* * *

It earned Andrew a few blinks until Sage leaned back and sighed.

She turned back towards her phone and dialed the number she memorized, her pout didn't register who it was that she was calling. But the second that the voice had filtered through, Remus stilled.

"Alpha Julian speaking." It left no room for a friendly hello. "Hello Alpha Julian, it's Hera—Calling to say we make it home." She claimed, her eyes looking this way and that until the laughter had caught her off guard.

"Alpha Hera huh? Not Luna Sage?" Sage's silence had been pure resignation that she hadn't been prepared, had Alana told? "Didn't take long to figure it out, I only know one she-wolf that has ties to both Mystic Grimm other than yourself. Your cousin?" That certainly earned a growl, especially when Harlow had snatched the phone this time.

"Careful Julian, if you know Sage then you'll remember that I'm her brother."
"So blood is thicker than water?"
"It is, when you're putting petty bullshit in front of—"
"Of nothing! Moon killed my mate!"
"Remus had nothing to do with it, nor has Sage."
"...Even the playing field...You've just made an enemy, Mystic." Nobody at the table could've predicted that outcome and Sage's shoulders had instantly dropped.

"Shit...I'll be right back, I have to call Josh—Fucking lowlife degenerate wolf. You'd think the mountain man would come to his senses eventually." Harlow spat, going to his own phone to text. However Sage had turned to Andrew quickly.

"Alana hurt?"
"I don't think he'd punish her, she could've played it off as she didn't know. It's alright." He said, mentally rubbing her shoulder as the last thing he needed right now was to be carted for being 'too touchy.'

With breakfast having ended, Ellie offered to babysit the pups—And since it wasn't a Mystic Grimm matter, Jade had remained as well.

While Harlow was taking the initiative with their father to sort through the migrating wolves looking to return home. Having said that it shouldn't be too problem, the numbers needed to grow in most packs. This cause Sage to question what she'd been told prior, about how packs no longer wanted more wolves—Had that been a lie Harlow told Julian?

In the case of Crescent Moon, however, the pack has been at max capacity long before.

Sure it would take a bit to fund another neighborhood or a large house for the witches, but Sage voiced that she didn't want to force anyone away.

"It's alright, I should still have my funds. And they've just been collecting dust."

"What? Oh shit, you're right." Andy claimed and Remus had instantly jumped at that opportunity.

"You have money here?"
"Well not here here, but it's been sitting just collecting more money. So that'll be fun to inherit." While Remus did have his own account, not having to worry for the rest of his or Sage's life. It would definitely benefit the neighborhood rebuild of his pack.

And Andrew wanted to right his wrongs and for sure would build, especially when it'd be one of his own houses as well.

"So what's the plan?" Jackson questioned, Aurora at his side as they walked from the Alpha's house to the Beta's—Or previous Alpha.

"We talk to Eli and Julia. You stay back."
"Bummer. Come on Andrew, you can tell me about Half Crescent." That was the perfect segway to allow Sage and Remus to get the moment to do this themselves, they were the leaders anyhow.

And the she-wolf had started to smile at the lack of using the cane was receiving, and hopefully, by the end of the day, everything would be healed on her mate, father, and Luke.

In addition to Mary.

Whether they were warned or not, Julia had quickly opened the door long before either Sage or Remus had the time to knock. And sure, even if Remus did give Eli the Alpha title on the account that he couldn't fulfill his role, that did not mean he could skip over the level of hierarchy.

Or allow Remus to lose his wolf, that was a topic she'd needed to discuss with her father and brother as well. Torin was right, that wasn't anyone's right to forgo—Especially the scientists who toyed with her.

The reconnecting Alpha had watched in awe the way Sage had come into the River's house. While considering their den, she didn't hesitate to scan the area and let her wolf's scent permeate.

Yes, it was safe to say that Andrew's words were holding true. Sage had evolved into an entirely new wolf, an Alpha at that.

"Alpha." Eli greeted, though it hadn't been plural—His intent fully being on Sage as for the moment she still held the title. "Why do it?" She said, her eyes blinking slowly, causing Eli to swallow thickly.
His injuries were burning outright in a reminder of just what Sage is capable of.

"The line of succession wouldn't have survived, Julia and I didn't do it out of ill will—Sage. We thought you were dead, the scramble for power was everywhere. And if we weren't careful then the rumors of Moon Valley or Shadow pack attempting to migrate over towards us to overthrow would've been the least of our issues."
"And taking away his wolf?" Eli let his head hang low, clearly, that hadn't been one of their best moments and Julia came over with the intent to play nice. She rubbed her cheeks to Sage, and sure the she-wolf accepted it.

"I don't like picking punishments, and you do a lot to make sure Crescent Moon don't—doesn't fall. Maybe if you don't let Hayes take Remus' wolf away or forget about Ronan being Alpha, I would be happy to see you." She said, regret lacing her words. But like Blake had tried to explain all that time ago, sometimes being top dog didn't mean being all nice and cuddly.

"Punishment...?" Julia whispered, and clearly that had awakened a protective hand over her own stomach and Sage shook her head. "Your family is going to Grey Hallow."
"What?!" Eli shouted, and that surely enacted Sage's wolf in an instant.

"I was born in Crescent Moon! I was born to be—"
"Beta. Not Alpha. This is your break, Eli." While it shouldn't have been a blessing, Julia sighed in utter relief. Wrapping her arms around Sage, which startled the wolf as only pups seemingly jumped like that.

The ushered 'thank you's' had allowed Sage to take that as a sign of being a proper punishment. However, it was the look towards Remus that settled the indifference. "The pup deserves to be born on Crescent Moon grounds, until then—You'll leave with the Hallow family." He had basically echoed Sage's words, but Eli's eyes held more than regret as they finally dwelled on what the action in Crescent Moon had done to Sage.

The lack of his wolf caused her to think that her mate was dead, that connection had been severed—It was her hope and responsibility to her pups to make it back. And if that wasn't heroic in either Eli or Julia's mind, then Remus was going to have another problem with them.

When the two had left the River estate, Sage didn't forget to say hello to Elias. The son didn't know the trouble his parents caused, but hopefully, the vacation in another pack would be perfect for them.

Even though Andrew still thought it was traitorous of them to act like this, even Jackson was prepared for another showdown.

"Julia is pregnant, stress is not good for the pup."
"Uh, no offense there, Peaches. But your pups and the building block of yours and Remus' relationship was built up from stress, so technically..." Jackson said, motioning his hands out like a scale and causing her to roll her eyes.

Though her males didn't find it all that funny.

"Hey! Only I can make fun of Remus like that!"
"Yeah! Wait—Fuck Drew."
"Gotchu man, sorry!" The two had pushed and nudged each other, causing Sage to laugh and smile brightly at the lightness of the conversation.

As the situation was not over yet.

"I thought Issac will be angry," Sage said, her eyes flickering to either Remus or Jackson and the ladder shrugged. "He's angrier with me, hun. Not you."
"That's not right. Everyone is mad at me because I'm your mate. Balance." She chimed in, doing the same motion that Jackson had done just moments ago. Which caused the form Delta/Beta to tackle her from behind.

"I love this new Sage, she's sassy and a warrior. This is awesome! Thank you Moon goddess!" She kissed his cheek and silently laughed at how still that caused either Moon or Clark male to react to it. "No touching my Delta."
"Awe, I've been demoted?" Sage perked her lips and thought for a moment.

"Kidding, kidding. Beta wasn't my forte, even if Eli was saying I was doing alright." Jack offered, though that didn't make her feel any better.

"I was thinking, that Andrew actually takes Beta for the time being." Remus offered, turning his head to his friend and that instantly earned a laugh. "Yeah, that'll pass up well, a war criminal with no experience 'real' experience running a pack. Sure America will love that."
"You're Alpha of Half Crescent. Being Beta will be easy!" Sage offered and did her little dance of a wiggle, though her heart started to wine out.

"Missing the pups?" Her mate offered and she pouted, nodding along.

Hey munchkins, mamma and daddy are coming home. Are you being good for Auntie Jade?

Almost instantly Sage's link caused a roar with the pups and what they were doing and she didn't have the heart to tell them to be quiet. So when they had returned back to the house, they'd been readily tackled by both the twins and Hardin.

"Hello! Have a good day?" She called out, listening to everyone speak over one another. But what she did find even more adorable was Levi hanging out with both Poppy and Clem, they were just sitting on the couch but they shouted their greetings from there.

"Ah, I was just about to link you! Lunch is almost ready, and everyone outside is already eating. No worries." Sage's eyes sparkled to see the other Luna's reign over her pack, they needed to be cared for with gloves not to disrupt the peace.

Sage had helped in the kitchen where she could, and it was rather hilarious seeing her manage with the attire she had. Both of her sisters had teased her to go and change but she just growled and said it was comfy.

Making Haylee ask for one.

"Oh please, Sage has been rocking this look for a while...When I first came here, I don't think Luna Irene knew what she was doing opening that door." Aurora laughed in Jack's lap, and Sage held her fists to her hips.

"I look nice!"
"I think we have two males that would fight over the fact that you look better than nice." The now-claimed Delta had smirked, it was as if his demotion had been a blessing—And in short, it had been.

"So what's happening with Eli and Julia?" Haylee questioned as she began setting the table, slapping Jack's hand from the food on the plate. "They're heading off to Grey Hallow for a bit. They deserve a break and it's a better punishment than getting in the ring with Sage. Eli already faced that."
"Yeah, Torin had to remind her that Eli was her Beta. Otherwise, this might be a whole different story." Sage had felt readily guilty on that front, but it was because she thought Remus was dead.

And the slight instance of panic that she had to keep up with Andrew's promise but also not have a location for Half Crescent. It was a long hour.

With the house full once again, Sage had taken reign over the conversation. Once Issac and Mary were set to arrive, it was easier with a fresh pair of Alpha eyes on the situation at hand. For starters, she wanted those moving to Grey Hallow to be prepared and those who wanted to shift to Crescent Moon to be open to the idea that it would take some time before a proper house and everything could be scheduled.

But as of yet, they were beyond happy to have access to running water and endless food. Which was another topic at hand, Jackson had ordered a double shipment—An extra to what they had planned for this month and it was going to come within the coming days.

Much to the witches' delight, they had created a fire pit and started dancing in seance. Isla and Ethel had come forward to pull Sage to join them and Andrew shook his head in pure amusement.

"What's going on?" Remus whispered, especially to see Sage walking off with them and their daughter. "Witches really like to sing and dance I found out. And Sage's singing voice is beautiful, by the way." Remus knew that outright, the small little nursery rhythms she learned to pass onto the twins were offering enough.

However, seeing her skip around with the rest of the witches was almost magical, and Rue couldn't stop bouncing around as well. And once one song had ended, Sage had sat down on the stump while either Poppy or Clem had carefully started a small dance circle to encase Rue to join in.

Andrew had stopped Remus from joining outright, saying that it was disrespectful if a male came much closer than they were—Which prompted a question that he didn't have a straight or full answer to.

______

Date: 03/10/23

Time: 9:28 (I'm sorry!!)

Words: 2386

Author's Note:

Sage has spoken!
Julia and Eli have been put on temporary leave, which isn't what everyone was hoping for I know--But let's not forget that Julia is pregnant, and seeing her mate go through a punishment would be too much on her at the moment.

Especially after Sage had given him an ass-whooping at the end of the previous story.

Now there's a new player on the field and Alpha Julian isn't too happy about being fooled.
Good thing Oak Wood is considered remote in Canada, but I wouldn't forget him too quickly👀

To end on a happy note, if you've missed my Wall Post, Crescent Moon has finally hit 100k reads!
I'm still in shock that we've hit such a milestone🤗
I cannot thank you all enough!

I wish you all a happy weekend, and I will see you on Monday with a new chapter!