* * *

 It was around dinner time and the entire group had already eaten their weight in carbs, but were still enjoying the loud company that the others provided. It was a sweet blessing to hear Sage laugh, or try to talk through what she was thinking—And sometimes she said the right thing to get others on her pace.

The entire group remained patient, especially when she had a question.

"Oh! Sage we have to spar!" Haylee cheered, and the young Luna from Crescent Moon shook her head. Making Luke and Liam turn to one another in confusion before catching the worried glance of their Alpha.

"Why not munchkin? She seems excited." She remained silent, going so far as to curl away from the crowd of eyes looking towards her now.

"Suppose you're with Luke, she won't spar with him either." Harlow was now intrigued with that statement as he mulled over the possibilities on what the she-wolf must be thinking in the crook of her mate's neck.

"Awe, why not hun? Maybe then I can be ranked Luna." She laughed, but Jade nudged her, something was clearly wrong but it was difficult to process what the Luna of Crescent Moon was thinking.

"I watch at Luna meeting..." She spoke, and Haylee's head shot back in attention after a few moments of silence, her face just oozing with encouragement for Sage to take her time.

"...You don't fight to win, you play smart." Drake had taken the opportunity to wrap his arm around his mate and hum, kissing her obnoxiously against the cheek and gesturing up his cup of beer in regards to Sage's statement.

"Would you spar with Jade?" Harlow questioned, and she thought for a moment and shook her head. And then Luke smirked in figuring it out, and sure enough Remus had caught that.

"I think it's out of respect or her wolf seeing you as equals." The brother spoke, and Sage hid her smile as she nodded to the words. It wasn't that hard to piece together what the girl was trying to say, one just needed to take a moment and process.

"So am I safe from getting extensions ripped out, I don't—" Drake's joke was interrupted by a growl, perhaps his comments were overstepping a boundary or just an annoying reminder of what her actions led to during the Luna meeting.

Either way, she was getting fed up with it.

It hadn't been all that long until Sage excused herself into using the restroom, she still had a habit of waiting for the last minute which left no room for Remus to join her to the walk through the Pack House.

However upon leaving she was curious as to what a lone wolf was doing off to the side, and in accordance with her nose, he smelled awfully like smoke.

Coming to step further towards him she huffed a slight greeting to alert him, and surely his shoulder blades spiked up as he turned over his shoulder.

Amused to see a she-wolf approach him, but one wearing a blanket over her shoulders.

And he followed with a huff in response to hers.

Tilting her head Sage continued forward, earning a position across from him in the record of trying to figure what he was doing with a knife.
Weren't knives meant to be eaten with?

"What are you doing?" She questioned, and the male chuckled darkly. "Practicing." He simply put, though Sage wasn't used to one-worded answers from another person.

"With knife?" She continued, and he growled in confirmation.

"Why?" Sage had been so concerned about the knife being practiced in a jabbing motion that she hadn't realized the scar running down from his right brown down to the right curl of his lip.

"Where that from?" She questioned, and if she hadn't been so fixated on the scar she would've seen how the male's temper starting to grow towards this measly little she-wolf.

Course upon looking at Sage she was a young adult in their world. But still in the realm of a pup if Leo was concerned.

True adulthood for their world was twenty-five, but for Sage she still needed another few months of healthy eating habits and training to keep up with her activities.

Even a normal wolf wouldn't run as much as she does in the timespan of a day, meaning she'd need to eat beyond the recommended amount. Something that Mackenzie has been pushing and Remus has been trying to commit to.

"You ask a lot of questions lil one..." He growled, swiping his dagger one last time before making direct eye contact with her. "...That could get you killed."
The tone of his voice was an attempt to scare the little girl back to her parents, but she simply blinked and reached to pull up her shirt in the slightest.

Remus knew every square inch of his mate's body, but there was this one scar that he would always place his hand over. As if it was his fault that it was placed there, or his fault he hadn't found her in time.

But in truth, nobody knew of her existence until she surfaced here in Mystic Grimm.

"I have one. Doesn't hurt." The stranger looking fairly intrigued by said scar, as it looked painfully similar to his. But he scoffed and controlled to growl.

His wolf finished with the conversation and held no more patience for a snoopy she-wolf. But Sage had a fine line of patience, that was starting to dwindle at the amount of disrespect being shown.

Remus on the other hand had felt his mate's frustration, which was enough causation to turn towards the packhouse and see where his mate had gone off to.

"I hope Sage didn't walk all the way to your guest room...I knew I should've gone with her."
"It's alright Luna, we'll go," Ellie spoke, causing Luke to rise up to his feet before offering a hand down to his mate.

The two continued off towards the house, only to find two lone figures. One of which being Sage, and one being an unknown male.

"Oh..." Ellie mumbled, and it caught Luke by surprise as to what could've made his mate so worried so suddenly. "That's Blake, he's a transfer...Rumor is he was born a Rogue." Luke was struck by the sound of that and continued forward—Only until a damning sound left his sister's throat and the two had left the scene.

Alpha, Sage is with a male wolf and they're heading—

WHAT?!

Remus scrambled to his feet and followed the conjoined scent of Luke and either of their mates, but his wolf honed in on the specific foreigner.

And it was in agreeance that the male was going to die.

This caused the party to follow in pursuit, all in returning to the created circle for Luke's spar. However, it was Sage who had withheld Blake's neck by her hands and led him into the ring.

"I don't spar little girls sweetheart." The taunt continued, and Jade took one long inhale before turning towards Harlow.
"I thought you told me he'd be preoccupied!" She shouted, handing Hardin off to the available nanny to be kept at a safe distance. Remus, however, was holding himself back from either charging forward or shifting, neither of the Alphas surrounding him was sure for which.

"NO!" Sage yelled, and in an instance, Remus had stalled his next action. His wolf hearing the cation in her voice as she turned her attention back to Blake.

"I challenge Blake."

And that had caused Jade to feel lightheaded instantly. How was it that the she-wolf managed to visit for almost one day but found the strangest person in the pack to challenge?

But this was different, Harlow could see it in the she-wolf's form. Blake offended the wrong wolf and he was about to find out the hard way for sure.

Perhaps that'd teach him about lessons.

"Go back to your mama and papa kid, sure they're looking for you."
"I don't have." It wasn't in the offense to the Elwood family, but it wasn't like Sage truly needed parents—It was more of the role they adopted due to the relationship she had with Luke and Liam.

And that all ended once she found Remus and mated with him.

"Then go find someone else to bother." It was up to Harlow and Drake to hold Remus back, interrupting a challenge as a guest was punishable by law. And that was what Hayes was reminding him in a repetitive motion, which in turn caused Blake to see the drawing crowd.

"Ah, fuck." He cursed, another thing Sage wasn't rightly fond of or used to. But this welcome to abnormality was starting to wane heavy on her curious mind.

"Sweet goddess, look what you started...You best be prepared to finish this." The challenge was full heartily, one that Blake could surely sense, and thus he agreed.
Not knowing what he was truly in for.

The two stepped into the circle, Sage attempting to ignore the damnations of what her mate was telling her was wrong. But no part of her could retract now.

She had to find out.

Hayes cleared his throat and called the fight to begin, but neither of them moved. Not until a few moment had passed, then their stillness had turned into a slow circular pattern, across the ways from one another. And yet, there hadn't been a single jump of physical contact.

"Course she'd want to pull dad's trick in running the clock now," Liam grumbled off to the sides, but this was surely not the reason behind it. Instead when Hayes had finally called it, Sage had been the first to engage—Leaving her brothers and mate in shock.

"Sage...Never attacks first," Luke said, his eyes not daring to leave the scene before him. Fuck, his dad was going to kill him.

Remus hadn't blinked, breathed, or even swallowed at the sight before him.

There were no harmonious beat downs, no planned attacks. This was brutal—This was full-on beastly, and Luke had finally started to recognize what was going on...

Sage had reverted back to her gym training days.

An irritated head sigh caused Liam to be the first to look away, it being too much of a visible reminder of what he had faced...And before long, Luke joined him as well.

However, the challenge had been issued by Sage. What Jade was praying for was that the match ends soon, however it was starting to look unlikely as it passed the three-minute mark and neither looked as though they were giving up.

"Dad...You get Sage, I'll get—"
"Nobody touches my mate," Remus growled off to either of them, but Hayes took a cautious step towards the Alpha of Crescent Moon. His hands up in offering.

"Just to separate, and then I'll hand her off to you...Alright? Son, are you ready?" Harlow nodded, though it was a difficult task that involved fur yanking and neck grabbing. But luckily either managed well enough, and Remus had to all but pin Sage to the ground to get her to cool down.

"Jade, could we get a change of clothes for either of them?" The Luna had already ordered it from the pack staff, it was communal stuff sure. But anything they were about to wear was going to be soaked through anyhow, and yet—When Blake shifted on 'order' of his Alpha, he greeted his skin form with a front full of laughter.

Something that none of the Mystic Grimm members have ever witnessed from him before.

But he hadn't struggled after getting redressed, though he for sure wouldn't be able to get up for a moment or two.

"I told you to stay out of sight," Harlow growled, but Sage had been just on the essence of calming down to hear what her friend was saying.

"And I was, until she started asking questions! Doesn't she have a zipper?" Hayes had intercepted Remus and embraced him in a firm hug-like stance as he continued to voice that Sage needed him more.

"Haven't you learned to control yours?!" Harlow returned the comment right back, but what shocked Luke and Liam more was how an Alpha would allow a pack member to say such a thing.

And then Luke recalled what Ellie had said, he's a Rogue.

Or a reformed one, which meant he was probably on route to go to the council for their reformed Rogue army.

"Claikite..." Sage mumbled, and that caught Blake's attention instantly. He was no longer in a fit of humoring tones, instead he was caught in a serious gaze towards the girl he's just attacked.

"What...What did you say?" He ushered, attempting to get to his feet but Harlow had shoved him back down to the ground with a single push to his shoulder.

Luke was studying the exchange between the Rogue and his sister, and the answer was just on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't—

"Your cut...From Claikite."
"H-how do you know that? Where did you learn that from?!" The amount of panic and fear that was rushing through Blake's voice was causing Jade to shiver, the wolf had always been such a stoic and silent male.

But now she's seen an array of emotions, all in a rupture from the chaos before them.

"My cut from Claikite." Remus stopped Sage from showing the crowd and instead covered the wondering eyes that were trying to understand what the hell was happening.

But Luke had been the voice of reason, especially after seeing a male wolf close to his age almost come to tears.

"You escaped...?" He called out, and it earned him a reaction as well.
"What's a rogue to a bunch of humans in filthy fucking lab coats anyway? I wasn't what they were looking for and they threw me out! Left to die and come back to a world where I was already shunned from from the beginning!" Blake called out, his eyes burning with relief that it was finally out in the open.

But the confusion was lifted and Remus was no longer in defense that this male meant any harm, not when he looked guilt-ridden and worn.

"What's Claikite?"
"Silver drink." Sage called out, though slightly mumbled as Remus was trying to calm his inner wolf. His skin side might be leveling the anger but he was surely not anywhere near close to calm.

"Acid. It burned for days." Remus looked for confirmation on Sage's end but she shrugged. "Silver no hurt no more."
"Gods who the hell are you?!" He shouted, still in full distress, which caused Harlow to nudge him rougher than the first time.

"That's Luna Sage of Crescent Moon, mind your tongue." The male felt as though his head was spinning widely out of control, how could that skinny little thing remain at ease when he was fighting?!

He usually spared with four males, but this little she-wolf had no issue tearing into his stomach.

"I sorry I challenge, I want to make sure."
"Make sure of what?" He spat, and she huffed once again.

"You fight like they taught." And it caused either Elwood brother to lean back in recognition, it wasn't a one-sided fight. They were both tailing on instinct.

Harlow growled off to a few pack members and ordered that Blake be returned to his cabin, and on full house arrest. As he hadn't dared to mention a cage in front of Sage, nor after hearing his past—It made sense as to his behavior and otherwise savage complexion.

It was true, neither scientists nor wolves wanted him.

"Got a nasty bite there." He said, making direct eye contact with Sage before tilting his head in submission. It caused Sage to blink rapidly but her wolf responded with a hum.

"No trouble."
"Yeah yeah, don't think I can be in any more than I am." He grumbled, allowing the sets of arms to bring him to his secluded cabin and Sage smiled off towards him with a confirmative nod.

But it was the Luna's who were in awe.

"She found a charge, didn't she?" Haylee whispered and Jade nodded, though both were still in a daze. But with Blake's departure, Sage was left with the aftermath of all that occurred in the last ten minutes.

In an attempt of getting up was she enwrapped in her mates' hold, not only was she bare in the cold temperature but she was still sporting the injuries that she received.

"Sage, either we go to the pack doctor or I lick your wounds."
"Nooo." She wiggled, and Blake chuckled at hearing the little Luna try and get out of her options, but Remus was already in the midst of kissing the slash on her cheek that was already healing on about from him being near.

"Sage."
"No."

"Come now Sage, don't be so hard on Remus. Him and his wolf just want to know you're alright." Jade came into the conversation with a blanket to cover the both of them, all before hurrying away.

"Goddess Sage, mom made us promise to not get into trouble."
"I don't make trouble, trouble come and find me." Sage said, leaning into Remus' tender kisses as she didn't realize how much of a strain he was dealing with in trying to ignore his basic instinct in killing Blake. Right there and then.

But what Liam said caused her to frown and look embarrassed for what she had done, while Hayes could only drag his hand down his face.

"I don't know, seems like you and trouble are best friends." Sage giggled, but nobody could identify if it was from her mate's kisses or to what Hayes had said under his breath.

The guards returned and claimed that Blake hadn't been any trouble and remained within the cabin without any fight. Which the Luna's caught Sage smiling to herself whilst hearing that, however Remus hadn't dared allowed his little mate out of his hold.

The night ended inside now that the temperature was decreasing rapidly, but then again Mystic Grimm was slightly on the border of Canada.

So much so that the Canadian packs considered them apart of their council as well.

Liam excused himself to head to bed, while Luke had gone with Ellie to meet her family in a more eased setting, but also in terms of finding out more about Blake.

As Ellie's dad knew more about him than Harlow.

And of course Sage fell asleep on top of her mate while the three couples were watching a movie, not that she would understand the concept of it anyway. But Haylee was nudging her mate to see how quickly Sage had passed out.

"Sure she's exhausted and needs to heal up." Remus hummed in response, repositioning her so she could curl up on his lap instead. Making his wolf purr at the contact. Especially when his hand was on the scar on her waist, it made him pay more attention to his mate than the movie before them.

He'd surely have to apologize tomorrow, as it was Jade's repetitive continuious questioning 'Do you need anything?' that told him that everyone was worried.

And after today's turn of events, Remus had called it an early night for both he and his mate.

Yet one look and Harlow scoffed, knowing full well what Remus was up to.

"At least she beat some manners into him, he's the poster child for the Rogue rehabilitation and it's not going as well as dad's hoping. Maybe we should let your little Luna reign over that." Jade swatted at her mate and tried to defend it with a smile.

"Sure she could, he's her charge now."
"E-Excuse me?" Remus had to do a double-take to Mystic Grimm's Luna in what she said. "I don't think she's realized what she did for him."
"She kicked his ass." Remus attempted and Jade nodded in confirmation to what her mate had said prior.

"She did, and it took him down a few notches. He's been on his best behavior this entire night. On orders from his Luna."
"But he's...You didn't initiate him?" Harlow shook his head, the poster child wasn't so much as a child if that was the case.

Though nobody knew how old he was in any regard anyhow.

"The council has full decision on him until he's initiated, and he hasn't been around packs for more than a few months before he's been relocated to another. He's one of the few Rogues who's been at least partly cooperative...Seems like Sage broke the ice." And that she did, though she received a stern talking to as she slumbered on Remus' chest. It was the only way for him to get out all he needed to say, though it was usually followed by a mixture of kisses.

Before finally, the last member in the packhouse had fallen asleep.

______

Date: 05-28-2021

Time: 9:33

Words: 3545

Blake is my comfort character right next to Remus and Luke🥰💕