* * *

"...Those bounty hunters don't know what they're doing anymore. They're all migrating to the States. Every last one of them, and good riddance—The states are fucked." Alpha Noah proclaimed, all so causally, and Andy's eyes continued to dance between his Luna and Severin's, but she maintained a steady motion in buttering her toast or sipping her tea.

He knew she was listening, so he said, pointing to the closed book and perked lips, which were a cutting sign that she was thinking. 

But he was thankful Grey had asked the question, "What's wrong with the States?"

"In shambles is what, the council's gone...Most of the council is dead now that I think of it. What did they call themselves...Coldridge, yeah, I'd make the fair wager that the packs jump from thirteen down to nine." The laugh Noah let out only let the gears in Sage's head turn, and Andy couldn't hold himself back.

Your pack wasn't in Coldridge, right?

No, we were in Summit. Other packs, but I don't know how to ask questions without Noah knowing where I'm from.

The guests would only be here for another day before returning to Swift Tail. Though it couldn't be more agonizing, the resources were enough to set them back, even with Sage's magical garden, which caught Noah's attention as being a 'another blessing from the Goddess'.

Andy pinned it off to Hera and her love for gardening, and the new additions were all her own constructions. She certainly made the pack feel much homier.

"Anything we need to worry about?" Andy questioned, and Noah huffed, unamused.
"Wouldn't be surprised if most of them come up our way. The last time there was a war, two packs fell. No doubt that Moon Valley will be next." Was it wrong for Sage to smirk into her next sip of tea?

Absolutely not, but they were the main reason for the war in the first place.

"You don't have to worry about a thing, little Luna. Andy and I have been friends for years now...And if you ever feel like you need help, we can always send a few warriors your way." The visiting Alpha claimed, as if it was such an honor to be offered it.

She had finally cracked with a laugh. "I think we're okay." She decided, and Grey had to withhold his shiver. Sage could be the scariest damn wolf in the whole pack if she so pleased.

Her black coat made it nearly impossible for her to be seen in the dark.

Not to mention the speed she manages to get up to.

Silent but deadly indeed.

"Always keep an open hand to others, Little Luna. It'll be good for you in the long run." Noah reflected, almost shocked that she had all but denied it.
"I still got captured, so no. Not good." She interjected, and Andy sighed, attempting to whisper words that appeased Noah only to counter them in her head.

We're not really that good friends, Sage. He's just the closest ally I have.

Sounds familiar.

What?

Nothing. Don't need to keep friends if they're not friends. A lot of people pretend with me and others don't like me...One female calls me pig because I ate too much at meeting. Noah doesn't have good vibes. You know Elena say same thing too—I don't remember learning about Canada packs, but he's bottom. Right?

Andy hadn't thought about that position.

Had Swift Tail been bottom-ranked?

"Do you have any ties to the American packs, Luna Hera?" Noah questioned, and Sage shrugged. "I don't know...In the dark, and my English is—"
"You're doing fine. Stop putting yourself down." Andy interjected, stopping her before she could finish her sentence.

He hated it when she talked bad about herself. There was no need to apologize or claim that her English was bad—It wasn't.

"I still have to learn." She claimed, and the table nodded with her in agreement, though one final aspect is that Noah wanted to hunt his final meal. This means that Sage had shifted alongside Andy, and thus, the two went ahead and trailed Noah and his high-tier warrior, Brent.

You really don't like Noah, huh?

You do? Why? And not because he's close. I'm friends with Grey Hallow not because they close, but because I have friends there. And I'm not going to say that I'm friends with Moon Ridge when I'm only friendly. Difference.

You're not wrong, hun...Not wrong at all.

The hunt had ended with two deers being tracked down between them. Andy had made sure that Sage had gotten her share before diving in, only to find the liver right beside her paw—It always went like this, for her to gift it.

Both Noah and Bret managed as well, though Sage found another reason for her to hate them.

Their lack of manners.
This was one of the first things she learned as a wolf. Before Remus, Luke would always help her clean off—But in that, he'd always tell her to keep up a clean appearance, and by the end of the meal, she'd still be semi-clean.

Course, digging into the carcass of a bigger kill would always involve a bloody snoot, something she hated. It was the method of eating and giving her stomach a moment to digest.

However, when she had taken the moment to rise up and clean her leg, Noah had taken the opportunity to pounce on her. And it sure wasn't playful.

Submit.

Noah ordered, and she laughed a growl. Managing to subdue him in seconds, with her jaw just mere centimeters from locking from his throat.

No. You're not my Alpha...You're not my equal. I don't care if you're friends with Andy. We're not friends. Understand?

I could plow this place to the ground if I wanted to, darling, don't fucking tempt—

Sage, having the upper hand, had allowed her to remind him who was bottom and who was top. Granted, Andy had remained planted with widened eyes, conflicted about what to do.

Hera...Let him go.

No. He's just a mad pup that he can't have me submit.

She fought back, adding the two guests to the conversation as well. Sage had two words designated for them, 'fuck you,' and it was just on the tip of her tongue.

Or would've been had she not let Noah go and given him a look.

You attack this pack, and I promise you will die...Alpha Noah. This is my home too, and I already lost people I love.

You don't know the first thing about loss, girl. You're barely legal age, a pup!

You submitted to a pup then, bye Alpha Noah.

Andy had the choice to make, stand by his Luna or put her down. But in the record of following the Moon Goddesses' order, he continued off by saying his own goodbyes to Noah.

You're siding with her?!

She's my Luna. What purpose do you have in touching my female? Get off my land.

Your land?! I was nice enough to give it to you!

Bullshit! I fought for this and built it up. It's not even touching your territory. Get the fuck out of here, and don't come back.

You're making a mistake, Andy. You better—

It's Alpha, and you need to fucking leave before I let Hera do what she planned the first time she saw you.

The threat had been made, and in Noah's mind, it was non-negotiable. Course, with the Swift-Tail members off and away, it caused the witches to mandate the defense shields and have extra patrols.

Sage's intuition had come in full swing, so much so that she couldn't allow her body to rest. Nor be coaxed into relaxing like Elena was offering. Instead, she sat on the porch of the Pack House while Andy was off, making sure things were settled and that the Alpha and his party actually left as they claimed.

Yet, as she turned to look at the moon hanging just above her, she began to pray that this wouldn't end like she thought it would.

It screamed louder than her premonition of not making it to Mystic Grimm.

This was worse, much worse.

"Going to make it to Crescent Moon...?" She whispered her question to the deity in the sky, and the female could've sworn that it agreed with her statement, especially with the way it shined up there so beautifully...

______

Date: 06/03/24

Time: 9:21 PM

Words: 1377

Author's Note:

It's the start of June, it means warmer weather, the A.C's are in, and I can read on my porch without any worries!

I also promised that starting this month, I would upload two chapters a week until the story is marked complete! If all goes well, it means that by the end of the summer, things will be on the move in terms of story.

Even better, the Luna of Crescent Moon is wrapping up its last few chapters, and I'm really buckled down for edits!

So excited to get started!!

With that, I hope you all have a great week!