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The rain had finally let up early the next morning, but it left mud and no scents for the hunt to continue with what they sought out to do. Which meant they had to rely on previously known locations, it wasn't ideal but it worked.

Sage woke Remus in one of two ways, sure it had started with licking his face—Then his neck where her mark laid...But then it started further down his chest, course it was all in humor as she was attentive to what he liked by feeling the bond.

She was devious like that.

"Munchkin if you keep that up we might not be getting any bears this trip." She stilled instantly and complete and utter fear of not being able to hunt her bear had suddenly spoken to her wolf, and the damn disappointment in hearing that caused Remus to growl and shush her worries.

"Let's get some breakfast hun." He spoke, grabbing his sweats before opening the tent to see what the damage had been to the group. It hadn't been that bad, a few roof leaks but otherwise nothing tape and a fire couldn't dry off.

"Everyone okay?" She said, but it had been loud enough for the wolves near her to come and give her an answer. Although Sage couldn't help the way she wanted, her wolf needing to be involved and know was as much a part of her Alpha persona as Remus' was.

The morning was spent cleaning up, drying things off, and hunting. It definitely was a load off of Sage's stress when she returned back with a few other wolves with a bloody snoot. Luke nudged his Alpha to see her black fur coat come in dragging the deer with the help of her hunting partners.

"How was it hun?" Remus greeted, and Sage sneezed before looking up at her mate. Already a good sign that she had a good hunt.

Good. Strong wolves with me, but no bear scent. How long deer last?

"Depends if we want to eat it like this or make steaks."

We use blood to lure bears?

Remus couldn't contain himself when he started to laugh, kneeling down to his mate and pulling her over his shoulder to pick her up.

I want down. I don't want to be carried.

"That's too bad, because you have a good idea that Luke should hear." After hearing his name he turned to see his Alpha and Luna, though it was clear that Sage did not like being carried as she wiggled out.

"Did Sage say something fresh again?" Liam teased, and it caused Sage's gaze to connect to him straight away. Narrowing her eyes and leaning forward on her paws to reposition herself further onto Remus' shoulder.

"Asked if we're using the deer's blood to lure the bears, I think you've turned back into an Elwood on me." Leo had let out a gut-filled laugh as he patted his daughter's head.

"Sounds like someone was listening to my lessons, we'll get right on it Luna." Sage had closed her eyes and let out a very wide wolfie smile, but Remus couldn't hold her any longer when she decided to wiggle.

"I wanna show you someplace hun, I'll shift in a few minutes." And thus she stayed with her brothers, watching in her wolf to see them skin the deer that was now tied up and being dripped for its blood.

"I think someone likes watching her kill being drained and gutted," Luke said with a proud smirk, and she licked her lips and danced on her front paws.

I like feeding pack.

"Well, that too. And we'll cook it better than those squirrels last night." Liam spoke this time, but she was rather interested in skinning animals. Sure she's seen it a couple of times, but one day she wanted to do it herself.

Munchkin? You ready?

Yes. Where are you?

She soon said goodbye to her brothers before hurrying off towards their tent, she felt rather relieved in seeing Remus' wolf. Sweet Goddess was she happy in seeing him.

Let's get going, first scouts are going out soon.

Sage had trailed behind him at a following distance, and she realized that Remus knew the area a lot better than she first thought. And when he finally stopped at the cliffside, he shifted and sat in the tall grass—Still inhaling the fresh scent of the unclaimed territory.

"Nobody's here Sage, you can shift." He liked that she didn't dare shift if there were pack members nearby. And she sniffed to make sure before she shifted, giggling slightly at the tall grass grazing her skin differently than the fur.

"You come on bear hunt before."
"How'd you know that?"
"You know this place."
"I could've found it yesterday."
"No, you come here before...Before this trip." He chuckled and nodded along , earning herself an adoring kiss—Which ultimately moved for her to be pushed into the grass as either of them were hidden.

With the privacy of the cliff, Remus didn't feel bad about leaving the group to work themselves with their tasks. "Sneaky wolf." She whispered against his lips, and he leaned back from his embrace and looked down happily to his mate, planting down his elbows to encase her further.

"I'm sneaky? How?"
"You bring me out here to mate."
"Well that is a very good idea...If it's what my mate wants I have no problem helping." He said, diving into another kiss that enacted her legs to lock around his waist.

And they hadn't stopped there, the Alpha couple had sought privacy a few times during the trip—And it wasn't until the third day that there was the first smell of a bear.

Their leads were correct, there were plenty of previous hibernation spots that the bears would be starting to come from.

The excitement returned to the camp, but only a few wolves would be getting their bears this trip, others were here for extra support if need be.

The Alpha and Luna would be the first, dependent on how large this bear they had discovered is.

As would Luke, as he needed to prove to the pack that he was able to take his father's place.

For the others, it was simply a blessing to have their Alpha and Luna watch.

Sage could hardly sleep that night as she was so versed in seeing a bear, everyone on the trip had almost forgotten that she's never even smelled a beast before.

But Remus was demanding that night, and when she didn't listen to his Alpha tone—His wolf had gone to another approach. One that caused Luke to have his own ideas with his mate.
All in the message of good luck for tomorrow.

With their bellies full, and two she-wolves rightly satisfied from last night's activities. The group set out, following the scouts and doing what they could to manage the terrain and cover their scent.

The bear in question...Was large. A strong female who has seen many summers, and had clear markings of harsh fights she's endured.

Leo had come up to Sage's side and questioned her the three most important things.

What is she doing?

Hunting.

Does she have any younglings?

No.

Is she the one?

Mine.

Leo blinked off towards Luke, and the others fell back—All in search of another bear. While Remus and Sage continued to stalk the Luna's target.

She had licked her lips several times within the minute, it was clear that her wolf was demand the kill now. But it wasn't time, nor did they have the support if need be.

They simply observed the she-bear chowing down on the salmon she had slaved in munching on before falling asleep in the sun. All from a food coma that she's managed to put herself in.

We come back when she eats, too tired to fight.

My mate is a bit of a bear expert huh?

She wanted to huff but withheld it and nipped at his jaw playfully, only to be returned with a slobbery amount of licks. However a huff did pan out, and it wasn't either Sage or Remus.

But the she-bear herself.

She-bear spotted us.

Sage called out, and both Leo and Luke stilled at the voice that popped into their head—Which caused the entire party to rush in return to the sight.

But the she-bear was pissed, beyond pissed—She absolutely loathed wolves. Their scent was masked, but she could still visibly see the outline of a she-wolf and male.

Remmy?

She whispered through the bond and he growled in the defense.

Sage, I want you to wait until the others come.

No! This is my bear!

We aren't prepared Munchkin, she's too livid for you to take on—She's—

Sage hadn't bothered to hear another word of what her mate was insinuating.
Her wolf hated being labeled as weak. Especially from her mate
Above all from her mate.

And so she charged directly towards the plowing beast, engaging in the fight that had been dictated for them.

Sage!

You stay there, my fight.

And while Remus' wolf growled in damnation, Sage effortlessly jumped the likes of the bear and caused the beast to turn around with a thunderous snarl.

It was clear that the she-bear had been angered that her nap had been cut short, or didn't appreciate the lurking behavior of new eyes. But it was clear, one of the females was going to come out alive.

And Sage was boiling with anticipation.

The bear had risen to her high legs and taken a few massive swipes towards her, though the claws were damaged and uneven—Making it daunting when the bear had managed to make contact.

Causing Remus to whine in his position, but his bum stayed planted. It was a rule that if the wolf in question was challenging a bear one mustn't interfere until they ask or it's clear that they might be killed.

He felt relieved to know that his pack had returned, much quicker than expected. But Sage's brother had already taken a smell of her blood mixed with the bears.

It permitted the air quickly, and almost dominated the side of the woods they were positioned.

But one of the biggest rules Leo had laid out for Sage, was that a bear was much larger than a wolf. Had more meat on the bones than wolf, which made them strong and slow.
And Sage ultimately had a plan, though she mulled it over as Remus was surely going to hate her for it later. With a good distance away from her target, and the eyes of her pack members just in the thicket of the bush.

She shifted back to skin and stood up, making a thunderous growl escape from Remus as he dared the males beside him to take their gaze as anything in the realm of lust.

But it was simply admiration, especially when she let out a battle cry and took the bear by utter surprise—Before shifting back to her wolf and tumbling with the beast with the immense force she built up.

The fight was quick, nips and tugs until finally...A body had slumped to the ground, followed by another as Sage couldn't manage to put any more pressure onto her right shoulder.

Having fallen into her skin form she held onto her thigh and attempt to pull her arm to try to relocate it. While Remus wolf was begging her to stop, however she managed to rescuer it, perhaps not the proper way but it's worked countless times before.

Those in the shadows had come closer, but not when their Luna was caked with blood, dirt and completely bare to their viewing.

Her tears were a clear sign that she was hurt, more than hurt—The claw marks were deep and looked painful. "Munchkin...Don't ever do that again." He whispered, pulling her into his embrace and hiding her form.

All in hope that the wolves in the trees would come closer, and they did. Especially when their leaders were as weak as they were in this moment. They surrounded the kill, Leo taking gentle steps towards it before shifting.

Smirking up a storm to see the damage that his daughter had inflicted to the she-bear.

"That...Was fucking beautiful." Leo boasted, and the yips and cheers rallied as Sage smiled to her mate. "I kill big bear."

"Yeah hun, yeah you did...But you banged up your shoulder." She tried to rotate it and hissed in pain, it was clear that she wouldn't be able to rise from her position in her mate's hold which caused her to snuggle further in.

Enjoying his heat but also allowing his healing to enact into her.

"Remmy?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm tired...I fall asleep." She was warning him that it was all too much for her, and he kissed her forehead and said it was fine.

She had attempted to hold on that she fell limp close to instantly after his word.

"How's the bear looking?"
"Don't think she scratched it too much, could get a real nice Hyde out of this one. And plenty of meat." Leo said, taking a look at the size of the paws while Luke had kept a steady gaze on their sister.

The treck wasn't long, it was simply the vulnerability it left the Alpha when his mate was in his arms and not in fur. While half remained to carry the remains of the beast, a good portion had taken the liberty to protect their leaders as they were escorted back to camp.

Course it was the she-wolves who hurried along with bandages and cleaning supplies to get their Luna in a much more comfortable state. The scratch on her shoulder would surely leave a scar, but his wolf purred in delight—This one was earned.

They were obvious bear marks, and Sage would return with a bear trophy to the pack.

The she-wolves worked flawlessly, leaving nothing unattended, and allowed their Alpha to enter the tent once she was properly tended and dressed. However his wolf was tearing at his own walls and he was forced to shift, the cuts and scrapes on her face and neck were too small and odd angled to cover—Leaving his tongue to slobbery everything with his healing saliva.

"I kill...Big bear." She mumbled, like she couldn't believe it. Her dream had been accomplished, and although it went rather unplanned. Remus couldn't deny how beautiful the take-down was.

While Sage slept, most of the pack mates in the camp came by and check on their Alpha couple. Until it was Luke came, his hands shaking as he took in Sage's damaged shoulder.

"She popped her shoulder back..." He whispered, Remus' eyes blinking and waiting until Luke asked a question. But none came, Luke simply sat close and took in the sound of his sister's breath filling the tent.

"I should've helped—"

You know the rules, Luke. She has to ask for help.

"I don't think I told her that part, and she's too stubborn to ask for help." A rumble of laughter came from the Alpha's chest as he was heavily amused, but he gestured to Sage.

She is stubborn, but I rather have a stubborn Luna than a submissive one by my side. She's earned the title.

"Yeah, I think that title passed over her head too."

Not a surprise, she hates politics.

"Hmm, every wolf does. But she might have to start getting used to it." Remus once again let out a rumble, when that caused Sage to mew underneath him in an attempt to aid his anger—Or so she thought that's what it was.

Sleep for me Munchkin, I'm right here.

Remus whispered into her head, and a beautiful smile released before she returned back to sleep having never opened her eyes.

Remus didn't mind Luke's company, but the male felt he had overstayed and nodded off as he continued to help his father with Sage's kill. Other pack members were still in awe at what they had witnessed, and those unsure of their Luna were now impressed as to what they had seen.

The politics in their world were harsh, the balance usually being kept afloat by having pups and keeping pride in a pack. There were instances of traitors, Alpha's being overthrown...The works.

And for Sage to come from such a harsh world to be introduced to this wasn't ideal. But it needed to be done.

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Date: 06-14-2021

Time: 10:16

Words: 2893

Sage has taken the title as Bearslayer!

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We're going to meet another Alpha couple soon, and it has me thinking--Which Pack are you a part of based on where you live?
✨CHOOSE YOUR CLOSEST PACK✨
Or are you a ROUGE?

-I'm split evenly between Crescent Moon and Grey Hallow-

For my Canadian readers, we'll be meeting the packs of the Canadian Conclave in the future;)
Same with those who are international!
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-Florida is mutual territory for the council to use-

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