* * *

"You said she would start waking up by—"

"Alpha Remus, I cannot even begin to address what happened. But Sage's eardrums burst and she nearly ran herself into the ground with the trial and undergoing the search. Her body needs to heal, not to mention that she's still healing from her time captured and as a rogue." Kenzie considered herself a patient female, but she was reaching her limit.
If it wasn't for Remus' title, she would've called security for being an overbearing mate.

The only option she could do is call Alpha Hayes, but he was far too involved with the search that she couldn't pull him away.

Not when Sage's room just started to clear out with guests.

Two days. 
Two whole days, and while all her vitals seemed well, Luna Sage was still undefined.

"What did Mystic Grimm's Healers say—"

"Sir, I am quite capable of finding a reasonable explination for the Luna collapsing. We aren't working with something wolf-like. We're going into the category of torture and abuse, if you haven't already realized. Not to mention her ear drum is still healing from being too close to the sound. I already told you my theories, and Clark agreed."

Remus bit back his wolf's growl, Andrew did give his insights—After waking up an hour after. But Sage was one of the final wolves still lingering in the infirmary that aren't a part of the rescue.

"Luke's group found more captives, I'll come around after I check on them, sir. The Luna will be furious if I didn't." With the nodding approval of her being dismissed, Kenzie nearly ran out of the room and started barking orders to prepare.

In the midst of his self-loathing, however, Remus missed another set of calls from Mystic Grimm, White Paw, and Grey Hallow. It was starting to become a struggle to keep up with what is happening in their community. And after running a stressful hand through his hair, Remus realized that this was more or less his fault.

He didn't think to look.
Not in the mountains, not underground—Hell, not his ex-girlfriend who smelled off from the start.

It wasn't until Andrew mentioned just how obsessed the female was during their younger years, and he absolutely hated the fact that it took Sage coming in full force with a punch to his jaw for him to realize something that everyone has been screaming for half a decade.

"Harlow?" Remus spoke directly into the phone, but his attention was still strictly on Sage's chest rising and falling. "You're worse than Dad in answering your fucking phone. What's going on?"

It felt awful to repeat it again and again.
That Sage is still out cold.
In addition to the number of found wolves rising, and to make matters worse, they weren't all just Crescent Moon residents.

It seemed that the party traveling to Moon Ridge will also be returning a good few wolves back home.

When the calls finally come to an end, Camilla leaned in with a gentle knock. Offering a smile before bringing the stroller in further, where the actual seats were leaned back for the pups to get their nap in.

"They just had a bottle, the pups did a wonderful job in watching the twins." She shared, thinking back to the pictures of Casey, Levi, Poppy, and Clementine playing with the younger years.

It was the easiest way to keep the parents at ease to know that their pups were safe together.

"Thanks for bringing them, I know it's not the best—"

"She'll feel them if they're close. Don't worry...How about you go and get something to eat, Remus? I'll sit with her until you come back." He hadn't left the room for more than a few minutes since Sage was admitted, so he reluctantly nodded and mindlessly followed his nose toward Gigi in the kitchens.

Hoping he could get some early dinner to bring back to the room.

Camilla was surprised that Kenzie's suggestion had actually passed, and so the woman had taken hold of Rue's cranky form and brought her straight to Sage's chest to relax. Sure enough, Rue shifted to her wolf and snuggled deeper into her mom's chest. Hoping for some type of reaction since the pups were missing their mom.

Mama! Mama look!

Rue's voice had trickled into Sage's mind as she began to stir, and Camilla had caught it nearly instantly as she was able to unbuckle Ronan to join his sister. "Sage?"

It did not elect a response, though the vocal yaps, but as Rue started to link once again—She learned quickly that her mom started to respond, just in not so many words.

"...Ken—Kenzie!" Camilla shouted out into the hallway, and the urgency caused a few passing nurses to peek at Camilla. Once they realized that it was the Luna's room, the healers hurried forward.

"I—I think Sage is waking up, she's been moving and—" Kenzie nodded and took the given checks to her blood pressure and heartbeat. Noticing that it's no longer in its resting state.

"Sage?... Can you squeeze my hand?" The question had held still and didn't react, not for a few passing beats that it caused MaKenzie to frown.

"What is it?" Camilla asked, desperate for an answer just as Remus would be. "Nothing, I just—Get me an otoscope" The order had been sent and a runner returned with the needed tool. And just as Kenzie had predicted, Sage was starting to wake up but couldn't necessarily hear.

Sage? Can you hear me?

Kenzie? Where am I?

You're in the infirmary, Rue is on your chest and I'm in the room with Camilla. Can you open your eyes?

Sage followed in pursuit to see just that, to see her daughter and the very females that were mentioned in the Link. In a moment of panic, however, she pushed herself forward and wrapped her arms around Rue—Shaking frantically that this was all a lie.

That this was a fever dream and she would wake up back in the cold garage or in Half Crescent.

Rue started to yelp at how pressing her mom was, and in an attempt to give a sign—The small licks to her chin had started to calm her down. The rush of scents lingering in the air helped the story of where she is, but not knowing where anyone is—She felt discouraged in not being able to feel her brothers, her dads, or Andrew.

But the link for Remus was clear and bright, and she didn't hesitate to call for him.

Sage?

Remmy, where are you?

Hang on hun, I'm in the pack house. I'll be right there! Just stay awake for me, please?

His tone of desperation had caused Sage to look directly towards the door as Kenzie worked around Rue staying in her mother's arms. It made it slightly difficult, but it was better than the previous types of lashing she's been dealing with since the uncovered truck.

It was strange, more than strange—To see everything moving and working in complete and utter silence. There were no thumping heartbeats from anyone in the room, and she certainly couldn't hear the machines beeping beside her.

But from previous experience, she knew what made noises and what didn't.

"Sage?!" The Alpha beloved upon coming into the room. The tension in his face had caused her to frown and tilt her head while the rest of the room had lowered in submission.

Having caught the rumble in the heart more than at her ear, Sage's hand had itched at her ear. Only for Kenzie to interfere. "I was correct. The device ruptured her eardrum. It should return in a few hours or days depending on how often it's happened before." Sage's eyes flickered from Kenzie, Mama Camilla, and Remus.

Though it was growing extremely difficult to see them start talking over each other, the lip reading turning nearly impossible as she huffed impatiently. Earning her an eager lick from Rue beside her.

However, instinct prevailed, and a once sleeping pup had started to throw his arms up to show his demands. And when they weren't met, his eyes turned red with frustration and tears. "Ronan." She demanded, and in the commotion of it all, Sage managed to catch her eldest's pup starting to wail.

Camilla had comforted the pup for only a moment before he shifted into fur and scrambled towards his mom in the infirmary bed. And once he managed, he snuggled directly under her awaiting arm.

"I can't hear, but pups don't like yelling. No more yelling." She spoke, her tone growing louder at the fact that she couldn't hear herself. And by the end of her scolding, she was tapping at her ear once again.

Luna, please don't touch your ear. Not until I can properly treat it. It might be a few days until your hearing can come back.

Kenzie's voice was a soothing reminder that the world isn't as mute as it seems. And thus, she smiled and tried her best to comfort her screaming pups.

At least we have linking to communicate, Munchkin...And thank you for the save. Luke thinks they would've torn me to shreds.

Sage nodded toward her mate with a smile. "Can't hurt my mate. They don't know better." Her defensive stance over both her mate and the newly discovered Deformed was inevitable.

"Yeah, but thanks, hun...I guess we have a few calls to make, huh?" He questioned, speaking both in Link and out loud to the females beside him. Camilla had already spread the word to her sons, and in the time span of an hour, the Luna's infirmary room was filling up with members of the pack coming and going.

The only ones that were struggling at the fact that Sage couldn't hear was the pups coming to visit. The twins especially, so Sage did her best to continue to remind and speak with them in their Link.

Even if they hated it.

And while sounds were slowly starting to come back, it was still extremely painful for her body to mend what had burst. Not to mention that she felt extremely guilty at the sight of others facing a similar condition of trouble hearing.

Liam being one of the many.

He was too close to her during the ring, but thankfully it was only one side and he was starting to regain his sense of hearing. Similar to the rest of those found and Sage herself.

Following the few hours after reawakening, Sage was allowed to return home. Though after having another traumatizing experience with her poor father to reencounter, he returned to the Moon residence.

And to her sibling's disappointment, she couldn't talk to them through the phone and could only resort to texting. And even then it was difficult to comprehend on her own. Leaving her to an early night in her room, with the pups in a pop up crib--Given the fact that they cried whenever their mother left the room for more than a few minutes.

The next day, Sage found herself cooking up a feast for those that were coming in and out of the home while she was babysitting the majority of the pups with Delta John and Liam. It was the perfect combination to put on a movie marathon so the rest of the wolves could work on their own assignments while the rest healed.

Granted, the combination of three ears between them versus a whole litter of pups managed well. Or well enough, especially when Sage had narrowed her eyes when trying to figure out if a pup was being naughty or nice.

Right now, however, she was trying to think strategically. Remus was preparing to leave for Moon Ridge in order to learn more about their religion, in addition, to following a few leads in the surrounding packs of Moon Ridge.

Both Crimson and Lichen were within the neighboring states, and they were heavily involved with the war both in aiding Mystic Grimm and against Crescent Moon—Or until Randal took offense to their public betrayal and they were seemingly overrun for unknown reasons.

Their numbers had changed the definition of Rogue as far as Sage knew, and she wondered if those wolves were descendants of the same packs that were listed as lost.

Maeve, for example, was the daughter of a fallen Beta. So perhaps that was Randal's plan? Fund the Underground with a fallen pack of wolves to collect as test subjects.

All of this was swirling around in her mind as she hissed again, the pain in her head starting to grow louder as it continued to heal. Leaving her heavily sensitive to louder sounds, such as a baby screeching in the other room.
Though Lavender couldn't help it.

And between both John and Liam, it seemed that Sage won over the comfort factor between the given babysitters. Especially since Elenor and Sage held similar Mystic features.

Though thankfully enough, the young pup's great Uncle had walked in from the back door and announced himself and smiled at seeing that his daughter was starting to regain her hearing.

"Great news, plans are set—We're leaving Tuesday morning." Two days. It gave Sage two days to heal completely and join the trip. And above all, she needed to go, she felt it in her bones.

Among the males leading the preparations, she was in the same position as before when they made the decision to send her to Mystic Grimm.

With the entire commotion going around, Sage had taken Rue into the kitchen to help her cook. And if anything, it gave her the settled comfort of having her nearby.

Rue had started to slap her hands together in an attempt to clap, finding entertainment in her own movements and smiling at her mother. Content with time spent with her, as it was still clear that the twins were anxious about their parents leaving for long periods of time.

Rue was the worst of the two, and Sage couldn't blame her. Not when she felt the pain and suffering that followed the pups when they were reunited once again.

"Mama..." The pup's words hadn't been purposefully ignored, but Sage had turned her attention elsewhere before turning back and smiling back at her daughter. Pinching her cheek before walking back over to the fridge and getting her a drink.

As the pup started to turn frustrated in wanting to be held and out of the booster seat, she started to cry—And Sage hadn't caught it until she turned back around. The cup filled with the unwanted apple juice, as it was soon flung to the other side of the kitchen.

Landing just beside John's feet.

"Uh oh, sounds like someone is ready for a nap." He cooed, and Rue had taken that as a near threat as she cried out further—Tears brimming in her eyes.

Sage had given up on the snacks and drinks and held her pup close to her chest and rocked her body back and forth. Talking to her in sweet whispers, though they weren't working.

Not until Rue started to realize that her mom's ears were still bandaged.

Those bandages were familiar, as Remus explained that it's for big booboos. And this certainly counted for one, followed by the smell of blood caught just behind it.

So her small pudgy hand had started to tap at the binding fabric, and Sage flinched. "No, pup. Hurts." It sounded like an awful bang, but Rue didn't follow.

She continued to pat her ear until it fell off, and in a moment's notice, the room had been introduced to a blinding golden light—One that John could only compare to sunlight.

"Shit—Sage!" He roared, and that had caught both the attention in concern of the rest of those in the house. "Alpha?!" Clementine and Poppy yipped, calling on Andrew while Liam stood beside John in awe.

As the light had given out, Sage had been locked in the same position as when it started. And Liam's jaw only sanctions the fact that what happens actually happened.

"The Alpha is on the way, but it might a little while. They found an empty catacomb. More supplies than anything else." John offered, and Sage smiled.

"I hear you." She responded with a smile, her eyes glancing down at the bandages on the floor. "Rue, you heal me? You sweet lil pup!" The realization of Rue's ability had caused Sage to lift her well about her head and squeal with join. Completely and utterly impressed with how the pup could manage to channel her ability in such a way.

"Goddess have mercy on that pup's mate," John whispered, completely missed by Liam's blocked ear. But just behind his figure, the older pups peeked through his legs in worry.

"It's okay. Everything is okay." Sage addressed the growing concern for her and Rue. However, the pup in her arms was growing significantly more drowsy with each passing minute.

Leaving the young pup to fall asleep in her mother's arms, her job done.

"Think that's a victory nap, I'll put her upstairs." Sage didn't want to give up Rue. But the pup deserved some peace and quiet. Not to mention that had to give some attention to Roe now that he was looking mighty confused and pouty.

Liam, who was standing just on the sidelines didn't know how to respond. Nor did he know what to do when he caught the Alpha's name popping up on Sage's phone.

In true Sage fashion, however, she picked it up and pressed it against her ear. "Hello!"

"Sage?...Fuck, I better text—"

"I can hear you. Rue healed me. Now I can go with you to Moon Ridge." She declared, and Remus sucked in a breath.

"Rue healed you? I didn't think she could do that. Is she okay?" Sage had quickly explained that Rue was being put to bed by John as they were speaking, but the second Remus had mentioned any sort of idea of her staying in Crescent Moon while he and the rest of the decided group heads to Moon Ridge to look for clues.

Sage hung up the phone.

And ignored the following call as she texted her brother and sister the good news.

"Did you just ignore the Alpha's call?" She hummed, giving a small kiss to the back of Ronan's head as she smirked at her brother. "He can get angry, I don't care. I'm going too." It sounded like a decision that Sage had made herself.

Leaving Liam to suck in an unsure breath, his worry already checking towards the door.

Not that he had any business in getting between the Luna and Alpha, but he personally didn't understand why she wouldn't be joining the trip now that she could hear again. Sage would be able to identify locations or use that intuition of hers to help them in the right direction.

What were they going to do when Moon Ridge turned out to become a dead end?

But one thing he knew about Sage, if she truly fought for it, she could manage.

______

Date: 05/19/23

Time: 8:39 (Are you shocked because I'm shocked)

Words: 3314

Author's Note:

Well, I can honestly say TGIF--
Though it doesn't mean much since I'm working this weekend. 

Anywhoooo, little Rue can heal! I actually ended up clipping this scene from earlier in the story, to give a chance to showcase Rue's ability, but I think it served its purpose--And now Sage can go to Moon Ridge!

Though we still have two more chapters in this phase before we can head over, hopefully, nothing too drastic happens in the meantime
😉😉

Okay, I'm cruel but not THAT cruel.
So here's a hint--
We haven't had any mate predictions in a while, have we👀

That's all you're getting out of me, you'll just have to wait for Monday's chapter to see!

I hope you all have an amazing and wonderful weekend!