* * *

Darius was true to his word, he was always right there and ready to chat with her. She asked on occasion if she was bothering him or if he was busy, but his occupation was either escorting dead souls or helping her.

And he had plenty of overtime since he hadn't been able to see Sage since before she received her wolf.

Which was strange, and while she did ask—He wasn't allowed to say.

But with Darius' inner monolog and input once in a while, it was rather hilarious when he would say something funny and Sage would have to act like there wasn't a voice in her head egging her on.

Everyone just assumed that it was her sassy side or her gaining the ability to talk back, but realistically she was copying what Darius mumbled and used it for her own.

Which she would apologies for later, and he would just laugh it off on his own.

I'm here for you darling, my words aren't patented.

Her overall favorite is when she'd catch her own shadow move on its own, and not mirror her own body's movements.

Right now, however, she was with Mikey in her living room. Of course Remus was upstairs in his office—He wanted to spend more time at home, but realistically that just meant he wasn't as far as the packhouse if she needed him.

"He won't pick up if it's the house or my number..."
"I have a phone too, type his number?" Mikey took the phone with hesitation, he knew his brother's number by heart. They used to talk all the time, but now their relationship was ruined because he left.

Left and joined another family.

So Sage wrapped an arm around him and kissed his temple. "Maybe I can yell at him too..." She whispered, and it earned her a grin—How scared would he be?
Getting yelled at by his former pack's new Luna?

With the number typed into the phone, Sage didn't waste another second before hitting the call button, causing the phone to instantly start to ring.

Do you think he's going to try and kiss your ass? You are his previous pack's Luna, remember what Remus said? He didn't denounce you or Remus as leaders. So realistically you can just order him back.

No. I want him to come for family. Not because I said to do it, because I asked.

Look at you, reigning over your kingdom.

The number rang for a long time, and Mikey felt his heart was about to burst. But of course wolves were always cautious about random numbers calling them, so it was at the last ring where it was finally picked up.

"Afternoon, Enforcer Dixon speaking," Alright, well she hadn't been told he's an Enforcer, but that made sense. Their mother and father were, until their father retired the position to mourn his mate.

"Hey Max..." Mikey whispered, and the line was silent before the male on the other end of the phone sighed. "Mikey, bud you can't keep calling all the time. It's—"
"Mikey didn't call, I called." Sage's voice came in to interrupt them, and perhaps over the phone her Alpha tone didn't pick up—But it earned her a growl.

"Did you get your girlfriend to call me for you bud? That's pretty—"
"She's not my girlfriend!" Mikey said in complete and utter embarrassment, his face was red and he already felt like balling his eyes out.

"No. I'm not Mikey's girl-friend....My name is Sage, Luna of Crescent Moon." Max had grown silent, and while Mikey was previously embarrassed. He held back his own laughter at the fact that his brother was probably squirming about it.

"My apologies Luna Sage, how can I help you?"
"Mikey says you supposed to come for his pup ceremony?... Why didn't you come?"

Huh, acts all big and tough to his brother but then turns into a little pup when you state your title. Males don't like being called out on their shit, Sage, remember that. It's universal to all races and species.

"I uh...The pup ceremony here was low on numbers and—"
"So you can't come to your brother's ceremony because you have work?"
"Y-yes Luna."
"Are you sure you're Mikey's brother?"
"Yes...I am--I just..." Sage turned her attention from the phone to see Mikey awaiting for a response. Shaking for even.

"You don't want to come to Crescent Moon?... And when he calls, you say it's annoying. That's not being a good brother, Dixon."

"No it's not Luna, and I apologies for my behavior."
"Apologizing to me or to Mikey?" Sage had moved her arm enclosing the young pup to pull him in further into her hold. Shushing him and reminding him of her promise.

That it will all turn out okay.

"I'm sorry bud, I should've made the time to come...I know how scared and worried you were about shifting for the first time." Sage hummed and nodded along for a moment but nothing else came.

And perhaps it was her hormonal mind getting rather fed up by his 'enforcer macho' but she waited to hear what he promised but nothing came.

"Disappointed Dixon, you leave your dad and siblings."
"I found my mate, Luna. I just...I needed to leave the pack."
"You did not leave the pack, that's the problem. You promise things for your brother and sister and then you don't do them!" Mikey's shoulders hitched, and even Remus who was working on spreadsheets piqued his ear towards how angry his mate sounded.

Though, then again...Sage either saw it as having no family or having a loving and caring one. The Dixon's did not fit in at either side.

"It sounds like they lost you too...It sounds like you don't care."

"I do care!"
"You don't call! Only Mikey calls, and then you say he's annoying you!" It was easy to feel the submission through the phone, especially when his uncomfortable swallow was caught by the phone's audio.

Hooked and sink Wolfie, finish him off.

"What's the plan Max, I can help you...Or you not in pack anymore." Remus smiled, he didn't have to hold back on the front but goddess was his mate ruthless.

A Luna who shouldn't be reckoned with.

"I'd like to visit...If I could?"
"How long?"
"It's...It's complicated to explain, Luna Sage. My mate's parents died and our house is full of her siblings too. I don't want to have to move everyone." Sage thought for a moment, and questioned how many siblings his mate had.

The total of five new members wasn't too bad, but it did make it harder to propose to Remus.

Remmy?

What's up munchkin?

Max has mate and Mate's siblings, too many to move to the pack?

Nah hun, we have those new buildings being commissioned, it's for the new generation and incoming members from other packs.

So it's okay?

You have my okay, are you sure you want to do this? I know you want to fix the family, but what if it causes more problems?

Remus was always thinking ahead, something Sage couldn't imagine herself ever doing. She lived life day by day and the only really set date she had in mind was when the pup was going to be born.

This was extremely different.

Don't let your hot wolfie mate psych you out, you've already gotten this far Sage...You scared Max half to death, better finish it off. You don't mess with Crescent Moon pups. And besides, he's running away from his own problems and making more for Mikey and Michelle. He needs to pick it up too, he's the oldest.

Darius was right, Luke would never let his brothers down like this.

"It's okay with Remus. Figure out what you need to, and Max?"
"Yes Luna?"
"Answer phone when brother or sister call."
"Yes Luna...Can I speak to Mikey in private for a minute?" It was telling, was the pup going to get yelled at? He was shaking with anxiety and anticipation that it was difficult for Sage to properly decide.

Mikey doesn't hide things from you, just go to the kitchen...You'll still be able to hear it, hell—I think Remus can hear the conversation from upstairs.

You're lying. Remmy can't hear from—Oh. That's not fair.

Sounds like wolfieee mate is in troubleeeeee!

Darius continued to sing in her mind and so she went off into the kitchen like he instructed but then looked down to her shadow.

You're a silly demon.

But that's why you keep me around, otherwise I'd be on mute half the time.

I can put you on mute? Like tv?

Yeah, I'm just spewing out nonsense at this point. Usually you're suppose to talk to me first and all that but hey, I don't mind.

Putting you on mute sounds mean.

In the mist of talking to her demon, Sage had missed the conversation Mikey had with Max and thus...She was left with the pup just holding up her phone to return it.

"Thank you, Luna...I'm so excited! Can I tell Michelle?"
"Wait, when Max tells you when everyone is coming...Okay?" The pup agreed and he looked at the clock.

"I'm going to be late for training! Thank you, Luna Sage, for everything!" Her dismissal was the usual ruffle through his hair, and before she knew it, she was alone and one monument had been climbed.

Course she did have Ally's party to go to tomorrow, so she gathered the gifts and went to work at the kitchen table. She really didn't know what to get her, so a follow-up from Luke suggestion of gift cards and anything involving Starbucks.

Remus helped her pick out a few things besides a gift card, it wasn't that hard to wrap the gifts. But Sage made it very pretty looking, making a large gift basket with goodies in it and candy.

So when her mate came downstairs he chuckled.

"Our pups are really going to enjoy Easter in this house, huh hun?"
"I like egg hunt. Cute."
 "And this? Ally's turning eighteen, that's almost not pup territory."
"But I saw basket wrapping idea on computer...Is it bad?" He cooed the much-needed reassurances and she wasn't convinced until he sat next to her.

"It's very extra, I think she'll like it."
"Mary uses that word a lot, extra..."
"Yeah, extra—Going above and beyond what you're supposed to do."
"That sounds good, and it's easy to carry." Having gone to his phone he frowned, he forgot what the time was and so he turned off towards Sage.

"Munchkin..." He warned, and her head popped up from the side of the basket in attention.
"Remmy..." She met him with the same tone and he crossed his arms.

"I'm this close to getting you a watch." Looking underneath all the supplies she unlocked her phone to see that it was already one o'clock in the afternoon, and so she smiled off to her mate.

What a big fluffy hypocrite, better set him straight too, wolfie—You're the only one who can get away with talking back to him.

Of course, Darius was rooting her on, even when she peeked at her shadow—her arm was shaped to be pointing at her mate.

"Getting you one too." She playfully growled—though he repeated at a strictly lower volume right beside her ear as her comment earned her a kiss on the cheek. Until his hand gestured for her head to turn and he was able to capture her lips.

"Sassy today huh?" She nodded with a kind smile on her face as she leaned up to him now for another kiss. "Tomorrow we sleep in?"
"Hmm, and breakfast in bed." The idea made her excited to go to bed, but she had to get through a few things today—And one included tending to the garden and socializing with a few of the reformed females.

To say Sage was getting into the groove of being Luna was an understatement.

And to think the Elwoods thought her to be a tracker or runner.
Instead, she was gifted to be everything and anything.

______

Date: 09/06/2021

Time: 11:54

Words: 2068

Author's Note:

Have a few things to look forward to! 
-Ally's birthday and Max coming back to Crescent Moon

What could possibly go wrong?👀😂