* * *

With the Ceremony a massive success, Remus was starting to feel much better in terms of how the pack felt about Sage.

What better way than to just make the she-wolves acting disrespectful than to just leave the circle?
Of course they came and filed a complaint, but Remus kindly reminded them that they were the ones to make a situation worse, even as Sage attempted to end it by dismissing Mrs.Snyders. Which didn't surprise him when the elder attempted to make it sound like Sage was out for her as well.

Whatever picture she was painting for Sage was making it clear that both she and Kelly were tainting Sage's image.

"Mrs. Snyders, Sage is not 'playing' with the Rogues. She was asked by the council to help with the Reformed. Most have joined the pack."
"They act like they haven't! They swarm around her, they take her orders and do nothing to help the pack."

"As I recall, Mrs.Snyders, you were a stay-at-home mother raising four pups—The ones who have joined the pack turned into warriors and hunters. But thank you for the reminder Mrs.Snyders, I believe you are up for a job—I'm sure Gigi would love your help in the kitchens."
"T-the Kitchens?!"

"Am I wrong? Are you working somewhere else?"

"I've been here all my life! I've birthed three sons and a daughter!"

"Yes, you have. But what else? Your past complaints have been all about the hunters, warriors, and teachers not doing their job correctly. So you will be in the kitchens for a week. Unless you'd like to take a punishment from my father's book, I suggest you take the kitchen option."
"Your father wouldn't have let this happened! He wouldn't have let that Rogue be Luna!"

"My father would've adored my mate, he would've fed off her stories like they were war stories. He would've worshiped the ground she walked on because she lived through hell!" Remus had lost all sense of control and he was no towering over the short elder.

"Your title has been stripped Snyder, you are no longer a subordinate." For someone like this woman, being an Omega was worse than death. Especially when she cracked and started on an entire sob story and Remus couldn't handle it anymore.

"If you're careful enough, you can earn it back. But one more misstep I will not hesitate with taking one of my father's favorite punishments...You're familiar with it, correct?" It was dark, and perhaps it was partly on the fact that Sage was not on pack ground.
That she and the pup weren't here.

Which meant Eli and Jack traveled with her along with Julia and Blake, as it's the final goodbye to Arabella. It couldn't just be a one-day trip, Sage needed at least one to recuperate. And Issac promised that nothing would happen at all.

Snyder sniffled and craned her neck in submission as she was dismissed. However, Remus called her back which caused her to still and turn back in waiting.

"Remind Kelly if you get the chance? I'm not so sure she recalls what my father liked to do with disobedient pack members."
"Yes, Alpha." The second his office door closed, his wolf rumbled with relief that at least one problem would be solved before Sage returns.

"That sounds like you handled it, Alpha."
"Yeah, but I rather not snap an old lady's neck for it either."
"I'm on edge too sir, the pack's feeling that the Luna left the pack."
"What?"
"Yep, the pups that shifted especially. And Gigi's going to be pissed you sent Snyder to the kitchens." Remus was about to respond but the flashing light on the landline caused him to tell the Gamma he was free to return.

"Crescent Moon, Alpha Remus speaking." He greeted, and the woman on the other line chuckled. "Adorable Alpha, is Sage there? She's not picking up her phone."
"No, she's visiting Grey Hallow. Is everything alright?"
"Of course, and maybe it's better that I got a hold of you instead. We managed to secure Sage's memories and have been analyzing them to see what else we can learn..."
"What did you find?"
"Sage was born on June 6th...She's going to be twenty-three." Remus' mouth parted, he hadn't really thought about her birthday. Not that he really thought of his own that much either, but he found himself smiling.

"Are you calling to make sure I throw her a birthday party, Mrs.Warren?"
"I absolutely am, my sister is putting together all the other things we found—Drawings we've managed to sketch, names. But we still haven't figured out who the vampire is. Even one of my coven member's mates couldn't identify him."
"What could that mean?"

"He's old, Enzo believes he could be an ancient." It was a cruel conversation, to showcase such a glorious thing as a birthday for Sage—But then to top it off with no leads on 'master'.

"Any word on Raven? Sage was really shaken up over her dream."
"We're making progress, I've sent some girls to attend auctions to see if the humans managed to find a way in. But no luck yet. Better spoil your mate rotten, Alpha." He agreed right away, he was sure to make this unforgettable.

It was going to be her first celebrated birthday and he couldn't wait, and Shawn couldn't understand what his Alpha was smiling so brightly about.

"Everything okay?"
"Yep, I have a party to plan."
"What?"
"Sage's birthday is the 6th." Shawn rubbed the side of his head, sometimes his Alpha thinks faster than the speed of life but other times he couldn't concentrate on a single topic.

Shawn knew it was because Sage is away in Grey Hallow, that was a given. Even he was feeling antsy to when she and the party would return home.

However, Shawn is also a father—A father of three children and saw how hovering Remus was to his phone. Whether it is a text from any one of the members visiting the pack, he jumped—Always thinking something had happened or something was wrong.

"Ah, I got it now," Shawn said snapping his fingers with a bright grin on his face, and it earned the Alpha's attention, just with a risen brow.

"Get what?"
"Sage is pregnant."
"Goddess, am I that obvious?"
"During the run with the pups? Yes sir you were, but I was like that too—Checking the phone every five minutes to make sure Jessi didn't need me. Made Leo nuts." Remus thought he was going to get teased, or he would've had Jack and Eli been here.

But Shawn is a father, he went through it all.

"I didn't think she was going to get pregnant...I hoped yeah but it—It actually happened." Shawn was older, he was Leo's age at that. And part of the reason Shawn was chosen as Gamma is that there was a small part of Remus, a very small part, that wanted a father figure.

While it didn't work in the way that he hoped, he was otherwise happy that he figured out the truth.

"Sir, have you really sat down and enjoyed it yet?"
"Of course I have, Sage and I looked through my old things in the attic."
"You mean you dug through his old shit?" Remus' shoulders fell but he ended up nodding in response.

"Look, Remus, your dad was an asshole. He was an asshole to you, to the pack and to the surrounding pack. He abused you and your mother, whether you can remember that far back or not. It's why your brother didn't survive, it's why you almost didn't survive."

The Alpha couldn't have looked paler, he didn't recall when he found out about Romulus not surviving. And he never found the truth if he died from birth or his first attempt at shifting.

To make matters worse, nobody was there other than his parents to confirm or deny the rumors.
So it was lost to his parents and died with them.

But he hadn't realized that Randal was abusive even before his mom died. And the longer that Shawn spoke about it, everything became clearer.

When it was quiet for a while, Shawn sighed and apologized for speaking out of turn. But Remus waved it off, sometimes the Alpha needed to spoken to like a normal pack member.

This was that time.

"You're right, what you said to Snyder. Randal would've loved Sage, not because she was broken. But because she's a damn strong female that didn't take shit from anyone. If she escaped and came here years ago, I think he would've accepted her as Luna right away. And you know what? He wouldn't have given two shits what the pack would've said, let alone Snyder. He would've killed her a long time ago anyway." Remus chuckled, but not because of the last comment.

"Think he's turning around in his grave, you calling him by his first name."
"Remus you aren't going to make your children call you Alpha, you aren't going to let anything happen to them, you aren't going to leave them with a pile of shit after he dies."
"How did you know I was—"
"Because it's written all over your face, and if I was scared of being a father then you'll have those same fears times two." It was clear that that was the truth as Remus divulged his fears.

"You think Sage would put up with that treatment?"
"Not a chance, she already was defensive on the idea of me challenging our pup before they take the title of Alpha." Shawn laughed, goddess was it perfect.

The reassurance was exactly what Remus needed, especially from an experienced father. And besides that small council session, he was on the way to the Elwood residence—And it was fortunate that Luke and Ellie were visiting.

This was the first time that either Elwood's brother remained home while their Luna was traveling elsewhere, though Liam did want to go, he had his own pack obligations as did Luke.
Who promised Sage to take care of the reformed.

"Alpha! I didn't know you were coming!" Mrs.Elwood said with a bright smile and kissed his cheek in a polite greeting before pulling him into the house.

"I'm sorry to barge in unannounced, but I got a call from Warren. She'll be sending more information of what she collected from Sage's dreams..." Leo nodded, sharing his insights as he wanted to know more on that as well.

While Liam and Luke looked adamant, Ellie simply cuddled further into her mate. He was completely honest on everything he experienced, and perhaps he held in all the pain as he was reduced to being an emotional mess.

Leaving Elenor to soothe his worries.

She couldn't imagine what it was like being there herself, but sometimes he could catch her mate go back there—Even if it was for a minute.

"She also told me Sage's birthday is the 6th." Luke and Liam looked at one another in complete and utter disbelief.

"A-are you sure?" Liam questioned, and Remus nodded, not understanding why the two brothers were acting the way they were.

"Sir...That's the day we escaped," Luke said, and it was clear that this was not just a coincidence. This was a big moment for all three of them, and Remus felt like the biggest idiot in the world not knowing when they escaped or when they even arrived in Crescent Moon.

"So are we throwing a banger or—"
"CALEB!"
"I'm just saying, it's Sage's first real birthday and it's the day they escaped. I say a banger." The second eldest explained, and honestly...Remus liked that idea, though it wouldn't be all proper like a Luna's birthday usually would be.

He was thinking more of a bonfire with grilled and fried food, and as he went over the ideas with the Elwoods—All of them were eager to help.

Especially since it's meant to be a surprise.

However, he didn't realize he absolutely hated being alone in the house, so he distracted himself with impulsive purchases for the pup. Did he spend too much money?
Yes, but he had a surplus, he hardly ever spent anything on himself.

The house upgrade had been the most he's ever spent, and it only continued when Sage needed things. A whole wardrobe, she went through training clothes so quickly that he had to be the one to tell her to pick more out.

So was he that surprised when he realized that he charged nearly a thousand dollars onto his card? But he couldn't wait, especially when he saw the outline of what Sage wanted to draw on the wall.

Remus found himself taking a seat in the beanbag Sage put in here when she was planning out the room, and he sat in here for a good hour waiting for Sage's call for the night.

It was a full turnaround, him sitting in here like Sage had when they first moved in. But now it was going to be a reality, in four months or so this room would be occupied with a lil pup and he just—he couldn't believe it.

His smile was starting to quiver, and he tried to blink away the tears but it was a complete failure. "You would've loved her mom, we didn't walk about names yet...Maybe if the pup's a girl we have her middle name be yours." Remus sighed in relief, he didn't talk to his mom out loud often, but it was moments like these that it felt right to reach out to her.

He considered himself a patient man, but he was starting to want it more and more. And it wasn't even June yet, the pup would be coming near August. Then they would emerge from the den grounds somewhere in September.

"We have to interview for nannies." He breathed, rubbing his hand against his eyes as he knew he needed sleep. But even if he tried, his wolf whined out for his mate and unborn pup to be with him.

If it was anyone else other than Issac and Mary, or perhaps Harlow and Jade—He would've gone with. But his wolf felt that she was in good hands.

His phone rang and he hadn't dared let the call go to its second ring once he caught Sage's picture. The connection took a moment but he was greeted with the tired face of his mate, her face illuminated from the light on her phone.

"Hey Remmy." She said with a smile before it turned into a yawn.
"Hey...You sound tired munchkin, what'd you do all day?" He questioned, though he knew regardless. On the premise that Sage was carrying his pup, both Eli, Jack, and Blake kept him up to what she was doing.
Mostly it was in the company of Mary and the couple with the pup.

She was never alone without a pack member near her.

"That sounds like a full day hun."
"Yeah, Ara loves her dads. It's so cute, and she really happy."
"They have you to thank, I know Ian and Joe were waiting a while to have the chance to be parents."
"Like us?"
"Like us. How about I get ready for bed and we'll talk in bed?" She nodded, smiling as she watched Remus through the phone go through his nightly routine before eventually falling into bed with the lights off.

"I wish I bring Honey, he smells like you. Can help me sleep."
"Damn, I didn't think about that. But you're coming home soon, and we can start working on the pup room a little bit more." She nodded, smiling brightly and just staring at him fondly.

"What's that look for, munchkin?"
"Just happy, wish we can tell Mary and Issac."
"Soon, we can't keep it from the pack much longer." While the couple did stay up a little while, Sage was the first to fall asleep—And he couldn't help but place her onto the pillow facing him.

"I love you munchkin, you and mini munchkin." A whine escaped Sage, she surely heard his voice through the thickness of sleep.

When morning came, Remus didn't even think about his alarm clock. And a frustrated growl came from his phone, causing his to let out a husky chuckle.

"Morning hun..." Pulling up the blanket in defiance did he laugh even further, she hated mornings before—But now they were worse with the addition of being nauseous.

"Do you have a glass of water ready?"
"Hmm, Kenzie right. Helps." She said, taking a few gulps of the cold water before she turns to look back on the phone.

"We stayed on phone all night?"
"Yeah, maybe we should do that again tonight. It makes my wolf feel better hearing you."
"Okay, I call you after lunch and tonight?" Remus hated ending the call, but if he didn't he knew that they wouldn't get off the phone at all.

The good mood of hearing Sage's voice stayed throughout, even when he had a hefty schedule of hearing how pissed Gigi was in turning her kitchen into a punishment for naughty she-wolves. But he just batted a smile and claimed that she was the type of humble to beat some sense into whoever he sends in.

Sage, on the other hand, was facing a dilemma. She knew from the first time in meeting Jade that breasts were for pups and that her body was now producing milk for the future. But she didn't say how sore they would be, even if she tried to massage it herself or take a shower.

And to top it all off, her bra was making it worse.

She didn't want to call Remus back and ask what to do, she also didn't mention the email he sent to her and his three males. Apparently Snyder had come and earned herself an Omega title and punishment in the kitchen.

While she wished Remus told her, she was still happy that the rude elder who went to complain earned a punishment.

A knock on the door commenced, and she could lightly smell Eli on the other side. "Luna, are you up?"
"Yeah, I need help." He only hesitated to peek his head in, seeing her on the floor by her suitcase and he came on in.

She already took a shower as her hair was damp, but the pout on her face was what drew him closer. "What's wrong?"
"Bras don't fit." She said with a sniffle, and Eli sighed.

"Let's see if we can get you a bigger one, yeah? That's what Julia's for, she's your Beta Female." "But she don't know about pup."
"No, she doesn't know about the pup, but she does know this pack, I'll go tell her you need some new ones." After wiping her eyes she managed to pull herself together while Eli had to formulate a lie.

It wasn't that hard, he simply said that since Sage was still gaining the appropriate weight, she alternating sizes left and right. Since Julia was still new to the pack, she took the lie right away. So she brought a boatload of them and left Sage before she could realize what the actual issue was.

Eli informed both Jack and Blake of what happened, and it wasn't that hard to see that Sage was uncomfortable with her body changing. Which ultimately left the Beta to call their Alpha, as it fit the category of needing to call.

Remus was proud of the way it was handled, though he wished he could cater to his mate when she was feeling so uncomfortable. So instead he managed to fill the closet with a few bras in a bigger size just in case.

But it was safer to get them in another pack to arouse suspicion just yet. His free time, however...He managed to plan a bonfire party for his beautiful mate.

Now he just had to figure out a gift to get her, something that she doesn't have already...

______

Date: 08-06-2021

Time: 11:27

Words: 3412

Author's Note:

The truth is out! Sage's age and birthday are revealed!

Also, a peek at a new character!
Enzo the vampire, who is apart of Warren's coven💕
He'll be popping up here and there👀

Alright, see you Monday! Have a good weekend🤗