to be. But alas, it was an inevitable activity. So for the next half hour, they played until the pups were dwindling in energy—Enough so that they would perhaps sleep when arriving at their new home.

Sage had shifted first this time, petting the pups who were in fur this time around while Remus went to go and fetch their clothes. After the howl, the pack would be waiting near the border of the sanctuary, and Remus took a peek to see how excited the pack was.

So he hurried with the duffle bag in his mouth to return it back to his family.

The only thing the pups have seen their father return with is food, so they greeted him with the same energy as before. But the strange scents threw them in overdrive, yet Remus dropped the bag just before Sage—Who unzipped it and sighed in relief.

"She packed a dress." The idea of clothes felt odd now, but it was entirely foreign for the pups to see their parents getting dressed. Or their mother putting her hair into a braid, it interested Rue as she started biding the tips.

"Noooo. No flower, that hurts." Sage let out a whine, and Rue instantly let go and nuzzled into her mama's thigh in apology.

"Can you shift for me?" Her mother tempted, and in an attempt to continue her apology, Rue had done just that. They had practiced a bit more before they went to bed yesterday, and they knew the word very well now.

However, Ronan was being defiant and instead sat in the bag. Almost like he knew what the plan was, and didn't want to be dressed in anything.

"Good thing they packed a boy and girl outfit, yeah?" Sage smiled as she pressed Rue into her chest, cradling her with a hand behind her head. Shushing her through the little bits of pain the pup still felt.

And Ronan barked in retaliation. Earning him a growl from his father.

"Ronan. Shift, now." Sage said, but it was more of a command. The firmness held no room for arguments or tantrums, so the next time Sage looked up, there was a ready and willing babysitting in the duffle bag.

"Just like your mother, always trouble."
"Hey!" Sage retaliated, but the two went to work in dressing up the pups in the clothes. It was expected that they were a pouting mess, as the confining fabric and limited actions made them rather fussy.

But Sage settled it with snuggles and kisses, and held both the pups while Remus was readying the cloth that would hold the pup—Much like a harness.

"Are you hungry for more than deer and bunnies?" Sage asked, as it was her version of 'what are you craving?'

"Hmm, I was thinking a burger, fries...Maybe a smoothie." She almost moaned at the idea of all this food, but rose to her feet. Both babies feeling the drastic change in height close to instantly as they twisted and turned their heads around.

Figuring out the harness wasn't that difficult, it was fitting them both into it that really proved to be difficult. So it was decided that Rue would be in the cloth, and Sage would carry Ronan on the side—Seeing as how their shy daughter might not like all the pack's eyes directly on her.

The walk through the words intrigued the pups, course they explored it in fur. It was different now, their senses a little duller and their eyes unable to capture everything.

But it was then that they captured the pack's signature smell, and Ronan whined in anticipation.

"Almost little Alpha, almost," Remus whispered, kissing the top of the boy's head. With one hand carrying the duffle bag, and the other wrapping around Sage's waist—The two walked the given way towards the crowd.

All shushing one another, but it was a continuous game of moving and catching a glimpse.

Sage had caught her father in the crowd, and she smiled brightly at him...Right down the line of others, that she felt the warmth and tranquility that a pup would bring.

Remus stopped walking and Sage had followed his lead, which allowed Eli and Julia to make their way forward. Their duty of acting Alpha and Luna was being uplifted, and so they both bent down onto one knee. Restoring back the pack's link and reign back to the proper line.

Once that had been over with, either had risen back to their feet. Eli had gone to Remus' side, just a step behind, while Julia mirrored it just on Sage's.

Jackson had followed in pursuit all the same, but there was no Delta female to add to Sage's side. However, Shawn and his mate, Jessi, had been the last to fulfill this role.

"Members of Crescent Moon, I am so very proud to introduce you to your future Alpha, our son...Ronan Moon." Sage had pulled away the blanket just a tad, and showcased the blue outfit the pup had been wearing. And close to instantly the crowd cheered. But the higher tiers had caught wind of the Alpha couple's secret, so when Remus rose his hand again.

"...And just like Hayes predicted, the moon goddess has also gifted us a daughter, Rue Moon." Hayes' laugh had almost triumphed the pack's applause, twins had been unexpected, but never the less a blessing.

The two females on Sage's side instantly took a proper peek inside the wrappings and gushed over how beautiful a pup Rue is. And Remus had received so many proud slaps on the shoulder from his males that neither could really break the bad news—Hayes already said that it was a later issue.

So it would be dealt with later.

Speaking of Hayes, he had taken the given steps forward and smiled down to Sage. His eyes were so soft and very proud that she stepped forward and hugged the male, leaving the twins to be embraced by their grandfather's smell.

Though to them, it would be categorized as familiar, and this close encounter would aid them later.

"Twins...Goddess, Harlow's going to be a mess," Hayes said, and Remus smirked in seeing a tear in his in-law's eyes.

"Getting emotional on us, old man?" The former Alpha couldn't even deny it, instead, he held open his arms for Remus as well. "Well done, son." The acceptance was more than Remus could handle himself, and the stoic face he returned to Hayes' declaration caused the older male to laugh again.

"Let's get you four home...Sure these two can use with some sleep," Hayes said, tickling Ronan just under his chin and a shrieking giggling to grace the crowd.

Remus had taken the future Alpha, so Sage could focus on just holding Rue.

The walk through the tunnel of pack members gave them all a peek. Course, over the next few weeks, they would be seen a lot more. And Amy had joined the group that would be following them home, just to get acquainted with the pups early on than later.

It had been a decent few minutes, but the walk home gave them the proper introduction that allowed the pack to catch a glimpse. However, when they arrived at the house, a strike of sadness graced her rather abruptly.

She was no longer pregnant, and while it was a little difficult at times, she felt herself starting to miss them so close.

So she pulled Rue even closer to her chest and went to go sit on the couch and cuddle her properly.

"So my question is: Did you Sage know that it was twins all along?" Luke called out as he entered the home, smirking at his sister—Though her returning smile was not at all the 'teasing' grin that usually spoke more words than Sage.

"No. Surprised too. But it's okay, look how cute Rue is." She boasted, and Luke—The male-built-like tank found himself coming closer to Sage and leaning over the couch to peek underneath the bundle.

Rue stared wide-eyed at the strange male and whimpered. "It's okay...Shsh, it's okay." Rue's cries hadn't been all that rash, it was more of her being uncomfortable. Leaving Grandpa Hayes to come forth and offer his care.

"Come on munchkin, Hayes' will keep her safe while you get washed up." The idea of a shower seemed like such a blessing that she contemplated it before looking down at the little girl in he arms. "But pup's need bath too." She reminded, and Remus rolled his eyes.

"You head up first, then we'll get the pups cleaned up later. Sound good?" Sage nodded, starting to take the bindings off her body, and lifted the baby into her arms properly.

"This is Grandpa, he's going to give you some cuddles...I'll be right back, okay?" Sage whispered, letting her words drift into the pup's ear and out. And while it didn't make much sense to talk to a pup like a person, it ended with a kiss and a passing of the pup.

Hayes was the first person to hold Rue other than her parents, and to make matters even better. He sat on the couch to make it easier for Ronan to join him in the other arm.

"Natural grandpa, huh?" Remus chimed, and the older Alpha shrugged. Slightly smug that neither of the pups seemed all that fussy.

Sage soon hurried upstairs to take a shower and dressed into something more comfortable, yet this was the first time that the pup's mama had been farther than their general view, and when Rue couldn't smell or hear her mom...The beginning cries started as a wail, staining her grandfather's shirt within the minute.

Which left Remus to take Rue, and while it calmed the little girl down—She needed a distraction, and the males in the room did just that.

Offering the little female anything and everything to spoil her rotten.

"Seems like they have more Mystic Grimm genes, Moon." Remus swore that he'd wait for Sage to see her dad's reaction in seeing the pup's fur coats.

And while it was difficult, another pressing matter soon arose. It was better to warn the Alpha—Without Sage in the room—As Remus understood the risks.

They would solve any issues and problems as soon as possible.

______

Date: 12-27-2021

Time: 8:29

Words: 3576

Author's Note:

So much pup love this chapter, I'm weak! 

But what could Hayes be telling Remus that he didn't want Sage to know? Something is brewing, and it isn't good!

Comment what you think could be happening or any predictions you might have! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Alright, the next update is for 'The Luna of Crescent Moon' on Wednesday, then we'll be back to posting Chapter Three on Friday!