* * *

When morning came, Sage was still heavily asleep. And somewhere in the night, Andy caught that she had taken another sweater to keep warm.

Even when he was right here beside her.

It caused him to grow confused on the situation, and got the best of him while he went through the motions of getting ready for the day.
Hadn't they conserved heat during their travels?

Though, thankfully his wolf was chiding him on what could be wrong. Besides the truth of Sage being exhausted, he didn't know Lucy's scent would pass over like that or be so potent.

And the last thing he wanted was to piss her or her wolf off.

"Get up soon?" She whispered into the pillow.
"Probably be best. The times are different here, hun. Wake up at sunrise and try to go to bed just after dark."
"Winter's hard." She grumbled, in sitting up, Sage had been caught by the welcome of the morning's cooling draft, after allowing the blanket to slip down from her shoulders. Not at all what she had been prepared to welcome so early on.

It only made her desperate for the heated blanket she had back at home. All it took was a click of a button to control the temperature. And no doubt, if Sage had it now, she would have it set to high.

"We're not even in winter yet, this is their autumn. The furnace was always shitty on this side of the pack house. It's—"
"Witches can help fix it. Oak Wood deserves...Up—Upgrades." She said with a loud yawn, even though she was on the verge of falling asleep while sitting up. He watched her start to add another layer and wake herself up.

Course, the refreshing slash of water caused an erupted gasp to escape her, and it was safe to say that it was freezing, just like the rest of the room.

With the Half Crescent and Black Crescent wolves coming out of their rooms, they met in the main area—Where Alanna had looked beautiful once more, though this time, her braids were freshly done minutes ago rather than last night's leftovers.

Andy quickly summarized last night who Hera was, and once Alanna knew the truth, a special catering act was set in place.

She spoke slowly and was careful not to confuse the Luna, and sure, there were times that people thought her stupid or dumb—Or a retarded mutt, but this was worse. Much worse.

"What's wrong?" Elena asked, with Severin just beside her.
It had relieved Sage that someone had noticed, but all she could do was let out an exhausted sigh as she leaned further into the couch.

There were two things wrong. Lucy was once again entertaining their foolish Alpha, and Oak Wood's Luna thought of her as an invalid, which she Linked both problems to.

"Oof, yeah, that's a tough one." Severin huffed, eyeing the scene just before him. It earned him an elbow to his stomach, but the male didn't flinch. He did, however, flash his Luna a smile since it was clear that she liked his little saying.

At least he managed to cheer her up because, while coming together to the large table, Lucy was beside Andy.

Luna Alanna huffed impatiently. "Lucy, you've kept that seat warm long enough." Upon meeting the she-wolf gaze, she shrugged.
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind sitting with the other females at the end. You said they were all imprisoned together?" Lucy asked, completely heartless as to what being imprisoned actually meant. 

Sage's eyes dulled—She did not want to give in to temptation, but it was getting difficult to hold herself back from someone as ignorant of a situation as she was.

Or for the fact it was obvious she and Andy were more than friends at one point, or so says Sage's instinct, at the very least.

As she looked at Andy for a possible sign of redemption, Grey stepped up. "It's better to sit beside me, Luna. I've got the potato plater right in front of me." Sage didn't hesitate after that, having been one of the last remaining to stand.
She already looked foolish. She didn't need any more strikes above her head.

Thank you.

She whispered off into Grey's mind, and he winked while Severin aided her with piling the food onto her plate. What usually would be Andy's routine had suddenly changed.

And it earned the Beta a glare close to instantly, though he ignored the growl in the back of his head. Or would have, until he noticed the Alpha status radiating off of him in a wave.

You left her standing without a chair. Great move, Andy.

What the hell am I supposed to do? Lucy was already—

I don't wanna fucking hear it. Sage is already shaking like a leaf trying to reign in her wolf. She hasn't been able to shift in over a week. I'd be antsy, too. And on top of it all, you're blatantly flirting with your ex.

She isn't my ex. She's just—

Nah, I don't care either. Besides that, Luna's talking to Sage like she's a child. You've got until the end of this breakfast to make it right, or I think Sage might take your promise and head home on her own.

That had caused Andy to change his direction about what to discuss at breakfast, and Sage rolled her eyes. She hated being the center of attention, and here she is.

"You're saying she's not your Mate?" Lucy had been the first to dwell in this, but Alanna silenced the she-wolf with one simple glare. "I've never felt a potential bond before, but we clicked almost instantly—Isn't that right, Hera?" He said with a hopeful grin, and she shrugged.

"Not right now, we're not, Alpha." The sentence she formed caused Alanna to sit back and evaluate her own thoughts on the situation. Realization struck when she had treated Hera not as the rank the goddess had provided her with. 

It didn't matter if she was Andy's true Mate or not.
Julian held a similar stance, as both he and Alanna had lost their mates before joining as one and accepting the goddess' second chance.

"Hera was kidnapped away from her pups at the end of April. That's why we're trying to get back to America." This had reached all corners of the table and caused those to stare at her with pained looks.
The idea of a mother being separated from their pups couldn't be more damning punishment in their world.

And perhaps it would push for a sense of empathy from Oak Wood to help them get her home—But even that, everyone who was imprisoned has been separated from their blood.

The thoughts lingered on what Andy had said, and thus, the grim faces swirled around the room in different waves of guilt and sadness.

This introduction was not what Sage expected, but thankfully, Alanna had escorted Hera into the Alpha's office as both their males followed behind them.

At least Lucy wouldn't dare come up here during a higher-up meeting.
She was grateful for that, at least.

"What pack are you originally from, Luna Hera?" Julian asked, and Hera smiled kindly at the Alpha.
"Mystic Grimm, my parents are from there...Pups are in Crescent Moon." Andy wasn't surprised when Luna Alanna's eyes widened onto his figure, and stopped his growing urge to self-destruct. He came closer to Sage, trying to comfort her after this morning, but she moved away.

Not even going as far as to glare at him anymore.

"Careful, she-wolves love to bite when they're angry." Julian teased, and that caused Sage to smirk. That was certainly the case at one point in time.

"Hera, I'm sorry...I haven't seen—" He attempted again to plead his case and offer a sense of security, but she pulled her bear fur closer. Shielding herself away from him.

"In a meeting, talk later...I'm looking to find a way back to my pups." There was nothing a mother wouldn't do for her pups, but the way the Luna of Half Crescent began to sway, it caused Alanna to lead her to one of the couches.

"I'm sure there's something that can be done about that. We have an airstrip...We schedule our pick-up and drop-offs every other month." The hope sparked loudly in Sage's eyes. There was nothing that she wouldn't do. Not when she was this close.

The anger vibrating in her bones was relinquished.

"I don't have money to pay back now, but when I get back, I can send money. For us staying here and for plane fuel." She instated, and while Julian didn't necessarily ask for a payment, it didn't hurt to respect her means.

"With winter coming a lot sooner than we were planning, we can plan the delivery to get as close to Crescent Moon as possible." Julian gestured over to the map, a similar display that Andy had in his own office.

You alright with that plan, hun? We'd still have a few weeks to travel before getting to the pack from this airstrip.

Yes, this way they don't ask for my name or won't call Crescent Moon in warning. I think this is a good plan.

Andy nodded and started talking with Julian about the logistics, how many would need to fly, and so forth. While the she-wolves had conversed off in the corner by the window as the Luna began pointing and giving her a tour from there.

Yet the feeling hadn't left Sage's person into not discussing the truth of her name or title. Not to mention that the previous run-in with an Alpha held an alliance with had ended so horribly, Sage didn't want to tempt fate like that anymore.

It was snowing yet again, and the weather didn't allow for much movement between buildings. It was then Sage learned that there were tunnels going throughout the pack, interconnecting them to each other, all leading to the pack house.

Just in case they truly were snowed in and couldn't move

Her interest rang through, and Alanna promised to show her after they finished their tea.

"I swear, Alpha Noah had it coming...I almost feel bad for his mate and children. It's nothing to worry about. The Conclaves have gone silent, and they're just sending reinforcements to prepare everything for Noah's son to take over." That piqued Sage's interest and then some. Noah didn't look that old to have a son already. But then, in reality, her identification of wolves and ages didn't make much sense since she spent the majority of her life with humans.

Older male humans, at that.

"It's—Hang on...Mystic! I was wondering when you'd call me back." Julian cheered, and Sage froze in the instant, as did Andy. But Julian waved the worries away. Wouldn't a she-wolf from Mystic Grimm want to be reunited with her family?

What was the issue here?

Alanna noted that Hera's stillness mirrored Andy's, and thus she told him in the undercover of their Link not to mention their arrival.

"We've been busy in the States, Alpha Julian. We're cleaning up and reforming." The sound of her brother had sent Sage's nerves firing—He was alright and alive.
At least that was something concrete about the world she unwillingly left.

"It's what I love to hear, hey...I wanted to warn you, and maybe you can get the word around to your fellow American packs. There's been a little overthrow assassination from one of the conclaves'. Sure you've heard about Swift Tail?" Julian dwelled, and the growl of Harlow's anger caused Sage to remain silent.

She couldn't blow the cover now.
No, it wasn't safe.
Her wolf begged her to, but something urged her to remain quiet and try to calm her breathing.

"Should we be concerned?" Harlow inquired, sounding a little hesitant, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"Nah, but one of the Rogue packs fell—I'm not sure if they're scattered or not...Is there any chance I can send them your way if I get a few wanting to start a new life?" The silence was absolute torture. But a sigh was released on her brother's end.

"If this was last year, then yeah, I would've said we'd be alright. But most packs are struggling right now with the numbers they have. We lost—We lost a lot, Julian."
"I understand, and if you need anything on my end, I'm right here. The Conclave accepted you a long time ago, brother." Even with that record of information now set in stone, it still didn't change the fact that she was mated and had pups with Remus.

Moon and Mystic were on two ends of the war, and it was clear that it held out for generations. Otherwise, she wouldn't be in the position she's in right now.

Neither she nor Alanna spent much more time in Alpha's office. Instead, she managed to use the tunnels and make her way to the bathhouse, where Sage had met up with some of her pack members, whom she introduced and talked with. Alanna was very accommodating and, thankfully, no longer spoke to Sage as she had previously.

Alanna had pieced together how Hera and Andy had first met weeks after the females had escaped the facility. They met with Half Crescent and remained there until they could manage enough supplies to head to Crescent Moon.

Granted, it was much easier to fly across the border than run through, and Sage said just as much. The natural hot springs were beautiful, and they reminded almost everyone from Black Crescent of the first few nights of their freedom.

Back when they needed to create a sauna to sweat out the drugs from their body.

Luna Alanna didn't make any more assumptions about Sage, not after she wrongly assumed her ability to speak and understand. Even when the scars on all the females were right there for her to see, it rendered her to comfort those who needed it and made sure that everything they had was available to them.

Sage noted that she recalled that she had funds back in Crescent Moon, for being both Mother Luna and for training the Rogues. It was time to put that to good use, and she was sure that her brothers and the rest of her family would thank Oak Wood just the same.

From what she could tell, only a few phones were in the house. Even if she did want to call them and tell them she was on her way, she felt the chaos that would erupt otherwise.
If there was an opening, she needed to take it, but the plan was being set into place now.

Until the time came, Sage needed to keep her thoughts collected and remain patient.

Besides, she didn't want someone overhearing an important conversation, not when a few of Lucy's friends were tailing her every which way.

It came to the point where she needed to tell Severin and Grey, considering Andy was still busy being Alpha right beside Julian.

The days followed, and finally, with the blessing of the goddess herself. Sage had been given the go-ahead by the pack's healer to shift. This was something Andy had to witness in the shift itself.

Seeing Sage's black fur jumping around the soft snow, rolling around and having a good laugh. He, too, shifted, not forgetting that he was supposed to be seen as an Alpha, but he threw that logic out the window and decided to enjoy himself.

For what would feel like the first time since they arrived.

Sage had thrown a small fluff of snow up from her nose, making her muzzle glitter with the essence of white dots. However, he noticed outright that her wolf seemed bigger, not that he was shaming or being negative in any way.

It was just her fur coat that took well to the cold. There weren't many patches to be seen. Unlike his own fur that was partially scared up and could no longer produce fur to keep him warm.

Moving to the States and to a warmer climate would be the best course of action. Even Julian said there was no point in building something here. And neither he nor Alanna were all that offended when he said he couldn't see himself living here again.

He was an Alpha in his own right.
He needed his pack members to follow him and only him. Or, in this case, the majority of said pack. Andy didn't forget that all of those from Black Crescent followed him in regards to Sage being both their Alpha and Luna, as well as their savior.

There was only a week left before their departure, but that didn't mean those days were lying in wait—Although that's what Andy wished Sage would do.

The Luna wanted to be as useful as possible, and once the pack understood the benefits of witches among them, they were soon lined up with defenses and charms, as well as pendants like the ones they wore.

Oak Wood was extremely thankful to be able to shift with clothing on, as nothing was worse than being caught in the snow completely bare.

Sage had been in the midst of helping Alanna with some of the pack pups, as it was too cold for their bodies to bear the temperates out to play or to help out with pack chores. So it was usually the females that reigned in the energetic pups, and it sure wasn't easy.

At least breakfast was considered a break.
Once they were seated, both Lunas found themselves heading up to the table—The seat was now exclusively for Sage, as Andy realized that she was not kidding about the terms regarding Lucy.

He found that out the following night when she locked the door to their room and told him to go back to Lucy to sleep with. Of course, he wouldn't, and instead slept in his wolf right in front of the door—Sometime during the night, Sage needed to go to the bathroom, and nearly tripped over him.

After such a surprise, he was allowed back in, but after that night, he was sure to reserve the seat.

Andy was oblivious to understand what the chair meant, but now Sage had better access to speak with the higher tiers and be involved. But not only that, it made his wolf feel the calmness spreading over their blood pact.

While he first assumed she had been acting jealous after he tried reconnecting to a former friend, it hadn't been more for herself but for her image.

They were meant to be a united front, after all.

Soon, Sage felt comfortable enough to share some things about the packs in the states, especially when she dove into helping with helping integrate Rogues back into packs. It wasn't as much of a struggle as everyone thought. It only took a bit of time and a lot of trust.

After having a mouthful of hash browns, she reached over to wash it down with her fresh steaming cup of tea, as it was her main contribution to the feast as she brewed the best. She smiled up at him, but broke away from the steam to blow on the fire-hot liquid and share a final point before taking a sip.

Only for her to spit it back into the cup and place it down, while her wolf was on the verge of reigning havoc—She needed to remain calm.

The pointed look of Kendra was right beside Lucy, they were talking about some sort of shopping adventure they were going to conjure in the spring once all the snow melted, all while drinking their own mugs of tea. A smug look, never really on their faces.

However, such an innocent conversation would usually consist of more eye contact with the person you're talking with, and she learned from experience with Laura way back when that talking about someone usually meant looking at said person.

Yet just as Sage choked on her next breath, a voice had called out to the Luna sitting across from her in a panic as the female had stilled her next move—Dropping her fork as she took was taken aback.

"Alanna?" Julian questioned, his voice just above a whisper—But completely laced with concern. "Amore, talk to me." He demanded, but there was no answer, and Goddess, Sage felt the way her throat was closing by the second.

No doubt Alanna is feeling the similar effects— "A-Andy..." Sage whispered, grabbing onto his forearm in an attempt to get his attention. "Fuck, you're pale as—"

"—Help." She croaked, and it was all the two Alpha's could do before an absolute panic broke out for not only Luna Sage, but from the pack's Luna as well.

Two of the highest-ranked females in the building had started to heave. "L-Lilith!" Sage called out, and upon the call of the witch, she hurried from the other end of the table to gather her pouch and sort through her options.

"What's happened?!" Julian demanded, and Lilith shook her head. "I'm not sure. We've eaten the same type of food for the past few days...We're sharing community servings..." Lilith worked as fast as she could, rummaging through her leather pouch before plucking a light blue vial from the endless depths.

"Half, Alpha. It will revive the effects so we can get them to the Infirmary." She issued, but Julian had held it with contentment—Or had, until Alanna plucked the damn thing and administered it herself.

Making sure to save enough for Hera, which Andy had done in her steed. Making sure each drop passed her lips.

With a sort of revival allowing Sage to keep an open mind, her eyes landed on Lucy and Kendra across the ways as Andy plucked her from her chair and rushed out of the dining hall.

Keep eyes on Lucy and Kendra...I think they tried to do something...

Once she had reached an affirmation on either side of the Beta couple, Sage closed her eyes, trying to relish the relief before things take a turn for the worse.

And they did, her throat had turned into a rush of irritation. As Lilith's concoction had given some breathing room.

"Sage, talk to me. What is it?"
"Tea...Something wrong with the—" Sage's voice had fallen short between the sheltered screams and the damning panic that Sage couldn't get proper control of her body.

It happened plenty of times throughout her life when she felt numb and unable to move at will. So how could something so small have such a big impact?

In a mist of panic, Sage had blinked back and forth into existence—Expecting to hear the commotion and chaos, as apparently, it hadn't been just the Lunas to flood the room.

Andy had looked upon countless of Oak Wood pack members coming in under the same conditions. Yet it was the voice of Lucy that rallied them all.

"K—Kendra had a cup from the community kettle..." It had been an effort of those well in the room to figure out what was the same.

It hadn't taken long for the rest to decide it was the tea, but Andy had stood over Sage in wait—Knowing that when she awoke, things would be fixed.

Sage knew it had been the tea, knew and tried to warn Alanna, but it hadn't worked in their favor.

It worried him, in another sense of the word, that most of those affected had been Oak Wood females. All young and exposed to something toxic?

The rage in Julian's eyes didn't simmer down no matter who he spoke to, even when Andy risked the moment away from Sage's side to try and get a word.

"I have word that your female made the kettle this morning, Andy," Julian said, without any sort of greeting or kindness. But if that had been the rumor circulating throughout the room, Andy wouldn't have known what else could be said.

"Is that why she's sitting here suffering too?" Andy easily replied, knowing it would be easy to point fingers. However, Andy knew just how secluded Oak Wood was from the rest of the community. This could turn dangerous if he didn't make an effort to remedy things.

"Hera was the only Half Crescent member in the kitchen..." Julian growled, but Andy stood his ground. As an Alpha in his own right, he knew only he and those that share the same bloodas him could make these types of accusations, under the jurisdiction that they were guests, now in danger, and being so callously targeted.

"You know...Hera had her Heat not too long ago, Julian. My pup could be in the crossfire of—"
"What?!" Julian had so easily taken the bait that Andy couldn't stop while he was ahead.
"My female has been buzzing around the pack, not wasting a second to herself to help. Even in her condition, healing from the attack, and now she has to deal with this?" The glare had reflected so easily between the Alphas that Andy could only huff in temptation, it would be so easy to just challenge him.

To take the pack for himself and reign over Oak Wood, but he knew the Conclave would frown upon it—Though, then again, they would frown about a plethora of things throughout this pack if they knew the truth.

"Do not point fingers at Hera when she is suffering as much as yours." At that moment, Alanna had coughed, turning to her side as her body fought to remove whatever had caught. This fleeting reaction had caused Julian to jump into gear.

"Amore...Speak to me..." The Alpha's voice was low, and shifted into a blend of begging and demand, but the woman in bed could only choke on her thoughts.

Unable to speak properly.

"A-Andy?" Sage croaked, and he rushed back to greet her, yet the way her forehead was beating with sweat—Riding the poison just as Luna Alanna. "H-hey, fuck, what the hell happened?" It had taken a moment for the question to register and another for Sage's eyes locked onto Andy's figure.

"T-Tea...The tea—"
"Yeah, they're testing it now, it's—" Before Andy could get another word, the level of shouts had tracked closer to the corner, and before Andy could even think of what to do, an Enforcer had come forward and pushed him back.

Gaining the opening for Sage to be ripped from the bed. "S—HERA!" Her roared, reaching forward and pushing the damned Enforcer to the side to try and withhold Sage's arrest.

"Andy, you know the rules...If the masses—"
"Your backward laws don't apply to guests, Julian." He reminded, but apparently, it had succeeded as a plausible reason.

Thankfully, Severin had come through and stood at attention—Only jumping into gear to see Sage's limp body struggling against those who now claimed her to be the reason for all of this.

"Alpha...?"
"They're blaming her...The tea was poisoned, Severin. We need to figure out—" Before Andy could even get out his plan of action, the piercing shriek of the Alpha's title had caused him to turn.

But it hadn't been from him, even if the voice was familiar.

Instead, Lucy hurried to Julian's side with a bag of crushed herbs. Their words had been hushed, but Andy had caught the moment that shifted the gears against them.

He could almost feel the betrayal happening right then and there. "Alpha Andy, stand down...Luna Hera has been arrested for the crime of attempting to poison Luna Alanna and the rest of the females here today...Thank you, Lucy, for doing this."

And all Andy could do was look at the female he had once considered to become his.

But any feelings had been washed away once he caught just how criminal Lucy's gaze had turned.

______

Date: 026/24

Time: 4:39 PM

Words: 4657

Author's Note:

A few new scenes are on the way, and I've very excited!!

Back when I started debating for this rewrite, I was horrified that I wouldn't fix the mistakes that needed to be amended. But here I am, editing Moon Ridge and I couldn't be happier!

I just wish I could go back and tell myself that it's all going to be okay, mindful of a career change and a few medical issues.

Sometimes, the saying trust the process, works out in the end.

Anywhoooo, I'll see you in the next update. Either Friday or Saturday!