* * *

Sage found herself aiding Alanna in taking inventory of the stock room, it was Half Crescent's final night—As the fight certainly brought an unsettling feeling among both packs that it was best to move along sooner rather than later. And while Julian wouldn't have cared either way, it was clear that his pack member's opinions would be unavoidable.

Alanna herself was feeling guilty, she loved Hera and Andy—The three extra days would've been alright, but the desperation of meeting the deadline of winter truly starting to snow them in. It was all-around safer for them to start traveling sooner.

Sage truly couldn't fathom yet another night, not when the pack members were still torn between the rumors and her victory over her most recent challenge.

"You can always come to visit. I would love to meet your pups." Her voice startled the young Luna, and a light smile formed, though it was clear that she had mixed feelings about the invitation.

Though Alanna had to get it out in the open.

"You know, Sage, we're not angry at all...Julian is just—When his Mate died, he almost lost the pack due to neglect. It's natural to fall into a spiral, especially in the higher tiers when the relationship is also a job. When this pack lost their Luna, they nearly lost their Alpha as well." She stood frozen, unable to think rationally, as she looked up with tears in her eyes.

Alanna said her name. Her real name.

"Sweetheart, no, it's—"
"I don't have a mate mark, my mate thinks I'm dead...He—Pack's at war..." Sage had begun to hyperventilate at the mere thought that her pack could've been neglected, but Alanna refused to allow her to spiral.

"No, your Mate is just fine. Remus is just fine. Your pups are waiting for you to come home. You just have to hold out a little longer." Alana claimed, and Sage nodded. However, she had another reason to panic, especially when trapped against the wall.

"You know my name."
"It's hard not to when Andy made the slip, but it's alright. Your secret's safe with me," Alana promised, but her eyes showed her clear hesitation as she continued, "Julian isn't the...Isn't the biggest fan of Alpha Remus." Sage didn't push the topic; instead, she felt her body uplifted by the idea that Alanna knew who she was.

"I'm sorry for lying. I don't like lying."
"To who? Me or Andy?" Once again, guilt had layered the conversation between these two Lunas—Well, if anything, Sage and Hera was Luna twice over and Alpha in her own right.

"The Goddess has special plans for you, and when you find Remus, he'll understand. Andy will too. Those two are a lot stronger than anyone wants to give them credit for."
"I have money. I'll pay you and Alpha Julian back when I get home and—"
"Take your time, sweetheart. Cuddle with those pups...They only stay small for so long." Sage had noted the advice, and the two finished their tasks side by side, mostly silent, considering the tables had been turned.

Alanna knew that the switch from Hera to Sage was much too coincidental. While she might not be neck-deep in the drama happening across the border, Julian was, for the most part, at least. The story lined up as well. Sage had been missing and labeled as dead. Other than that, it was difficult to search for any more relevant information without her Beta or Delta finding out.

However, Sage was a very powerful she-wolf. To have the backing of half of America willing to pay for her safe return was something that Alanna couldn't wrap her head around. Not only was Mystic Grimm her birth pack, but Crescent Moon was her mate, and White Paw's Luna was her sister.

In addition to how intertwined her Beta and Delta's mate are.

Crescent Moon was restoring what the norm of pack relations was meant to look like. Unity in all, but it crumbled right alongside the council, and Alanna did not speak about it anymore.

Nor did Sage ask. It seemed like they both agreed that the mission was to get back to Crescent Moon, not think about what issues lay in wait.

However, the more straightforward idea would've been just to send her to Mystic Grimm, though that required identification.

Even if Andy is tied to her by a blood pact at the current moment, they do not want a war from across the border. She knew full well that Mystic would swap the brotherhood of the conclave right then and there if they hurt her.
All without hesitation.

The plane was scheduled to leave early the next morning, and tackling the walk towards the tarmac was not as much of a challenge as they were warned of—not when the witches had cleaned the tarmac and trails surrounding it, making Julian laugh.

"I think I need to invest in a few friendships with some covens." Julian claimed, showing them praise, and the witches all supported the idea, even if they were known to be closed off to wolves. It was only because of the human nature of witches that made them appear weaker—Of course, they were nothing more than humans without their powers, except for their knowledge of the supernatural world.

Upon entering the plane, Sage noticed it wasn't the luxury vehicle she thought it was.

No, it was much worse.

But at this point in the year, she was more than willing to strap onto the side and hope for the best. "I guess you're more used to the private jets, huh?" Andy smirked, and Sage only settled him with a growl.

They had turned friendly once Andy apologized, and Sage heard him out. It was the heat of the moment, and he promised it wouldn't happen again, and Sage held him to that.

Even if she knew that kiss was hardly an accident, she couldn't be blamed on just the adrenalin they both held after the challenge.

Ultimately, Sage and Andy were back to their regular stance of leading Half Crescent to America.

Of course, everyone was nervous about the idea of the piece of junk managing through the sky and landing without fail. But the last time Sage had been on one, was when it was hijacked and had to land in the water.

Hopefully, that won't happen this time.

Once the plane had taken off, everyone felt much more relaxed and started to lay out in the center of the plane. But Sage remained glued to the wall and held firmly onto the belt buckle. "You plan on sitting there the whole—"
"Yup." She interrupted, and Severin laughed at their feet. He and Elena were curled up in the center beside some containers. It was much easier to load and contain everything that needed to be shipped back and forth this way. While Andy didn't have his seatbelt on—He did remain seated beside Sage with his shoulder pressed against hers. Almost confining her inside the box, and it had been comforting.

For the majority of the flight, Sage kept her eyes closed. She was not falling asleep as easily as the rest of the pack, but Andy could sleep through almost anything. All he needed was a clear reminder that his pack was safe for his wolf to feel relaxed.

However, that rarely happened for over a few moments, especially when Sage flinched at every sign of turbulence.

Thankfully, the flight was due to end at any minute. One of the pilots instructed everyone to return to their seats and strap in. The cabin had bounced and bucketed to the clash of tires, wearing out their speed on the ground.

The homeland of more than the majority of wolves and witches with them.

For humans, Canada was the freedom away from America, which almost mirrored the supernatural world. Granted, that would perhaps change now that Oak Wood was informing everyone about the Underground's relations across the border as well.

When the plane finally managed to come to a stop, the better part of the plane cheered and groaned in a moment of thankfulness. Sage knew that some wolves were starting to get a little restless as to when the plan would pick up in returning to an American pack, but they were fortunate enough not to run the rest of the way.

The second one of the pilots from Oak Wood had returned from the cockpit, and Andy helped Sage unbuckle, earning him a troubled glance.

"Alright, let's stretch our legs and help these guys load up. We'll get a plan in order once we're done." With a task in mind, the others went to work to get a move on with their directed order. While Sage attempted to take one step and almost fell to the ground had Andy not suspected it would happen. "You okay?"

"Fine. I forgot to stretch my legs," she said with a cheeky grin, which earned her another right-felt growl that vibrated between them.

"Alrighty, just another 500 miles to cover, and we'll be there!" Grey cheered, but Sage started to laugh along with the others.

Even if it had been a little bit of disappointing news.

However, Andy was the only person who hadn't laughed. As the last time he had been here, he held an unmarked face.

He was a free man with a free name.

After the first few inhales of fresh air, Andy was excited to get a move on. Yet when he turned to see Sage, he caught her vomiting the remainder of her breakfast out in the field beside the tarmac.

"Elena's not feeling too great either..." Severin said in a slight warning, handing off a fresh water bottle to give to her.

Approaching her with a cation, he opened the lid and offered it, which earned him a much different reaction than the one inside the plane. "Yeah, I'm not a fan of them, but we shaved off about three weeks of traveling."
"I'd rather run it," she said, her voice desperate for air. 

He chuckled at the thought. "You might be up for it, but we have many heads counting on us. Remember? Do you want to hang out with Elena? She's sitting this one out, too." 

She nodded, following him back towards the rest of the crowd and helping to manage the supplies they had to their names.

The two pilots from Oak Wood were very thankful for the help with loading up the pack's supplies. It looked as though it would've taken the two males at least a day to do it alone.

Once they managed to secure it, they promptly left back to return North. Half Crescent decided to watch it leave, and only when it was just a speck in the distance did Severin start thanking the moon goddess.

"It wasn't that bad, Sev." Andy rallied, and Sage elbowed Andy in the gut. Hard.
"Getting poisoned and challenged is that bad," she said with narrowed eyes, tempting him to speak further about their time spent in Julian's pack. So Andy, the smart male, raised a white flag as he held his arms up in agreement.

"...But I like Alanna. I'll call her when I get back home to say thank you again. When are we going?"
"I think we might be camping for the night to get our bearings in order and see what's around. The weather's holding up nicely. We'll be fine." The warehouse was the perfect place to remain, and any overstock they were welcomed to, as Julian wouldn't be able to touch it until the next haul.

The traveling pack ate like humans for the first time in a while. The way the witches handled their food felt like a gourmet meal. Andy sat beside the fire with Sage curled up tightly in a blanket at his side, while Grey stood above the rest, telling one of the many legends he heard as a young pup.

While Andy didn't know for sure, he had a feeling that Grey originated from one of the fallen packs of America. Lichen, to be exact. Though he knew the trials and hardships one had to face in the realm of coming across the Underground or other sections of hunters, so he never made it mandatory to announce.

Instead, Andy enjoyed Sage's calm figure, thankful that she was feeling better after the flight. However, his eyes lingered on her fur coat as a compelling idea crossed his mind."I might have to get my own bear soon, hun." 

She instantly looks back at him in sheer terror. "Can't fight a bear in winter. That's bad."

"Nature decides what's intended. If I find one, I'm going to kill it. Make myself a cloak like you have, and maybe save some for the twins. It'd make for a nice." She grinned wildly at the idea, prompting her to smile as she hadn't thought about making something for the pups.

Perhaps they had enough time to make a pitstop—just the one—at a place he visited a long time ago. It's a little off the beaten path, but even Severin agreed.

Yes. To keep Sage interested as a potential mate, he'd have to prove himself, and killing a bear was one of the many lengths he'd go to in order to secure her love.

When she fell asleep, he mentioned the detour, claiming it'd be an easier run-through, considering it was mostly wilderness.
In the end, it would take longer, but safety was their biggest concern.

At first glance, this large pack of Rogue wolves and witches wouldn't be given a second chance or an explanation. Even Sage's name wouldn't get them any breaks. It would, but she remained secretive about her maiden and mated name for a while longer.

With the plan in motion, they said their final goodbye to any ties that came with Oak Wood and set off towards Hallow's Creek. Andy explained that it was a national park in New England. Of course, he didn't further the explanation by saying that he would maul a bear, but that was beside the point—for the moment, at least.

When the group started, Sage was disappointed when Andy handed her human clothes. It'd been so long since she wore proper leggings and a sweater, but it was only when they'd need to shift.
Her bear fur would be stored away in her backpack for now.

As for now, they acted like routine travelers hiking off the side of the road. Some of the males even took the initiative of holding the pups—So the average human driver wouldn't report it. Yet it was a blessing to know that Hallow's Creeks connected to another few trails. If they walked during the day in the skin and plowed a few dozen miles in fur, they'd make it closer than they would've without taking the slight detour.

It was a change of pace since packing up their losses and moving to Oak Wood. Now, the real question that paced back and forth in Andy's mind was whether Crescent Moon's Alpha was really all that reformed, as Sage claimed.

He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but realistically, if her mate wasn't in the pack, he didn't doubt that she would've been kicked.

However, it was a sad day when they said goodbye to a few pack members who decided that pack life wasn't for them.

And given what they witnessed in the Oak Wood pack, Sage couldn't blame them. So she wished them good luck and gave them the phone number to call. Sooner or later, she'd have her phone back.

Wouldn't she?

You alright, hun? We can take a rest stop soon.

No, I'm okay. Little more for today, then we can camp.

To say he felt guilty was an understatement. Sage was determined as hell to make her way home. But his promise of a safe and easy travel wasn't what he expected. The warning of traveling earlier finally set in.

The snow made everything they did challenging, especially traveling with two pups that couldn't shift yet. It meant creating a fire, setting a tent, and hoping it was warm enough for them for the night.
Granted, Sage and Elena would curl right beside them, their furs keeping them warmed underneath the animal pelts they covered themselves with.

Currently, he was stocking the fire and trying to get this morning's breakfast to stop making such a loud commotion. Chase was trying to blow the smoke with a bundle of evergreens.

It was a surprise when the camper filled with smoke. One of the pups wanted to help, and while it smelled nice initially, it was also creating a signal for others.

"Alright...What did we learn here?" He said to either of the pups, who pouted and looked up to their Alpha with guilt written everywhere. "Evergreens don't belong in fires," Poppy said, her voice close to tears. And Andy sighed, kneeling in front of them as he shook his head.

"That's half right, this," He claimed, holding up the small thistles to gesture the issue, "Doesn't belong in the fire. It creates smoke. And we can't have that. The wood from an evergreen is fine." Both Poppy and Clementine eagerly rush to nod their heads along; countless apologies follow, and they make the rest of the pack's tea with the remaining bristles in hopes of making matters better.

Severin had flashed him a grin and nodded. "Got that parent thing down pat now?"
"Not even close. They've almost got their wolves...No, Sage's pups are actual pups."
"They're soon going to be your pups. I don't think you're ready for that, Alpha." The taunt earned Severin a fitful rumble straight from Andy's wolf, though he laughed it off.

Yet that was one of the many reasons he stalled their travels with an impromptu bear hunt. The Appalachian Trail would provide the perfect cover all the way down to the state needed to cross into Crescent Moon.

The only issue is that other Rogues were notorious for using it.

With the harsh snowfall having delayed their hiking as humans, they decided it would be best to continue on four legs instead of two—Whatever they managed to get done today, they could rest tomorrow.

It wasn't just the two pups and witches that couldn't move so quickly on foot, and for some, their familiarity didn't match against how quickly they needed to keep up with the rest of the wolves.

So, there were plenty of breaks, as Andy knew that it was important that the whole pack needed to be well-rested and well-cared for.

So when Sage decreed that the weather wasn't letting up anytime soon, they settled their attempts within an allotted set of trees beside the side of the mountain. Sage hardly spent a moment or two in the skin before her fists made the connection off towards the rocky structure to hallow it out.

Great work. You wanna shift back?

"No, I need to stretch these legs, too. I put it back the way it was before we leave." It was adorable to see how much care the female put into nature, and better yet, the witches could make a campsite out of nothing.

It seemed like Andy and a few of the hunters had left only hours ago, only to find the set up close to the same status as Black Crescent—with warm water bowling away and the beds all set up inside the makeshift cave.

"The witches have the inside hooked up like it has heat from the fire! Isn't that fucking cool?!" Chase called out, which earned a squeal from the female he'd been seeing as of late—Thalia.

The she-wolf explained what happened when they left, and Andy's wolf was eager to think of other possible ideas. But Sage knew the layout of a camp base well, directing people this way, and she remained by the fire and either entertained the pups or made sure that everything at the cooking fire was all set.

"It smells great," he said, pleased to see the female before him able to thoughtfully provide for their pack members. He leaned forward and placed himself by her shoulder, and she caught on to what he was trying to do and gave him a slight shove.

Knowing he was trying to snag a sample before it was finished.

"Blake is teaching me how to cook. I only know a little. I cook for pups and everyone sometimes," she said with a fond smile coming on her lips. Hopefully, the memories of home won't change so abruptly from here on out.

Andy believed he could make friends with her friends, without a doubt.

It's her family that he was worried about. From the stories he'd heard, they seemed protective of Sage, though he hardly blamed them after every she'd shared with him.

______

Date: 07/24/24

Time: 2:51

Words: 3585

Author's Note:

Hello! I apologize for the late update, I have my family from out of the country visiting and it's been exhausting.

I took off from work for this vacation and it's hardly feeling like one. Thankfully, I sat one out today and decided to get through my checklist finally I had for this week. 

I recently got my new cover for The Luna of Crescent Moon and it's looking perfect. It just needs a few tweaks, and for me to add the back blurb before I can approve it.

If you've missed a previous update, I had both Crescent Moon and Mystic Grimm covers done, and I'm slowly getting the series redone!

Anywhooo, that's all of an update I have for today.

There's about two phases left and seven more chapter!

Very excited to get a move on to Moon Ridge!

See you in the next chapter ;)