* * *

In the other room, however, Sage found herself carefully approaching a she-wolf who was being tested on the ability to regrow limbs. And from what she was told, they weren't done—As their plans were to continue to take each limb. Which caused Kenzie to scoff this way and that, as they made supernatural beings so majestic to regrow limbs and or organs.

The she-wolf was older than the pup, perhaps even older than Sage. She recalled that she was a member of the Moonridge pack, and another she-wolf she recalled was in her room the last time she was awake was from the same pack.

Meaning that Sage needed to make a call to Alpha Kendal, but that would be after they account for everyone—Including the witches.

It moved rather quickly, the number of wolves starting to wake up. And after Sage had come into the room, Remus trickled in and introduced himself, repeating the same thing as his mate. That they were safe and would get the best treatment they could to ensure they return to normal.

There were a lot of tears to be shared, many filled with thanks and blessings. And what felt like such a dark and damned sense of dread, that it was hard to feel any hope in the room. But it was there, goddess, was it there.
Especially when Sage returned back to the room with Levi, who was drawing away with Luke.

And Sage gave her charge that all-knowing smile, before making her way back to her brother and the pup.

"Sagey!" He cheered, and Sage hummed as she sat beside him. Levi looked so very small in the center of the bed, and the borrowed clothes from a younger pup had made her feel uncomfortable.

But she supposed that is what she looked like before.

"Having fun with Luke?" She questioned, and the pup nodded along before showing up his drawing. It's been so long since he held a crayon, but he worked very well in following instructions—Meaning he was halfway done with the color in flower he wanted to make her.

"Very pretty."
"You."
"That's me?" He shook his head and tapped it. "I keep coloring." Luke felt his lip twitch up, it was such a shift to see Sage take his position for a pup in need.

Though his wolf was very adamant in leaving the room, similar to what Blake was trying to tell him.

"Elenor came in for a few minutes. I think he only trusts you right now, Sage." It was no secret that she's a pup whisperer, but given the fact that she's carrying a pup and holding such a sweet scent right alongside her Luna title. It made her the perfect person for Levi to trust, as well as the handful of others she met on her rounds.

The Alpha hadn't made another appearance to return to Levi, he was busy sorting through how to explain this find to the council without incriminating themselves. And as they did just that, Sage's prison number continued to taunt him on the sticky note.

"That pup is pretty cute, Alpha. Sage might try and take him home." Jack teased, and Remus felt his eyes close shut. He was beyond tired, and all he wants is to curl up beside his pregnant mate but there was so much to do that he downed the rest of his coffee and entered the damn number into the computer.

And of course, her file popped up.

Eli hadn't clue what had gotten into his Alpha, but the redness circling around his eyes suggested that he either found something awful or the council already ordered their punishment.

But it was the first, and the fur growing skin side up was what worried Eli the most. It caused the beta to ditch his own report and peek at what the Alpha was up to, and of course, it was worse than hell itself.

Between the three of them, Eli had been the first to meet Sage and the Elwoods when they arrived the very first day. But seeing her in the thinnest of clothing and fighting human males four times her side struck a cord for them both.

"She was eight..." Remus choked out, and it caught the attention of the rest of them. So Eli nicked the computer and excused both himself, the Alpha, and Jack.

Where they hurried into Kenzie's office, but Remus had seen enough. Goddess, even his father didn't act that unfairly when training, especially not that young.

"She was right...I forgot where she came." He growled, his voice on the border of sobbing to lashing out. "Sir it's—"
"It's not fine Eli! Look! She was a fucking child! She didn't even have her wolf yet! Those are full-grown humans with goddess knows what!" Eli fought back the urge to crain his neck. As that was the last thing Remus needed to deal with, being submitted to.
What he needed was to be talked to like a regular wolf.

He needed a friend.

"Remus...You can't go back in time, what's looking at those videos going to do but get you upset?"
"I needed to know."
"And now you know. And you aren't going to look at it again. Alright? It's locked away...Sir, I can't imagine seeing Jules the way I saw Sage just now. But think how happy she is here, she's—"
"Is she? Or does she tolerate me because she doesn't know anything more?" Eli sighed, turning to Jack and the two nodded.

"Come on, we'll go for a run—Ah-ah, Jack's going to sit with Sage." Remus' beast was shaking in anticipation to be let out, sweet goddess above, he couldn't get out of his clothes to shift.

When he did, he plowed the way for Eli to follow. This wasn't the first time that the Alpha was pissed and would need this level of therapy that Eli would trail behind just a decent ways away.

Remus, fifteen years ago you weren't even Alpha—There was nothing you could've done anyway.

Hayes thought his mate was killed by Rogues, he didn't need my father's war—He was distracted and lost his daughter.

Eli was the Beta for many reasons, but this was one of them. Especially when Remus had decided that he needed a small break in the never-ending-sprint.

He managed to gulp down a few swallows of the lake's small shore before Eli nudged him.

You're not upset over that, you're still pissy about not letting her into the pack in the beginning. Aren't you?

Get the fuck out of my head.

I wouldn't have to look, sir, if you would just be honest. Yeah, you were dick back then. We almost lost the Elwoods because you couldn't be bothered with meeting Sage.

Shut up!

Imagine that, you unknowingly send away our real Luna. Have us continue following your choice Luna. You could've lost out on all this happiness, lost out on being a father. Because the goddess wouldn't have blessed you, Remus. Seeing this is just reminding you how much like your father you really—

SHUT UP!

The beta had known his Alpha would lunge at the first mention of Randal, but in his fit of rage, Eli managed to duck and turn back to taunt.

He needed to hear this one way or another.

Just think about the fact that Sage escaped all that and worse only to be kicked out. All because your ignorant fucking hyde thought it wasn't worth your time. And a year later, with a pup on the way, you still feel guilty!

I didn't know I was going to have a mate!

You're still going to lie to yourself?! You listened to Kelly more than you realized, you listened to her more than Jack and I. You put an Omega before us!

That's not true!

And you're still denying it! How many times did I tell you she was cheating?! Or that she was running us further into the ground. Sage didn't even start helping and it brought up our status! For fuck sakes Remus, she's right! You did forget where she's from!

Remus had been seconds away from lunging towards him, but Eli beat him to it. The Beta was battling his own damnation and anger. Just last year the whole pack had a different value, Rogues had only been one word and it disgusted everyone.
Now they accepted many Reformed members and aided them to other packs to establish a better life.

Sage was much more than a blessing, and the two highest-ranking males in the pack were spilling blood on old faults.

How are you going to explain that to your kid?! That you almost kicked out their mother!

We never excepted new members, it was more than just—

All I'm hearing is Kelly's voice and her excuses! You say 'we' but we weren't a 'we' since you took Kelly as your choice Luna. And it's only been normal since Sage joined!

Remus couldn't formulate a reason, everything Eli was saying was the truth. And it was only now when the pup was this close, his concerns and previous faults were rising to the service.

You're the one to tell me she's walked through hell, what did you expect to find?!

Her mother, I want to find Willow.

But you pressed play on the video anyway! Did you ask her?! There's a reason that she's never showed you, Remus. You should've respected that.

It was then that Eli realized that it wasn't just Remus' curiosity, it was Remus' wolf. The beast within wanted to know, and with all said and done...The Beta knew first hand that the Alpha's wolf hated Kelly just as much as he did.

How do I tell her father that?! How do I tell Hayes and Harlow that their pup and little sister never knew life without fear?!

They expected this much. Gods, Remus, she's safe. She's here, she's healthy and happy.

I yelled at her for all this! I grabbed her, I—

Eli couldn't hold himself back after hearing what Remus admitted to, course Sage hid the bruise on her wrist well enough. It was a simple notion that the heavily pregnant Luna was harmed that caused the Beta to act.

And Remus' wolf didn't have cause to defend himself.

If I hear one fucking word from Sage that you've hurt her, physically or not I won't hesitate to call her father and brother. But that's after I beat your ass.

It hadn't been a challenge for the Alpha title, if it had then Remus' wolf would've had more of a presence than this warning. But Eli knew his place, and in doing this he was defending Sage.

He let one last snap in his Alpha's direction before gazing off into the direction back to the infirmary. What started out as trying to be a helping hand from a friend, he failed to keep it together for reasons he hadn't expected.

Sage is heading back to the house to take a break. I think you owe her a real fucking apology, Alpha.

The taunt left a sour taste in the Beta's mouth, as it should. And while it was directed to skin Remus, his fur side felt the brutal push and returned back on top from the submissive position.

It won't happen again.

It better not.

Eli was soon allowed to rise up to his feet and trot off, not daring to stay another moment. And of course, his head filled with concerned whispers from both Jack and his mate.

Being left alone with his own thoughts, Remus returned back towards his house. Allowing the rest of the team to take a break and rest up as well, as it was starting to regulate a schedule now that the wolves were awake.

They weren't pressed for time anymore.

Remus hadn't bothered to cover himself as he entered the house completely bare, and in a quick sniff he could tell that Sage had already made it home.

The smell of her shampoo and the heat from the shower's steam had slowly trickled into his nose as he entered their bedroom. Only catching Sage having trouble drying and wrapping a towel around her swelling stomach.

He had even caught her letting out a tired sigh, and it weighed on him even further.

"Munchkin?" She sniffed the air before looking up and smiling—Though it was short-lived once she took in his appearance.
"What happened?!" She shrieked, hurrying off towards him in a panic as she held onto his shoulder to look at the damage.

If only she knew that he was hurt in Eli's defense of her.

"Let me get you dried up and tucked in hun, we'll talk before a nap...Yeah?" She nodded, knowing that it was indeed time that they talked properly and not with the distraction of Levi.

So Sage allowed him to help her dry off and get dressed while he hopped in the shower to get the dirt and blood off his figure, course the tension was already riled up as Sage was leaned into his spot, awaiting just like he asked.

"Bad news?" She whispered, and he sighed sitting down on the bed and moving right alongside her. His back leaning against his pillow while his arm pulled her closer.

"Yeah hun, it's bad news. I found some stuff with you in it, my wolf didn't like seeing you like that."
"See me what?"
"So young and fighting to defend yourself...it feels like we failed." Sage's eyes scrunched together as she shook her head.
"Not true, you don't fail. You help now." And it suddenly screamed the answer as to how his mom never voiced Randal's abusive ways.

Even if Remus wasn't abusive to the same degree, Sage always saw him in the best light possible.

"But I didn't help when you were first here, Munchkin. I wanted to kick you out. And I almost did."
"Why your nose is bleeding?" He dabbed his wrist underneath his nose and sure enough, there was a slight trickle of blood. Which Sage quickly provided a tissue from her bedside.

Goddess, she was just adorable and unnaturally sweet.

"Kinda. How's your wrist?" Her eyes widened but she soon looked away, she wanted to hide it but she faintly pulled it up for him to see. And sure enough the bruising was there, but it was a small peppering to where his hands brutally tugged her.

He lightly offered his lips to cover each and every square inch of what he hurt, and with every breath, he let out an apology. One after another, yet Sage's wolf had an inkling.

So when her free hand tugged his hair to gain his attention, she tilted her head.

"Who you fight?"
"Eli."
"Why?"
"Because I should've listened to you, and he thought the best way for me to remember was to beat it into me." It caused Sage to frown and huff, not impressed with the males way of handling a situation.

Course the video Remus watched proved that very point, Sage didn't want to be violent—It was just all she knew.

"You say sorry for not wanting to help, with me or with truck."
"But I should know better, if I was a real Alpha then I would've introduced myself. We could've gotten off a better foot, I could've been loyal to you instead of having Kelly in your place." Sage's wolf couldn't help but growl in retaliation at the idea of Kelly.

And a protective hand rushed over her stomach in the remembrance of what happened the last time Kelly walked a free step.

"Yeah, I not like you before." His eyes face had gawked down at her and she just stared at him without any regret. "You didn't?"
"Yes. You making me and brothers leave, how can I like you?" Her eyes flickered up when he let out a sad and breathless chuckle.

"Y-yeah...So that time you punched me?"
"Oh, wolfie very angry and I don't hold back."
"Good to know." As he would surely take that for a note for later use.

"And after?"
"After what?"
"When did you start liking me?" Remus needed this reassurance, and if Sage had been any other wolf perhaps it would've been easier to spot—But Remus wasn't the best with females, even with his title.

"Dunno. Maybe after challenge, when you take me running and hunting. That was nice." It had slightly answered his question, though it earned him a kiss to his chin as she couldn't reach much farther.

"Not carrying pup, my wolf break your hand, Remus. You don't touch me like that."
"I'm sorry Munchkin, just the thought of you going back to—"
"Good. Now you know how I feel when you tell me I can't stay here with my brothers. I thought I go back to cage." Remus' eyes burned at the idea of Sage's wolf holding back her retaliation, but it made him feel slightly relieved.
That she wouldn't take that behavior from him anymore.

"Eli challenge you?"
"More of a tussle, reminding me that you're not just my mate. You're our Luna." The title caused her wolf to purr, but he forgot another important person.
"And this is Rue." She reminded him.

"That's a funny way to say Ronan, Munchkin." Her nose pinched together as she nuzzled further towards him. "Nap? I want to see Levi later. I feel bad for leaving but Kenzie says he needs to sleep too."

Her voice managed to be heard through a yawn, though Remus could feel that she was fighting to stay up a bit longer.

"I love you munchkin."
"I love you too, Remmy. And I love mini Munchkin." An agreeing growl filled the room as he nudged all the bit closer.

______

Date: 09/28/2021

Time: 1:08 AM (I'm sorry!!)

Words: 3129

Author's Note:

Eli acting in favor of the Luna! Don't worry, nothing gets past the Beta and Delta duo. 
It's high time Remus learns that they aren't only there to support him anymore.
 Sage is as much of an Alpha as him on Crescent Moon grounds.

What do we think?

Is Eli in the right for backing up Sage, or is everyone being hard too on Remus?

What do you all think about Levi? I want to keep him as a recurring character, and I think I know the perfect way as to how to do that. Trust me!

What is the Council going to do about attacking an Underground truck without permission?

T-Minus two chapters!

See you all Wednesday, and you're all in for a blessed treat ✨