* * *

Sage had been feeling rather disoriented. She truly didn't know how to categorize it, considering it wasn't an itch or burn.
No, it felt...strange. So much so that she couldn't place it.

Going to the Healers hadn't worked. Neither Lilith nor Bryan knew what was causing this feeling. The best thing they could prescribe was to keep the tasks today to a minimum and try to relax.

But that was pointless, given that most of the things on Sage's to-do list consisted of getting ready to move as well as preparing the pack to not have an Alpha for an accounted few weeks.

Even if Andy had encouraged her that they had plenty of time, and he was handling things. There was also no telling what sort of illness would transpire from the Underground, and instead, Sage did what she did best.

She decided to ignore it.

But sometimes, it'd turn into cramps, and she was sure it wasn't her mensural cycle.

No.

This was something completely different.

This pushed her to try and focus on something—Anything else, in the wake of trying to ignore what her body's been feeling. And that started with looking for Severin, though the male was partially difficult to find during the day. He was a busy wolf, being Beta and all. But she finally spotted him midday going down the hall, and she shouted to him with excitement.

Whoa there, Luna. It looks like your tail's on fire.

She grinned eagerly at him. Goddess, he could be Luke's twin or body double if they were side by side. And that's when she fished out the very thing she wanted to gift him.

"Looking for you...I want to give you this." She said, handing him the reddish-looking vial. And while he took a moment to analyze it, his eyes bounced back to hers.

And what might this be?

"I make a potion to heal my friend before. She is blind from a bad Rogue—Fever attack and can't see for five years...So I make potion and she can see now." She said, but Severin still looked between the she-wolf and the vial. It hadn't made sense in the way she had practiced for it.

"Drink it. Tonge grows back." She said, her small hands making the motion, and he was so taken by surprise that he took a step back.

You want me to drink this? What's even in it?

"It's a potion."

Yeah, I got that, but it's lookin' kinda funny. This won't kill me, will it?

"No. I don't make poison remember? Don't swallow. Sit in mouth." The male sighed, he had no reason to doubt the Luna. Thus, he uncorked the top and did just as she asked. Letting the liquid sit in his mouth for a moment or two before the thick sensation started to make him gag. Though she helped him by covering his mouth with her hand.

"Little longer, I promise...Then we have yummy potatoes." It burned, so much so that his eyes turned red and irritated with a slight twitch.
"Shhh, shhh..." She whispered in a comforting moment, and when she nodded, the male didn't hesitate to get the liquid down and gasp at the fresh air. Hoping that it'd stop the taste, however, as he did just that...

Something thick had fallen on his lip, and when he brought his hand to it, he flinched at how rough his touch had been. It didn't help that he didn't know why Sage was bouncing on her feet, laughing and smiling. Instead, she tapped his hanging tongue in a purely teasing manner.

"No drooling!" She joked, and he rushed to the nearest bathroom to confirm his own suspicion.

Sage's potion worked. It worked!

"—ou deed it!" His attempt at saying 'you did it!' Hadn't translated properly, not when he hadn't spoken with his tongue in years. His excitement caused him to tackle the Luna, raising her up from her feet and spinning her around. Joining her in her excitement he kissed her cheek.

"SEVERIN! YOU PUT OUR LUNA DOWN NOW!" Andy yelled, interrupting their moment and storming the hall with countless other pack members present in the midst.

"A-l-pha." He said at attention, and Andy frowned between the two. Not understanding at first glance why Sage had been smiling up a storm. And his calculating eyes turned between the two.

"What is going on?" Andy persisted, and Sage jumped again.
"I heal Sev, it worked!" The Alpha's wolf started to rumble at the nickname. Even if it was used around the pack—Beta Sev, it didn't compute to his wolf that it was normal, that it was friendly.

Not when Sage didn't find a nickname for him just yet, though not without effort.

"Is this right, Severin?" Andy questioned, and the Beta nodded. "Yesh—Sir!"
"Righ—" Andy had done a double-take, as usually, a voice would linger when it had been linked. But Severin's connection had never passed through, and so Sage simply stuck her tongue out at Severin. And while it would've looked insensitive, the Beta had done the same in retaliation.

"What the fuc—Sage?"
"I heal him! Now Sev can taste potatoes and eat real food!" The laughter from the Beta had sounded much more in tune, and he pulled the Luna into another side hug.

"I ea-t ph—ine. Bull-ie." She made a face at the hug and couldn't help but feel elated for helping, but when she caught Andy's twisted expression. She frowned, not understanding the look of unhappiness on his face. And so she pouted and tilted her head. "What's wrong?

"My office. Now." He growled, and he attempted to make a pass between the both. She laughed, of course, and called out his name as she and Severin followed in pursuit of the Alpha. He had to admit it was giving his wolf a thrill to hear her this happy, considering she had felt ill the last few days.

"Andy—" Sage tried, but it was immediately interrupted by Andy's confused anger. "What in goddess name was that?!"

"Why are you yelling?" She asked, calmly.

"Yelling? I'm not—What were you two doing?" Were their actions truly that suspicious?

Without any sort of attempt to speaking up, Andy's gaze turned to his Beta.

"Severin? Explain yourself." He hissed, and the male had been too busy moving around his tongue to properly listen to his Alpha.

"sss—sir?"
"What. Happened?" Sage looked up to Severin and she huffed.
"I heal my friend who is blind, and I make potion to make her see again. It worked. And I think—I thought it can work on Sev too. And it did." She said, pointing to the uncontrolled muscle that the Beta needed to get a hold of.

Andy looked between the two once more and sighed, okay, so perhaps he and his wolf both overreacted. That it wasn't really his place to be so overprotective, not when she was only Luna in name.

Not by relationship between him.

"I don't do anything wrong, Andy." She said, looking away from him and that earned her a lowered position.
Andy sighed, realizing he might have let his emotions get the better of him. "I'm sorry, but we have a part to play, and a male in my position wouldn't like males near you...But this isn't...Normal." With perked lips, Sage embraced the word normal just as how he meant it.

Not as an insult, but for her being indifferent.

"I know I am not normal. It's not wrong."
"No, I know I shouldn't be feeling like this, but—You smell like Severin. Wolves like to talk." That was true, given what Sage just dealt with her own version of snuffing out a she-wolf who wanted to build a following against her.

Thankfully, the more trusted wolves knew better, but it still worried Sage that there might come a day when she didn't have anyone left in her corner.

Much like she had when she awoke up alone in the rain.
Again, all because of Maeve.

Anyhow, his comment caused her to take a sniff of her shirt, and unfortunately, he was right. The Beta had a hard workout just before, leaving him sweaty and smelly. Course, that meant it transferred onto her.
"Oh..." Honestly, she thought she was getting reprimanded for healing the Beta, not for how she smelled.

"—Ou smelll ph—ine." Severin said with a satisfied grin on his face, and Sage rolled her eyes.

"Elena won't be happy if you say that." She teased, all before slapping her hand over her mouth. "I don't say anything!" A grin spread across Andy's face as a smile continued to play on his lips.

"Beta, you're excused for the day. Go and entertain Elena." He called out, though he doubted he finished his order before Severin retreated out of the room.

Yet that left two with the aftermath, and Sage didn't really know how to digest what had happened. "You're mad?" She asked.
"No, I'm sorry...For the way I reacted." Andy said, so easily. And it nearly stunned Sage if she had been accepting it.
But when was the last time someone apologized for their actions?

"It's okay, Chief."
"Chief?" Sage snorted and nodded, smiling as she found it the perfect nickname for him. "I like the name, it's the character in my book. You act like character."
"Yeah? And what are they up to?" A devious grin appeared on her face as she shook her head.

"Strong male that helps female prevail."

"I guess I fit that description of yours, but I'm not sure if I like that pet name."
"Not a pet name." Sage replied so easily, her brows twitching again that Andy conceded.
"You sure?... Alright, I'll take your word for it." He sighed, accepting it given that he did make a mistake. But the idea of a nickname did catch another whiff of innocence that Sage invoked.

"The ceremony's tonight. Did you figure out what you're wearing?" She nodded rather quickly. The witches didn't hesitate to work on providing their Mistress turning Luna with something suitable.

However, in looking at his watch she twisted it to get a better view.
"I have to get ready soon." She claimed, earning her another grin. "This is your first party in Half Crescent, just you wait...We know how to throw a party." He claimed, and they most certainly did, given how glorious of an affair it had been.

But it felt rejuvenating to feel Andy's claim over the members of Black Crescent. Even if it had started as a simple celebration, the dozens of main food entrees were stationed all around.

All mixed from grilled meats and plenty to pick on. In addition to the party games and favors that were distributed, Sage couldn't stop smiling.

The last type of party being had was the final night she had at the bear cave, when the Beta and Delta had arrived with Toby.

Yet here, the music and magic that the witches created, paired with fairy lights, had been a damn dream. Especially when Andy had offered a dance.
"I only know witch dances..." She whispered, worried that she'd mess up. However, seeing Elena in Severin's arms and laughing along to what he was whispering in her ear, there really wasn't much to it.

"I'm sure you've danced before. It'll come to you." And it certainly did not come to her, and Andy was just lucky that Sage weighed close to nothing. Peeking over his shoulder, she managed to look up towards the moon. Smiling at seeing that it was indeed a Crescent Moon, the pack truly planned that one out, hadn't they?

And while Andy had expected the night to go a bit different, he was thankful, if not surprised, that Sage had kept her bearskin well planted onto her shoulders for the occasion.

Yet he didn't hesitate to thank and compliment her on her support thus far. And yet, when the night had finally ended, and the light commotion just outside of the few wolves putting the more important items away, it allowed him to escort Sage to her room and wish her a good night's rest.

Tomorrow would only bring another wave of problems and solutions, but even then, Andy was stuck in wonder at the state of Sage's mate. As there was still a possibility that he was alive.
A slim one, given the lack of response from the calls, but there still one.

However, Andy fell asleep wondering what kind of male never took this beautiful she-wolf out to dance?

______

Date: 05/03/24

Time: 3:21

Words: 2147

Author's Note:

I have the day off, so here's an extra chapter! And a new phase!

And better yet, fantastic news!
The original version of Half Crescent ended with 37 chapters, the rewrite has now ended with 45!

Well, 45 chapters for right now. 

By June, I think I'll be in a better position to go back to posting two chapters a week. That way, we can start making room for the Moon Ridge rewrite!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, see you in the next update!