* * *

Time still seemed to pass in a record of a Haze, so when Sage peeked an eye open, she noticed that the sun had shifted.

And while she had enjoyed the peace and silence, there had been a repetitive scratching sound that peeked through her resting state. One of which started to grow louder as it continued on, and Sage couldn't but groan at the rough texture—It sounded as if someone was doodling against the wood of her table, and when she finally did manage to pick her head up, she spotted Andy, stationed beside the window.

Using the last of the natural light to his advantage. Upon looking back at the door, she caught the dresser back in place to block anyone from entry.

"Andy?" She called out, and nearly instantly had the male shifted to look at her, however, she managed to let out a laugh before falling back to her pillow, she shook her head. "Why are you here?"
"Why am I here?... For fuck sake, Sage—I was worried." Worried.
He was worried.
It was endearing, sure, that he thought much more of their friendship than Sage had first suspected, but the more she thought on it, the more she wondered if her brothers had shown similar expressions when she finally awoke from her daze.

Perhaps this was the same, that he was worried, not tempted.

"Sorry I worry you."
"Yeah well, I almost forgot it was a possibility—But you've managed to bless a few wolf couples, and I'm happy to say there might be some progress with Severin and Elena." With a quick movement to prop her pillow, Sage took the front row to hear all that had happened in the pack, which Andy had supplied with ease.

Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but the pups were worried.

"...I would have offered to help if I knew you'd—" Sage growled before he could finish his sentence, so perhaps he had been tempted, but not enough to go through with his initial offer. "Yeah...That's what I'd thought I'd get. I wish there were a better way to help, but my wolf couldn't—I couldn't leave the door." Andy continued, a small tint starting to blush in his cheeks. Hadn't Elena mentioned he guarded her for the past few days?

No wonder he was working; he had essentially missed his work because of the instinctual urge to protect. "Thank you, but I don't want help with Heat," she replied, not knowing how else to show appreciation but still denying the thought of her Heat.

It was bad enough that she dreamed of Remus and pleasured herself to get through the majority of the worst.

"It's for the better. Besides, Alphas and Lunas have pups that are different from yours, and I'm not sure if it's safe to prepare a Sanctuary ground to find a den." Sage blinked, smiling lightly at remembering how she managed the last stage of her pregnancy and birthing plan.

"When Luna's have pup?"
"Yeah, when a Luna shifts to fur and gives birth, she and the Alpha would head to the Sanctuary—I guess your Alpha hasn't gotten around to that yet." Sage quickly nodded and mentioned that Luna Jade of Mystic Grimm had a pup and went through it, which the male instantly sighed in relief—Thankful he didn't have to explain his any further.

"You probably know more than me about Pack life. I've only seen one Alpha couple, and that didn't end too well."
"Old pack?"
"Yeah, my father died when I was young," Andy claimed as if it was so easy to slip past, but Sage had found a strike of sympathy course through her heart, not liking to hear that any wolf lived or grew up without a parent.

Andy shook off the pity and decided to put away his folder and come closer, sitting at the furthest edge of the bed. Not knowing if the close contact of a male at this ending stage of her Heat would do anything to enact it again.

He didn't want to take the true risk, but he also couldn't fathom to stay away any longer.

"My Rogue friend, Blake, tells me sometimes wolves get mate crazy." Sage poked, wanting to hear more about it, but it had taken Andy a moment to decipher which definition Sage was trying to get—whether mate meant her pup's father or the action.

"Ah, Blake the Rogue...He's the one with the witch?" He asked, trying to steer clear from the conversation that plagued the basis of any and every Rogue pack. It seems like the rumors had even managed to reach her ears.

"Yes, they have pup together. Bellamy."
"Huh, bet he's in for it...A wolf and superpowers? That's—" It was right then that he realized that Sage's pups are part witch.

Whatever the percentage may be, he doubted it would take much witch blood to be able to be gifted abilities. But Sage didn't want him afraid, and her children were too adorable to promote fear.

"Rue only makes lights go fuzzy and breaks lamps. Stronger in females." He hummed in understanding, but he hadn't spoken much after that. Instead, he made his way around her room and lit the candles throughout the room.

Hoping that the witch who blessed her would offer some relief soon, as Sage was still in a sort of daze, not resembling her old self yet.

"Hurts?" She called out, and Andy turned, wondering what she meant. And his lack of response had caused her to rephrase the question. "Your scar, does it hurt?" She asked, her hand coming to touch her own. 

Was it strange that he could feel the phantom touches of her small hands on his own burned skin?

"Not for a long time. When I first got them...It was all I could think about." Andy replied, his eyes unfocusing as he couldn't put too much thought on his own imprisonment.

Not when he tried to push it back from the forefront of his mind, and while a Heat wasn't the same as what he had gone through, Sage knew the feeling of being held against her will or conformed to another's sadistic testings.

"Let's not talk about all that. Are you feeling better than this morning? Elena said you ate your weight in eggs and potatoes."
"Hm, it was good. Not hungry anymore."
"Good...Good." He admitted, struggling to find a balance in conversation. This isn't what he had prepared for, nor was he prepared for the scent of tears to hit him.

In a panic, he shifted back to his previous position, itching closer to Sage's curled posture. Her knees were now risen to her chest as she embraced them tightly. "Sage...?"
"Mate promised me he'd help me through Heat."
"Sweetheart...He's not here. You can't put that on him."
"I miss him."
"I know, and I can promise you—He's doing everything in his power to try to find you. It's just...We're unreachable here. I doubt America even knows about us." She sniffled loudly and shook her head.

Speaking in the midst of an active sob, to which Andy had only taken as 'I never knew about this pack,' and again, he didn't fault her for it.

"There are plenty of chances in the future for another pup. You have twins that need you. Let's focus on that."

"And mate?...What if my mate isn't alive?" It was a spiraling conversation, one that Andy didn't understand, considering that he was under a different impression of what it meant for her Mate to be alive or dead. That Crescent Moon could survive without Luke.

But no, Crescent Moon would not be able to survive without Remus.
And her returning would mean her becoming Alpha, wouldn't it?

It became an overwhelming idea that she wouldn't be able to accept the terms of the already-made pact with Andy.
If Remus was dead, Sage was prepared to do anything she could to ensure her pups would claim the title they deserved.

Even if that meant risking herself in the process.

"Hey, I've made some progress in getting the supplies so we can take the trip. Maybe in two more weeks, we can find some wolves who can come with us. The trip back is the easy part, hoping we can borrow a plane." Andy offered, a small smile playing on his lips, considering it was a minor tease at the end, but Sage didn't doubt she could manage an order of a plane.

If not them, then Mystic.

"No worries...There are no worries right now. We cannot fix things tonight, alright?" Andy sighed, wanting so desperately for Sage to heal through this than fight the emotions still filtering through. I was making Andy claim her pain as his own. 

Perhaps his wolf wasn't used to a female's emotions like this.

But Sage was full of them. Instead, he demonstrated how to keep her breathing under control and allowed her to inhale, followed by a long exhale to settle her heart.

Thankfully, it worked, and she could close her eyes and focus on his scent.

At least she felt comfortable enough with him to warrant it.

It also allowed her to feel at ease knowing that he had protected her all that time when she was battling the Haze.

"These two are going to be at home, healthy. And extremely happy that their mom is back." He offered, gesturing to the pebbles now propped up on the nightstand.

Elena's doing, no doubt.

"These little sweat-peas are just fine, okay...?" He offered them both out, and she took them without hesitation. Yet this time a smile started to build on her face. "Brother calls pups sweet-pea too."

"This the brother in Mystic or the Elwoods?"
"Elwood. Mystic brother calls them rug-rats. Mate calls him old."
"Your brother can't be that much older, what? Thirty-one?"
"I think...My mate is thirty now." She whispered, again, feeling the misplaced dread of speaking about her mate to him.

Andy's questions seemed innocent enough, but every detail created an image.

One that she didn't know what the male in front of her was planning to use.

After the faithful cry, Sage had felt better—Enough to discuss a few things that Andy nearly begged to try to speak about tomorrow or even later on.

But Sage needed to feel helpful in some regard, and instead, she had managed to help him power through the rest of his assignments he had.

As Winter was on the horizon, and she understood his worry in terms of being prepared for the harsh season. While Sage wasn't sure about the future, she didn't want to leave the pack that was aiding her completely helpless.

So, she decided she needed to start acting smart and keep a level head.

But in reality, all she needed and hoped for was a miracle.

______

Date: 05/20/24

Time: 10:54

Words: 1794