* * *

While it was challenging for Sage to say goodbye to the twins and the rest of the pups, she knew they were in good hands with Amy and Camilla. Not to mention the rest of the high-ranked wolves that were elected to stay.

Luke, with his position as Master of Arms, could not leave the pack territory unless it was an emergency. And even then, it couldn't be for long.

Not to mention that part of the male didn't even want to. Not with his mate, son, and young daughter to watch and take care of.

"I promise, Ellie and I will check in on them with Levi and Lav," Luke said, his voice soft to his sister. But her unsure eyes met his. "You're leaving good Wolves here, don't give me that look." She turned away, hiding her smile that Luke was still the only one to speak with her like that.

And she loves him for it.

"Watch Jack and Rory?" she asked, and he nodded, but Sage hadn't finished her thought before he agreed, "They can't work."

"What?" His question was rather rushed, being out of a Delta while the Beta couple was just days away from welcoming their second pup was starting to wain thin on his initial plan.

"Sage, you can't say things and not follow up on them," Luke said with a low groan, "You're the one who wants pack-wide training."

That was true. Sage had taken the initiative to discuss it with Remus. While he was still unsure whether or not Sage should go, he did agree that it would give the pack the benefit of the doubt to get up to date with a backup plan.

The bunker was up to code.

Now, those who have their Wolves would undergo training, while those considered too old would practice at the range with human-grade bullets.

As silver bullets were locked away in everyone's house, waiting for the appropriate time.

"They're getting Heat." She whispered, her eyes darting to the other end of the room to see that the rest of the higher-up males were still discussing things. And Andrew was one of them, even though Shawn was still technically the Gamma.

"About damn time. Lav needs a friend." He teased, and Sage huffed as she gestured to Rue.

"Hard to be friends when she can already shift, hun." As if the young pup could understand, she turned away from her Godfather and huffed into her mother's shoulder, just as her mother had.

"You made Rue mad."

"Aw, come on. I didn't mean it...Come on, sweetheart, maybe Ellie can make cookies again?" Luke attempted to bargain, but Rue caught her father's gaze, where a cheerful smile bloomed with ease.

Sure you want to come with? Rue is hugging you pretty tight over there.

Maybe you can stay then.

Sage turned around to gaze back at her Mate after commenting with a stern expression, which connected to Luke by default. "Goddess, remind me not to piss you off."

"You don't make me stay. Only mad when you wake me up."

"Sometimes have to tough through it, Sagey..." Luke reminded, but as he took the state of the Alpha's home, another thought popped up, and he knew he'd regret it if he didn't say it now. "Can you watch out for Liam and Caleb? Dad told me mom's cleaning all our old bedrooms."

While she didn't understand what that meant, she did know that if she had to send Ronan and Rue on their own for an unknown mission, she would be worried, too.

"Yes. I watch out for them. Cameron not coming?" Sage questioned and Luke shook his head, claiming that he needed help with training. Even with his father sharing the title for a few short days to train the older generations. "He wants to come."

"Yeah, but he's not Luna and can't pull the strings. And I can't handle Mom by myself." Luke chukled, and Sage was about to remind him that Casey was still the perfect distraction or that she signed up to watch the pups when she wasn't on the training field with the rest of her males.

"So you signed me up to stay. I really appreciate it, brother." Cameron said, joining his brother and Sage.

Sage closed her eyes and smiled at her brother, offering her free arm, and he came over—Politely kissing her cheek and saying hello to Rue.

"We're down two. My pups and Casey only do so much." Luke had thought that Sage would get the tease about puppy love, but she was still curious about her younger brother.

And he knew that look—He knew it all too well.

"Cameron, can you get me some juice, please?" She asked, and even if she hadn't, nobody was going to deny a request from the Luna.

Especially when she didn't use that power all that often.

Luke witnessed it just this morning when Remus or Hayes tried to make her tea or a breakfast plate.

Sage was very set on doing things herself unless she couldn't. Getting a cup of juice was simple, making Luke's eyes narrow.

"Something bad happening." She whispered, clutching tightly to Luke's wrist as she came closer and away from the gap in the room so that Remus could catch a glimpse of her reaction.

"What type of something bad?" His voice was calm, but inside, he was panicking at the thought of another Rogue or Draugr, "Is this a code—"

"No code. Cameron meeting Mate." Sage replied, leaning closer as she wanted to show him. She didn't know if this would work, she never tried to pass the sensation over to another person before. But she went for it, and so she placed her hand on his cheek, instantly overcoming him and his wolf.

He knew it wasn't meant for him to see, not when it was so bright and demanding of his soul. But when Sage pulled away, he understood.

He understood the worry, the controversy.

Especially when the soft knock settled on the front door, there came the very female that neither Luke nor Sage could have predicted without the help of her intuition.

Yet the question remained between them.

What do we do?

You're the Luna, I'm not supposed to know about—

I told you because I don't know what to do!

The two went back and forth, and before the adopted siblings could formulate a plan, the female had come through the door with a box filled with papers.

One of which, she probably spent the last few nights trying to translate and sort through. Followed by her guard detail, given that most of the pack was still vengeful and untrusting to the Snyder clan.

"Kara!" Sage acted first, and Luke had to follow after in pursuit. And the young female had let out a shy smile, though the bags under her eyes said a different story.

"Good morning, Luna. I wanted to drop off the next batch of papers everyone found. I took notes. It's in the binder in the other box." Sage nodded, eyeing the guard, who would no doubt say something about another breach in security.

"I can take that. We're in the middle of a high-tier meeting." Luke stated, nicer than he ever had to the Omega. But his attention was more so on his brother off behind them, if he could wait for another minute before they escorted Kara away—

Yet the sudden sound of glass shattering had caused the conversation in the corner to stop, eyeing the commotion on the opposite side of the house.

Upon seeing Poppy, Sage placed Rue down on the floor and directed them off to the play area as the tension started to settle closer than Sage had wanted,

The panic in Sage, and even Luke, had caused the higher tiers to come forward—Leaving the guard stationed behind Kara in utter confusion.

"S-Sage...?" Cameron croaked, as the young male had felt betrayed. He knew that she could predict a Mate being chosen. But this one was cut short, delayed, and the realization had only now made itself known moments before happening.

The apology was on her face as she went over to comfort her brother. Not even beginning to understand how he was feeling. There was plenty of speculated hate being directed to the Synders. Still, more in particular to Kara—Considering she is one of the remaining members who was born directly into the family. While also being old enough to have more than just a few details of what might be happening in depth.

Remus, who had enough of the silence, had growled, gaining the room's attention and being mindful of the two.

"What the hell is going on here?!" He demanded, his eyes glancing at Sage as she nearly held tears. Knowing full well that her heart was shattering at the impulsive decision of her younger brother, "Carmon, please..."

"I, Cameron Elwood, reject—"

Sage's words barely reached his ears as the male spoke rather forbidden words in Luna's head. The idea of rejection wasn't foreign, but it wasn't very good to suggest or think about.

That had caused her to mirror Kara's hand, which was clutched onto her heart and soul.

"ENOUGH!" Remus roared, but it had silenced Cameron's declaration before he could even say Kara's full name or formally apologize to the Goddess.

Meaning that it hadn't been finalized.

Not without some proper thought, at the very least.

While Remus was sorting out the issue with Kara at the front end of the house, Andrew had taken a step back and glared at the male who nearly threw away the best gift the goddess could ever offer.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" He growled, and Cameron shuttered at the Alpha's tone. Thankfully, Luke was making his way over to calm down the traumatized female.

In addition to calling Calista over to the house.

"Luke, I can't—"

"You could've given it some thought before getting other wolves involved. What do you think Dad's going to say when he finds out you almost rejected your mate?" To have Luke side with the rest of the party nearly broke Cameron's final bit of strength.

"She's a Snyder."

"And she was given a trial and found guilty. She's been punished and is actively working with—"

"Lexi attacked Sage, and nobody said anything when Caleb stayed away from her!" Cameron pleaded, and it was clear that the young pup was confused over the severity or construct he was about to elect.

"You reject her, that's it! There's no going back!" Luke's shouts were nearly unrecognizable as Kara had no doubt felt the initial heartbreak and partial tear of her soul.

A sort of punishment that Cameron would no doubt feel in the next coming minutes.

"Caleb took his time to fix things, and so did Lexi." Luke reminded, but that still didn't pass over to the pup. Not until his hand started to knead at his heart.

Cameron could barely look at his brother, let alone his Luna—His sister. The guilt he was feeling lay heavily between the two of them; however, when Sage took a small peek at the luggage of the leaving parties, she had an idea.

Just as Luke said, Caleb had taken time away from Lexi before mating, which could be one possible way to fix things.

"Cameron, go home and pack a bag. You're coming to Moon Ridge." Sage said, and while Remus turned over his shoulder to argue, Sage's glare was already elected onto him, dictating it was a final decision.

___

Date: 09/15/25

Time: 1:30 PM

Words: 1893