* * *

Remus had been a whirlwind of emotions, but after saying goodbye to Willow—To moments of silence as the heart in Sage's body had come to a full stop—It was only when she gasped for air that his wolf had stopped pacing.

Sage's cent slowly began to trickle back into his nostrils. It calmed him, yet that lasted less than a second, as her panicked screams filled the room, and the thrashing movements enacted as she wanted to fight against Darius' control of Willow's body. The hands that tried to soothe her and give her any bit of comfort had been met with confusion and chaos.

Her hands flailed, and it didn't help one bit that the fabric still covered her eyes. "Away! Go away!"

Hayes had held her firmly, not caring that Sage's hand had turned into claws nor that the air crackled around him.

He offered his wrist just under her nose until she embraced his scent. Her breathing hadn't returned to normal, but her resistance had fallen short. She growled when any person had started to get too close or any male that wasn't family.

"Little wolf, you're safe..." Hayes whispered, "You're back." Sobs wracked her body as he held her as tightly as he could, and a growl settled the damnations she felt when shifting bodies.

Remus had met Andy's eyes as they flickered back and forth between him and Sage—No words needed to be said, whatever happened on the other side was too much for her to bare.

Her pain had caused the witches to clear out the pups and Haylee—Who couldn't begin to think of what she went through in that mere hour.

Had it been only half an hour?

Sage had lost a part of herself in the midst of panic, and in doing so, her wolf had jumped out. Her hackles are ready to pounce and attack, with the prospect of her fangs showcasing just how pearly white and sharp they are.

"Sage...Hun, it's okay. You're back." Remus must have repeated the same words over and over again as they finally elected a reaction to the beast, her ears twitching as she, too, looked around the room.

Sage—The one in skin—Hardly took notice of not having her vision and just resided in her father's comfort. But the beast was not as impressed and instead looked to the witch, who she categorized as being at fault.

"Alpha Remus, I think giving her a sedative is best...A mild one, just to—" The wolf in the room certainly knew that word, and she was ready to seek redemption.

While Hayes and Aurelia had been caught by surprise, it was up to Remus to stop Sage's panic.

But alas, she had deviated his movements, which ended up causing Andy to intercept her with a tackle. Not wanting anyone to get hurt in a crossmatch with an enraged female.

With Sage shifted, Andy found himself in a back-and-forth tussle before falling onto his back with a growl that shook him straight in the gut.

Hey there, Bearslayer

He voiced to her wolf, but the skin version had turned to the side in confusion at the commotion.

A-Andy?

She called out to the Link, desperate for any sort of attachment. To reassure her that she was indeed back.

Right here...I'm right here. Can you call off your wolf?... Scaring the witches, and I think Remus is a few seconds away from a heart attack.

With that in mind, she held her hand into the unknown to call back her beast. It did pique her attention, but not enough to leave Andy unwarranted from her looming attack.

Or not until Sage had issued her growl, which the room vaguely understood.

Hayes had opened another arm, giving room to lay a hand onto the spare wolf in the room. "No need to cause chaos. Go back." He issued, with the sweetest voice anyone in the room could have witnessed.

A small glimmer and flash of light had secured the beast back into Sage's chest, and it still didn't stop surprising the rest of the wolves in the room. For the Witches, this was a regular occurrence when finally unlocking one's familiarity.

"Sage...?" Harlow whispered out, and the female had lifted her head from her father's chest in response to her name being called out. "Walk my mind later. My head hurts."

Aurelia had nodded and whispered quickly to those in her coven to clear the workspace. "Here, drink this...It'll clear your mind of unkind and unwarranted thoughts. We'll dream walk on another day."

With her mask still on, she blindly placed her hands out for Aurelia had cup both her hands to the steaming cup of tea. The familiarity of blowing the hot liquid had always been her routine, and as she kindly sipped through the entire cup—While those surrounding her had finally felt the calm following the storm.

Jade looked to her sister in awe. There were layers of questions, but nobody wanted to have her return to such a state. Even Andy was gazing at those who would meet his.

What's the plan?

Harlow called out to those surrounding him, excluding Sage, of course. The last thing she needed was to be overwhelmed by group conversations.

Would be best to let her get some sleep, we don't know what she saw.

Hayes' grasp on his daughter had tightened as an idea settled in place. With no form of disagreement on her behalf or with the others in the room, he had taken the liberty of leaving the den and heading to his room, hoping that the privacy and aloneness would keep her breathing calm and even.

She sniffed the pillow as he placed her on the bed and smiled softly. Recognizing that she was somewhere other than the room and still with her father.

Safe, she reminded herself, back home.

"I'm sorry—I'm so fucking sorry. I—I was so focused on seeing Willow again I didn't think about you...I'm sorry, Bubbles." Hearing her father being reduced back to tears had caused her to pull him into the bed as well, not that there was much force in her directive. But he agreed.

The two had spent these moments in tearful silence, an obvious barrier of the unknown shielding Hayden from what Willow's life had been since she was captured.

Yet Sage's hand had fallen straight to her stomach, and another set of tears had come forward, worrying that her stress was another increment, steaming from experiencing this and her Heat.

"Witches promised that your body won't have any lasting effects," Hayes whispered, and Sage blinked toward him and hummed. "I feel different."

"I know, Bubbles, I know. I'm sorry, we won't do it again until—"

"Can't do again, Darius says there's magic protecting base. I try to find stuff. They go to sleep when the light is out—lots of vampires, Draugr, and witches. Bad Vampire man doesn't like Willow is a wolf, wants to keep her a witch," Sage whispered, and Hayes frowned at his daughter's words, but they managed to follow their aligned coven's theories in that Willow is in Central America, "I don't know what to do...About Mom, about Remus...Papa, I'm scared."

Hayes could count on a single hand how many times Sage had confessed that she was scared of the unknown.

Whether it was from the truck of captives, the end stages of her pregnancy, or the looming war just last year.

It pained him that he didn't know what else to do, that stroking his hand through her hair was starting to become a recognized motion. For all his years as a single father, he couldn't tap into how he managed with either Haylee or Harlow.

But then his mind wandered further as Sage had pushed herself to exhaustion. Perhaps his little tactic was much more effective than he first thought.

He responded to the countless members around the house, but it mainly consisted of Remus and their unpredicted Heat. Which was another setback in terms of progressing forward.

His hand suddenly fell forward, and he felt the curve of her stomach, wondering if the days since her return had given her extra weight to her original build.

Her hand overlapped it as she huffed. Giving in to her exhaustion had given her a bit of energy—but not enough.

"Remus told me that you won't have a pup this Heat, Sage." She hummed, giving her full attention, even if she was so close to submitting to the exhaustion that wracked her body.

"You talk to Remus?" It startled him how different her voice was from her mother's. The sharp tongue Willow had passed over to either daughter, but Sage still held boundaries in how she communicated.

Ones that wouldn't pass over so quickly.

"There are plenty of she-wolves who don't want children. But you have so much time to have another, alright?" Hayes had patiently allowed the words to process, seeing Sage's eyes shift back and forth before sitting up.

"And taking new mating mark?" Sage questioned, and her father nodded shortly after. "I know this isn't a normal conversation for a father to have with his daughter, or even a conversation any wolf should have...That bastard breaking bonds is unforgivable, but it will be good for you both. For your family, for the pups."

"Does it hurt the pups? That I don't have Remus'—"

"No, it doesn't hurt them. But they can feel that things aren't right." Sage took a sharp breath, not wanting the twins to be confused or worried about the strain of their parent's relationship—But hearing it made her stomach convolute.

"I know this isn't the right time, and Remus has been a trooper trying to make amends with what's happened...This your decision, one I wish I had motherly advice to give you." Hayes said, trying to mask his sniffle.

Yet a painful expression crossed her face; the first people to come up as her parents were still Hayes, Leo, and Camilla.

Now that Sage knew what her mother looked like, it was still a second thought that Willow wasn't just a name any longer. That she's real.

"I can't tell you what to do, and I'll support whatever and whenever you decide. But I can tell you right now, Bubbles—Someone will always be upset and angry...We're high tiers. Everyone is watching us up here." Sage frowned, her eyes flickering back to her father as she wondered if he knew Andy's intentions.

The stress of today's events made Hayes fall asleep to the comfort of Sage in his arms, and his family had the chance to reunite as one fully.

He hadn't been able to smell Willow's raw scent in such a long time, and even now, it still clung to Sage's shirt. Lightly, but it was there—And that is all he needed to feel safe.

Sage's silence allowed for the rest of her family to sleep peacefully, but she herself hadn't felt so weak and vulnerable since she had been imprisoned. And right now she needed a reminder that she wasn't trapped, that she could move freely.

That this wasn't a drug-induced dream.

Prying herself from her father's protective hold was its own challenge, but she managed and quickly went through the house and into the kitchen. Gathering the things to make some tea, though she needed to be quiet.

It was growing late now, having missed dinner she caught sight of a plate with her name on it in the fridge. 'SAGE + tomatoes'

She smiled as she pulled it out, not caring that it was cold. That decision alone had given her reassurance, though she did want the chicken to be warm, so she popped it into the microwave.

These menial tasks were starting to bring peace to her mind, busying her hands. Using any appliances had taken a while to get used to again—the option of having it microwaved or on a stove instead of a fire pit was strange for both her and Andrew.

Though she welcomed it all the same, the exact difference from Half Crescent to Crescent Moon was well established.

With her tea made and her meal partially heated, she took her usual seat at the breakfast table. Smiling down, she saw the booster seats set up and ready with plates and sippy cups to make mornings easier.

"Want some company?" The voice had taken her by surprise, her tea slipping over the side as she hissed at the temperature on her skin. "Sorry...I was checking on the pups, and I thought to—"

"To see me." Sage said, finishing his sentence, and Harlow smiled, taking his father's seat and reading out to hold her hand.

"Goddess, Sage—I'm sorry. We pushed you to do this. Jade said Haylee and I were going too far...I just...I didn't think that far ahead, you know? Where you would be going, not until Remus said something." Harlow croaked, yet Sage knew she had the ability to disagree.

She knew the risks and what she was putting herself through—"I can say no. It's okay."

"But it's not okay. Dad's a wreck because he smelled Mom for the first time in twenty-something years. Haylee—The witches had to give her something, too!" Sage picked at the plate of food in front of her, no longer tasting the seasoned pieces of meat or the ripeness of the tomatoes. "C-can I ask what you saw?"

Her eyes shot up towards him, a flash of a memory sprouting in that instant before she shook her head. "No." She said, firm and clear as day. He nodded, taking it as an answer when he was hoping for more. "Can't do it again."

"What?"

"I tell Papa that we can't go back. Darius said there's enchantment. We can't go and find her soul again." Harlow pulled his hair back from the front of his face, wishing and praying that another idea would take hold of him.

But nothing came, it had been a rather failed attempt with both Willow on this side and the emotional damage they put Sage through, only they hadn't experienced the full effect.

"...Sage?" The voice had startled her more than Harlow's had, but this time, she gripped her knife and growled off toward Remus' figure.

"Whoa, shit—I didn't mean to scare you, hun. I heard you two talking from upstairs." Remus said, yet Sage hadn't retreated and the knife had begun to shake, especially when her nose was playing tricks on her. After having felt the arousal from Armond, from both his bite and from his—

"Sage?" Harlow was now up and out of his seat, waving his hand out towards his sister in hopes of pulling her out of this trance. And the worst of it all, they called for the wrong reinforcement.

Andy nearly fell down the steps when he reacted to Andrew's explanation of Sage being awake and unwell.

"Moonlight?" The installation of fear had caused her to walk back towards the wall and jump again. Three males were now cornering her and she couldn't concentrate on their attempt at soothing words, instead, she dropped the knife and fell to the floor—Stripping the table clean of the tablecloth and causing an onset of silverware and plates to clatter down with her.

The impact had woken the entire house, but Remus had elected to link everyone to remain away—At least until Sage finally saw reason.

She couldn't tell who was speaking or what the words meant. It all sounded muffled and gibberish. Instead, she was transported straight back to being underneath Armond, legs separated as he defiled her peace of mind.

Even now, she could feel the separation from her body; it was a game of torment, and nobody could forget about it now.

Raven, who had nearly been pinned down when Blake learned of what had happened, was allowed to leave the basement as she rushed forward. "Hey—! Get away from her!" she shouted, her tendrils of energy sparked and parted the males further away from the cowering figure.

It wasn't in Sage's nature to appear small or fragile to those she knew and trusted, but seeing her males was unlocking a vicious cycle that Raven knew all too well.

"Raven—What—" Her eyes glowed as she hissed toward her Light and the rest of the Alphas in the room. How would they ever understand if they didn't recognize what Sage's reaction meant?

"Sage?...tu hic salvus. He can't hurt you here." [You're safe here] Her words hardly had been auditable over the sound of Sage's breathing. Her tears showed such raw emotion that her eyes flicked toward Remus and Andrew.

Harlow had turned to look at either male, wondering why the both of they utterly paralyzed his sister. Blake's eyes widened with the realization as he took in the small Latin he did know. He stepped forward and moved aside to bend down just a bit, tilting his neck at the side.

So Sage would know that he meant no harm.

I think that Vampire took advantage of Willow when Sage was—

Remus had been the loudest of growls, but Andrew's was a lower octave. Both making Blake's neck tilt even further, even Raven had felt the shift in the room.

Harlow, on the other hand, hearing about his mother's life, had played with the temptation of slamming his fist through the wall but held himself back.

"...Sage." Remus's voice was broken, and it didn't matter if it was her body or not. The phantom touches were still there, and his skin felt the same fabricated Passovers when seeping into their mate bond.

Something that he still hadn't much access to, but he saw the value of Raven taking Sage into her embrace as they shared a cry.

But Remus was desperate for answers, and Andy knew just to phrase it for his friend.

"It's not something you can understand if you weren't there, Rem," Andy said, his own hand coming up to the scars that would be forever imprinted on him, a reminder of the torture Randal was willing to give to secure his believed destiny.

However, Remus was not about to leave Sage without any support. He bent down to his knee and shifted, not caring about destroying his shorts. Upon shaking out his fur, Sage's heart began to slow down when he recognized her mate.

The male is meant to defend, protect, and love her until the end of their days. Yet, with his ears pinned back and his head lowered far down to the floor, he couldn't be more submissive at that moment if he tried.

Raven smiled softly, knowing that as an Alpha, this meant more than just a few shifted muscles. This was Alpha Remus giving her power over him, that the submission of his beast was for her to do with as she pleased.

He inched further, taking her silence as acceptance—especially as her tears were starting to clear up, after wiping them away with her wrist. Remus' tongue instinctually went to lick her hand, ridding any evidence of the tears that displayed her fears and worries.

She hadn't responded much more than allowing him to move, though her eyes watched every twitch he made until he laid onto his belly and whined, causing her to plant her face directly into his chest, tugging at his fur and mumbling half-auditable words.

Everything she wished she had said back when she was imprisoned, lost, and then traveling onward home. There were a few bits of 'I love you' to mention the pups and how she was sorry. But Sage didn't understand that Remus didn't care, that she hadn't done anything wrong.

He remained silent and active in her hold as she rubbed the better part of his cheek against hers. It wasn't long before another wolf came forward. Blake placed his head into her lap, lifting his neck to showcase the same as before.

Following that, Harlow and Andy encircled her being, gently nudging themselves against her—Reminding her where she was, allowing her wolf senses to revert to her sanity before the soul swap.

"Back h-home. Safe." She breathed out, repeating the words and allowing her hands to run through the male's fur. It soothed the torment flashing through her mind.

Every time she had flinched at another touch Armond had inflicted prior, Remus had whined or licked her in response.

It was difficult for her to understand that the feeling he had pushed upon her wasn't the same as what she felt with Remus. Her experience with her male was harmonious in comparison to the chaos and blood she continued to feel burst from her neck.

The rush of adrenaline and panic had set her to fall asleep in a pile of her family, and with a few nips and tugs—They were able to lift her with ease and placed her onto the couch. Resting her head into the better part of Remus' stomach. Behind her, Harlow nuzzled closely to her side and closed his eyes. Hoping that this stress would pass without damaging her body and mind any more than it has.

Hayes appeared not long after their move to the couch, he thought he knew what to expect for both Sage and Willow and the experience they were forced to partake in.

But he was wrong. He was beyond wrong.

___

Date: 4/4/25

Time: 4:46 P.M (I am in a different timezone, technically it would be like 11 AM, but we all know I don't post that early)

Words: 3490