* * *

"Alright, link me if you're feeling sick or tired. Do you have your phone?" Sage held up her purse and just as Remus was gearing up for another question, she stopped him by leaning upwards for a kiss.

As she knew there was no world where he could deny her such a simple piece of affection.

"Liam is Ally's mate...Don't want to miss!" Remus rolled his eyes, of course it was an adorable time to see a couple recognize each other. But right, now Remus was trying to pump himself up for a night by himself.

It was both his Beta and Delta that reminded him that Sage rarely had time with her friends as everyone had their own schedule—And she probably wouldn't have much left once the pups were born.

So he kissed her temple and allowed her to go off with Blake for the next few hours, though her Charge was on strict orders that if she was feeling ill or tired that he was to inform Remus immediately.

Blake borrowed the Alpha's truck and reminded Sage, firmly, that he wasn't going to be covering for her if she wanted to stay longer. Even her best pout didn't work, and on the ride over to Ally's home, Blake knew he was in for a long night.

Not only was Noel instantly in his range, but this party was filled with pups and alcohol. A dangerous combination that he wondered if Remus had a suspicion on this end, course Ally was a drunken mess already. 

And Sage smelled it instantly but withheld the wince as she kindly rubbed the birthday girl's cheek.

This was turning into a big mistake, a Luna shouldn't be in this type of environment—Or that's what Blake was thinking at the very least.
Much less a pregnant one.

Luckily Luke and Elenor hadn't wasted another moment before taking a protective stance around them. "Can't picture you getting drunk like these pups, Sage...I'm surprised Remus let you come." Ellie said, and Blake laughed.

"You think the Alpha's going to know that pups are having all this...stuff? He can't know everything at once." Sage blinked in confusion but then started to slowly understand that it was the same alcoholic beverage that was at her Luna ceremony.

"No...he don't know, and I get drunk before." Like two overprotective parents, both Luke and Elenor demanded a story. And Sage had been lost for words, had she said something wrong?

"I swear to the fucking goddess above, if you make her cry after all of ten minutes of being here I'm going to lose my shit," Blake growled, and Luke rallied one that mirrored it.

"Sagey, what are you doing getting drunk?"
"I don't know I get drunk, wine tastes really good." Elenor was a gawking mess, but Luke had to remind his mate that Sage didn't have any tolerance to any type of alcohol.

It was also in celebration of Arabella's adoption, so it wasn't by herself—All the wolves present were just as shocked.

"Where Liam?"
"Dad has him still patrolling, he spent a lot of money on Ally's gift. You'd think they both would know by now without your intuition." Luke chuckled in record of his brother already being whipped without knowing for sure or without mating.

If he received a smug look from Sage, he couldn't wait for what she brewed on for Liam when he finally showed up. Course it left Sage in anticipation, and she walked around and kindly smiled at the drunken pup population that was here.

Course they all said a polite hello or let out a mumbled prayer the pup is okay after everything.

This isn't really your scene, is it?

No, it smells funny and I can't drink that stuff or it hurts Rue. I don't want to be mean, but I'm bored.

I bet I can help, how about we play a game?

What kind of game?

To test that intuition out, Wolfie. We have to build its strength. It can do much more than just predict mate couples or Rogue attacks. Look at the clock, tell me when you think Liam is coming.

Sage took a long gaze at the clock, then at the door and frowned. How was she supposed to know when he was coming?
And down to the minute?

How?

Same way how you do it when it involves mates, and no cheating in asking when he's coming. We have to start learning it sooner or later.

What? Why?

It's going to help in the future, especially when the pup comes. He—I mean she—I mean the pup is going to be a trouble maker.

It's Roe...Remmy's right?

I didn't say anything.

She felt the connection drop and was rather bummed that Darius left her with a task without much guidance. So she looked at the clock, not daring to deviate from her position as she tried to feel for the time. Though to those near her, it looked as though she couldn't wait to leave.

"What'd I tell you about staring at the clock?"
"Goes slower, trying to guess when Liam is coming."
"You can just link him and ask when his shift it—" His voice grew into a mumble as Sage placed her hand against his mouth.

"Shh, con-cent-trating."
"Concentrating. Yeah alright, so when is the lucky male coming?" With the question being asked, it came to her. And a smile grew just as wide.

"8:55."
"That's in two minutes Sagey, I think we should put a bet on it." She perked her lips and shook her head. "Remmy said not to make bets."
"Alright, how about this...Ellie made a blanket for the pup, if you're right you get it now. If you get it wrong you have to wait until the pup comes." She gasped, nodding and giving her brother a shake and a grin, there was one minute left on the clock and she felt rather good about the bet.

"Can keep secret that I made a bet?"
"Yeah, I'm not a squealer—Well, no promises if I'm drunk drunk." She snorted, poking him in the stomach at the idea of this big monster future Master of Arms drunk.

"Are you funny drunk or are you a scary drunk?"
"Am I scary now, munchkin?"
"That's Remmy's name for me, and Remmy and I are sleeping in tomorrow so drop off blanket after." His head recoiled for a moment, but he caught his brother just entering into the rented house and he chuckled.

"Cheers to the new couple." He said tilting up the solo cup, Luke was babysitting his sister as Blake had a little fun with Noel.
Perhaps not the best distraction when watching the pregnant Luna, but it was harmless—And Luke wasn't going to be drinking that much where he wouldn't be incapable of protecting her when the time came.

Both were watching Liam weave through the crowd only to stop rather abruptly when spotting Ally. Sage thought she looked beautiful tonight, older. Perhaps it was the Crescent Moon's peeking age where you no longer look like a young pup.

"Hey brother, have you seen—"
"Shh Caleb, we're finally seeing the age-old question come to life." The second eldest Elwood had caught what both Luke and Sage were staring off behind him, and he threw his head back and laughed.

"Did you call mom yet?"
"No, leave them alone," Sage growled in defense, and Caleb pouted. "Sagey that's not fairrrrrr! He's younger than me and found his mate! When's mine coming? Can I make a request on that premonition?" She blinked for a moment and then shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I don't know how it works. Just happens..." She wanted to include that she'd tell him when she comes to figure it out but she didn't. Especially when Eli had mentioned not telling males, to keep it a secret as they had done for Liam and Julia.

Caleb was going off to tell Cameron when Sage leaned into Luke. "He's meeting mate soon too."

"Goddess you're a little devil, are you practicing or is it the pup?"

Huh, pretty boy has a brain on his head too. Or am I confusing him with Liam...? Suppose he would catch on eventually. And I'm the little devil here!

Shhhh, already have a headache.

No, that's the wolf weed you're smelling. Better tell your brother, that's not really good for the pup.

"Hey Lu? What's bad smell?" She said, it truly was giving her a headache and a siren erupted in her head as she held her breath. "What—Oh." He motioned for her to pull up her shirt over her mouth and nose as Luke stormed the given few steps to the given pups.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" He yelled, though the music masked his anger fairly well

"S-sir...I didn't—" The poor she-wolf had looked horrified to see a high ranking male catching her smoking out of a bong.

But even worse when she saw her pregnant Luna off behind him covering her nose. "L-Luna I'm—I'm so sorry!" She started crying, clearly affected by the wolf's weed and Luke sighed.

Who was he kidding, he did the same at her age...But he glared at the group and dismissed it, as the Luna wasn't going to be staying that much longer anyhow.

"It smells funny..."
"Yeah, it's weed, Sage. It makes you feel like uh—You're floating."
"Oh, weed is illegal?... I remember Jack talking to naughty pups." Luke nodded, but what Sage needed to understand was this was normal behavior for pups.

"Remmy smoke?"
"Yeah prob—Actually I don't know, might have to ask him, hun. That's a personal question, I could be wrong." Sage nodded, she was sure to ask him later.

However, with the pounding music and the mix of unhealthy food and cake, Sage hardly held on as ten rolled around. Luke was shocked she managed for that long anyway.

He linked Blake saying that he'd bring Sage home, as he was otherwise preoccupied.

Darius?

What's up my dear Wolfie?

Do demons have mates?

Yep, most species have mates. We're similar to you and Vampires actually—Or you in terms of having children. We have to 'mate' with a certain person for a child to be produced, but two demons make a different type of demon.

Oh, what kind of demon are you?

I'm a born demon, it makes me more powerful and higher ranked than those who become it after they passed on to the afterlife.

You're old?

Hey now, no need to be rude!

Luke had caught Sage's smile and narrowed his brows, he must've missed what a pup said—Though she always seemed to be making herself laugh up there in her own head.

"Something funny?"
"No. Room really hot." He supposed it was stuffy, but in trying to remember when mom was pregnant—It made sense that the room is hot. Or so he assumes at the very least.

"Why do pups want to do weed?"
"Uh, I guess it's the thrill of doing something against the rules, and they like floating."
"Do you like floating?"
"Nope, not after mom and dad found out. It's illegal for a reason, makes pups do dumb things. Like the age restriction for alcohol? Pups don't make good decisions." She was starting to understand the notion that pups liked to do things against the rules.

That they were crazy.

"I wonder what my pup going to be like." She thought out loud, and Luke smirked. "Well, I'm picturing this lil furball running around the house not wanting to shift to skin because his mama likes to be in fur too."
"Pup's a girl."
"Pup's a boy and I have money on it, even with your intuition." Sage blinked up to her brother and shook her head.

"I don't have intuition on pup, I'm guessing—And I want a girl."
"Not a son?"
"Full house of pups." He hummed at the feeling, as he too had a similar life plan.

"That sounds like a handful, Sagey. Sure you can handle it."
"I have your family, but Remmy doesn't have family. Only me. I want big family for him." Remus had heard the oncoming voices easy enough, he was just in the pup room reliving a dream he had last night.

He was setting the pup back to sleep all on his own because Sage needed a break—Remus knew that after the birth and being in fur the week following that Sage was going to be exhausted.

Remus wanted nothing more than to be able to hold the pup—His pup.

His wolf would pace whenever the idea popped into his head, would the pup have his fur coat? Sage's eyes?
What were the dominant traits, would it help in finding her birth pack in seeing the differences?

But goddess, he felt like he was in pure bliss at the idea of Sage wanting a big family. He hoped it would translate and the moon goddess would deliver.

"Remmy?" His head turned off towards the door and he didn't waste another moment before coming downstairs to greet both Sage and Luke. Though the look he gave caused Luke to explain it, yet it was a smell that lingered on the two that caused the Alpha to frown.

"Weed smells funny." That sounded horrible, which led Luke to confirm that she herself hadn't smoked any—And that the pups who were, were going to face his wrath in training over the next few days.

"Thanks for bringing her home," Remus said and it was hardly difficult, yet the Alpha was planning to talk to Blake in the morning.

"Oh! Liam and Ally are mates!"
"I didn't doubt that for a second." He beamed, kissing her temple though making a sharp face as the wolf's weed smelled strongly in her hair.

"Think she's practicing, she even predicted when Liam was coming to the party...Maybe that's something we can work on—Alright, Goodnight!" Her brother called out, and Sage hummed at the quietness of the home.

"Have to take a shower or bath, hun. You smell like you were smoking."
 "I'm not, Luke says it's bad for the pup."
"It's a nono in general."
"Luke says he do it before. You do it before too?" Remus stilled, much like a pup would if their parent asked the question instead of a mate.

"I don't care, I have questions."
"Alright alright you caught me, but only a few times. I got caught with it and didn't want to risk it anymore." She blinked for a moment trying to digest what her mate said. Just not in so many words.

What he means is his dad beat his ass for smoking, but that's probably what all wolfie parents do when they catch their kids smoking. Humans are like that too, it's illegal Sage—It's a drug.

She was thankful for Darius translating through what Remus said, because otherwise, it would've gone over her head. "Taste funny too?"
"I don't know if I should be worried you want to try it or not, munchkin." After making a face and making a half growl half grumble sound he sighed.

"It tastes like you ate a mouthful of ash, and most of the time it burns the back of your throat."
"That doesn't sound very fun."
"It's like drinking beer, some don't taste good but we want the effects it gives." While it made sense as a whole, Sage didn't really understand why someone would want to feel high or drunk.

But a wave of tiredness washed over her and she decided enough was enough.

"Let me wash your hair, this stuff lingers."
"But I'm tired!" She pouted, but Remus was not having any of it. His wolf was eager to get the scent off her, it was messing with her sweet aroma of being a pregnant female.

His pregnant female.

A sudden whoosh of emotion had hit Sage, so she tilted her head off towards her mate and nodded. Not realizing what the difference really made, but ultimately it was making his wolf upset and anxious. So she humored him and stood in the shower underneath the running water while he scrubbed her clean.

And perhaps shared a kiss or two.

What she really enjoyed was the end, when her mate would dry her up and make sure she was warm and comfortable. And that followed in bed together as well, letting her get the first position and he simply followed in after.

"Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, Ally looked really pretty today...And Caleb is meeting mate soon."
"I'm running out of houses for all these new couples. Should I just commission a new neighborhood?" A yawn escaped as she nodded.

"And Jack meet his mate soon, yay Delta female." And just like that, Sage was out like a light. And Remus was left with the conclusion that she did manage to control her superpower, even if it was the smallest of any inclination to the future.

______

Date: 09/08/2021

Time: 11:37 (Look at me, I did it before midnight!)

Words: 2943

Author's Note:
T-Minus 10 Chapters!!
This leaves Lacking Humanity: Mystic Grimm to finish posting in just two weeks!

I'm excited, are you?

While I'm not sure when I'll start posting the third book, I will post a sneak peek and snippet that weekend to be able to mark this book as complete✨
But we still have plenty of time for things to change--Any guesses on what the next title of the book might be?

See you Friday🤗