* * *

With the warmer weather on the horizon, a sense of dread had washed over her in the past few days—Kenzie confirmed that there was no pup. And telling Andrew was just as difficult as confirming it herself. But after looking at a calendar, she realized that the pup would've shown itself a long time ago.

But with one issue, revealed another at hand, Sage was currently unmated without Remus' mark on her neck—A current mark at that. But a part of the trauma of returning back from the soul swap, she didn't want anyone near her neck.

Couldn't.

It made rekindling their relationship difficult, even the idea of cuddling had made Sage's skin crawl. Of course, they tried, especially when a nightmare had plagued her. But Remus had shifted to make his reasons apparent.

Even if she woke up in a panic, the morning was much calmer with a big wolfie head snoring away on her chest. Calista had recommended a weighted blanket, focusing on the combination of warmth and pressure on her body.

But even that hadn't helped keep Sage's fears at bay.

"What's the plan for today, Pumpkin?" Sage looked up from her book and smiled at Andrew. He was wearing sweats pants, no shirt, and a towel over his shoulders.

"Check out witch building and Half Crescent Camp with pups, and then take a walk." He nodded, lingering a moment to see if she wanted him to join. But as her eyes took to glancing at the bathroom where Remus was showering, he understood.

Even if their wolves weren't mates, there was still love between them. Just not the same, and it wouldn't be able to return to normal, not when Remus was her fated mate.

While Andy wished for something more, he had made a promise, he was only her mate if Remus wasn't alive.
Whatever Sage wanted was on her own will.
It just so happened that those will's overlapped one another.

"Want to come and see Half Crescent?" She asked, but it was an obligation considering they were the leaders of the newly entered group of wolves.

"Sure, I'll meet up with you after the witches." With a nod, the two departed. And it was only replaced by the equally as awkward conversation with Remus.

He had mountains of work to be done, especially if they planned to propose the tournament to all the Alphas in America properly. Given that this was such a delicate subject to bring up with an already struggling nation of packs across America, but if they could just try and reinstate the council underneath the said King, perhaps it would give leeway and allow the rest of the United States Alpha's to at least hear him out.

"I was thinking...Maybe we could take the pups to the park after I'm done with my meeting. The weather's getting pretty warm out." Remus had taken to Sage's weakness, and that was whenever he made plans with her it included the pups—Focusing primarily on doing something with the twins.

"Park or garden?... Rue wants to see all the flowers." The witches had certainly blessed the pack with fertile soil, in addition to the active Nymphs surrounding the pack's wooded area. It made a perfect start to the Spring season.

"Garden sounds perfect. It's supposed to stay sunny the rest of the week." It earned him another smile, but Sage had looked off toward the window. "Everything okay...With other packs?"

It was a question Remus was undoubtedly waiting on, so he took the seat in front of her and nodded along. "They're getting by, Torin's been a big help. He's given us new ways to ward them off, and we're the only pack besides Mystic that know that there's a trigger word. We'll get by." While things didn't sound too bad, it wasn't all that great to know that she'd need an army of guards whenever she left the house.
Or even now, there were a good number of pack members in both skin and fur ready to lay down their lives for the sake of the Alpha family.

"I try and meditate later. Aurelia says it will help."

"Anything you need to do Munchkin, you do it. Link or call me, I want to take some pictures when we're at the garden." Sage knew what he was trying to do now, catering to her interests yet again. But then a question popped up, followed by a smile. "Family photo?"

"Goddess, I regretted not having one for the past year, hun. We're going to take hundreds. Especially when these lil pups start getting older." This earned him an even wider grin, as well as a small glint in her eyes as both she and her wolf adored the idea of making memories.

"Andy and I go and see if Half Cres is okay, but I'm going to check witches first."

"I'm sure they're all doing great. Those recently turned pack members from the Reformed are taking them in easier than pack members."

"Jack offered his home too, and Eli." Now that she thought about it, a good portion of the higher-ups and the Elwoods have opened up their homes. But she had a small itch that it was because they were trying to say thank you without repeating the phrase again and again.

As the morning dragged by, Sage played both Luna, Mistress, and Mother to those she visited today. Of course, it was easier when Andy was by her side for the Half Crescent Wolves, but the witches were another story. Their singular manor was nearly complete, as they were more susceptible to the colder climate and they weren't yet welcomed as the rest of their pack had been.

But it didn't matter in Sage's eyes, there was nothing wrong with some magical support—And half of the females didn't have a life to go back whether their coven was destroyed or held no more fight in them to leave their already established safety net.

Sage respected their wishes and hurried off to meet Remus at the Garden. Though she was thankful that he hadn't arrived just yet. But Sage knew that he would be coming soon, the male was always a bit behind when it came to time management and she didn't care.
Not when the pups were exploring and bringing back their little finds.

"Daddy!" A sudden shriek of a giggle caught Sage's attention up from her book and she smiled to see Rue pulling her arms up to hug her dad.

Remus had met his mate's tired gaze with a light smile and held up a picnic basket.

"Sorry I'm late, had to pick some things up." Alright, she had to give credit where credit is due and shook her head. "You plan this, hm?"

"Yep, I've got some chicken sandwiches, some salad, a whole bunch of chips and snacks...Then Gigi packed the pups something too." She really didn't care what was in the basket, a bottle of water would've made her wolf purr in content.

"How are things going with the witches?" It earned him another hum as she chugged down a bit of water. "Okay, they like being on pack grounds and knowing it's safe. But I think they are still scared of so many wolves and males around...They want to help around the pack." Remus couldn't deny the extra help, not when Ember Circle was doing what they could, but their location was a good hour away.

In the event of an emergency, it was good to have some type of magical backup.

"Remmy...I had an idea." He hacked off another bite of his sandwich and urged her to share her idea, and she smiled. "I think we should try for tournament, really try—I know you tell Andy that we're going to help another pack."

"Yeah? What else did you hear?" She gave him widened grin as she wouldn't be answering that question. "We need to make a place where supernatural is all safe. Witches, Wolves, and Vampires. They can live together."

"There are places like that hun, just remote and far in between."

"This will not be far in between, there will be schools and homes for everyone...Wolves here are scared of witches and the witches are scared of them. And humans are not trust-worth-y. Not to anyone." He nodded along, not finding her idea too far-fetched from a possibility.

"The Council's plot in Florida is vacant. Plenty of land over there that still needs to be claimed if Rogues didn't move in already." She nodded eagerly. "That can be werewolf school, a big training rink for Leo." That caused both of them to laugh, knowing full well that Leo Elwood would come straight out of retirement to be able to manage such a tall order.

"Where is this all coming from, Munchkin? You're supposed to be healing."

"Cal says 'create the things you wish existed,' and I wish there is a place everyone can go." Remus blinked, not thinking that the meetings with Calista were giving Sage ideas of her own leadership. But he couldn't be all that unpleased, not when she was starting to smile more and didn't cower at his touch.

Though, it was for another reason for her general responses to his touches.
Guilt—As she didn't want to hurt Andrew's feelings.

Remus knew in that end that the fated pull would be stronger, and without a pup to hold the strings between them, there was little chance he could be pushed aside for much longer.
Yet his wolf still urged him to get her back, eager to have his mark on her.
Not to forget to reinstate the one on his own neck.

"Sounds like King isn't enough hun, that'll need a bigger spread."

"When bad vampire man is dead, they will trust us...Crescent Moon is not cursed anymore." A light grin played on her lips, but it was instantly stilled as she caught Rue doing the unthinkable.

"Rue?" The little pup had turned back around with her own devious smile, her hands holding a flower that only continued to bloom so brightly. Excitement rushed through the little girl as she shouted out to her parents and tackled her dad to sit in his lap while holding up her creation.

"So beautiful...Where did you find this?" He asked, taking it from her offered hand. But Rue shook her head and replaced the said flower by conjuring another.

Confirming Sage's suspicion of smelling a whiff of magic in the air, however, it was strangely calming to smell a young thread of magic looming around.

It was coming from her own blood, and she didn't doubt that the Halliwell line is recognizable to most, but to smell her own daughter's nexus was beautiful.

Not to mention it gave Sage the confidence that Rue was getting a basic understanding.

"I make more." Remus thought it was a great idea for her to display her magic, but his mate thought otherwise. Quickly getting to her feet with her lunch discarded as Rue had thrown herself into a bundle of flowers.

Which instantly reacted to grow at the smallest touch, and Sage pulled her daughter back from the beautiful centerpiece.

"It's not time for plants to grow so much, lil flower. We have to wait sometimes." The pup pouted, not understanding the timeline of how plants will need to survive as a bud in the colder season before being nurtured and bloom.

"I want pretty flowers."

"Pretty flowers need to grow by themselves, so they get big and strong." Rue didn't put much more of a fight than that, and considering she hadn't gotten that far in blessing the pile she dove into, everything was alright.

Remus had watched a few steps away with a curious Ronan trailing in. His hands were filled with dirt, and even a small patch that managed at the tip of his nose.

"What were you digging for, Roe?" The pup looked up to his father from trying to hear his mother's words to Rue, but huffed instead. "Bones."

"Bones huh? I don't think there would be any here bud." He said while trying to hide his grin. The last time he'd shifted with the pups, he took a deer bone and buried it for the pups to find.

Since then, his son was absolutely obsessed with finding more to gnaw on.

"Bones at home?" He asked with a small tilt of his head. "Yeah, sure there's plenty around. When mama had you and Rue in her belly, she had to eat by the garden because she couldn't go that far away." The excitement on the pup's face was overwhelming, especially when he asked to go home.

"Soon bud, we'll head back soon," Remus explained while walking back towards his mate and daughter—Trying to ignore the fact that he just asked Amy to hide some bones in the backyard.

She laughed over the Link, taking the humor of the request.
Given that it did sound out there in terms of an order.

"Remmy..." Sage's voice called out, and the unsureness broke the barrier as he hurried over—Ronan just a few feet away.
"Hey, what is—" He took in the scene before him, Rue's little jump did indeed change the pollination in the garden, causing everything to grow and bloom to her will—But roses that attempted to climb the centerpiece had died, already starting to wilt away and fall to the ground.

Sage had stepped through the patches of flowers and touched the cobblestone, pushing away the dead remains to reveal a once golden plaque. "What is this?"

"It's a memorial grave, for the lives lost in my father's time as Alpha. I thought...I thought it would give a place for the families that didn't receive a proper service or their loved ones were never found." Sage swallowed at the thought, this didn't feel like positive energy, not when it killed something so quickly.

When hovering her hand against the stone, it had a sharp coldness that nearly stung her—But when a finger finally grazed the stone she pulled her hand back instantly.

"Munchkin?"
"It's cold...It's really cold." Remus had given Ronan a glance, silently telling him to stay close to his sister. And in coming to investigate, he too felt the sudden chill touching his spin.

"Remember when Darius summon Bako? I think this is Bako...It feels like my shadow."

"You think some demon planted their contract onto a memorial site?" It felt utterly wrong and Sage just shook her head. "I don't think it's memorial. I think flowers are hiding something." Her head shot towards the pups, both of which were hurrying down into the flowerbed just at the edge of the stone column.

"Daddy! There's bones—" As if it couldn't get more disturbing, Sage snatched up Rue and growled for Ronan to stop. Course, that earned two very unhappy pups to pout and whine, but now it left Remus to call upon the higher tiers.

All of them were stunned to see how Remus' afternoon with his family turned so awful so quickly.

"So Ronan found some bones?" Hayes questioned, and Remus shrugged. "He has a knack for finding old ones when we take a walk through the woods. I'm not sure any bones here are that close to the surface though." Remus explained while Sage was still eyeing the column.

And it was the sudden flash of newer stone that had caught her attention, but things had shifted far too quickly. Only to reappear a second later, where the column was more positioned with the sun and held smoke to the top.

Sage's lips parted as she turned to Jack, who was the closest to her, and pointed up. "I need to get up there." She ordered, and he had simply stood to the side and held his hands together.

With the gentle boost, Sage was able to climb the rest of the way up and sit at the top.

"Yes!" She shouted, and the party down below turned up to her in wonder. "What is it, hun?"

"Chimney. I see smoke coming out of it, but it's supposed to be taller...That means—" Her own voice and thoughts had been cut off as she jumped back down to the ground. Her hands grazed through the grass and settled directly into the dirt.

"Remmy...Did you build the chimney?" She asked, and Remus shook his head. "I—I don't remember." It was just as they mentioned before, Bako's contract must have made a lasting impression.

And some things remained without being fixed.
The pack's memory for instance.

"It's probably a house—Maybe a shed?" Eli said, taking a glance this way and that, and with the distance, it had from the surrounding neighborhoods and town. It didn't make sense to have a hunting shed somewhere close.

"Or a torture chamber. The Rogue wall was just down there, wasn't it?" Jack questioned, and now the thought started to emerge further.

While it did have Randal's name written all over it, they'd need to survey what the remains are and beyond. Perhaps dig up old maps and files?

While Remus had started to work on logistics, both Andrew and Hayes suggested getting a team of shovels and trucks to dig it manually. Sage smirked towards Raven and the woman returned it.

"Best to feel the energy and how large it is first." The witch offered, and Blake turned down to his mate before glancing up at his Luna. "Oh, Goddess have mercy." Was all he grumbled before Sage had taken a handful of the dirt.

And a gasp escaped her as she fell back down. "C-Cold, it's cold!" In an attempt at rubbing her hands, Raven fell to her knees just beside the Luna to take the same cautious approach.

"Definitely a demon's work. Not sure digging it manually will do anything." Raven admitted and Sage nodded, swaying her hand to create a rumble and crack in the earth while Raven made sure that nothing beneath the ground was damaged.

"Whatever it is...It's big." Raven whispered, and Blake eyed Jack—Either having the same thought as either had walked in opposite directions.

"Jack take two steps back..." And the Delta had followed and stood while the former Rogue had taken a few more paces before finally reaching the end of the wall as well.

Remus nodded to Eli as they too walked the width, but the building was certainly odd-shaped considering it was longer than it was in width—Unless the chimney was an addition that happened later.

"Julia, could you stand near Blake...?" The Beta female had done as asked and Raven twitched, and that caught Sage's attention. "Tunnel...That's a tunnel." Remus had already called in the extra set of hands for the Elwoods to come, and they hadn't been disappointed when three pickups loaded with supplies had followed in pursuit of their arrival.

"Sagey, come on. Ever heard of a day off before?" Liam chuckled, but Luke had gone directly towards Sage's side and kneed down. "What is it?" He questioned, his voice heavily low. Only for her to break her concentration and sigh.

"Evil building...With long tunnel." After a few more minutes of calculation, Raven had caught another few tunnels. And Leo hadn't wasted any time sketching it on a paper for them. "Hard to say what it is, Alpha. Opposite direction from where the silver rope is." Her adoptive father called out, and Hayes stood directly beside him.

His eyes narrowed with intent to figure it out.

"Whatever it is, it has to be fragile. I don't think we can uncover all of it, but if we dig a small perimeter for Sage to tunnel us down, I think it'd work." Remus eyed both his Beta and Delta for suggestions, but both seemed eager to settle the question and nodded.

After a small debate, the place to dig would be in the center of the entire layout. The thought of hitting anything important was what delayed the exhibition, but it was a game of Minesweeper for sure.

The pups were long home, playing a  game of bone hunting that Amy rigged up, hoping that it was enough to satisfy them after their abrupt removal from the garden.
Given that it was now littered with pack and coven members, as well as various digging supplies.

As the males were starting to sweat after the labor set in front of them, Sage had called them off and said she could do the rest. Holding out her hand to Remus and he gladly took the sturdy grasp of his mate, laughing as she pulled him out of the ditch.

"My turn?"
"Yep, you're up, hun. Think we'll need a rope or some ladders?" Remus questioned the witches, but Luke had called out that should be some rope in one of the trucks and took the small jog off towards the vehicles.

Sage eyed her brother off in the distance before looking at her father, who knew so easily what that look was.
He came forward kissed her temple and hummed.

Cal mentioned that Sage hadn't used much magic since the soul swap, and it wasn't because she had any physical difficulties. But the reminder of her mother was strong every time she felt the urge to allow the energy to flow through.

She bit back the urge to return home and shelter herself from the rest of the world, she had been doing so much of that as of late—That everyone around her deserved to be able to move on from the horrors that they'd been facing even before Randal had died.

She moved her attention back towards the freshly dug hole held her hand out, and allowed her eyes to close. The earth was considered her friend, an ally to the Halliwell line. It had made sense as to why Armond had kept her hidden from the moon's attention—In more ways than one.

In a few swift motions, the ground surrounding the group began to rumble and shift.
Before anyone knew it, the hole became deeper and revealed the beginnings of a structure buried just beneath their feet.

______

Date: 04/07/23

Time: 10:48 (I'm so sorry!)

Words: 3800

Author's Note:

I apologize for the delay, minor mishap and I shifted a scene from the next chapter to this. I find it flows better this way😙

Welcome to a new phase--Black Moon.

This phase sort of snuck up on me, as I wanted to give another general warning that this is stepping into the crueler side of this world.

You will hate me for what I have done, I know my Beta Reader does😭

Just be prepared with some tissues, as I promise you'll need them for this entire phase💔

With that said, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and happy holiday!