* * *

Camilla had already spread the word to her sons, and in the time span of an hour, the Luna's infirmary room was filling up with members of the pack coming and going.

The only ones struggling because Sage couldn't hear the pups coming to visit, especially the twins, so Sage did her best to continue to remind and speak with them in their Link.

Even if they hated it.

And while sounds were slowly starting to come back, it was still extremely painful for her body to mend what had burst. Not to mention that she felt extremely guilty at the sight of others facing a similar condition of trouble hearing.

Liam being one of the many.

He was too close to her during the ring, but thankfully it was only one side and he was starting to regain his sense of hearing. Similar to the rest of those found and Sage herself.

A few hours after reawakening, Sage was allowed to return home. However, after having another traumatizing experience with her poor father to reencounter, he returned to the Moon residence.

And to her sibling's disappointment, she couldn't talk to them through the phone and could only resort to texting. And even then, it was difficult to comprehend on her own. Leaving her to an early night in her room, with the pups in a pop up crib—Given the fact that they cried whenever their mother left the room for more than a few minutes.

The next day, Sage found herself cooking up a feast for those who were coming in and out of the home while she was babysitting the majority of the pups with Delta John and Liam. It was the perfect combination to put on a movie marathon so the rest of the wolves could work on their assignments while the rest healed.

Granted, the combination of three ears between them versus a whole litter of pups managed well. Or well enough, especially when Sage narrowed her eyes when trying to figure out if a pup was being naughty or nice.

Right now, however, she was trying to think strategically. Remus was preparing to leave for Moon Ridge in order to learn more about their religion, in addition, to following a few leads in the surrounding packs of Moon Ridge.

Both Crimson and Lichen were within the neighboring states, and they were heavily involved with the war both in aiding Mystic Grimm and against Crescent Moon—Or until Randal took offense to their public betrayal and they were seemingly overrun for unknown reasons.

As far as Sage knew, their numbers had changed the definition of Rogue, and she wondered if those wolves were descendants of the same packs listed as lost.

Maeve, for example, had been the daughter of a fallen Beta. So perhaps that was Randal's plan? Fund the Underground with a fallen pack of wolves to collect as test subjects...

With all of this swirling around in her mind, it caused her to hiss again, the pain in her head starting to grow louder as it continued to heal. Leaving her heavily sensitive to louder sounds, such as a baby screeching in the other room.

Though Lavender couldn't help it.

Between John and Liam, it seemed that Sage won over the comfort factor between the given babysitters, especially since Elenor and Sage held similar Mystic features.

Thankfully, the young pup's great Uncle had walked in from the back door, announced himself, and smiled at seeing that his daughter was starting to regain her hearing "Great news, plans are set—We're leaving Tuesday morning."

Two days.

It gave Sage two days to heal completely and join the trip. And above all else, she needed to go, she felt it in her bones.

Among the males leading the preparations, she was in the same position as before when they decided to send her to Mystic Grimm.

With the entire commotion going around, Sage had taken Rue into the kitchen to help her cook. And if anything, it gave her the comfort of having her nearby.

Rue had started to slap her hands together in an attempt to clap, finding entertainment in her movements and smiling at her mother. She was content with the time spent with her, as it was still clear that the twins were anxious about their parents leaving for long periods.

Rue was the worst of the two, and Sage couldn't blame her. Not when she felt the pain and suffering that followed the pups when they were reunited once again.

"Mama..." The pup's words hadn't been purposefully ignored, but Sage had turned her attention elsewhere before turning back and smiling back at her daughter. Pinching her cheek before returning to the fridge and getting her a drink.

As the pup started to turn frustrated in wanting to be held and out of the booster seat, she started to cry—And Sage hadn't caught it until she turned back around. The cup filled with the unwanted apple juice was soon flung to the other side of the kitchen.

Landing just beside John's feet.

"Uh oh, sounds like someone is ready for a nap." He cooed, and Rue had taken that as a near threat as she cried out further—Tears brimming in her eyes.

Sage had given up on the snacks and drinks. She held her pup close to her chest and rocked her body back and forth, talking to her in sweet whispers, though they weren't working.

Not until Rue started to realize that her mom's ears were still bandaged.

Those bandages were familiar, as Remus explained that it's for big booboos. And this certainly counted for one, followed by the smell of blood caught just behind it.

So her small, pudgy hand had started to tap at the binding fabric, and Sage flinched. "No, pup. Hurts." It sounded like an awful bang, but Rue didn't follow.

She continued to pat her ear until it fell off, and in a moment's notice, the room had been introduced to a blinding golden light—One that John could only compare to sunlight.

"Shit—Sage!" John roared, and that had caught both the attention and concern of the rest of those in the house.

"Alpha?!" Clementine and Poppy yipped, calling on Andrew while Liam stood beside John in awe.

As the light had given out, Sage had been locked in the same position as when it started. And Liam's jaw only sanctions the fact that what happened happened.

"The Alpha is on the way, but it might be a little while. They found an empty catacomb. More supplies than anything else." John offered, and Sage smiled.

"I hear you." She responded with a smile, her eyes glancing down at the bandages on the floor. "Rue, you heal me? You sweet lil pup!" The realization of Rue's ability had caused Sage to lift her well about her head and squeal with joy.

Utterly impressed with how the pup could channel her ability in such a way.

"Goddess have mercy on that pup's Mate," John whispered, completely missed by Liam's blocked ear. But just behind his figure, the older pups peeked through his legs in worry.

"It's okay. Everything is okay." Sage addressed the growing concern for her and Rue. However, the pup in her arms was growing exhausted with each passing minute.

Leaving the young pup to fall asleep in her mother's arms, her job done.

"Think that's a victory nap. I'll put her upstairs." John offered, and while Sage didn't want to give up Rue just yet, the pup deserved some peace and quiet. Not to mention that he had to give some attention to Roe now that he was looking mighty confused and pouty.

Liam, who was standing just on the sidelines, didn't know how to respond. Nor did he know what to do when he caught the Alpha's name popping up on Sage's phone.

In true Sage fashion, however, she picked it up and pressed it against her ear. "Hello!"

"Sage?...Fuck, I better text—"

"I can hear you. Rue healed me. Now I can go with you to Moon Ridge." She declared, and Remus sucked in a breath.

"Rue healed you? I didn't think she could do that. Is she okay?" Remus rushed out, leasing Sage to quickly explain that Rue was being put to bed by John as they were speaking, but the second Remus had mentioned any sort of idea of her staying in Crescent Moon while he and the rest of the decided group heads to Moon Ridge to look for clues.

Sage hung up the phone.

She ignored the following call as she texted her brother and sister the good news.

"Did you just ignore the Alpha's call?" She hummed, kissing the back of Ronan's head as she smirked at her brother. "He can get angry, I don't care. I'm going too." It sounded like a decision that Sage had made herself.

Leaving Liam to suck in an unsure breath, his worry already checking towards the door.

Not that he had any business in getting between the Luna and Alpha, but he personally didn't understand why she wouldn't be joining the trip now that she could hear again. Sage would be able to identify locations or use her intuition to help them in the right direction.

What would they do when Moon Ridge became a dead end?

But one thing he knew about Sage was that if she genuinely fought for it, she could get anything she wanted and more.

___

Date: 09/10/25

Time: 11:53

Words: 1558