* * *

Sage didn't really know what to expect when she heard that Remus wanted to join her, so she offered a kind smile and bid everyone goodnight with him by her side.

"Nice to see everyone..." She whispered, but Remus didn't realize just how socially exhausted Sage must've been for the last few hours. But she wasn't one to complain, not when these were familiar faces that adored her.

That she could sense their excitement and determination to help was also another blessing that she caught without issue. "I think it's a tie between who was more excited. And it was nice for Kendal to throw us another party." Sage's smile started to grow, but clearly, the lack of sleep and being away from pack grounds were starting to affect her.

"Almost done, Munchkin. Then we're having a mini at-home vacation." Now that earned him her attention outright as she narrowed her gaze up toward him. "Home vacation?"

"Yep. Just us and the pups. Maybe we'll set up the little pool for them, or the hose. Just let them run around and play with the water. We'll relax on the chairs, just watching them...It'll be nice." Remus nearly felt his eyes roll back at the idea of laying flat out in the grass with his pups nearby and playing, maybe even getting burned by the sun and not worrying about a single damn issue.

But for Sage, she had a harder idea of grasping what was so relaxing about the little pool party. If anything, she thought he was missing a few guests, and even went up to mention that her dad would want to come.

"Maybe another time, but I do want to enjoy you and the pups. They're still pups right now, hun. Soon they will be going to school and doing their own thing. We need to enjoy it."

"I want pups to stay pups." Remus chuckled, knowing that Hayes would trade anything in the world for Sage to be a pup once again. To relive those memories and milestones the correct way.

"I want mini-vacation." She concluded, agreeing with his idea had his wolf howl and yelp in victory. But she seemed so much more awake and lively now that he instructed her to get the first shower in before he made his way in as well.

Granted, he was prepared to see Sage curled up under the covers and snoring away. But Luke had sent over a few videos and pictures that she couldn't wait for him to get out and watch them. So she turned her phone and sighed at hearing the audio again and again.

"We'll be home soon."

"Week. One week. Then vacation?"

"Depends what happens with this whole thing, what if we find more than we were planning to?... We'll plan for it once we get back to Crescent Moon." She nodded, knowing that she would want to visit and check on everyone before locking the doors for their vacation.

After a few more minutes of going through pictures, Sage's yawn had instigated her to hand Remus her phone and tuck herself further into the bed. Sighing in relief that she could finally shut her eyes and call it a day.

Unfortunately for her, Remus had other plans that included her being entirely awake and willing. So instead, he placed the phone behind him and on the counter as he encased Sage with his body heat.

A small hum had coursed through her body, but she hadn't bothered to check. Not when his scent was swirling around her like an absolute feast. "Remmy?" She whispered, peeking an eye open, still not entirely used to sleeping in such a foreign room.

Even if it was their third night.

"Right here...I just wanted to hold you. Is that okay?" Her blinks had started to count just how much time had passed between his question, and Sage could allow a small nod of acceptance before he locked his arms further around her.

Yet he instantly stilled once she began to tense up and freeze. "I'm sorry, my wolf hates it that we're guests and you're not marked."

"Not ready for mark again." She instated, and Remus fully understood that portion. That she was still trying to sort through the better part of her emotions, but Sage was here, in bed with him.

That had to count for something.

"Do you remember when you had that nightmare?" It took a moment for her to realize what he was referring to, but once she caught the memory, she whispered a small yes before turning towards him.

"You wanted to stay in our bed because it made you feel safe. Do you still feel that way about me?" Her nod was eager that she started to sit up and gaze around the darkened room.

"I don't know what to do." She admitted, and Remus joined her in sitting up in bed. But for the first time in a while, they were on the same page—They understood the struggle and difficulty in placing which way to go.

"What do you want to do?" He wanted to ensure she knew the difference, but she looked down into her lap and let out a ragged sigh. "Papa says that if I have Andrew's pup, it's big trouble for you, for him, and for Crescent Moon. I don't like the word bastard but I feel bad for pup...I don't want to lie about that. But I don't want to hurt Andy anymore." There was a pause, and as she turned to look at Remus, drinking in the delicate features that were being outlined by the moon's rays creeping into the window, Sage caught the very look of her Alpha—The one she fell in love with.

"...I don't want to hurt you anymore." There was a period in time when Remus had grown accepting of the idea that Sage was pregnant. But in seeing other females starting to progress, the idea had started to settle out. Even now, it had been weeks since they returned and weeks since Sage's Heat.

Nothing about her scent or figure had changed, so what was the point in making the males wait any longer?

"I've waited a long time for you. I can deal with—" She couldn't take any more of his understanding, his willingness to take it slow and steady. No, she wanted to explore, to return to their former glory and attempt to reclaim what Armond had taken.

As he had taken so much from her already.

Remus had been so startled by the kiss that he had nearly been knocked down by her enthusiasm and didn't manage to return the kiss until Sage was pulling away.

He looked at her in clear awe while she issued another smile, one that shined almost perfectly with the moon illuminating her figure just behind her.

The favor was unnecessary, as Remus knew that he had the most beautiful mate in the world and he couldn't handle another blessing. Instead, he eased his hand to slip past her hair and cup her cheek, slowly bringing them closer together in a more controlled kiss. One that he didn't hesitate to dominate in a matter of moments.

In a moment of weakness, Sage had felt Remus tighten his hold around her and settle her down further into the bed, sanctioning his position between her legs with his knees—Though it caused her gasp, and not in the way he was hoping.

"It's me, hun. It's Remus." He reminded, and as her breath started to level out, she sighed in relief and repeated his name, over and over again before she rubbed her eyes and turned to the lamp on her nightstand.

"Sorry." She whispered, her attention aimed down as she had ruined the moment, but Remus could not accept this any longer. Instead, he tipped her chin up and locked his lips to hers, lightly. Hoping to regain the momentum.

However, seeing as it was slightly delayed and not as fiery as it once was, he decided to take another step and kiss the side of her lips and lower past her chin, then her neck, then to her collarbone. And while she was wreaking of fear, that panic had turned into pleasure as she realized that this was Remus.

Not Armond.

Never Armond again.

"You push or kick me and I'll back off, I'll even sleep on that couch over there." He breathed into her neck and she nodded at the offer. But as her hand was issued at his chest, urging him to give her a moment, he had done the same to take a breath.

"No biting?"

"I'll do my best, but my bites aren't like that. All Lycan instincts from me...Listen to your wolf, she'll recognize me." Hopefully, he wanted to add, but that would be putting doubt in Sage's mind which was already filled with hesitation and confusion.

Instead, he smiled once more and leaned up to reach her lips, one that had turned eager and started to build more love he filtered into the kiss.

But it was the rumble of pleasure that truly comforted Sage, and it enacted a smile. One that Remus couldn't help and copy.

As the couple continued their reconnection, Remus felt a laugh bubbling deep in his stomach as Sage's hand racked into his hair—Feeling him entirely.

But that had gone straight to his head, and he reminded himself outright that he needed to have his thoughts under control. Keep the moment contained for what it is, a rekindling and a chance to fix what has been broken between them.

His father's and Almond's poison of breaking the mate bond was not going to be the end of his relationship with Sage.

With that in mind, Remus was all the more tempted to make this work. To make it pleasurable for both himself and his mate, who was gasping for a breath—One that he allowed, but only because he wanted to taste her neck, wondering if he should reclaim his old mark or find a new spot.

That way, it would be fresh, it wouldn't be just a reclaim, but a new promise.

"Beautiful..." He whispered against her skin, and that allowed for a string of compliments that made the progression return back to what it was before her initial panic—Him back in between her legs and pressing lightly against her.

His movements and teases were sparking familiar signals, and it helped tremendously to capture the scenes of her mate once more.

Remus' smell. His voice. Seeing her eyes connecting directly to hers, made Sage realize that this was in fact, her male.

And the moan she blessed him with was in sanction of that.

So when a curious hand had begun to train down the likes of her stomach, to the better part of her thigh—Sage didn't make a fuss, nor hint at issuing a kick or push.

Allowing him to continue, hooking straight to the fabric of her panties before yanking it down. And that had been the turning point of it all, as spoken by the fact that Sage's laughter had filled the room, or would have, had if she didn't muffle it into Remus' shoulder.

"That's it...I love hearing you—Let me hear you." His words of encouragement hadn't meant the same to Sage, most of their bedroom chatter usually went over her head, but this one hadn't.

Though she hardly managed to return the comment as his temptation continued with a quick rub to her most sensitive area. Creating a buzz in her mind that she wasn't unfamiliar with, but was surely prepared to get reacquainted.

Especially when it was Remus' hand doing the motions.

"What can I do?... Tell me. I'll do it." Was it desperation in his voice? Absolutely, Remus felt so eager to build back up the bond. Not only for himself and his wolf, but for Sage.

"R-rem...member my birthday?... Birthday morning?" The mere question had caused his mouth to water at the memory. It had been a wonderful day considering she hadn't known it was her birthday at all, adding to the surprises.

"Yeah?" He questioned, but his voice came out in the form of a croak before his wolf rectified it and growled out the confirmation to his mate's request.

This was not the time for failure.

So instead, he leaned forward with a small peck to her lips before trailing from there down her naval and beyond. Making it easy work to remove her panties and shorts entirely, though it might have come with the factor of tearing them apart.

Earning him another amused giggle.

That hadn't mattered, not when the scent of her arousal was swirling around made him that much more desperate for a taste. After taking a much-needed breath to try and calm his nerves, all had vanished once his tongue had made contact—And goddess have mercy on his soul—And cock.

This was too delicious to part from that he only came up when his lungs started to burn, but even then it was a therapeutic torture. One that was rivaling everything he felt when Sage was pronounced dead.

He begged from this moment, to just feel her grace his bed once more—In whatever shape or form the Moon Goddess could bestow on him, on the family.

Alas, Remus was finally deemed worthy enough to not only see Sage at her most vulnerable but be the reason for it.

When she started to part her legs further, even going so far as to wrap her hands straight into the locks of his hair and pull at his roots to encourage him forward.

He doubled his advantages and was instantly rewarded.

The coil that was building up at the bottom of her stomach had finally come undone, and while she tried to keep eye contact with her mate—It had been a failure as the stars that build into her vision nearly pushed her eyes back behind her head, pushing back into the pillow with pure satisfaction of what had happened.

With Sage's release featured brightly on Remus' chin, she smiled slightly as the rush of excitement was winding down. But that didn't stop the predatory look in her mate from wanting to continue.

Wanting to—

"Not tonight...Tonight is about you, Sage." He reminded her, and her eyes began to flutter back and forth, but in that instance, she began to shake her head.

"N-no?" He croaked, his eagerness of wanting to continue and being a gentleman starting to teeter at the mere hint of her wanting to continue. "No biting?"
"When we're on Crescent Moon grounds again, we'll talk about it. Yeah? Right now, I want to re-familiar my wolf with yours." The growl of confirmation was difficult to contain, but it all but confirmed Sage's excitement as she leaned forward to reach for him properly.

"So no touching?" She smiled, having gone from soft to devious the quicker she planned formed.

"Touching?" Remus didn't know where he thought his plan would go, but enacting Sage's libido was not on his list of accomplishments. But he would certainly—

His thoughts had all but ceased as Sage's hand reached down past his waistband and gripped his cock without any hesitation. As if this was just like their last time.

The time before her disappearance.

"Sage I don't know if—"

"Shh. I want a little more, then sleep. We have to go travel tomorrow." She teased, and he nodded, though his words were mumbled over one another as he groaned into the air at the bond starting to shine brighter with each stroke.

To combat his own tension, he replaced his finger back to Sage's core and rubbed over her sensitive spots all in sequence with her movements.

The sounds of their release had sparked another flare through their bond, but there would be no improvement until a bite confirmed the connection once again.

Sage knew that.

Remus knew that.

But sex was off the menu as of right now, and nothing pleased Remus more than the fact that he could rub his release on the better part of Sage's half. Blending the color into her skin, allowing it to combine with her scent.

The soft hums that issued Sage's delight continued as they managed a few lazy kisses once or twice. But either was ignorant to the passing footsteps of the party attendance coming to their rooms.

Some were filled with smiles, ignoring the scent in respect to the Alpha couple. But as Hayes was speaking with Blake about the mission set for tomorrow, they both came to a gradual halt.

Though Blake was the one to grin wildly at the notion that Remus had come to a conclusion and Sage managed to get past the horrors she dealt with during the soul swap.

Hayes, although relieved that Sage had made an official choice on a male, the fact that this was his daughter had caused his hand to swipe down his face in retaliation.

"Goodnight, Blake."

"Goodnight sir, we'll talk more tomorrow?" Hayes didn't bother responding, and the former Rogue-turned General had laughed at seeing just how bothered the father was over this discovery.

Even now, the soft murmurs behind the door was almost like music to his ears. Happy for the two, just as he had the feeling this was the first step to their rekindling.

He hoped that Hayes wouldn't issue another formal Mystic spar to earn his daughter's honor. Though at this point, he wouldn't put it past the male either.

Just as Blake was about to head to his own room, right across the hall from the Alpha couple, he caught his name being called and he turned to greet Andrew—Though it was interrupted by a moan.

One that ticked Andrew's head to the side in attention, he knew that voice—He knew it well.

The alert had caused a strike of panic to course through his heart, but a mere moment before he confirmed any type of pain on Sage's behalf. It had returned with Remus' groan—Concluding that his heart shattering into pieces was just the tip of the groaning ache.

The smile featured on Blake's face had begun to falter after the realization hit him. Realizing that this was not what a former chosen mate would want to hear.

"Andy—" He tried, closing his door and taking the steps towards him. That movement had reawoken Andrew's legs and put them into gear. But instead, it had ended in a slammed door—Causing the entire floor to silence itself.

But all Andrew could think about for the entire night was how foolish he'd been, thinking that staying wouldn't hurt him.

Here he was, his heart began to tighten and the pressure weighted heavily onto his lungs as he couldn't get his next breath together.
Not without some difficulty.

In a moment of weakness, he reached for his phone and dialed the one number he wasn't sure why he had.

"A-Andy? It's nearly—"

"Can't breathe, talk to me." He instated, and the female on the other end had started to talk about getting settled in Crescent Moon, enjoying the Moon pups, and getting them used to her oversized she-bear persona.

And that is how Andrew Clark had fallen asleep, to the sound of Castila blabbing on and on while he remained on mute, sobbing silently into his pillow. 

______

Date: 06/12/23

Time: 9:15

Words: 3492

Author's Note:

A little fun before they're off.
There was a little bit of a mention that Sage is starting to realize that she might not actually be pregnant.

Denial is a very difficult bridge to cross, so we'll see her come to terms with it later on.

However, the more pressing concern is Andy--And how he plans to tell Sage when he's leaving and why. His leaving was solidified the moment he heard her and Remus reconnect.

Things are slowly moving forward, let's just hope this trip is worth the aggravation.

Now, in other exciting news, I've been wanting to do this for a while (But it was a little pricey), and didn't come out exactly right...

While it looks beautiful, I messed up on the sizing portion.
Currently, it's the size of a textbook and it's massive!

I thought I'd share some pictures, and this way it'll be a little easier to edit if it's written so big.
Anywhooooo,

We're entering a new phase, as the travel to Moon Ridge will take a little while since they're going somewhat on foot.

Now then, I hope you all have an amazing week, and I'll see you for the next update--Or in a few minutes when I get TBHM updates posted!