* * *

There most certainly was a bear in that direction. Not only did it supply fresh meat for the rest of their journey to Crescent Moon. But Andy thought it hilarious that it matched Sage's cloak in fur color.

What had started as a few hard days of traveling to gain more ground had ultimately turned into a good portion of the day spent moving, while the rest focused on Torin's promise.

Training long and hard with their gifted supplies of mined silver ore was strenuous and long, but Sage started to favor using the duel blades. Andy thought it best to give her two halves as a whole if she started to get tired.

Learning either formation required more work, but it was worth it—especially when Sage found herself leaving the makeshift shelter all dressed up in her bear fur and ready to return home.

"Hey, maybe if we're lucky. We'll make it in time for Christmas!" Grey cheered, and Sage's smile turned wide. It wouldn't be the pup's first Christmas, but returning in time for the festivities would still be a blessing.

It was hard not to think kindly of the memories she'd made since arriving at Crescent Moon, Christmas night being one of the biggest that came to the forefront of the rest.

It was when Sage and Remus had finally accepted the bond and mated for the first time.

Bite and all.

It had caused her to stare aimlessly down into the remains of the fire pit just by her boots. The tips of her fingers ran delicately across the outline of the flickering fire, rejoicing in what had happened that night.

If she dug deep, she could remember the phantom pulse of feeling Remus on the other end of it, but it had been silent for so long that Sage wondered if it could ever be revived.

Amid her disappointment, Torin had eyed Sage closely, knowing full well that the she-wolf was nervous. And with proper cause.

If anything, the newcomer didn't mask his confusion about her situation. But after hearing out the finer details, he understood that Alpha Andy had left her in a bit of a bind, though that didn't escape the feelings either had for the other.

You know...I don't think Alpha Andy's taken a good look at your tattoo.

My tattoo? Yes, he has. He said it's nice.

That's the symbol of a high-ranking pack member, specifically those markings claiming that you're Luna.

The surrounding wolves were currently working on packing the bags and pouches to already shifted wolves, but Sage stood her ground—Her nose twitching underneath the bear's head.

Be prepared for a fight.

Sage had initially turned away, thinking the conversation had been done with, but Torin's haunting words had pulled her back.

That's what Luna Alanna said in Oak Woods. I'm worried.

As you should be. I've never met Remus Moon, but I've heard plenty about the family—I'm surprised Andy hasn't figured it out yet.

I told him my adopted last name. He doesn't know about me, Half Crescent was Rogue pack. Not connected with packs in America or Canada.

From then on, Torin had sworn that he would attempt to stop any doubt brewing a fight. Even if he didn't know the extent of what Sage had promised Andy and vice versa, their united front did not come without some risks to their image.

Yet the foreign male could smell a blood pact miles away, and the two reeked of it—He hoped it wouldn't turn out as horrific as his Wolf was foreseeing it to be.

However that was beside the question, Torin would relay any and all hopeful details that her Mate was probably doing alright. And while he didn't have constant contact with his own Mate, he wouldn't know what he'd do if she were suddenly stripped away from him.

His morals were different than those in the states, and most definitely different from a female who spent her whole life in captivity.

Though either admired the other just the same, he found her little quirks adorable—But in a fatherly way, now that he knew who she was and what she planned to do.

Besides, his children were much older than herself.

"So, how far is Crescent Moon from here?" Chase questioned, setting a pack onto the next shifted beast in line.

Torin laughed, "Oh, about a few hundred miles, give or take. You're up for a run?" The indication of a run caused Sage to pique her interest, but that was certainly not an option when dozens of others could keep up the pace.

Including two precious little wolves with their bunnies strapped to their backs. 

"I bet Sage is," Severin teased, coming just from behind her with a smile, "Come on, this isn't a race. You'll see your pups soon," Severin said, placing a hand on her shoulder to firmly grasp that this was the final stretch.

It was now the first week of December, and it was taking its toll on Sage's heart. 

A Luna shouldn't be nine months from her pack. It was unheard of.

She could only hope it was in at least somewhat the same condition as she last saw it in. Had she known it would be this long, she would've hugged Remus and her pups—Everyone just a bit tighter.
But that dream would turn into a reality soon enough.

Looking down at her chest, she caught sight of the newly crafted necklace. Andy didn't spare any expense in gifting her the bear's claws and teeth, having worked with the witches and wolves to design it around the gem that granted her the freedom to shift without worry.

Goddess, she couldn't get enough of it. She hadn't taken it off since. Nor did he want her to.

He mentioned that Mates of any kind, even those dancing around the idea, would gift their females presents to show how thankful they are.
Whether it was a fresh kill or otherwise, she recalled Remus' gift near their anniversary: their first deer skull, a body pillow to help her sleep, and maternity clothes.

This was Andy's version of that, though presented at a time when Sage was still restless with what was about to happen. Even if her wolf adored the attention and found herself pondering the idea, it had taken Sage a few times to redirect herself back to the tasks, and she was stuck wondering what exactly it meant for Andy to gift her something of the sort when she already told him that it wasn't possible.

They were planning to travel long and hard today, as the weather was turning for the worst as a cold front was

Once she shifted to fur, Andy placed her pack onto her shoulders. Most of it was her clothes and stones, which were weightless due to the enchantments.

Wiggling out her fur, she felt the straps tighten, and the laughter started through. "You want me to hold this stuff?" He asked, though he always received the same reply—a bark of defiance as she stepped away the second he finished.

All set! Let's go!

Her excitement sometimes annoyed Andy, and he felt awful for feeling this way.
His promise would expire soon, and he would have to sacrifice her Mate and his image for Crescent Moon to be able to keep Sage.

His sanity depended on that notion and what he said to Alanna. Severin and Grey stood behind whatever their Alpha decided, though they remained silent on their opinions and thoughts.

Thankfully, the skies remained silent for the first day, but the second day didn't hold out the same. This means they had to backtrack to the safety of the cave, leaving Torin to watch in awe at how Sage was not only a titled Luna with previous experience but also a Mistress to the coven surrounding them.

When they stopped in the late afternoon, it didn't mean their activities were cut short. Torin took special care in training Half Crescent. If they were going to supply Sage's pack with the knowledge they held about the Draugr, they'd need to be fully prepared to continue passing it forward.

Torin had more responsibilities than just America and undead Wolves running around, but Sage hoped she could one day meet Sigrid, his mate. Or even his children.

"Ander!" Torin roared, "It's time you show me what you've learned."

Andy huffed and stepped away from Severin, his current sparring partner. Sage turned over her shoulder to catch his aggravation, making her pout.

"Salvie, join us! Come and watch your male!" 

Torin had become the pack's designated Master in Arms with how he functioned and pushed the pack to improve. Not only that, but he reminded Sage of Leo outright. She smiled in greeting and stood right alongside Severin as they watched their Alpha's movements in an attempt to overpower Torin.

It was difficult for the Luna to watch, not in the sense of violence, no. At this point, she was more than numb to blood and gore. Instead, she had trouble not joining in on such a glorious fight.

Not to mention the lingering comments that sparked in her mind upon watching Andy.

"He's getting stronger...I'm guessing you can smell the Alpha in him much better than the rest of us." Severin teased, only for her to nudge him in the side and scoff. Comments like this suggested more than what was happening between Sage and Andy.

 Yet a promise is a promise, no matter the reasoning behind it. "He wants to kill Draugr and protect me from bad vampire man." Sage reminded.

"That bad vampire man will regret everything he's done to you and then some, you know that, right?" Severin added. And while endearing to say, Sage had to be careful not to get too excited by the prospect of an end.

To be allowed to sleep peacefully, the vampire in question wasn't anywhere on the horizon. His presence and work would be eliminated from the world entirely. Usually, Sage's dreams are filled with a beautiful fight that ends in decapitating the cruel man.

Well, when she is blessed to have dreams, that is. Sometimes, the nightmares would taunt her of being back in confinement. 

Back with him.

Thankfully, Torin had redirected the group and spoke about the horrors it took to mandate and control the Dragur that they were made solely to hunt them, as it'd seem.

The witches claimed tracking him through the wolf's remains would be best course of action, which they planned to do once they were situated. With the theory of a blood ritual, finding Armond that way could be more effective than waiting for him to appear.

"Salvie! Join in!" Torin encouraged, and it gave Andy a heart attack to see that she joined in without hesitation and the sudden clanking of silver, yet when Sage separated one half, she took the first slashing of Torin—Causing the large male to laugh at the temptation. "Choosing sides already, Luna?" He taunted, and she grinned with another strike followed by Andy's interception.

"You can't corrupt her against me, Torin." Andy spoke with directed ease, as if he wasn't planning on acting on a betrayal that he knew, without a doubt, would change their little relationship.

There were no more sweet gazes or relaxing evenings to speak with Sage, not when they were so close and completely overwhelmed with the idea of traveling with such a large group to take care of.

"Salvie, you would make a fine warrior in my pack...You've grown stronger from our training!" That had certainly played a role, especially when Torin was a blessed Master of Arms.

It does not matter if he doesn't have the title back home.

"I like the name Ander." She said, a slight nudge to his shoulder catching him off guard. Leaving him to struggle with his next move against a very determined male—And now his female not aiding him either.

"Salvie suits you." He replied, talking over his shoulder, watching as Sage was docking her sword.

The pack's small sparring session hadn't lasted much longer, as Torin quickly undermined Andy. He tripped his stance and caused the Alpha to fall onto his back.

There was no legitimate challenge here. Torin swore, in the beginning, to train Half Crescent to its limits. They had a dead army to fight and an Alpha to plead with.

"Sir!" Chase's panicked voice caused everyone in the training field to turn to look at him, and he certainly laughed. "There's a gas station just a few miles away. Could we go?"

Alanna did not allow Andy to board the plane without taking some cash.

By some, it was a lot more than just a few hundred dollars. Oak Wood did have its fair share of human stocks and was well versed in managing funds, so he didn't doubt that there was plenty—Even with the cost of gaining supplies being so expensive. But that didn't mean she had to pass over a thousand.

The only mistake in that manner is that Andy had told his higher-ups and Chase, who wouldn't shut up about getting a snicker bar. And damnit, he couldn't deny the captive women anything more in their lives, so he decided that if he gave a few small groups a fifty, they could divide it between themselves or share the pot of snacks.

This caught Sage's attention outright.

"Money?" She questioned, and he handed her over some cash. "I don't want anything." 

He groaned out loud, of course—Of course, she'd have an issue with it. "You don't want any snacks from the store? You sure?... How about you come with me to check before you say no?" 

The gas station had indeed been a few miles away from their camp, but the run had done them justice if it meant leaving with a full belly and providing snacks.

Andy wanted the pups to have more meat on the bones now that they shared their strength with their wolf.

When approaching the destination, he had allowed a few groups to go while another was back at camp to secure all their belongings. Severin and Elena had suggested what they wanted, and Andy wrote everything on the list.

They weren't the only ones who wanted snacks but didn't want to face the presence of a human.

However, Sage and Andy took the pups inside when it was their turn. Hand in hand.

It made it easier to stick together as they cruised the aisles, and the children pointed and laughed at all the ridiculous snacks.

Even if they couldn't read it, some things naturally made sense.

With the loaded basket, Andy was surprised that they made it under fifty in their combined order. Until the very last second, he took hold of a bear statue just beside the checkout—Along with a few lighters, as that was also becoming a necessity.

"Have a good day," the human said behind the register, surprising the pups tremendously. Their bright smiles widened, and they repeated the phrase. The Underground had offered the only humans they've ever meant, making the standard unbelievably beneath the bar.

Andy handed the two their chocolate and chips as they followed the small pathway back to the woods and nodded off between the trees to call in the next group.

There were a few benches, but he could feel Sage's eagerness to get a bite of her hotdog. When he asked what toppings she wanted, she couldn't decide until she finally gave up and got all of them.

He thought it would taste godawful, but she hardly breathed until it was completely gone. And Andy felt his wolf purr in response. Not only had she devoured it within seconds, but the strong urge to provide and cater pushed through.

Having ordered three to her one, he pushed over his spare. And while she did shake her head, the defiance earned her another glare. "You didn't eat anything this morning. Eat." He said, his eyes narrowing, knowing she would try and deny it if he gave her the chance.

However, it was a losing battle when Andy had already placed it onto her plate and helped Clem with cutting up her chicken tenders.

Between his offer and caring for the pups, Sage smiled lightly to herself, feeling the warmth blossom in her chest as it would if she watched her mate with the twins.

Hell, with any pup.

"How about when we go back in for Sev's and Elena's stuff, we'll get another one?" Andy offered, and Sage perked her lips together and tried to look away from the temptation.

 Who knew a gas station hotdog would be that good?

Though nothing compared to Papa Leo's grilling.

Sage shyly continued to eat her little container of vegetables and hummus. Andy hadn't understood why she was so damn excited—But it was one of her comfort foods right beside tea and chicken.

While she caught him enjoying these little square peanut butter crackers, it was adorable that he went straight for those in the store.

The small sample she tried was good, but after being given his hotdog, she didn't want him pushing all that he bought toward her.

After taking a long sip of her hot tea, she looked around at the lingering Half Crescent members scarfing down what they had. Seeing the cluster of people in minimal winter gear sitting outside in the park was probably a strange sight, but their wolves weren't as bothered by the cold.

Not when they were so used to the Canadian weather and constant snowfall.

They remained for some time, enjoying the benches and just relaxing—For a moment, Andy pretended that both Poppy and Clementine were his daughters, which made absolute sense, given their names were so close.

With the pups remaining with the rest of the pack off at the rest stop's park, Sage returned with Andy, hand in hand. Of course, the owner smiled again, eager to make a profit.

Undoubtedly, this was probably the most he'd ever had at once. "Where you folks headed? There's a whole lot of you out there." Andy smiled off at the human, though the resentment started to reign true as Sage squeezed his hand.

"Up the road away, came down from Canada to escape the winter for a bit. Visiting family." That took the human by surprise, and Sage smiled, seeing his confusion.

"All of you?" 

Andy nodded along before explaining that a few were just friends as well—that they were taking the Appalachian Trail challenge. Half were in the car with their necessities, or Andy would save them if they needed to be picked up due to the conditions and weather.

He thought it was crazy to even think about it, especially with so many people at once in a group. The power in numbers made it better on his conscience as he gave the group the week's forecast.

Andy thanked him and gave a tip, already opening up Sage's new hotdog and watching with a suppressed grin. She couldn't help herself, and she hummed an adorable quirk when she enjoyed her food.

"I don't mind going hunting a lil more if you're hungry." He whispered, and Sage turned to look up at him. "What?"
"It's hard to find a time to sit down eat, I know...But you need to keep your strength up. If you're hungry, tell me." He said, tapping her side, and that's when she finally understood what he meant.

"Sometimes, but I'm full now. I'm okay." 

He was slightly suspicious if she was telling the truth, but she had plenty of leftover snacks she could eat throughout the last few days.

The last few days...It was gnawing at Andy's mind, knowing there would be hell to pay. The strange situation that he aligned himself with bonding with Sage would cost him greatly, and he would pay a hefty price.

He hoped that Sage and the Moon Goddess could forgive him for the action against her mate—The father of her pups.

"I bought you something else..." He said rather shyly, which certainly didn't match the tone he usually spoke with—causing her to hold onto his arm further as she looked at his offering.

"A bear?"
"Yeah, I couldn't help myself." He said as if it had been an excuse. Yet Sage started to laugh, her delicate hands taking hold of the little souvenir and instantly gifting him such a wonderful smile as she accepted the small trinket.

"Thank you, he's cute." 

Andy couldn't understand why his eyes pinned so easily to figure out the idea of Sage calling an inanimate object a 'he' and 'cute.'

But her devious grin that soon took over told him she knew exactly what she was doing.

"My mate gives me a big stuffed bear for Christmas, I named him Honey."
"Well, we're almost at Crescent Moon. So I'll guess I have to meet Honey—And your Mate." Andy said, clearing his throat. 

Sage nodded again, but the tension between them started to weigh slightly heavier whenever Remus was mentioned.

The promises he made would fade eventually, but with their arrival at Crescent Moon in the few given days, there would be some explaining to do.

Though he and his wolf made the pact, if anyone makes her outcasted when arriving at Crescent Moon, her family or otherwise...

He'd kill them without hesitation.

______

Date: 08/27/24

Time: 1:34

Words: 3546

Author's Note:

I'm so sorry this is late. I wanted to get the chapter done tonight, but of course, I was called into work at the last minute, and here I am, struggling to keep my eyes open.

There are 3 more chapters remaining!

See you in the next update :)