* * *

Remus still had one more full day to complete with the Alpha's meeting, at least the lectures were done and it was more of a chance for them to mingle with other leaders.

But he found himself staying beside his allotted group of friends. When Sage said to not cause any fights, his wolf agreed with his female. Starting trouble would follow him down the same road as his father. And at the prospect of Sage being targeted was already causing goosebumps to form on his arms.

There weren't many males who dared come near him either, they all gave him weary looks. And no matter what the witches had said about the bounty hunter being there on his own will or on an actually paid mission, it made everyone suspicious in his eyes.

And when he told his surrounding group of Alphas, they were outraged. Questioning why he was even here, and he simply replied 'Sage told me to come,' and they understood there was no going around that. Or for the most part, Issac kept pushing the sense that Remus had a viable excuse for missing this but didn't take it.

In a few states over, Sage was enjoying herself on the porch with a tea in hand. But the mug isn't as hot as it started out, and there was more than half still in the glass.

She was distracted and nobody could understand why, her wolf was trying to tell her something—And while she did tell the witches about Raven and everything she saw in the labs and taking her elsewhere, there was something else bothering her still.

It tied to a smell, and she was worried about the idea of another infection. Kenzie checked her over and all the poison from the bear trap had been expelled, so they categorized it as being anxious.

"Auntie Sage...?" The voice popped up and Sage turned to the small pup who was trying to get up to the other chair, so the Luna had placed her tea on the table and brought the little pup into her lap.

"What's wrong, Ara?" Ara, oh the little girl adored the nickname from her auntie. And here she had so many friends to play with that she didn't want to leave, and Sage's wolf was feeling it as well.

"I don't wanna go to Greys Hallow, I want to stay here Cres Moon." Sage smiled and nuzzled her cheek down towards the pup. "But your daddies are waiting to meet you, they're so excited." She said, trying her best to be convincing.

As of yet, they were the only ones who wanted Arabella, course Camilla would've taken her—But Casey is still a pup and Arabella needed the full attention, something Mrs.Elwood couldn't give her at this time.

Sage almost asked Remus to adopt her, but it was Blake that said Alpha couples aren't usually the ones to adopt. Going into full explanation on bastard children, step-siblings...The works.

So while Alpha's might have children elsewhere, there was never any adopting. Not unless there was a blood relation. It was at the means of keeping a pack's Alpha in reign of the territory they've had for generations.

That Eli and Jack's fathers had been the former Beta and Delta.

It was the everlasting cycle, and it made her stomach flutter at the idea of carrying an Alpha pup. The pressure was already there, not even having to listen to the elder wolves in the pack.

"What if my daddies don't want me?" Sage's wolf whined out to the little pup and shook her head. "When I tell your daddys about a pup who needed a home, they start crying because they're so happy...And they're making you a bedroom with toys."
That seemed to settle her for now, and while it seemed double productive that Sage was babysitting a pup when the Luna has required a babysitter as well seemed easy enough.

Except when the only available person was Eli, so when she was set with a greeting she nodded her head and returned her attention to Arabella.

Remus warned that an argument with Sage could go one of two ways, she could hold a grudge or not. And this was one of those times, but realistically it wasn't because of the reason Eli initially thought.

Sage didn't like being afraid, especially someone as close as Eli.

"Luna?" He called out, lingering onto the porch doorway as he didn't want to overstep the bounds. It had only been a day since it happened, surely now an apology could work?

"I uh...I made some mozzarella sticks?" He offered up the container, and Sage looked at him in suspicion before her eyes lingered on the apology gift.

So she whispered into the little girl's ear and the young pup hurried off towards the door, through Eli's legs, and into the house.

"Remmy tell you to say sorry?" Damn, she's smart.

"Sort of, but I asked him what you'd like for an apology...I'm sorry, Luna." She hadn't given him her attention until after he gotten the words out, Eli had a feeling that Sage's wolf was more responsive as of late.

Which had him say her title than just her name.

"Sorry for what?"
"For not trusting Blake, and for not trusting you...I should've asked before jumping to conclusions." A growl escaped her, but it gave him enough of a hint to know that she was angry for a different reason.

And in pushing the boundaries he came forward, placing the container onto the table and kneeling down before her. An old tradition for pack members to bow to their Alpha's, perhaps he needed to be old fashion to talk to her wolf.

"Tell me my punishment." He said as he craned his neck in pure submission. But her back straightened as he gripped his hair, pulling his eyes up to meet hers.

"I am mad, because I'm scared of you. My wolf is angry." She growled, her eyes drawing in the black ink, and the abrupt movement of her hand away from him and looking down in questioning her own actions.

While Eli's excuse of being territorial rested with the Alpha leaving, Sage was also feeling that way. Not knowing what her role was as she was ordered to relax and heal.

Making her wolf antsy.

"You're feeling it too, Luna. Once the Alpha comes back. Everything will revert back."
"I feel funny before he leave." She admitted and he narrowed his brows in worry, it finally occurred to him that while Jack had done a few things to act in place as Delta.

Sage never saw him take the position of Beta while defusing a situation.

Popping open the container he offered up the food, and she eyed him suspiciously. "Remmy makes these whenever I'm mad or sad."
"It's a male's secret weapon. Making a she-wolf their favorite food." After finishing one she felt the initial apology swoop in and disperse any anger she had towards him.

"I'm sorry I yelled."
"I deserved it, you can be scary if you want to be Luna. I think you deserved these." She wiggled, and thus the feud ended—And Eli sent a quick victory text off towards Remus.

Arabella had returned with her bottle and Sage hadn't wasted any time before picking her up, and the majority of the house's guests had returned.

Minus Jack and Liam as there were too many mates in one combined area.

However, it made Sage giddy in knowing that Remus was coming home soon, she was so excited that she was having trouble sleeping. And with her constant shifting on the couch, caused Blake to huff.

"Sage, hun?"
"I can't sleep." She groaned, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she knew her body was tired. But ultimately it wasn't working, she wanted Remus.

Her wolf wanted Remus.

"Remember when I told you about my friend?" Blake questioned, and Sage turned her attention towards Blake instantly, earning him a nod.

"When we couldn't sleep we'd sit under the stars, do you want to try that?"
"Stargaze?" It was then that they took a blanket out into the back lawn and relaxed under the moon and stars.

Sage was surely feeling the calmness in sitting outside with the fresh air and slight breeze to settle her, making her wolf push the heating factor to her body. Soaking in the moon's rays allowed either wolf to render down their thoughts, or so Sage thought.

As Blake's voice caught her off guard. "You think that Lady up there has a mate for me?"
"Lady up there?"
"The Moon Goddess." Understanding caused Sage to hum in recondition.

"Yes...Remmy was scared his dad killed his mate in the war, but I'm here. And the Moon Goddess can't see me."
"What? How do you know that?"
"I meet her, I only know Remmy for week and I get angry because he locked Kelly in a cage." Blake was shocked, why was Kelly in a cage?

"Feels like everyone around me is getting their mates..."
"Maybe your mate from another pack, or not old enough?" He hummed, it wasn't that far fetched. But his wolf wanted them, to hold them and kiss them.

"Yeah, you're probably right."
"I wish I can help." Blake let out a chuckle, as if the Luna could do anything more for him. This was a mission of fate.

With Sage still not falling asleep, Blake had to pull one of the bigger stops and claimed it was a surprise. Remus was starting to introduce it more into their relationship, and it started with gift-giving.

Sage was even starting to do it more even without realizing it.

Blake returned and offered up the bear that Remus had gave her for christmas, she tilted her head.

"Take a sniff hun." She hugged the bear and instantly smelled her mate's scent. And a saddened whine erupted through her throat without realizing it.

"Tomorrow afternoon, come on...Don't want to sleep through breakfast." And that is how the house found Sage cuddled fully against a huge stuffed bear underneath her, while the bear  blanket was firmly draped around her snoring figure.

*

Sage didn't wake up the next morning on any account, even when the fire alarm had gone off due to Eli's attempt at cooking—Which ended with Blake and Julia shooing him out of the kitchen.

"Goddess, how is she still sleeping?" Blake smirked and nicked his head towards the bear.

"The Alpha put his scent on the bear—You didn't hear it from me." He explained, and the room realized that the little Luna was drawn to the scent and was utterly content in thinking it was her mate.

Though her wolf was smarter than that, but took her mate's thoughtfulness and count down return as a sign of falling back asleep. Yet it was the pup who ultimately had enough of her Auntie sleeping, so she snuck up and away from her spot beside Elenor and waddled over towards Sage.

Going straight to poking her right in the cheek, earning her a huff, as her scent eased the Luna's anger.

"Wakey wakey! Play!" The shouts of the pup attracted the attention, and while Julia made the attempt at silencing the pup. Sage peeked her eyes open.

"No poking the bear, pup." It was surely an attempt in copying, but Arabella let out her own huff. Earning her a spot underneath the bear blanket and cuddled up with the Luna while breakfast was still being prepared.

The idea of spoiling Sage had long since passed, and when Eli placed a plate onto the coffee table in front of her. she smiled up. "You feeling alright?" He questioned, earning him a nod and a yawn.

"Very tired."
"Best to sleep now, I doubt the Alpha will let you sleep to—"
"ELI WOODS YOU STOP THAT THIS INSTANT, THAT'S OUR LUNA, DAMNIT!" Sage couldn't help but grin deviously towards the Beta.

No joking about my mating, Eli.

"Sure thing, Luna." He said, but Sage appreciated the fact that he was trying to joke and be playful. Usually it was Jack's job to be entertaining, but her attention turned elsewhere as Arabella leaned up, to whisper something into Sage's ear—The two giggled underneath the bear blanket like two pups.

"Now that's precious." Ellie smiled at the sight before them. Knowing that the Luna was going to make a wonderful mother one day.
One day when everything slows down.
It was strange to think where their Luna would be five years. Would she have fully adapted into being a wolf among her people?

The questions were endless, and what was more endless was the damn morning as Sage continued to watch the clock, hoping it moved faster.

Only for Luke to laugh. "That's not how clocks work hun, they get slower when you're looking."
"Liar."
"Has it moved?"
"No."
"Because you're looking too much. How about you go watch a pup video or a movie? Time will fly if you're distracted." It was clear she was born being on a slight lockdown, the only time she left was to go to the infirmary.

With Luke's hint to move time faster, she started reading to Arabella on the couch. The two were cuddled up and reading the book, making it enjoyable for the pup who was still learning colors and identifying things around her.

It was indeed a full cycle.

"Oh for goddess sake my ovaries are going to explode. Please, I hope she's pregnant." The accounted males all found themselves stutter, having trouble to get a second breath, Julia was almost as blunt as Sage.

"Well, I'm sorry! Am I the only one seeing them? It's adorable." She defended, and Ellie was shaking her head in amusement.
"The pups always love her," Luke explained, and his mate agreed beside him once again.
"Even Hardin was obsessed." Course the heir of Mystic Grimm would adore Sage as well.

"Well maybe Sage is pregnant, don't pups usually feel drawn to pregnant she-wolves?" Jack said, and when he realized the room had turned silent he looked up to all eyes on him.

"Or is that a rumor...?" He tried to rectify what he's heard, so when his eyes flickered to Blake the male chuckled.
"Don't look at me, pack she-wolves are a lot different than rogue she-wolves." Julia made a mental note to follow up in questioning that, but what the she-wolves at the table were still focused on was the idea that Sage is pregnant.

"It hasn't been two weeks yet..." Elenor said, and Luke picked up on her own worries in not being pregnant herself that his hand squeezed her thigh.

The question rang through the group, but they didn't bother Sage and her time with the pup as she was finally away from looking at the clock.

Luke had to admit, for someone who's never babysat before—Sage was attentive. Never letting the pup from her sight. Became firm and strict when she needed to be, and gave attention and love where the pup needed it the most.

Even when he went upstairs to check on them, Sage had run the pup a bath after having gotten dirty from playing in the garden. "What are you two pups up to?"
"Sagey's not a pup, I am!" Sage looked up at her brother with a wiggle and nodded in confirmation.

"I dunno, feels like I had to remind Sagey to eat lunch soooo—" Sage gasped, while she did feed Arabella, she forgot to feed herself, which gave Julia the chance to take over the babysitting gig as Sage ate a late lunch.

"I forget to eat."
"No worries hun, you were having fun."
"I promise Remmy that I'd eat, he's going to be mad—He's going to hide the sweaters!" Luke chuckled and nudged her with his elbow, all while saying that the Alpha didn't need to know.

And it earned him a thankful smile, course Sage realized that with everyone leaving and Arabella relocating for the time being, that meant Remus was on his way home.

The move made Arabella confused, but was promised that she could visit tomorrow. Along with the fact that everyone was now set back on their normal schedule of patrolling and training.

Sage hadn't been home alone all that long as she was close to falling asleep when she caught the first whiff of her mate. She scrambled instantly to her feet and rounded the corner to see him barely three steps into the home.

"Munchkin..." He whispered, and goddess was her tackle rough in terms of what he was prepared for. She almost knocked him to the ground, but Remus managed to steady himself and high her back just as tightly.

"I miss you so much, Remmy." She mumbled into his chest and he growled in confirmation. Looking up she gasped at the bruise on his cheek and she returned a guttural response, her wolf didn't like that.

"Remember what I said about rank in America, hun?" She nodded, and he bent down to give her a quick kiss to both her lips and then her temple. "We're still third place hun."
"Number two?"
"Mystic Grimm."
"And one?"
"The Unified Arctic Crest, they make up three Alphas." An exhausted sigh escaped Remus and it instantly caught Sage in a worried glance.

"We take shower and nap."
"What? Hun, I don't think—"
"Shower and nap." She glared up to her mate, and he grinned.
"I guess we can take a shower and a nap." She didn't waste any time dragging him upstairs throwing him a change of clothes and into the shower they went.

He was taken back, but he categorized it as the bruise on his face wasn't helping her settle at all. And he didn't mind the body wash, her hands running up and down his chest—Though it wasn't sexual, he didn't smell any arousal coming from her.

And so he didn't push it, especially when he was actually looking forward to that nap and have her back into his arms. So he repaid her by drying her off and getting her dressed in shorts and one of his t-shirts.

Before he knew it, they were snuggled under the covers and close to instantly fell asleep.

When Sage woke up a bit later, she grinned into her mate's side.
Goddess, did she miss him.

And in she conjured up the perfect idea of a welcome back. She acted like a she-wolf on a mission, but he was so deep in sleep that he wouldn't have woken up by her movement anyhow.

Moving down his waistband, Sage prepared to undress him fully, however he hadn't bothered with anything more than shorts and it worked in her favor as his length was her's for the taking.

With the distance the two mates had faced over the last few days—He was too active to her touch.

Not wanting to wake him up, she grasp him lightly. Running her fist up and down around it, knowing that he liked that before. However when her lips touched his throbbing cock, a growl erupted from above—Though it didn't stop her from continuing her motion, instead it earned her some help in getting the hair out of her face, though it was after Remus uncovered the blanket to the beautiful sight before him.

"Sage...Fuck." He said, his head leaning further back into the pillow as she didn't miss a beat. Sage is very much in tune with just how aroused her mate became, and so she rose herself up from her position and settled herself down onto him.

"You want control today, hun?" He spoke directly to her wolf, while he had tried to rise up and aid her in the beginning to manage a rhythm. She pushed him down, tapping into her strength and finding the slight tease of testing the limits in a very aggravating pattern.

The fluent motion of rocking her hips to meet down onto his wasn't enough. He needed more, but his curiosity got the better of him as Sage rose off of him for a moment and held her head.

"Sage...Hun are you okay?" When he caught that her eyes had turned onyx his own wolf hummed in recognition. There had been a sound of fabric ripping but neither Alpha or Luna would know what happened after that...

______

Date: 07-29-2021

Time: 10:56 

Words: 3437