* * *

While Sage was prepared for Remus to frown at her figuring out her intuition, a smile popped up on his face. "Sounds like we're meant to be here then, huh?"

Ease spread through her body as she nodded, but sent her father the same hint that she's managed. Whoever Kat—Catherine—Is, she needed to come with them when they left.

It was inevitable.

With Carter out of the way, Kat had come forward to escort them further into the facility, but this time the voice in the wall had said Sage's name and she laughed again.

While Remus and the rest shined brightly at hearing the delightful noise, Kat had given her a sad smile. Clearly, Carter hadn't known who these wolves were entirely, but Catherine did, and she presented herself as officially as possible.

It was her job, after all, to make sure the pack was functioning at all ends—Considering her sister was still stuck in her training duties.

"So since you didn't get the warmest welcome, I'm going to rectify that. So—Welcome to Crimson Moon, or what is left of it, anyway. Those of you who were originally a part of the pack, we have notified your relatives and we'll make our way to a smaller mess hall so you can see them." Sage smiled brightly at hearing that Kat had managed to do that for them, and that smile passed onto Remus.

But it hadn't at all transferred to Andrew, who was sporting a tight jumpsuit with a fake title, considering his pack was no longer in operation.

"We're currently on the fourth level, above us is housing for the majority of the pack members. Currently, we have just over Three-Hundred and seventy-nine members. Though that number is going to rise, a few of our she-wolves are expecting." That mere comment had already struck Sage's soul, and when she turned to look at Andrew, the male was already looking at her.

Not being able to fathom the very thought of pregnancy anymore than the other.

"As you can see, we are well advanced in technology. We have to be with living underneath the earth's surface. The lights are generated to recreate a form of sunlight. The air and water were difficult in the first few years, but after the struggle, we managed to collect rainwater from the local streams into a community tank. We have an unlimited supply now. Course, electricity is how we make all this possible. Another aspect we get from the sun." While it sounded all well and nice, Sage rose her hand.

"You upstairs a lot?"

"I'm afraid not, Luna Sage. Most hardly stepped foot outside since they entered it. For some, it's difficult to walk on the former grounds of our pack. Others are too young to know anything different. Besides that, and the growth of those Rogue demons, we tend to stay in our own territory." Sage perked her lips, not understanding why these wolves were hiding away.

Hiding away while she was begging for natural sunlight for the entirety of her life.

"This is the mess hall, former Crimson Moon members, welcome back." She introduced, and it wasn't long until the shouts and cheers of their return echoed within the metal walls.

Sage stood in awe, recognizing the similarities between one wolf to another. But seeing Calvin return with his sister was a relief she didn't know she needed to make.

"At least we know we did one thing right at the end of the day..." Blake whispered to the remainder of the group, the inner circle of Crescent Moon and Half Crescent.

He hadn't said it as anything more than a comment to keep his mind off of his pounding heart, but seeing his Mentor's smile widen and Hayes wrapping his hand onto his shoulder in agreement. It was clear that this is the moment they needed.

"Thank you Kat, for calling rel-a-tives for pack members." Sage offered, and the female nodded instantly. "The council will be happy to know that our blood is back on our territory."

"And council will not be happy we're here." The Luna concluded, and Kat had opened her mouth to disagree, but Sage shrugged her shoulders. "It's okay, we are not ready to find you still alive."

"Y-Yes, well, it's a long story. One that the Alpha will be more than happy to explain...We should get going, we'll regroup back here after the meeting." With that, they took another exit on the opposite side of the room with the door sliding to the side this time.

Wolves weren't technical geniuses, and Sage was the least likely to know how to use her computer at home. Even with the notes her family made for her to use, but here?

Even Remus was having trouble keeping up with how his badge was alerting the main computer as to where he is.

"Alpha Daniel and Luna Caroline will be present with the council of Elders. They're pretty old fashion, so keep the cursing to a minimum...And perhaps no Goddess references, we are very in tune with our daily prayers."

"Duly noted, Catherine. Thank you." Hayes replied, and she took to the wall and hurried to type in the code. Even when she blocked the actual code with her body, Sage has been inclined to hear the type of beeps the follow with the corresponding number.

Blake, remember numbers, please.

Hit me.

0804870

Gotcha, is that for the door?

Sage turned to smile at Blake and the male already began shaking his head. "You're an actual blessing." Catherine had assumed the comment was for herself and sent another smile in his direction, only for Laura to bump his side. "You have a mate at home."

"Ah, I do. And a pup, thank you for the reminder. Maybe next time focus on your own problems, Laura." He instated, and Sage hissed a warning off behind them. Turning to explain that she asked Blake to remember a number.

If anything, telling two wolves was better than one. But it made the utmost sense, given the circumstance.

With the door open, they were instantly taken to a larger room—At least twice as big as the mess hall they had just come from. However, that isn't what stunned the others—It was the fact that there was a large window on the far side. One that gave the perfect view of what was inside the mountain.

"We plan on moving into this carved-out portion of the volcano in the coming years," Catherine informed, and with the way her voice carried, it gave the awaiting members of the council and higher-ups the moment to prepare for their arrivals.

"Alpha, Luna...Council members, this is the Crescent Moon party that was caught above ground." Remus had turned his head for a moment at the term caught, but let it slide considering that his little mate was more than willing to carve a hole above them to get them the hell out of there.

"Ah...But we had more members accounted for?"

"They are in mess hall D meeting with their families." Alpha Daniel had turned to look at the given lineup of wolves having entered the room, only until his eyes locked onto Hayes.

"Hayden! Oh! What a day this is!" The male cheered, nearly toppling over the chair to bring his old friend in for a hug. "What a day? You're one to talk! Twenty-something years and not a whisper of you being alive!"

"We'll get to that, but if we were to reach out to anyone, it would be you and Mystic Grimm. I hear Harlow is doing a fantastic job as Alpha." It was a beautiful compliment and Hayes shined brighter than ever.

"Catherine, could you get Chloe? She should be here for this...I'm getting old myself, it's time to pass it off to the next in line." Now it was Sage's turn to grin.

A female Alpha? This was going to be wonderful.

"Yes, Alpha," Catherine claimed, tapping away on her tablet once again. "Catherine..." The Alpha warned, and she turned back around from her walk towards the door before huffing.
"Yeah, Dad."

I guess Kendal is getting an Alpha female too, huh?

Remus connected instantly, Catherine Crimson is the mate of Kendal Moonridge. And Sage had felt more than at ease, or would have, had Hayes not started to brag about being a grandfather to four pups and bragging about herself.

It felt strange, and she was hardly used to it.

"Ah, yes...Carter was very detailed in the report. Scared him good." He claimed, and the table behind him began to laugh. "Scared him? Poor boy almost pissed his pants!" A voice roared, and Daniel slightly laughed alongside him.

"It's good for the boy to be exposed to more than he has...Let me introduce you to everyone. This is my wonderful mate, Caroline. Beside her is our Beta and Deltas—My Master of Arms, Brody Carter, Carter's father. And..." As Daniel introduced everyone around the circular table, the door off behind them slid once again, voicing the entry of not only Catherine but another female and Carter.

Yet it was the new female that took the room by force, standing directly beside her father in a greeting before eyeing the newcomers. "What in Goddesses name is going on?" She questioned, gritting her teeth as it was clear she didn't want to deal with this.

"We have guests, Chloe, it's the duty of an Alpha to greet them properly." To what seemed to be a great disruption to her schedule, Chloe had made her way directly towards Hayes and greeted him coldly.

Followed by Remus who was too kind not to take the offered hand, but as she stood in front of Sage. The female did not take it, no, she crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.
Clearly showing her disapproval.

"Excuse me—"

"Excused." Remus' arms wrapped around Sage's shoulder and leaned in to whisper quickly that it was the right thing to do.

"We apologies, it's been a long day of traveling." He claimed once again, using that as a lie. And considering that she had a breakdown over her damn jumpsuit, it was clear that her senses were going berserk.

It wasn't the first time that Sage met an Alpha-Female. In technicality, her sister Haylee was one as well, even if she was titled as Luna.
The same for Luna Enid of Moon Stone.

Here, however, Sage was not impressed by the character Chloe was offering. Nor did she like the sudden movement the female had tried to do, but Sage had instantly gripped the soon-to-be Alpha's wrist, twisted her around, and kicked her at the back of the knees.

"Not only Alpha in the room, female. Don't forget." Chloe managed to slash herself away, and growling her frustrations. Only for Carter to go and comfort her.

"You're going to let her do that?! I told you, we should've just executed them when we had the chance!"

"Chloe! This is why I wanted you to read the report before entering the room!"
"Carter told me everything, they were snooping around and threatened us!" Sage rolled her eyes and turned to the male in question, and after feeling the Luna's lingering gaze, Carter stiffened.

"That is not what happened, and besides. We were going to send an envoy out regardless...We heard your prayers, Luna Sage—It was a wonderful service." Sage's lips parted as she turned up toward Blake and then back toward Daniel.

"You hear?"

"Yes, and it is a shame that our numbers have been caught by the Underground at the worst possible time...Please excuse my daughter and Carter's actions. This was a learning experience for us all." He waved off, and Sage nodded in agreement. But she still didn't like the way either Chloe or Carter was looking at her.

"Your story is legendary around these parts, Luna Sage—You are a welcomed guest...I heard from my daughter that your Rogue General is with you as well." Sage let her hand rest on Blake's shoulder and looked up with every ounce of pride he deserved.

"Yes, Blake help—helped me with training the Rogues to learn about packs."

"Do you have a number of how many there were?"

"Two hundred and seventy-eight and counting, sir." He instantly replied to the Alpha's question, not at all liking the looks he was receiving from the table.
Were they disgusted that he was a Rogue himself?

Or did they know his story as well?

It wasn't until a male from the table, not exactly an elder of the bunch, but the Master of Arms—Brody—Had taken the steps to stand directly before Blake with clear shock written across his face.

As though he saw a ghost.

"What did you say your name was?"

"Uh...Blake—Blake Warren?" He offered, tapping the device in his chest pocket. But the male had started to turn tearful, a smile and frown switching in and out of existence as he placed a hand on Blake's cheek.

"By the stars...You look just like your father."

______

Date: 07/07/23

Time: 7:52

Words: 2273

Author's Note:

Thank goodness the next update is scheduled for Monday,
because even I'm excited about the next few chapters. 

Soon we'll get to see just how isolated this pack has been in terms of gaining information from outside their base. But truthfully, they're limited in everything.

And I can tell you right now, Sage is just itching to get Chloe in the ring with her...

Now about Blake?
I guess we'll just have to wait until Monday, but I think we all know where this is going.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!