The small luncheon that followed the mate meetings began as a potluck, then it became a catered thing, and then it became boxes of pizza in the common room of the community center.

Once Sage was done with her day, she made sure to leave just as quietly as she came. The Council did not meet eyes with her for the rest of the time she was there either. She could only imagine the horrors they'd dreamt up for her.

"Sage, we've decided we need you to start closing the center again. Keeper's sick."

"Sage, maybe your brother's health insurance shouldn't be included in the pack health plan since he's no longer serving."

"Sage, you and Akari need to move into the basement of the center. Safehouse needs fumigating."

Random and infuriating occurrences were sure to follow whenever she told them how far up her ass they'd have to reach to find a fuck to give.

She could not help herself. It was not in her to bend. She was an Alpha's daughter.

It was not in her blood to submit.

It was dusk when she pulled into the gravel driveway of the safehouse. The driveway really was tire marks on the lawn that were worn into the ground over the ten years they'd inhabited the house.

When she came in the house, Sage noticed that everything was still exactly how she and Akari had left it that morning. Usually, when Akari comes home he comes in like a storm.

"'Kari! I'm home! Are you here?" Sage calls out one good time.

The house echoes her own voice back to her.

Sage takes a moment and sighs. Looking out the small window in their kitchenette again, the orange of the dusk was now turning quickly to the blue hue of night. She knew this would happen. She knew he wouldn't be home before it got dark.

She didn't even bother taking her coat off when she first got in the door, so she headed right out, grabbing one of the drawstring backpacks by the door when she passed them. Sage was on autopilot and she had to admit she was pretty pissed.

At Akari and at herself.

"You all have to take care of each other no matter what."

Her father's voice was fresh in her mind as she pulled away from her house.

"The pack and our family, it's all we have. We all we got."

Sage could hear the laugh in his voice as he said it. The sureness in his tone.

She knew her father never would've said such things if he knew what she knew now.

Unlike her mother, Sage's father was a good father and a good Alpha. He was an awesome Alpha. The Moses lineage spanned back at least five hundred years and Black Maw in particular was formed from her great grandfather and grandmother's mate bond. This pack belonged to her family truly.

And her parent's mate bond was cursed from the very beginning. She was doomed from the start.

Now, all the mantra did was make her stomach turn.

Being in her early twenties was something lost on Sage constantly. Since the war that changed them all was a decade ago and Akari's regression started half that time. Everything seemed to be a blur for her. The only thing she had left of her family was what they'd taught her before it all went to shit.

Oh, she could've let Akari be carted off to a memory care facility, but she knew he'd never be able to safely shift again. She owed her life to her brother and if no one else showed him that respect, she would til the end.

These feelings are what pushed Sage further into the darkening dusky forest to find him and bring him back safely.

When Sage arrived at the outskirts of the forest, she parked her car and grabbed the bag she brought before exiting it. Once on foot, she threw her phone and keys into the bag. Sage knew these woods like the back of her hand.

There once was a time where the borders weren't disputed and she could feel in her bones that this land was her land and the lake belonged to her pack. To her family.

A disputed border line was a chink in the armor. It was a weak point where dangers found their were to slither in.

Huge and intimidating black hickory trees were as far as your eye could see. The earth beneath her feet was littered with yellow and orange leaves. The air was brisk and calm. Sage took a deep breath in, the coolness filling her lungs and allowing her to exhale the a million emotions she was feeling at this moment.

I just want to go home.

She thought to herself as she began her walk into the foliage. She had, had a long day.

"Akari! Akari! It's time to go home!" Sage called out into the forest. Only the birds answered back.

"Akari! I promise I'm not mad, buddy! Let's go!" Sage tried again.

As she walked, almost aimlessly, through the forest Sage resisted the urge to let tears fall down her face. She was exhausted after her work day and she had the better mind to keep Akari inside and now this is what happens?

Oh, how she kicked herself.

On occasion, and especially when he went too deep into the woods, Akari was known to be reluctant on coming back. This was not Sage's doing, it was just a part of him fearing chastisement as a child. Akari had the mind of a twelve year old and at twelve, the oldest child of an Alpha had it hard.

The sharp snap of a broken tree branch caused Sage's head to whirl behind her.

"Akari!" She yelled louder this time. More angry than scared.

All she could think about was how tired she was and how badly she wanted to eat something warm on this chilly autumn night.

Sage continued to walk forward, deeper into the bush. In the distance, she could hear the water of the stream nearby rushing through its path. We were nearing the part where Akari liked to sneak off to. The edge of Black Maw territory.

The new boundaries cut sharply into where Sage and her brother used to play together most. Her adrenaline spiking clashed with how she remembered playing infinite rounds of hide and seek and tag between these trees.

Her initials paired with her first crush's were still growing taller on their favorite tree.

Sage did not have time to trace its markings like she used to.

She loved this part of the forest just as deeply as Akari did, but it was no longer safe to roam.

The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she felt the nagging feeling that she was definitely not the only wolf in these woods.

As she approached the quickly moving water, Sage began to get worried. She could not spot her brother anywhere and he was not a man that was easy to miss. It was as if he'd never been in the forest at all.

"Akari please! You're scaring me!" Sage cried out this time, and she was serious. She approached the river's edge and she was praying fervently that she wouldn't see her dear brother float--

"Sage."

A dry croak came from her left side.

Sage immediately went towards the voice. "Akari?! Stay right there!"

Sage practically leapt 6 feet over to reach where she'd heard the voice. "Sage..." The muffled whine came from what seemingly looked like a pile of rusted yellow leaves. Dropping her bag from her shoulder, Sage dropped to the cold ground and began to uncover her brother.

As she picked up one huge pile, she soon realized the leaves were not a rusty color. They were soaked with blood. She felt as if she had been shot with the way her body buckled and the sliminess registered on her hands.

"Akari, baby what happened?" Sage's voice cracked as she spoke to her brother. He said nothing as she continued to push leaves and debris off of him so she could see what was hurt. When she revealed the wound, it was a gaping tear in his abdomen. Blood soaked his shirt and pants.

Sage didn't realize she was crying as hard as she was as she took off her coat and wrapped it tightly around her brother's injury. "Sage, I'm sorry I didn't come home. Please don't be mad." Her brother wheezed softly to her as he watched her intently at his side.

With a bitter laugh, Sage wiped her dripping face and shook her head. "I'm not mad at you, buddy. I'm so glad I found you." She quickly returned.

"Now," Sage began brushing off the rest of his body to make sure no where else was hurt. He seemed to be intact. "Can you stand up for me?" She asked her brother as she began to pull him up. Although Akari winced and groaned all the way through, he was able to stand and brace himself on a near by tree.

Since he was a healthy 6'5 man, Sage was grateful.

Sage's breath caught as she took in the clearing, the shock of blood-red leaves mixed with autumn's golden glow. She wiped her damp face, her heartbeat pounding harder as she steadied herself at Akari's side. Her coat, now wrapped around his injury, was soaked through, sticking to her hands.

"He'll be okay. We'll both be okay."

She whispered to herself as she tried her best to not have a panic attack right then and there. She felt as if a three ton brick was rested on her chest.

"Akari, can you stand up for me?" Her voice was barely a whisper as she braced herself, feeling his weight sink against her, his tall frame shaking with each small step forward. She glanced around, taking in the towering trees and the whispering shadows around them, alert for any movement. Her heart rate was through the roof.

How the fuck did this happen?

Was the only thing she kept asking herself.

"Just hold on to me, okay?" She murmured as they stumbled forward, trying to ignore the icy prickling sensation crawling up her spine.

Then, a sharp snap cut through the silence, so close it made her flinch. She whipped around, eyes narrowing as her gaze locked onto the hulking figure stalking out from between the trees—a massive blue-black wolf, its muzzle slicked with blood, blending into the night like something from her darkest dreams. The beast's amber eyes were locked on Akari, glinting with a hunger that was unmistakable.

The fear coursing through Sage turned into a fury that was primal, instinctive. She didn't hesitate. In a flash, she let go of Akari, a low growl ripping through her throat as she lunged at the wolf. Her clothes tore away as her body shifted mid-air, muscles thickening, her hands transforming into claws, teeth sharp and ready for the attack. The enemy wolf's focus snapped to her, and she could feel his own fury—a savage, territorial aggression that slammed into her like a blow.

Their bodies collided with bone-rattling force, but Sage didn't falter. Her jaws snapped, and she felt her teeth sink deep into his thick fur. The taste of blood flooded her mouth, metallic and hot, as she twisted her head, tearing down his snout in a brutal arc that left her snarling and wild-eyed.

But the wolf was ready for her. His head struck her with a brutal force, sending her sprawling backward, her body skidding across the rough ground before crashing against a tree. Pain shot up her spine, but she pushed herself up, vision sharpening as she saw him shifting to face Akari again.

"No!" The scream tore through her, more of a guttural roar as she charged again, every muscle in her body burning with a strength she didn't know she still possessed. She tackled the wolf, teeth bared as she sank her fangs into his thick neck, the taste of blood and fur cloying in her mouth. Her claws tore at his sides, desperate, refusing to let go.

The wolf writhed beneath her, but she held on, digging deeper, letting her instincts take control. Not Akari, she thought, refusing to give him an inch. Her grip tightened as she felt his body weaken, his snarls shifting to desperate howls that echoed through the forest.

Suddenly, the wolf twisted, his powerful limbs kicking her into the frigid waters of the nearby stream. The shock of the icy water stung as she resurfaced, sputtering, her senses reeling from the cold. She whipped her head up just in time to see the wolf stagger to his feet, his gaze on her one last time before he turned and slunk back into the shadows, defeated, leaving nothing but blood and broken leaves in his wake.

Breath heaving, Sage dragged herself out of the water, shivering as she fought to regain her balance. The metallic tang of blood lingered in her mouth, the forest eerily silent around her as she staggered back to where Akari leaned against the tree.

She shifted back to human form, barely noticing her shivering limbs as she reached for her drawstring bag, yanking on the spare sweater and leggings with numb fingers. And if you go play in the woods, her mother's voice echoed in her mind, always be sure you can walk back home clothed.

When she finally reached Akari's side, her voice was barely steady as she whispered, "I'm here, okay? We're safe." Draping his arm over her shoulders, Sage tightened her grip and, together, they began the slow walk back through the woods.

"Wait til Dad hears about this, he's going to be so proud." Akari's wonder filled compliment falls on too tired deaf ears.