* * *

There were only a few times in Blake's life where he was referred to as looking like his father, and the only memories the former Rogue had—Were blurred over time. Replaced by unknown voices more than anything. But to see this male, this stranger, standing in front of him with such an emotional touch and claiming that he looked like his father?

That was too much for him to bear.

"Uh..."

"Bryson. Bryson a-and Riley. They were your parents, weren't they?" That had instantly caused him to take cautious steps back, ones that were replaced by Sage who did not want this male to push his luck.

Especially when he was hurting Blake.

"Ha! Oh goddess—Dan—It's his boy! It's him!" The tears rushed forward as Brody tackled Blake with a hug. Nothing threatening or damning about the gesture, but Sage was left standing to the side—Having been pulled back by Remus.

"You knew my parents?"

"Knew them?! I'm your Uncle! Your father's brother. Course, I've seen better days. Oh, Carter! Carter, come meet your cousin." Blake had nearly toppled to the floor if it wasn't for Andrew and Grey having taken hold of him on either side.

But that still didn't help the poor male rectify the ache in his stomach. He was going to be sick if he didn't get an answer soon.

"Cousin?! Dad, come on. He doesn't look anything like Uncle Bryson."

"Careful, boy. You're on thin ice as is. Threatening a harmless group—They were praying for Moon's sake! And if you had any clue about the updates we've been getting, you'd know who she is!"

"She's a twig!" Why was it that everyone in the world seemed to call Sage a twig, hell, the poor female hardly knew what a twig even was. She just knew it was an insult.

One that caused five pairs of arms to layer themselves in front of her at the mere chance she thought to go after him. Again.

"Careful, male." She warned.

"Sounds likes he wants to go into the ring, Sagey." Blake smirked, knowing full well that his cousin wouldn't last thirty seconds at most with her.

Not with what's happened so far.

"Bryson Carter, you apologize to the Luna this instance...This generation, what have we been raising?" Brody questioned, his hand running through his hair in defeat.

"Living here does not help wolf grow. Doesn't help me grow. Wolf needs sun and woods, and to hunt." Sage spoke, even though the question was not directed at her, she still answered it.

"We hunt just fine, Luna." Sage had no doubt that there were some hunting parties going on around them, but these two were sheltered beyond belief.

So much so that Chloe couldn't even manage to take handle of meeting those of her own rank.

"Squirrels don't count."

"Anyway—" Hayes tried to segway, and once again, the same set of hands had reverted back to Sage to keep her contained.
"Sage, I love you—Right? This sassy shit has to calm down." Blake whispered directly into her ear, hoping she managed.

"Alpha Daniel thinks I'm funny." She pointed, and Chloe seethed in her father's direction. Disbelief ran across her face.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. But Luna Sage—Alpha Sage, I should say, is right. I have sheltered this pack from any and all other packs. While I know you would do wonderful during an Alpha or Luna meeting at the former council. You do not know how to speak with another set of an Alpha couple. Which is why I wanted you to read your sister's notes, not just listen to Carter." The hands still lingered around Sage, and in one squint of her eyes, they were all swung back to their designated sides.

Earning a round of curses as it hurt more than she had intended. "Sorry, but I don't need hands in the way."

"You know, this is completely unorthodox...But I would love it if you could spar with my daughter, Sage. Carter as well. They've been training with the pack's best, but since you are all here now..." Hayes smiled and looked down at his daughter, Of course, it wasn't out of reason.

So Sage nodded once.

"I don't know Crimson sparing rules. But I will spar." The Alpha had erupted in a smile, even though he was receiving glares from the two high-ranking children that were more than spoiled.

"Hey, maybe now you'll get a higher clearance if—" Blake teased to his newfound cousin. But that male did not hesitate to bite back.

"Shut the fuck—" Now that had inflicted a much more proper reaction as she stalked forward.

"Do not talk to my Charge like that, male. Where's the ring?" The two were emulating fear tenfold, so much so that Chloe had started to stutter, while Hayes had a few good mentions as the rest of the group had followed in pursuit of the training room.

Granted, it was clear that everyone here was more than familiar with the room. But to Sage, with the pure-cut reminder of the Gyms that she suffered through in the Underground.

"So, son, tell me...Where did you end up staying all this time?" Brody questioned, and Blake sighed. "I was in a small Rogue pack for a while before the Underground captured me. After that, I lived in the human world before heading back to packs. Sage found me when I was living in Mystic Grimm. After I became her Charge, things for the Rogue Reformed program kinda just fell into place." It was a short explanation of the truth, as Sage knew he was leaving out the bits about his parents, Pax, and killing his former Alpha.

In addition to the horrors of what his first pack had done to him, but given the audience, there were plenty.

It was Remus, however, who took to looking over Sage's figure. His focus was mainly on her ears in hopes that it wasn't the case of her sassy attitude, but clearly, the idea of wearing this jumpsuit and returning back to a similar area as the Underground was making her less patient.

Especially to clueless pups such as Chloe and Carter.

"Since Sage is a guest, we will explain our rules...The circle is labeled out smallest for the first round, and will grow as they continued. The buzzard will allow a shift." It was an interesting take on what she's learned before, but she nodded to Brody and smiled before turning to Blake.

Yes, it was clear that they were related now. Even Bryson had the same cheek and eye structor. No wonder he had looked so familiar, it was a smirk she saw every day!

"Hey! Cousin, your ass is getting in with me."

"What? That wasn't what dad said."

"Yeah, but this is for threatening my Luna. And I know it's either going to be me or her mate. So ass, inside, now." Carter couldn't delegate it any further, and goddess he wished he had a backbone. Because once the first ten seconds had passed, he was in a world of hurt that he wasn't sure if the females in the infirmary could manage to fix him after this.

And that was before his wolf had entered in.

Course, prior to the actual session, they had removed their bags and were issued an extra set for afterward. But still. Even when Carter had pulled out all the stops, used his father's best tricks, all he could hear was his howling of laughter.

As if Blake was his son instead, but no, the newbie who he didn't even know existed wouldn't claim his title. He couldn't.

That wasn't so easily done, considering that Blake had taken him out of commission before the last circle.

"Well done, Blake." Hayes offered, and that had exceeded any and all compliments that his Uncle Brody or his true Alpha could have given. "Ha! I could hardly beat your father when he was in a mood...Say, what did you say your last name was?"

"Warren. I took my mate's name."

"Mated?!"

"My son's turning one this year too, I left my phone in my pack upstairs, though." As Carter turned to sit up with the help of Catherine, Sage had come forward and offered a hand. And even though he didn't want it, he was hoping that taking it would finally break the ice between him and her.

"You fight well against Blake. Not many wolves can beat my Charge."

"Who's beaten him?" It was the smile that she offered that truly instated another layer of fear in Chloe, but Sage remained passive as she waved her hand over Carter and blew out her breath over the front of his face.

"Will heal before you go to bed."

"Uh, thanks...What did you do?"

"Heal you, shhh, don't tell my mate." She whispered, though Remus heard regardless, given the fact that he was prepared to separate a fight. However, it was more so to take said pain away, not that it would actually heal entirely.

"Chloe, are you ready?"
"Ready? Did you see how that male fought?! We're behind on training if he could get beat. That's my Master of Arms!"

"Well, with Blake's return. He could take his father's rightful place." This caused a frown to follow suit on both Sage's and Blake's faces. Confusion laced their expression until Brody explained it properly.

He wasn't meant to be Master of Arms. Bryson was.

Meaning that the title would pass onto Blake, not Carter.

"Uh—" Without any warning, Liam and Caleb had slapped Blake on the back in a record of support. "Would you look at that, a Master of Arms son!"

"Wait until dad hears about this!" They cheered, and that caught Brody's attention in the instant. "Elwood! Now I really regret not reading the list of names!" The excitement continued to bustle through and through, and Sage remained passive—Allowing the moment of joy to take hold of the conversation as she closed her eyes.

Blake would call out to her if he needed help, and it wasn't like they were far away from one another. Hell, the longest they had gone without one another was during the time she was captured, and the male hadn't wasted any time before breaking multiple human traffic laws to race back onto Crescent Moon territory to see her again.

No, the relationship the two had would not allow this type of uncomfortable situation to happen, but as far as Sage could tell, Blake was handling his Uncle just fine.

"What are you doing?" Chloe spat, coming right up alongside her with her arms crossed.

"Meditating."

"While standing up?"

"Can meditate anywhere. Don't need candles or quiet. Better that way." The female huffed, and Sage continued her breathing practice, trying to wash away the sass.

"I am sorry I don't shake hand, I am still learning that."
"Learning how to shake someone's hand?"

"That, and rude female who does not come to greet group. Alpha is right, you still need to learn. I do too." To admit that she still needed help in the position was strange for Chloe to hear. As she was told ever since she could walk that this, ever square inch of the Crimson Moon Pack—Would be hers.

Hers to manage, protect, and care for.

"Carter said you attacked him?"

"After I ask about the Nymphs upstairs, he tells me we are going to be ex-e-cu-ted. Yes. I get angry and protective of my pack. My family." Sage insisted so Chloe could face the gravity of the situation, and that she listened to Carter over her sister's words.

"When we first heard about you...I didn't think you'd be this...Like this."

"Bad or good?"
"A little bit of both, I guess. It's hard to see that you're from the Underground." The future Alpha dictated, as her eyes fell towards Andrew. And Sage growled in warning.

"You can't see mine. My brother, Liam, he has some too." She confirmed, and Chloe reared back.

"Your brother? You mean Harlow?"

"No. Before I know I am a Mystic pup, Elwoods take me in as their pup. I was Sage Elwood before I mate Remus." It was those types of technicalities that the pack missed.

"Where do you learn about me?"

"That's classified," Chloe said with ease, and Sage only pointed to her breastplate. Where it claimed that she had 'unlimited access,' causing the female to frown.

"We have sources scattered around America, most are just loners. But now that I'm thinking about it, it sounds like half the information we've been learning is filtered. I didn't know you were adopted into a family." Sage nods, before seeing the interaction between all the pack members and the council.

You okay?

Sage called out, seeing that Remus was speaking with her father and Alpha Daniel.

Yeah, doesn't sound like he's angry at me. It's kinda refreshing.

It seemed like finding this hidden pack was starting to be a blessing, or was, until Daniel clapped his hands together.

"Chloe, Sage, are you ready to get started?" He asked, and Sage smirked with a nod before turning to the female once again. "Dad, I've been training all week!" The idea of an excuse didn't pass well through Sage's mind, the only time she ever did give excuses was when she was heavily pregnant.

With twins.

With the expected look starting to grow throughout the room, Chloe huffed and went on toward the center.
Only to be greeted back by her father.

Remus said you can give her the Kelly treatment if you're up for it.

With that, Sage's head shot directly to her mate in pure surprise. She was told never to do that again, but given the circumstance, she supposed she could understand it.

Perhaps she was like Laura and Lexi for that matter, they needed to be taught a lesson about proper rank.

Funny how it was always her that managed out these dealings, but Sage wouldn't have it any other way.

She nodded in agreement and placed her digital name tag into her father's hands and rolled up her sleeves. Showcasing the large tattoo taking up one side of her shoulder, while the other held her infamous bear scar.

That was enough for Chloe to choke, looking at her father for advice or aid.

"You're looking at the highest-ranking Female in America, sweetheart—So I've been told."
"Think she's been given an Alpha title since rejoining the land of the living, isn't that right, Bubbles?" The nickname hadn't distracted Sage from staring at the female, ready to attack.

Much like the first spar with Carter and Blake, this had a unique alarm to set off the first segment. And as always, Sage remained passive and allowed Chloe the first move.

Granted, the female had taken into consideration Carter's fighting style. And it was too predictable, more than that even, Sage had easily undermined her.
Allowing the female to fall over herself with small jabs.

Nothing major, nothing that caused any real pain.

"Too excited. Make contact first." Sage issued, walking around as she waited for Chloe to collect herself once again, but that still did not take Sage by surprise.

Nothing ever really did—Besides her phone. The damn thing's alarm would always blare at the worst times.

"This is not for show, when you take title as Alpha—Others will see you as a threat. They will want to take pack. You need to defend pack from others taking over title." It was meant to come as advice, not a threat. But clearly, that was the way Chloe was taking it as her careless fighting actions had taken a whole new level of recklessness.

One that Sage shook her head in, clearly unimpressed.

"Why don't you fucking show me instead of criticizing?!" She roared, and while she did have the voice of an Alpha, it had not taken control as she wished. But it was so damn easy for Sage to do the very thing she had with Kelly.

One drop kick later, Chloe had been slammed to the wall behind her. Making a dent in the metal to showcase her form. "I don't like swearing, female," Sage responded, and when she turned off towards the rest of the group, she caught the others trying not to laugh.

But it was Daniel who stood in awe.

"H-how did you—" Hayes gestured towards Sage and reminded him of the dozens of times when Sage did indeed need to defend her title and position.

Not to mention that Sage had something to fight for.

"Chloe needs help, Alpha Daniel. Staying here will not help her grow."

"I know. But we don't want to go vocal again. I've said my peace with your father, the entire deal ith the council was a failure from the beginning." Sage nods in agreement, before looking to Remus for advice on what to respond with next.

"What if there was just one Alpha and one Luna in charge of the rest of the packs with a council underneath them, like you have here. Would that be something you're interested in?"

"Perhaps, but how do you plan to do that?" Daniel questioned, his eyes switching from Remus off towards his mate and daughters off on the side of the room.

The Alpha male couldn't even manage a proper compliment to Sage, the female hardly broke a sweat in disciplining his eldest. How was he meant to react?

"We're hosting a tournament, all wolves with Alpha blood are invited to fight for the title," Remus informed, and Daniel stuttered back.

"And the packs agreed to this?"
"With some tweaks to the initial draft, yes. It's more so in worry about who on which side wins. Others might hold a vengeance to what's happened in the past—In the past." Hayes had said it nicer than what Sage and Remus could've managed, though coming from the former Alpha of Mystic Grimm, a friend to Daniel Crimson, it was much easier received.

"And they will win the crown? It is a crown, isn't it?"

"Yes. We're making America a Kingdom. Easier this way. One Alpha King and one Queen Luna. That way, there will be no more fighting against each other." There was a small glimmer that shone in Daniel's eyes as he looked in between both Remus and Sage. As if he wanted to speak but held himself back and nodded instead to Sage's confirmation to their plan.

"I believe we'll be staying in the dark for much longer than I thought, then."

"You do not want to join the Kingdom?" Sage asked, a little confused. Considering Alpha Daniel sounded as if he was on board.
"It depends on who is crowned Alpha King, Bubbles. There are a few wolves west of us that don't know the own end of their tail...They'll need to be stopped before I take into consideration entering and following the rule of the King—And Queen." He chimed, but looking directly towards Sage and Remus both were starting to give the female a shiver.

What was this male thinking about?

"...Well, it seems that the Rogues are in good company, given I've just seen two of their leaders manage to take down my next titled generation." Sage blinked and smirked. "I can help Chloe train."

"Sage—"

"She needs to learn. Alpha Daniel was being nice, Chloe will not survive with other Alphas and Lunas in a meeting." She decided and turned back from her father's interrupted warning back to Daniel.

"What is it that you plan to do with my daughter?"

"We are looking for clues to find captured witches, my mom, and evil vampire man who took me. We think he is hiding on old pack lands." The Alpha's brows pushed together instantly as he nodded.

"There have been unfamiliar and strange activity in the Lichen pack lands lately. We've sent scouts and just assumed a Rogue group had moved in. But it grew before vanishing...Catherine, can you pull up the map?" The daughter had left her sister's side and done just that with her nifty tablet, one that Sage smiled down at.

"Not like your tablet at home, huh?" Remus teased, and she shook her head quickly. Too many colors and symbols for her to translate so quickly.

"Here, we didn't know what it was at first. But it completely vanished without any remains. It's not the first time nomads passed through and we kindly asked them to leave." Kat held up her tablet and showed the years markings of the red dots that lingered on the area of the state.

But it did not register in Sage's mind, not until Andrew came forward and huffed. "Even Rogues know better than to come on sacred land, unless they're desperate..." He offered, and Kat nodded, issuing that there were a few cases and those very wolves joined them.

The mere thought of another pack offering a home to Rogues had caused Sage's smile to widen, not caring that she didn't understand what the glowing dots really indicated. Though it's not the first time things—technology—were difficult for her to comprehend.

Perhaps that was why her grey suit held different rankings, as it was something that the Crimson pack valued as well.

"Would you be interested in helping us, Alpha Daniel?" Remus questioned, and his eyes lingered off to his mate and eldest daughter. Leaving Sage to follow in pursuit, and she realized that they were linking one another in a sense of debate.

Sage could be respectful of that, even if she was curious.

"My mate and I agree, on a few conditions of course..." He was tempted, and it was the aligned tilt of Remus, Hayes, and Andrew's heads that most definitely stated their curiosity.

So Sage nodded her head to continue to hear said conditions.

"We will supply you scouts, trackers, hunters, and whatever wolves we can muster up for this mission. A place to rest, food, and all the goods. But you will take my daughters and Carter with you." While Sage had wanted to agree, her eyes flickered to Remus who was already bouncing in between Hayes and Andrew.

It sounded too good to be true, and so Sage crossed her arms over her chest. "And?" She offered, and the male smirked, seeing as how he hadn't been able to get an agreement just yet, not with this smart female in his midsts.

"Ah, good catch, Sage. And, you will not tell anyone that we exist."
"Daniel—" The male had held his hand to allow him the chance to explain, but a sad expression crossed over him. "It was brutal, Hayden. Goddess, I am blessed that we survived what we did. But the numbers we lost were severe. Randal had a score to settle, and we were not prepared. I will not put my pack, my people, my family, through that again." Sage's brows came together as she perked her lips.

"Why does Randal not like you?" She questioned, and Daniel sighed once more. "That is a long story, Luna Sage. One that I am not sure you are ready to uncover."

"We find statue in Crescent Moon, one of Randal...Then we find one of Emery Moon in Moon Ridge. You make statues?"
"Made. We were a very creative pack, now things have taken a turn—Or just in a different more effective, and situational path." He claimed, gesturing to the tablet once more. Just as Sage was about to ask another question, Caroline had come forward to join the sectioned-off upper-level wolves.

"I haven't made a sculpture in decades...Which one are you referring to?"
"Two wolf statues, larger than the floor to the ceiling. What was the type of stone?" Andrew claimed, before turning to Sage for confirmation and she smiled. "Limestone, very pretty."

"I never sculpted anything for Emery Moon...No, I recall Randal's—But the female had another name." Caroline attempted to think for a rushed moment and Remus' face had fallen.

Another female than Emery Moon?

"Tina?"
"Snyder? Goddess, no. That bitch should've been hung long ago. Good for you, for doing what I've been dreaming of years...No, this female was actually nicer than I would've expected for that monster. No offense, Remus." The male huffed, and Andrew shook his head with his own laugh.

"Honestly, ma'am, I could care less what you call him. He was never a father to me." The comment had caused Sage to lean into his chest, offering him a tight hug. In addition to her father's hand resting on his shoulder.

"Don't need him, son. You never needed him." Hayes sternly reminded, and Andrew—Who's father was known to be a kind man, an Enforcer for the pack, had managed to leave some morals for him to follow.

"Oh, I can't think of her name, I just know that Tina had tried canceling the order or something with Snyder's were angry and tried to mess things up. Things didn't end well considering it was too big to ship together, and we ended up breaking the duel statute and withheld the other half because it was 'no longer needed,'"

"So how did it end up in Moon Ridge?" Caroline shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "I'll look in my files, but most of the records upstairs were burned if it wasn't digital...I'll do some research to see if I can find anything." That seemed like a sure enough deal, though Sage was thinking about more than just the normal sequence of events.

Kat is Kendal's mate, and she promised him that she would do her best to watch out for and protect her in the event that she did stumble across her.

Perhaps she could convince the female to move?

______

Date: 07/10/23

Time: 9:05

Words: 4367

Author's Note:

Alpha Danial is offering to help the group, Lichen seems to be the next area of investigation--Hopefully, all will go well.

But I would like everyone to meet Blake Carter--The true son of the former Master of Arms Bryson Carter.

If I ever do a prequel story for a character, Blake is at the top of the list.

Alrighty, cutting this short because I have a busy busy schedule to get through these next few days!
I hope you all have a fantastic week and I'll see you Friday!