* * *

When Sage woke up the next morning, she was painfully made aware of the fact that she was still here.

In Half Crescent. 

Without her pups and Mate.

Some days it was easier than others, but today it tore her insides apart even further that she lingered in bed until she felt the courage to get up and tackle the day.

Sage did her best to ignore the remarks her wolf was pushing her to think of what was at stake with Crescent Moon not responding to her calls.
Some reasons were worse than others, but nothing made her heart clench than when she thought about Crescent Moon turning into nothing more than a graveyard.

Throughout her daily routine, she continued to check in with the progress of traveling supplies and made sure to visit the pups during their tutoring sessions.

But it wasn't a surprise when Sage started feeling rundown by midday.

The only explanation she had managed to think of was the clean-up of the Luna ceremony and a few rigorous training sessions she performed. All of that combined had left her tired and sore.

Yet that was not the case.

The haze caught up to her quickly, so she told Chase and Grey that she would grab a small meal, shower, and call it a day.

Course, as she had finished the smallest portion that she'd ever taken from the kitchens, she had ended up meeting Severin in the hall just a few doors away from hers.

Their newly found greeting to one another had turned into sticking out their tongues to each other, which always caught bystanders by surprise. But this time, Sage had to force their unique greeting and the smile that followed.

Thankfully, things weren't as politically heavy as the American packs, and she felt no worry in preparing to say she wasn't in the mood.

It was a nice change that she could be who she wanted to be.

"H-ello lil Luna." Sev teased, still testing out the quirks in his tongue and voice now that he was able to speak correctly. And he was doing very well, considering it's been about twenty-four hours since he was healed. 

So he switched between speaking out loud and through the shared Link, so Sage wasn't all too surprised when his voice filled her head.

What're you up to?

"Take a shower and nap, sometimes when I heal people...I get really tired. Don't tell Alpha. I don't want him mad about healing you." She claimed, trying to ignore the pulsating twitch in her temple after Severin's voice caused—Yet the guilt flashed across the Beta face, along with worry. He didn't want his Luna ill on the account of healing an almost decade-old wound.
"It's okay, just shower and nap. I will feel better tomorrow." He sighed, promising to check on her in a while.

She soon hurried off to her bedroom and stripped into something not caked with sweat. And while a shower did sound good, she would save it for later to when she could actually enjoy it and actually stand up for the entirety of it.
It was the best option, considering Sage couldn't get back up to her feet after resting on it for a moment.

However, when she woke not even a few minutes later with an unnerved huff. She could not remember how she reappeared in her bed until she considered the feel of the bed's sheets.

Considering she had unknowingly pulled off her nightwear and was left completely bare.

Without any sheets to cover herself, she still felt hot.

Thus, she willed herself to head towards the showers.

However, her energy wouldn't allow her to remain standing underneath the shower head. She was no stranger to sitting on the floor.

Sev? You still in pack house?

Yep! You want a snack or something? There's plenty of leftovers from the party...Maybe some water?

Yes, please. I don't feel good.

I feel like we should tell the Alpha if you're—

No, he worries too much. I'll be fine later. Please Sev?

He mumbled another agreement over the link before fulfilling Luna's order, once again feeling overwhelmingly guilty as he had run into her before. And after balancing the plate of food and glass of water, the male ventured to the Luna's room.

The last one at the end of the hall, and used his elbow to act as a knock on the door.

"Luuna?" Severin called out, and Sage hardly managed to say anything coherent as she peeked her eyes open towards the door. She smelled him, of course. 

But the way the sweat nearly caused her groan as an instant sense of nausea twitched in her stomach. Sage huffed, realizing her scents were far out of proportion.

With no response on the other end, Severin ducked his way in. His eyes lowered to the floor as he realized he was safe from the female's presence, and he went ahead to place it on the desk.

But as he was about to leave, he realized he couldn't move.

His wolf wouldn't allow it.

Sage realized that Severin was now just in the room next door. Far too close for her comfort as she curled into herself further.

Andy?

Hey, beautiful Luna of mine, I was just about to check in with you. How are things going with—

I need you.

She whispered, her voice dripping with desperation. Especially when a small sigh escaped her lips, and a ferocious growl came from behind the door leading to the bedroom.

Sev?

Sage called out in question, and the male tried to will himself from staying away from the Luna. He couldn't put the feelings together, not with how his wolf had been showered with the unpleasant demand to fuck.

It made no sense.

Not when he was starting to like Elena's company and wanting to explore more. But not this much more.

Don't come in. You need to leave.

I'm trying. What's happening?

I...I think I have my Heat.

Her admission to the truth had caused Severin to breathe so heavily, and Sage closed her eyes and tried to focus on the cooling chill of the shower.

Yet the roar just beyond the wall had called her attention to turn upwards to greet the male.

With Sage not bearing a mark, or any claim to a male, it meant the smell of her Heat would attract others. Once that thought had set in, the panic soon followed as she watched the door hinges fall through, causing her to flinch.

After spending a Heat unmated and without Remus beside her, the fear of being alone again shot right through her.
Not to mention that Severin had been pinned at attention. Staring at her— as if ready to pounce but trying so hard to withdraw.

Sage could see it in his eyes.

The water had given leave for Sage's body to want to focus and relax, with her male.

But Remus wasn't here—He wasn't close—And there was a chance he wasn't even alive!

With a painful wail escaping her lips, it had started to consume her thoughts. This cruel torture would not find relief until after things had passed.

Andy, please...Get Elena.

It had taken more mental power to send a Link to Andy, and what better way to ask for help than to pass the word onward?
Hopefully, he called for the female before he came forward. But watching Severin continue to grip the bathroom's doorway to keep himself out, Sage hoped this would work.

She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping that her scattered thoughts would stop shouting at her, and once she opened them, she enacted her onyx gaze as she pointed towards the door. "Go, Beta Severin. Leave." The order was in place, and perhaps it was easier than allowing an internal battle against instinct

"Sage...? Is everything al—SEVERIN!" It had been the combination of both her order and the displeasure of the Alpha that allowed Severin to unlock his knees and storm out of the room.

The confusion had caused him to watch Severin leave, all without a word. And just as he was about to demand that he answer why he was in Sage's room, to begin with, the answer had come from his wolf's urge for him to smell the scent lingering in the air.
While it hadn't been as potent by the door, as he stepped cautiously forward, he caught a whiff of the truth while he neared the bed.

Sage's scent was so damning and addicting to anyone nearby, and Andy had been so utterly thankful for having Sage take the room at the end of the hall.

A growl of frustration had bustled through his gritted teeth, and Sage could only shift her wet hair away from her face. Unable to find the means to move away from the only comfort method she could think of at the moment.

"Elena...Please call Elena." She mumbled again, wanting the support of a female in hopes that whatever was happening to her body could be contained and comforted.

Yet in seeing the arousal tent in Andy's jeans starting to betray him, Sage diverted her attention elsewhere.
"I need Elena, now!" Sage demanded, and perhaps it trickled into the Link, but to feel her former Beta female's presence in the back of her mind truly brought her the support she craved.

No part of her wanted a male—Well, that wasn't the whole truth, but instead, she caved on herself further. Hearing the panic behind Elena's voice as she seemed to be rushing through her advice.

With the female on the way, Sage sniffled and caught that Andy had inched closer and would have continued if she hadn't pulled her hand up to stop him. "I don't know my Heat comes...I'm sorry." She claimed, her eyes threatening to spill over, that Andy had felt compelled to comfort her.

If only she hadn't stopped him with a motion of her hand. "You're—Fuck, fuck!" He roared. While it had taken a verbal order for Severin to leave, all Andy needed was a motion.

Yet he nearly barreled over Elena as she stumbled to the side and squealed upon her arrival. "Sage? Is everything okay...?" The panic was evident, and she could only offer a weakened smile as she shook her head.

"Oh goddess—Okay, I think...I think I know what we need to do." The female had begun to buzz throughout the room, but it all started with the cloth stationed over her face.

And Sage knew, without a doubt, that this did not feel like a blessing like the previous times, this felt worse, this felt wrong. "My Heat—"
"Almost, Luna...Let me barricade the door."

Barricade the door?

In peeking over the bed, she had caught sight of Elena, the small female that she was, pushing the dresser against the door.

Locking the two in place from any males who might be tempted to disregard orders.
"Alright, I think we're good...Are you feeling any better? I should've known that it was coming. You're acting more Rogue than pack wolf now." Elena claimed, entering the bathroom and grabbing a towel. But Sage was not at all prepared to leave the cool water, not yet, at least.
"I don't have a mate mark...?" Sage whispered, now sure she understood what was happening, but Elena had continued onward and shut off the shower.

Wrapping a towel over the female and starting to pat her dry. "The Moon Goddess works in many ways, I've witnessed plenty of females in the Underground go through this. It's fine and you're going to be okay." It was hard to hear her determination when it had been cut off by the painful groan that escaped her once again.

As a cramp settled deep into her lower half.

A she-wolf in Heat wanted nothing more than to be in the comfort of their mate, allowing them to take accountability for their pleasure and care.

"W-without mark?" Sage questioned, still not sure as to how this was possible. But Elena could only sigh, she didn't have the right answers, just the ones she could vouch for from what she's seen. "Yes, and we'll try to see if we can help you through this. I've already Linked a few of our own to get the witches involved with something to make things comfortable. Did you eat today?" Elena had tried her best to remain positive, but after a few dozen questions that followed the first, Sage sighed in utter exhaustion.

And alas, the feeling of being unwanted hadn't come forward until her inner beast cried out to her mate.

"Remus..." Sage gasped, but Elena covered the voice as she hurried back to Sage's side, patting the wet cloth against her forehead and neck. "Sage, you need to be careful...We don't know who is listening." The female reminded, just in time for Sage to shed another tear.

"I need him..."
"Sage, he's not here...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Elena's voice had begun to waver at the way her former Alpha now titled Luna, was reacting to this. "Just wait. The witches are working on something, I promise."

As Elena had moved away, heading towards the window to pop it open, as if waiting for the delivery. Sage had twisted into the pillow, gripping Remus' stone in pure damnation as she sobbed further.

Never had it been this painful.
Even when Remus had refused her, he was still around—And there was a reason behind his actions, even if she couldn't see it through the Heating Haze.

However, just as Sage wanted to pull forward her blanket and hide away from the world. A growl had echoed underneath the door—In addition to a careful scratch at the door, followed by a bark.

"I'm—I'm sorry, Alpha! I can't let you in! I have witches coming with things to mask the scent, but please! Keep others away!" Elena shouted, only to be followed by another set of growls and barks.

Clearly, the scent was already starting to pass through the Pack house—Or that is what Elena had assumed, until she shot her gaze back to the window.

"Shit..." While it had given a gentle breeze for Sage to enjoy, it was allowing the scent to escape and act as a beacon to the rest of the pack.

No doubt other males were coming to snoop around and find the source. 

______

Date: 05/09/24

Time: 7:58

Words: 2422

Author's Note:

The time has come, this was one of the major plot points of the original, and while it seems pointless now, I promise this is very important later on.

I'm off this week, and you know what that means, it's time to write!

Maybe that'll mean another update.

Hope you have a great day and I hope to see you then!