* * *

Sage held Rue in her arms while Ronan gripped her leg, as he found it the best position to stay sitting up. Since the pups were managing to become much more daring in terms of crawling and using their surroundings to stand up like the adults around them.

Half the time they fell back onto the floor, making gravity their natural enemy right beside their weak limbs. So that left Ronan to sit against his mom's leg, already taking his father's orders in keeping his mama safe and remain.

Both Julia and Eli stood a step behind her, as they had risen in the event of the Alpha leaving the territory—And while the base of the mountain was still within the pack line, it was still uncharted and if anything.

To be frank, it was just a nuisance.

"Hey, look on the bright side, Alpha...Maybe we can make an observation tower up there—And a ski lift!" Jackson cheered, looking between both Aurora and the Alpha for a crack of a smile, and he pouted once again.

"Just trying to lighten the mood." Rory had given him a light rub at his back as she turned to the Luna and gave her a parting rub on her cheek. "You be careful."
"No worries Luna, this is a walk in the park," Aurora whispered back, evening offering Rue a small pinch to her cheek before returning back to her mate.

"Four days Alpha, and we'll send up reinforcements to what the phone's location is." Remus nodded to Eli's reminder, and thus the party continued off towards the woods to shift.

    Rebekah had the easier method of transportation, riding on the back of her mate as he zipped through the woods. While her familiar was already at the ready to soar the skies to locate anything out of the ordinary.

Be careful, if too dangerous go another day with more wolves.

Ten wolves plus a witch and vamp is a pretty strong team, hun. Now go and enjoy the pups, because when I come back you're mine.

    Remus had stopped his departure to look over his shoulder with a smirk, and Sage mirrored it. All before the party had shifted and gone forward, their paws plowing through the start of the journey with ease. Though it took a given hour to find make it off pack grounds at a decent pace.

    Either Enzo and Rebekah scouted ahead and waited for them a good distance, while the witch used her 'bird vision' to spot any oddities.

I can't believe Sage willingly stayed behind without more of a fight, this is camping and a whole lot of time in fur.

Jackson said, trying to pick up a conversation with Remus as they were lightly trotting forward.

I'm sure if we didn't have pups then she'd probably sprint as far as she could in front of us, but a mama wolf wants to stay home with the pups just as much as I do.

And that look she gave you?

I can be romantic Jackson, now shut up. There's already static giving me a headache.

Romantic?! Oh goddess, are me and Eli going to be uncles soon again?!

    Remus gave a warning snap and it instantly caused Aurora to pull into the mix.

Jackson, I swear to the goddess above, no more cuddling if you keep torturing the Alpha. Sage made me promise to keep everything in line.

So you threaten cuddles?! Fine! Keep the damn tension then.

    And true to his word, Jackson remained silent. It was a new record for sure, but Remus could hardly concentrate—The silver was starting to make Enzo weaker, and ever so often the smell would be inhaled too deeply into the lungs by the witch of the group, making Rebekah cough.

"What the hell sort of mountain is this?!" She hissed, the symptoms acted like human allergies. Making their eyes water and sneeze, as their beast and nexus demanded that they move away from the foreign poison.

"My great great whatever grandfather was one of the first to establish a pack right beside Mystic Grimm and Arctic Crest. Sage's mutation of being immune to silver is a built-up from experiencing this in her time in the Underground. If we stayed out here for weeks it would start to null, it's just not a common practice anymore." The witch wiped her eyes once again and huffed.

"Well, hopefully for our sake it doesn't take weeks, Omen isn't getting much in his sights and we're hardly up the mountain." She informed, trying to get used to the idea of wolves and their natural reaction to nudity. However, when she started to section off the couples she caught that a mated male would cover while the female would dress first.

"Studying them darling?"
"Shut it." She bumped and closed her eyes once again, but then darted her head to the side. "Incoming Rogues, goddess herself they smell awful!" She yelled, and the wolves hardly hesitated to return back to fur—but the pursuit and knowledge of a decent dozen had been false.

"Stick in formation, back to back! We're too far out for reinforcements!" Remus shouted before initiating the first kill and the Deltas hadn't any issue in taking the one beside their leader.

    Enzo hadn't dared to allow his mate to fight in this battle, sure she trained with a few wolves with Blake's help—But it was clear they were going easy on her, so he took priority to get his mate out of the line of attack before helping the others. "Enzo you cold-blooded bastard get back here!" She screamed from the tree, he knew she hated heights in this form enough not to climb down.

Remus had been around the Vampire for a few weeks now at this point throughout the year, however, he hadn't been aware of how fluent he had been in taking down wolves.
It was almost worrying.

And of course, the male flashed him a grin. "I've been around a long time Alpha, and a Rogue bite would weaken me quicker than the silver." Remus hadn't known that bit either, but he stored it in for later—In case the other vampire proved to be too difficult to beat normally.

    It wasn't in a Rogue's nature to retreat, but seeing the figures in the background making a break, Remus huffed in response. Clearly aggravated as he shifted.

"Injured?" His voice was hoarse from the previous attacks and his Alpha tone was so close to the surface. A few claimed they were bit and Aurora turned to look where she heard Rebekah's voice from earlier.

"Goddess above, what are you doing in a tree?" She called up and the witch groaned.

"I have a damnable Light who knows I hate heights!" Jackson grinned as he sat for a moment on the ground, his wolf had taken a bite for Rory. So once Enzo had calmed down in his remnants of an attack he raced up the tree. "You know I absolutely hate when you—"

"Love, the mere idea of your scent anywhere near those fowl beasts is making me want to hunt them all down and slaughter them." Aurora had moved away from the base of the tree, which allowed the mated couple to drop down...Though Rebekah made quick work in taking the EpiPen-like medication that will stop the effects of illness.

So she held up the device and looked around.

"Who's bitten or scratched?" Aurora didn't hesitate to get her mate taken care of first, but she had taken the liberty to do it first as the bite was intimate and it would be labeled untenable for another female to be near a mated male.

That and Enzo didn't want his little bird to be bitten either, she was almost defenseless now that they were higher up in the mountain. But her endless backpack proved to be useful as she threw on another sweater, making her mate look instantly guilty—His cold skin didn't aid her in the dropping climate.

"Stop pouting love, you already made me pack a tent...Oh, the sat phone!" She said, digging through and trying to pick up the call, but proved to be useless underneath the tree. She groaned and went back over to her Light and held onto him tightly. "I need a better signal."

"Oh, so now it's okay—"
"ENZO!"  Her shout was whisked up along with her body and Remus shook his head, which Jackson caught.

"You and Sage are like that too, it's hilarious."
"What?" He shot towards his Delta, and the male smirked.

"Playful. It's nice seeing you smiling, Alpha. For a while I thought you'd never lose that stick up your ass." He teased, only for him to groan at the wrapping his mate had given him was too tight. "Hey!"
"Teasing was against the Luna's mentions in 'not bothering Remus', and quit being a baby. My eight-year-old brother can handle binds tighter than this."
"Yeah, but you didn't even lick my wounds! My wolf is feeling neglected!" Remus rolled his eyes, perhaps he was like these two.

The honeymoon stage was still going strong and would for a while, but for how playful Jackson is to how uptight Aurora can be—They were complimenting each other perfectly.

Aurora promised that she would later, however, when either Witch and  Vampire looked even sicker than before, it caused the group of wolves to look at them in action. "Rogues attacked the pack, everything fine—It took them by surprise though." Remus instantly took the phone from the witch's hand and climbed the tree his damn self, not trusting the words Rebekah continued to inform the rest of the wolves below.

    When he decided he was far enough in height he began dialing Sage's number only to be brought to her mailbox. "I swear to the goddess, she never picks up when it's me calling but—" He instantly picked up the second the thing began to chirp an annoying tune.

"Sage?"

"Remmy? Oh, it was you—Phone only says a number...Are you okay?"
"Am I okay? Rebekah told me there was a Rogue attack?" The line went silent for a moment and he could just hear his heart go into a panic.

"Everything's okay, they ran away. I send scouts to follow in case they want to turn back...Pups are okay, I was home with people."
"They came to the house?!" Remus said, his wolf was so close to darting home.

"Yeah, Eli says it was strange. That they wait for you to leave?... It's okay, I shoot two. They don't make it far into house. Blake, Luke, and Eli kill a lot. Levi took pups to basement with me and females." The further she explained the story, the easier it was for Remus to breathe properly.

"You're not far up the mountain, you can't come back now. We're fine, everyone is staying over tonight and Eli and Blake having Rouges move tents outside house."
"And you're alright? You didn't get hurt?" There was a pause, and Remus huffed instantly.

"Sage if I come back and you're hurt—"

"Only a little, but Kenzie give me shot already so I'm okay. Small bite, and pups won't leave me to cuddle. Dad says pups know when mama or papa get hurt." The sporadic breaths were surely heard on the other end of the phone as Sage whined.

"If you come home I'll be mad and no date."
"I don't think you're in any position to be mad, munchkin."
"I'm your mate, I can be mad all the time. And you need to keep moving."
"Really making taking the Alpha position away from me huh?" She hummed in agreement before saying a few parting words, finishing off the conversation.

    He didn't feel much better from before the call, and those around the base of the tree were the first to look up to him for any information. "Sounded like a small attack, only went after my house." And sure it hadn't involved the warrior's family directly, the idea of the Luna and pup's were in danger had him reinstate multiple times that his family was okay.

But the idea the Luna had been hurt much like them made the mission futile. "Sir, should we head back?... The Rogues are acting too strange, it's like they know we're coming up—"

"No, we're this far and we need to get farther. Rest up, in an hour we'll get a move on to find a campsite." The group finished in a nod while Remus stocked forward a given way, trying his best to find some connection through the silver blockage.

It must be too strong for Sage to get through because there was hardly a whisper or break in the static—Did she call out for him to come back and help?

Goddess, it was his biggest fear, especially when their pups were involved—But Remus followed Sage's words and found the strength to continue. Yet the change in altitude and so on was starting to bring harsh winds that their wolves surely weren't prepared for.

Their winter coats only proved so useful at the end of fall, but nobody was fairing as bad as Rebekah. The closest human species as she would breathe fire into her hands ever so often to try and warm herself up.

"Let me set up the tent, love." Remus could see the internal battle in Enzo's eyes, and so he aided the vampire in setting it up. It didn't take long with the Alpha's help as it was clear that the vamp hardly ever had to camp in his life.

"Thank you...Now if only it could be that easy to get her in it." He grumbled and Remus sent him an encouraging smirk knowing full well Sage would be just as stubborn to sleep inside a tent.

The rest of the wolves were enjoying the fire pit, while Aurora attempted to hug Rebekah in hopes it would get her body temperature up a little more.

In the end, it was decided that both Jackson and Aurora would sleep inside the tent with Rebekah to keep her warm, while the rest slept in fur near the fire and those on watch were in skin.

Course Enzo didn't need to function with a regular cycle of sleep, but he also didn't want to take up room by the fireplace for someone who was open to the elements.

"What do you make of those Rogues running off?" Remus huffed at Enzo creeping up behind him, the Alpha in him had him settle a decent bit away from the rest of the group besides a tree—But he didn't mind the male's company.

    "Rogues don't run—They aren't that smart, the sick ones I mean. You've met Blake and Sage's Reformed. Those weren't...They weren't the same."
"Is it possible to tame them?" Remus shrugged, throwing the small twig he was fiddling with.

"That demon your mate has—" A growl interrupted the two of them and Remus cleared his throat. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to the idea that there's a male in my mate's head."

"I do hope you know that's not how that works, though from what I've heard from Rebekah, he's come in handy a few times helping the Luna word things correctly or work through phrases she couldn't understand at the time." Remus turned to the male and frowned, did Darius really do that too?

    "Don't take my word for it, besides, Demons are strictly mate-oriented. Darius doesn't see Sage in the same light, he's simply a shadow."
"Hm, tell that to my beast who got called fluffy by an open fireplace...Call me naive, but I'm not prepared for all this shit." He said with a frown, and Enzo's turned into a smile—The two historical mortal enemies were sharing their worth just under a tree.

He thought it was rather poetic and pathetic.

    "Not naive, wolves have always been isolated. I'm not surprised that Sage's mother was suppressed. There are some of my kind that cannot handle their mates being humans or witches. We're bent on this perfect image on needing to find a mate of the same standard, and believe me—I thought my mate was going to be from my kind. But all that extinguished once I laid eyes on my Rebekah."
"Was it easy to explain? To your coven and hers?" He questioned, slightly curious and a quick chuckle escaped the vampire as itched at his neck.

"Not particularly, Rebekah was still devastated in losing her sister that she was in a pit. She didn't recognize me and I thought it was rejection at first sight— We don't get heartbroken from it likes wolves do. We're timeless creatures so I would've come at a different time, but I could smell the sadness that I had to approach her. My maker was happy that I found her, my brothers and sisters weren't as accepting. Course, that was until I told them of her abilities. Elementalists are powerful." Remus nodded, but the idea of such a weak mate was giving him his own metal attack. He didn't have to worry about Sage's build because she was mostly the same species.

    "You can join her you know, we're fine out here."
"Can't, my skin is too cold—And I know she'll say she's fine but I'm harmful. Unless I fed recently, my body can't provide any warmth for her. I'm useless to her right now." He said, the slight grumble underneath. But he was getting aggravated as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"How does that work? Feeding?"
"Ever since I met Bekah I leaned off fresh blood, I tried that 'vegetarian' bullshit but it doesn't hold over well. I'm too old and it'll take a while before I can hold my diet solely on animals...The Warren's help me get donated blood."
"You don't feed on your mate?" Remus questioned, clearly battling all the questions on the inside.

"That's similar to asking if you bite your mate after the two of you—"
"So it's not just your mate that you drink from."
"No, I fear I'll lose control. Witch's blood is the sweetest of any nectar that this earth offers, that is why they're offered at the blood banks. Some are there by choice, while others...It's an awful trade, Alpha. The sweetness of a witch's blood with the addition of her being my mate. The first time I almost killed her." The shock was imminent on Remus' face and Enzo looked guilt-ridden.

"But that was the first time...I'm sure you have more control over—"
"I do, she's the one who demanded that we practice. She found out it was a cultural experience and she didn't want me to be left out on it. My bird is a stubborn woman." Remus rolled his eyes, Rebekah and Sage would make a strong duo if they ever team up.

And Remus could already see it happening in the near future.

    "I almost evicted Sage from the pack." Enzo had soaked up all the guilt he conjured and shot the Alpha a look. "You're joking...No, Alpha—"
"I was with another she-wolf at the time, one that the pack hated and I was blind to their opinions...But a year ago we weren't an open pack, the only wolves allowed in the pack were family and mates of pack members. I'm sure you know how Sage escaped and all that..." Enzo nodded, and Remus continued off with a sigh and explained the rest.

"...Put her in the infirmary for two days." Enzo no longer felt the pity party as he laughed at the Alpha's unfortunate shed of luck. "That's a beautiful introduction, bravo."
"Oh no, that wasn't all. Goddess, she walked straight up to me—It's the first time I met her and I didn't realize how...Lacking her Humanity would be, she didn't understand what mates were. So after a rather pathetic nickname on my part, she yelled 'no mate,' and clocked me in the jaw before running away." The snickers at the fireplace on the telling of their Luna only caused Enzo to laugh further.

"And...Did you catch her?"
"Have you seen her run? She has more energy than both of my pups combined. No, she stopped on her own. But we waited to mate properly, a few months..." It earned him a shaking head from the male and Remus smirked. "Yeah, I'm wondering where I got the strength from that too."

"It's as I said, Alpha. We have an idea of what our mate is going to be like—I'm sure you didn't expect a hybrid wolf and witch escapist from human scientists when you thought about the legends of mates." Remus leaned forward into his one risen knee and sighed aloud.

"I didn't think I was going to find a mate...I'm getting old."
"I can promise you, you are not old."
"For my kind? It's dangerous not to have heirs in my position, there's only one Alpha left in America that doesn't have a mate but he's younger and he has his brother's children in the chance something were to happen." Enzo remained silent as he thought.

"I sometimes wonder how it'll work in the future too, my Rebekah is meant to take her Aunt's place as head of her coven—Though if something were to happen to my maker, I rise to become coven leader."
"What would that make Rebekah to the coven?"
"The Coven has Masters and Mistresses, if my maker ordered me to do something, it is as strong as compelling—Course, I have the option of refusing because I'm his eldest but it's almost like Alpha and subordinate. Yes?" Remus nodded, though he concluded that he would just give it a rest that he wouldn't know the cultural differences between his own kind to theirs.

Even the Lycans found themselves diverse within their own packs.

    "I guess my son would get a little leeway if that's what the comparison is."
"Hm, but Rebekah would only become my coven's mistress if she is a vampire—But I cannot bring myself to do that yet, not when she wants children." And it became apparent to Remus in that very moment that every single thing his father said about heartless vampires had vanished, for the most part at least.
Enzo was an actual teddy bear, Sage's words of course.

    "That sounds like most females. Sage wants more."
"More? Weren't the pups born in August?"
"Yes, but have you met my mate? She sees a challenge and won't stop until she's passed it, another pup wouldn't strain her, but I feel like I'm going bald by the end of this year." And he certainly felt his thinning hair in regards to it, though the idea of another pup excited him greatly.

    "Your mate is adorable, and I apologize for frightening her...I've been away from my kind as my maker allowed me to bond with my mate. I tend to forget that these make others uncomfortable."
"You're fine, she called you a teddy bear the other day."
"I know! A teddy bear, and to think I offered to race her." The two settled further as Remus shifted into fur to get some rest.

However, he was woken up by a hand stroking his head and the fresh smell of meat right in front of his nose. He growled, and it earned him one just as sinister.

"Love, I told you to call his name before you—"
"But look how cute they are, and I had a cuddle party with two wolfies. Goddess, do you promise not to bite me?" Rebekah mumbles and Remus huffs before taking the said bit of jerky. It was easier to eat this way before he shifted seconds later.

"Anything?" Remus grumbled, rising to his feet and taking the offered shorts from Jackson. "Not really, Beka saw the scouts Sage sent after the Rogues—Must be the same ones that attacked the pack and caught up to us by mistake." He blamed it on the silver for not connecting the dots sooner, wasn't it strange that they hit them from an angel and not dead set from coming down the mountain entirely?

    "Better get some more distance today, everyone ready?" There was little be done other than settle the ashes of the fire and clean up after themselves—But mostly the tent Rebekah was using had been already put away.

And in the event of how cold it was yesterday only proved to get worse, but she was prepared for this in a rather furred coat. Which she quickly defused the idea that it was fake. Though Enzo teased her the rest of the way that she was a 'heartless hag in killing a bunny,' and the bickering started from there.

"WAIT!" The shriek called out, and the sheer blur that was Enzo and his mate's figure had slowed down before stopping at a clearing. "What is it, love?" He questioned, nudging her with his elbow that she only ignored and shushed him.

"T-there's a blur...Omen can't get any closer on his own."
"A blur? What does that mean?" Remus asked with a tilted head, and the witch's eyes opened as she returned to her human eyes.

"It's what others would see if they came to your pack borders, my coven didn't make these. But the entrance to the caves is on the opposite direction." She claimed, dropping down from her mate's back and rummaging through her bag to secure a map, which caused Dante to frown.

"How much is in that damn bag?" He grumbled under his breath completely overwhelmed with magic and with the idea of a blocked area.

Remus took in every action the witch was doing, hoping that perhaps in the future he could aid Sage when she would do something similar. However, as Rebekah started to remove her necklace and hold it by the end strains for the gem to circulate the paper, he frowned.

"She's scrying for her familiar, whatever his location is—It's where he landed."
"You wouldn't know if all witches have familiars...Would you?" Enzo smiled as his mate chuckled.

"It's a coming of age, Alpha. Just like you all have with shifting into your beast, I found Omen after a ceremony. He helps me hone in my abilities—Found him!" She cheered just as the gem landed on the map.

"So that's where the shield is?" Remus questioned and the witch confirmed it. "I might have to call mom, it's...It doesn't feel right, I brought protective charms but that only works for so much." The Alpha nodded his head in the mention of referencing an elder witch's opinion.

And it was much the same as Rebekah's confusion, Remus doubted that the young witch had that many lessons in terms of their craft. Not in the sense like Raven and Sage have, but what he could tell from here was that it was a delicate practice.

That it could be dangerous if Sage makes a small mistake.

    "I guess there's only one way to find out what the enchantments are blocking." She deemed, and Jackson frowned at the little witch. "What's that?"

"Taking a detour of course, whatever it is, it's powerful. Nobody would put that much effort into something if they wanted it to be found or broken into." Her argument was flawless, but nobody acted until Remus properly gave them the go-ahead—And it was up to him as he deemed out every option.

"Sir, this could be exactly what we're looking for...The contract could be hidden there." Aurora offered, her face firm on the stance as she sided with the female.

"Would rogues use that sort of defense?" Remus questioned off towards Dante and he shook his head. "We don't really find ourselves in debt with witches, before or after. And whatever base we managed wasn't meant for long term." The former rogue informed and the witch followed up with his assessment by claiming that the power waves held age.

"Remus?"
"We'll go, but it's better to tell them our locations if something happens." He leaned forward to grab the sat phone, mumbling curses at the idea of Sage letting the call go to voicemail—But this time she was quicker.

"Remmy!"
"Hey munchkin...Is Eli with you? I need to talk to both of you." While she didn't respond, he could hear the movements in the background and the gurgles of one of the pups. He figured it'd be Rue considering Sage was still injured.

"Sir? Is everything alright?" The idea of his beta showing panic was making it difficult for Remus not to laugh. "Everything's fine, but I'm sending you the coordinates where we're heading to. Rebekah found a forcefield-like guard and we're going to check it out, just a precaution."

The silence over the phone caused him to lose the smile.

"I don't like this Remmy."
"I know hun, but it's better that you know our change in direction. Take it easy, yeah? I know you're lying about that injury—"
"Am not! Eli says it's okay!"
"Yeah, Eli? Is she lying?" Remus says, dipping into his Alpha tone and the Beta rushed out the truth."SAGE?!"

"But it's better today! Kenzie says it'll heal okay and witches making sure my tattoo will look the same. Now you be careful too because I feel sick, not pup sick, my stomach upset when you go up the hill."
"Is that you're intuition or just a guess?" Remus waited patiently on the other line while he ordered half the group to go hunting, leaving him to lean against a tree a good distance away.

"I dunno, and Darius can't see what's there. Maybe that's why he can't see, because a shield is hiding stuff...I don't want you to go but it sounds important." Eli chuckled just as his Luna finished her run-on sentence.
"I think the Luna is right, sir. Even if it's not what we're looking for, what's it hurt to look?" And with that, Eli updated the location and shared with Luke what the proper course of action would be in the meantime.

However, when Remus ended the call he felt the same tension in his stomach that his mate was trying to communicate with. He trusted Eli to tell him if there was something threatening about Sage's injury, this was his mate's intuition for sure.

And the best way to conjure it would be to settle the theory that everyone seems to be building.

They were going to find out what the hell was behind that shield.

______

Date: 03/11/2022

Time: 11:22

Words: 5223 (Oh lordy this was longgg)

Author's Note:

Hey hey! Alrighty, this chapter is very information-heavy, but up the mountain they go!
Enzo was introduced back when Sage had the dream about the Underground's trucks back in Mystic Grimm, he compelled the humans to drop the captives elsewhere. So welcome to his and Rebekah's backstory!

I have the urge to make a short story about how they met, but that's on the backburner as of right now. Just think it would be sweet.

Hopefully, the group can find some clues or the contract behind the shield!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll see you Monday <3