* * *

Unfortunately, the following day started because Luke had forgotten his phone in her room, so she had the beautiful alarm interrupt her peaceful sleep.

With a long yawn and quick stretch of her limbs, she looked at the phone in distaste. She knew it was a form of talking to others because the scientists would use it for communication, so she walked off to Luke's room and poked his arm.

"Lu? Lu." She continued to poke until he let out a growl in warning. "Go back to sleep, Casey."

"No. Lu. Beep-Beep." He took the general few seconds to properly wake up as well, even going as far as leaning up.

"What are you doing up, hun?"

"Beep-beep." She repeated, offering up his phone. He groaned as he assumed it's what woke her up in the first place. "Oh come on, you know what this is."

"Phone." He hummed, tapping on the screen. And while he was busy with that, Sage found herself curled up on the edge of his bed as he responded to Jack's text.

He pulled her further up, so there was no risk of her falling. And she slept so peacefully with his scent surrounding her, and he could've sworn that a small smile had popped up in her sleep.

A knock followed half an hour later as he rose his head slightly off the pillow to look behind and at the door. "Sage's not in her bed, she—Oh. What a traitor." A hum came from Luke's throat as he was still tired from the late night and eight o'clock was still too early.

"Left my phone in her room, let her sleep." Liam rolled his eyes, but allowed his siblings to sleep more.

With the fear of Rogues still being on pack territory, he and a few more warriors were put on patrol on top of what had been already scheduled.

Nobody was to be alone, nor overlook any scent. But the alarm instantly had both the siblings groan and try to hide away from the noise.

But Luke acted as the bigger person of the two.

"How about we get some bacon and potatoes?" She peeked open an eye and hummed, but her stomach betrayed her as it growled for her.

"Come on, shouldn't sleep anymore. Alpha wants to meet you."

"Stay?" She questioned, and he knew what she was trying to say. But as he remained silent for her benefit, she managed to piece together the sentence further.

"Stay here?" He nodded, knowing it was still up to Remus, but after last night's conversation, it sounded like the good news they were waiting for.

"Come on, bacon and potatoes." She instantly got up to her feet and rushed to return back to her room, even if it was close to lunch already. He thought she deserved it after a job well done.

And soon enough, he had fallen back into the pattern of complete happiness. Now knowing that Sage was going to stay pushed away the stress.

Even though she wasn't feeling anxious, she still enjoyed following Luke on patrol. The two made a game out of it as well as learning things about the pack. The types of trees, landmarks, and most importantly, hunting tips.

Caleb and Liam eventually joined in, and they paved an extra few miles surrounding the area where Sage had found Zoe.

Mark says Zoe is doing a lot better, and Zoe's parents want to make dinner for Sage.

At the sound of her name, she turned back, blinking in confusion.

Food?

Yeah hun, a gift. Zoe's parents and Mark are very thankful you saved their pup and mate.

Liam's explanation rang through a little, why would she be given a gift? She knew the Rogues were the enemy. Both she and her wolf rumbled at that fact.

However, the idea of being grateful was strange, the same with being thankful.

What she wasn't looking forward to was meeting the Alpha, who was already waiting at the Elwood house to meet her. Granted, Sage protested and itched for more time. However, since it was considered an order, the three brothers growled and snapped as they would be facing the Alpha's wrath having to wait like this.

The girl had been a ball of sunshine, even being playful in her human form. Liam had offered a piggyback ride in hopes of settling her energy when meeting the big man, but it still led her to a world of giggles as she kept whispering beep-beep.

"You got two feet, Sage. You can walk." Luke mused off behind her, but the knowing smile crept up. The girl knew how to play the game far too well, but after the life she's lived, she defiantly deserved it.

Just as she was going to say respond, her nose went into the air. Luke groaned as they would have to work on her not being so open to finding a scent to catch interest.

"That's the Alpha girlie, best behavior." She rumbled in approval. Though she tried to soothe her itchy neck through the bandage, she found that rubbing the blockage was as good as it was going to get.

Look, it's our Luna.

Caleb joked, and Luke shot him a glare. The pack's political mood shifted one side to another with the fact that 'almost' Luna Kelly was about to be instated by the council. But in reality, she met a negative response right beside the Alpha as the two were the ones demanding Sage's eviction.

The mindless chatter of respect came from Camilla, anything from ice tea to coffee or tea, but Kelly denied it all.

And look who's being all polite to mom.

Liam minded back, but he tapped Sage's thigh as she dropped down to the ground. Luke noticed the shift in character. Was she nervous?

Did she hold resentment?

The voice of Camilla did settle her worries a fraction, but seeing Jack made her smile. "Hey, there she is!" The Delta cheered, matching the distance between the newcomers and those he came with.

"Lemme guess, ran 20 miles?"

"Just fucking about, you up for a race again, Jackyboy?" Liam teased, but it had been some time since Sage last saw him, so she fell perfectly into his offered hug. "Wanna come with me on patrol?"

"Run?"

"Sure thing." With all that sorted, an arm went over the young female. Jackson knew what the action would entail, and not even two steps had her brother thrown him a warning.

"Watch it pup, that's my sister," Luke growled in a threatening manner, but that still didn't stop Jack.

"Alpha Remus, this is my daughter Sage." Leo offered, a sense of pride ringing throughout the introduction.

When the man had turned to meet Sage's gaze...

The whole world seemed to shift.

His throat failed to finish his breath in its entirety. And almost on cue of the goddess being cruel, a gust of wind had brushed through her hair to send her scent further in his direction.

Remus wasted no time in inhaling the beautiful scent this she-wolf admits.

It was perfect.

It was made for him.

And he couldn't get enough.

His locked knees took three attempts to move into motion, and Jack couldn't understand what had happened for Remus to come full force, his Alpha scent protruding and his eyes turning into their threatening onyx pools.

"Alpha?" He questioned in confusion, and as Jack's eyes flickered off towards the Beta, even Eli didn't know what the male was up to or what caused the sudden change of pace.

It was a rehearsed apology and an invitation to join the pack, nothing more.

But this behavior was strange, and 'Luna' Kelly was not having it.

"MINE." The deep growl of ownership lingered in the. The claim gave a record of understanding, even if those surrounding the couple were frozen at the spot.

Yet it was Jack who stood in front of the young she-wolf to block this sudden reveal.

Sage too, was transfixed at the green-eyed hunk coming straight for her. He felt so intimidating and strong that her wolf began internally whining in a howling manner as she tried calling to his wolf.

And by the way he was heading over, she assumed it worked.

The confusion was defiantly a factor in the young woman's mind, especially when her brother's and Jack put themselves in front of her. An angry Alpha wasn't a product to be messed with, and that term threw everyone into a frenzy.

"I challenge her for the position of Luna!" Kelly yelled, causing the Alpha to close his eyes and halt his next step. He was caught in between both females.

Realizing that his mate was about twenty paces in front of him nearly had him ignore Kelly's voice. Yet that didn't change the fact that the female he's been seeing for the last few years had challenged his mate for the right to be the pack's Luna.

The circle of wolves was starting to growl into a very hostile environment, and quickly.

Bylaws allowed Kelly to do this, but it would not have him disregard her as a mate. With the pause in activity, Kelly threw off her shirt and revealed her training uniform, not hesitating as she came prowling into the center.

Challenge?

Sage questioned, and her brothers and father had all turned to her.

"Hun, she issued a challenge. You're obligated to fight...Unless you don't want the position of Luna." Every single one of Luke's words confused her to no end. The title of Luna had instantly made her think of Jade. But it caused Leo to come forward to come and explain it in better terms.

No-kill.

Luke reminded, as a subtle addition to what their dad was sharing.

Goddess, he would've paid all the money he's made to see that showdown. Had Kelly forgotten that this was the same wolf who took down 12 Rogues and protected her friends?

There was nothing threatening about Kelly or her wolf, and she huffed towards her brother at the reveal that she couldn't kill her. "I mean it. That's a no." He pointed his finger, Kelly was turning impatient and Jack growled in damnation.

No-kill.

Luke reminded one last time, and she nodded.

Okay.

It had been an even better response than simply repeating the words, so she walked on past the Alpha, completely ignoring of his presence. Her wolf was still actively aware of his every god damn breath and movement of his gaze.

"When I give the go-ahead, shift...START!" Leo yelled, as it was his duty as Master of Arms to supervise these types of challenges.

Anyone had the ability to challenge the Alpha, but the reason it's usually passed down from father to child is because of the immense blood flowing through their veins.

Sage, however, allowed the little female before her to take the first move.

The cocky gal had been far too spoiled with faked sparring sessions and taking out those considered a lesser wolf or rank.

Sage's sparring sheet backed up the fact that she carries upper-rank blood. Making a tie with Jack proved that.

With multiple jabs to Sage, the girl held in her anger. Not that it was entirely targeted at Kelly—No more than Kelly than the Alpha, but honestly, what was expected of her?

She was challenged mere seconds after realizing who her mate was, and there was still no telling what that meant in her mind anyhow.

Instead, Sage finally caught one of the girl's punches in her own palm and squeezed until the sound of bones cracking became vocal, as was her cries of pain.

A kick managed, but instead, it left the opportunity for a solid punch to take her down.

And goddess had it made a distance between the two.

"She's angry..." Caleb whispered, he was always better at noticing people's emotions, but Luke and Liam could see it as well. She's never been the sadistic type, but here it was...

Having broken all the bones in her hand as well as her nose, in all of the first two hits?

"YOU'RE NOT FIT TO BE LUNA, I AM!" Kelly screamed, rising to her feet once again and trying to go for the tackle. But Sage wasn't one for formalities. The girl lunged into her form and began throwing another punch. It turned to the point where the new she-wolf had pinned her weight down and started wailing her fists.

"No. Not fit." Sage growled, ceasing any further damage as she felt as though she was done. So when she turned, she looked dead set on the Alpha, where she was greeted with a proud smile.

The fluttering in her heart made her anxious and awfully confused as to what to do next.

"Suppose we don't need that shift then?" Jack said, clapping his hands together as he gained Sage's attention.

Kelly had lost, barely at a minute mark as Sage did not have the patience to continue a challenging that was well versed in her favor, nor was she going for an entertaining style.

The girl was still frustrated, and that rallied towards the Alpha now.

"Shit...Sage, no!" Caleb had been the first to act, so much so that she was grabbed from behind at the waist.

Remus noted that she wasn't attacking Caleb, but that was highly due to the fact the male behind her was considered family. And he wasn't an active target.

"Let her go." It wasn't a matter to be discussed, and so when the order had been set, Caleb's arms dropped at the Alpha's words. Allowing Sage to take the continuing steps forward.

"What happened to her neck?" He asked no one in particular, and it was Luke's explanation of an unknown allergic reaction that came when she was sick with the pup cold

Remus' wolf whined at the idea of his mate being in pain or feeling ill without his knowledge. Deciding that his human side was selfish and neglecting his Alpha duty in greeting her from the start.

And just like Harlow predicted, karma had come in the most unexpected way possible.

The pack healer was called for Kelly, who was still trying to regain her own stance. However, the bruises and scratches lingered on her body while Sage held none.

"Alpha Remus, it's nice to finally meet you, little one." Liam threw the palm of his hand to his forehead.

Of course—of course, the Alpha had to use one of her trigger words, her brothers knowing exactly what was to be expected.

Sage was not going to take that comment from anyone, not anymore.

Although she battled her inner wolf, she still managed to curve her fist directly to his jaw. Cathing him entirely off guard.

"No mate!" She demanded, walking off towards the woods but not bothering to hear the calling of her family. Sage was making a terrible mistake.

If she was trying to reject him as a mate, she had formally done it wrong.

Not only that, but she was also starting the first stage of a wolf courting...A chase.

Acceptance is all that Remus' wolf could feel as he stood directly in line behind her, with the perfect trail to follow after.

______

Date: 11-16-2020

Time: 7:03

Words: 2400

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EDITED--
DATE: 09/16/2021
WORDS: 2502