* * *

Sage had remained silent for two days before starting to come back from the 'sleep haze' as the witches called it. Exhaustion didn't quite cover the transfer and return of one's soul from another. Even if they were family, it was still stressful on the body—Regardless of what the switch did elsewhere.

She continued to flinch at her males' touches, no matter how innocent and sweet they tried to be. It was starting to create a drive between former friends, as Remus was now aware of more of their relationship.

The guests from White Paw and Mystic Grimm soon departed, though neither sibling wanted to leave Sage in such a vulnerable state. But the best medicine that any witch could diagnose was to allow her to heal, whether that meant by giving her time to adjust on her own as well as lavish her with love and small reminders that she is back.

Back and not going anywhere.

Luke was not allowed to visit his sister until the third day, on account of her mate and father agreeing to the vist—And while he didn't think it was the best idea, he had to follow the words of the Alphas.

All three of them.

Upon taking the strides into Alpha Remus' house, he caught Sage in a cuddle pile of her pups and reading fairly silently to them. "Hey Sagey, hey lil Moon pups." It had been their usual title and they sparked up with smiles, and in Rue's case—Open arms to be held by her Godfather.

Sage watched carefully as her brother neared her space, but after a moment she realized he wasn't here to do anything more than hang out. Luke caught a sigh of relief, and even Ronan was on the lookout for trouble.

"Ellie is making some cookies at home, wouldn't be interested, would you?" Sage's smile was partially delayed, but it managed to spark with a soft grin as she nodded to her brother.

It was enough for him to plop down onto the couch beside her, though Ronan let out a small growl that only a pup like him could manage.

"Easy lil Alpha." He whispered, letting his wrist forward for the pup to smell, but even he was irritated as he took one sniff and stuffed his face into his mom's arm. "Pups need a nap."

"And does mama need a nap too?" She shook her head as she kissed Ronan's forehead and he huffed once again. "Was thinking...Haven't taken a good run in a while, you up for it? Can round out to my cabin, see Liv and eat some cookies." The smile trickled as she felt the nod come without warning, but then she looked towards the front door in worry.

"We're in Crescent Moon, there are miles between us and humans than us and that Vampire. Right?" She nodded, but she didn't look all that convinced. "He's not getting you as easy hun, as long as you're here—Between those miles, there's dozens of wolves ready to defend you and these pups. Starting with Remus and Andrew, and I'm somewhere in there too." Sage didn't want to be the one to remind her family that she was taken with a number of her wolves.

In addition to Rebekah and Enzo.

"Going to put the pups to sleep and call Remus." Luke had silently fist pumped into the air as Sage turned away towards the other room, considering nobody had managed to get Sage that far out of the house than just a small walk outside to see Half Crescent and soak in their company.

The house was currently empty besides Sage and the pups, so she had to call Remus regardless of what she planned for the house. Having picked up both the pups and taking the trek upstairs to get them ready for a nap, she awaited patiently to watch their eyes begin to close before stepping out.

Sage grabbed the house phone and dialed one, a direct line to Remus' pack office, and within the first ring it had been answered.

"Hey...I was going to call you, did you eat lunch?" Sage bit her lip, no, she didn't eat lunch. "Not hungry."

"Even for a chicken sandwich?" The thought made her gag.

"No, I drink tea and make toast but don't finish." It was clear that Remus was starting to get unnerved. "Going on run with Luke, maybe we hunt?" She offered and he instantly jumped to the thought.

Sage definitely needed a fresh kill to settle her worries and anger.

"I'd feel better if Jack went with you hun."
"Okay. Meet at big oak tree?
"Does your head still hurt?"
"Yeah. That's why I call on phone." She reminded, and Remus remained silent.
Giving her the feeling he was linking whoever else was in the room.

"Dunno how I feel about just you, Luke, and Jackson..."

"Blake too?" There was another line of silence, and even Sage could feel the disappointment of her not asking him to join. But she needed some time away from him, both of the males.

She hadn't slept beside them since she shifted souls, neither Remus nor Andrew.

They would cook together, eat, and clean—Or the two would watch television or play video games in the living room while Sage was cuddled up on the armrest catching up on her reading.

But that was as close as she could come to them both, just about arms reach.

Raven tried to explain that even when she felt the Light bond with Blake, it still took a fair bit of time to trust a male again—Even one fated by the goddess above.
Sage, for the most part, was fighting her emotions and couldn't separate the feeling of togetherness apart from what Armond had done.

After speaking with Enzo, he explained that some of his kind are prone to making a feeding pleasurable, but oftentimes it could escalate to more than just a quick bite.

Remus' heart was out for Willow, who experienced this for years and was unknowingly forgotten about after being pronounced dead. But there was still a chance to make things right, and it was sheltered in the mind of Sage Moon.

The witches couldn't dream walk, expressing that her mind was on lockdown and still needed time to heal. Even then they weren't sure if they were able to acquire what they needed, but Sage's memory of the events was untouched, and when she said her goodnights for the evening—She would go up to her room and sketch away, trying to pinpoint just what those markings in the temple's walls were.

They were vivid, appearing constantly.

"Yeah, I'll link Blake...He'll meet you at the oak tree with Jack." He reluctantly agreed. And thus the plan had gone through. 

After waiting for Amy to arrive to watch the pups, she didn't allow Sage to leave without giving her a therapeutic hug. Which felt just as reviving as the thought of shifting beside her brother.

The male had lingered just a bit as Sage took a headcount to those still camping outside her home. Offering her aid and perhaps some food from the hunt, but they were well-equipped and well-taken care of by the rest of the pack.

The unity was starting to shape up quite a bit, and the term Rogue wasn't taken as harshly as it had been in the last few months. Even with the looming threat of Draugr lingering about.

"Better get going, winds will probably pick up soon." Luke reminded, his hand hovering at her back to lead her to the familiar tree—One she's shifted at many times since she moved from the Elwood residence.

With both of them shifted, Sage lead the way to the very Oak tree to meet up with the rest of the males. Luke knew very well what Remus was trying to do—keep eyes on her without being physically there himself.

It didn't take a genius to see the struggle between Remus and Sage, especially since they were right back to where they started. Together but not as a mated couple.

Luke had no say, neither did the pack—And while they did see Sage as their Luna...It didn't mean that they weren't subjected to their own confusion as to what's happened.

Nor did they know about Andrew being involved with Sage more than just returning home after his own inflicted banishment. But Luke was certain that there would be another negative reaction.

So he silently wondered if Sage knew the risks—But she did, and it was tearing her apart even further.

She knew Andrew on a different level than anyone here, Remus might have known the male before his imprisonment and torture. But Sage can relate to the after.

His return was much like her entry, that he didn't know the changes and didn't know how to adapt to Crescent Moon. Even if he did have a backing here, much as she had with Luke or Liam.

After being lost in her mind for an ongoing minute, Luke nudged her with his snout and huffed. His tail was down but swinging back and forth with a sort of playfulness that usually only came out with his mate and daughter.

But Sage had nuzzled back, thankful for the distraction as she let out a bark and turned to dart off and away. Where the males had followed closely behind, though she was happy to be able to lead these three through the snow-covered land.

It had blindsided her as she had to relearn the land, as her memories were fairly clouded as of yet. So much so that she skidded to the side and did a rather harsh tumble roll into the snowbank—Though her back slammed directly into a tree truck before covering her in slow.

Sage!

Luna!

Shit.

Between the three males shouting into her mind as she shook it off—Yet as she tried to rise up to her feet, only to be met with the pain coursing through her back.

Should we call Kenzie?

Jackson had spoken in a hurry and Sage huffed and righted her stance.

I'm okay.

Sage, you have to be careful—Fuck, the last thing we need to tell Remus is that you crashed.

She looked up to the very tree she sat underneath and flopped back down. Luke was right.

I crash easy.

Didn't sound like it hun, surprised the tree didn't come down.

Blake teased as he sat down across from her, Sage had sent him a smile. Since her return, there were times that she would just stare and grin—Clearly happy to be back, though still in a sense of wonder.

I'm okay.

Fuck Sage, did you slip?

Yes. But I'm okay.

Jack shook his head out and sat beside Blake, the two conversed as Luke neared closer to Sage and helped her to her feet.

You have to be more careful. There could be a lil pup in there with you, that kinda fall could hurt you both.

For a moment Sage had forgotten the possibility, but the plopped her head down.

Don't know if there's pup.

She had sent it out to the males surrounding her and their chests puffed forward. Was this why she was feeling off besides the obvious?

Can try again when it's safer. Rory says there's plenty of time.

The kind words of her Delta didn't help, not when she knew they would be reporting back to Remus with the details. But a part of her felt empty, both because the remanence and warmth that her mother's soul had left behind vanished.

Let's get to those cookies before Lavender and her mama eat them all without us.

With that as an incentive, Luke rallied to have a full cabin—Making sure the stove had plenty of wood to keep it burning and lively. But Sage stayed particularly close to Eleanor and Lavender, her eyes searching for something that he couldn't pinpoint.

Not to mention that Remus was going to have a heart attack on the other end of the link if he kept going on like this.

Sage was back and the male was still getting used to not being stuck in a downward spiral. At times, Luke could see Sage's father still misplaced by everything that's happened.

The idea of breaking a wolf's mate bond was nothing that they could deal with, not without the witches' aid. But even now, looking back towards his own mate and daughter—He realized that Sage had bottled up all her trauma now and it was starting to be the breakdown everyone had been waiting on.

You think Sage would speak with a therapist?

Luke allowed the question to funnel through to the rest of the wolves for a moment and Andrew was the first to scoff.

What is therapy going to do?

Could do a lot of good, Ellie helped me get through the nightmares. Sure Sage could benefit from it.

Luke's response to Andrew caused Remus to groan into his hands. Leaving Andy to rise from his own makeshift desk to lean against Remus'. "You think that's a good idea?"

"I don't know, but my wolf can't keep going on like this. She's so far away."

"Not her fault." Andy reminded, and Remus looked away. He knew it wasn't her fault, but there were times they would share her feelings...Then the realization hit him.

"What?... What is it?" The Alpha didn't even have time to process his discovery as Andrew rounded the desk. "I know that look, Rem."

"She tried to get me to talk...When we found out that Coldridge was hunting her down to try to use her against us, I didn't tell her anything. It was just before I sent her to Mystic Grimm, she wanted me to talk and I didn't."

"You think she's holding out because you wouldn't talk to her?"

"I'm not sure. But I know I need to fix this. Fix this, find Willow, and kill that bastard. That's how we can move on." Andrew growled in agreement, in addition to Hayes who entered the room with a similar sort of determination.

"Any leads on any of those?" He segwayed, and Andrew shook his head. "Not even one, everything's locked in Sage's head. We crack that, we can get a move on." Hayes sighed, knowing that was their biggest setback.

"Willow's mind was always a fortress, it's not a surprise she kept being a witch from me. I just hope it's helping her now."

"Sure it is. What if we set her up with Kenzie?... She's a doctor."

"Yeah Rem, but she's not a Psychologist. We need an expert with this." Hayes nodded and pulled out his phone, dialing up his son was difficult as is.

As was asking for Calista.

"Who the hell is Calista?" Andrew questioned and Hayden squared his figure to the younger male. "My therapist."

"You have a—"
"I've lost my mate to a Rogue attack, had two very young children left alone without a mother and a pack to run...Not to mention I've had a daughter all these years and my mate never died. Yeah, I have a therapist." Hayes face hardened at the prospect of having the female coming here to Crescent Moon.

"There's a catch though..." Andrew frowned at hearing that, knowing that everything comes at a cost now and again. But the way Hayes spoke and fiddled with a few chained texts worried him.

"What type of catch?"

"Might want to hide those bear hydes, Calista is a little sensitive to see her people as trophies."

______

Date: 3/31/23

Time: 8:59 (Yay!)

Words: 2790

Author's Note:

And we are on our way to introducing a new character—Calista!
I am very excited for you all to meet her!

Besides that, things are a little nerve-wracking in the Alpha residence, and as of right now both Harlow and Haylee have returned to their packs. Though without the Council, Hayes doesn't really have a home, so he is going to be remaining in an in-between for right now until things get sorted.

Hopefully, Calista can fix some of the tension and start to give Sage proper peace of mind.
Their first session is the heart of next chapter!

In other werewolf related news, I am pleased to announce a new werewolf story—

The cover may change (But I do like this minimalistic vibe), but I plan to post an Author's note, Intro, and Prologue over this weekend. Hoping to give me the proper kick I need to get this project up off the ground!

This story will feature:
Royalty
Second-Chance Romance
Werewolf/Human relations
A devious Rogue King
And much more!

Alright, alright, enough about that for now—I hope you all have an amazing weekend and I will see you all for Monday's chapter!