* * *

Remus had a tally of his best nights, the first was easy to call back on. The night he returned to his room after meeting Sage. He never felt so relieved and so devoted to someone who he'd just met.

It was a tie between two for second place, in order it was the first time they slept together, purely innocent since it happened over the Elwood's. After he learned the absolute fear she had over collars.
The one following that was the first night in their house.
Yet the first time they mated was a different category altogether, the feeling of being complete never felt so fulfilling than that.

As it coexisted with the days of her heat and they slept in utter exhaustion to wake up and do it all over again.

But today...He felt hot.
Sweating hot—And the banging on the door downstairs felt like a numb ringing as he move up, just not in the way that he was hoping.

He hadn't realized he slept in his fur, which was why he was so damn hot. The windows weren't open and the air conditioner wasn't on. Even then he had cuddled up beside Sage's wolf regardless.

Blinking around in confusion did he see the sudden state of their room and he couldn't help but shift back to skin. "...Fuck."

Remus?!

What goddess, what?!

For fuck sakes, could you give me a warning when you decide to sleep the day away?!

What time is it?

Eleven. You missed the meeting with Issac but he was happy to reschedule, Jack and I managed to do the rest. Did the council really take it out of you, Alpha?

Remus couldn't help but look down at Sage in that moment, his hand running through her fur and behind her ear. Earning him a small puff of a whine, but she didn't wake up.

Hell, they broke the damn bed with what they did last night. And his wolf was still thriving on a sex high.

Alpha?

Yeah? Yep? I'm here.

Jack and I couldn't link you this morning or last night.

Am I allowed to have a little privacy, Eli?

Of course, sir...Did I wake up Sage?

Nah, she's snoring away...We'll be over at the packhouse in an hour or so.

Eli was relieved to say the least, but Jack just smirked. "They had fun, can you blame them?" He cheered, and Eli groaned into the air as he continued back towards the packhouse.

"No, but I'd like to get back to my mate."
"Then invite her over too, you can't keep sending her off to do assistant work. Even Sage doesn't do that." It was true, Eli was holding out on Julia helping him with his work.

It felt wrong to burden her with it when she was still getting used to the pack and names with its members. Besides, she was with her niece and he wanted her to spend as much time with the pup before she was dropped off.

Remus on the other hand, was facing a struggle, does he wake up his exhausted and thoroughly satisfied mate or does he allow her to sleep in?

It was only eleven in the morning, he's been back for nearly twenty-four hours, and the majority of the time he was overtaken by his wolf. He couldn't remember the last time that's happened.

Perhaps when Sage had her first heat and he was away--when he turned more wolf than man?

It was clear what happened, his wolf couldn't get enough of the scents lofting around their room. But soon enough the air conditioner clicked on and the room started to grow cooler.

The idea of a shower caught his attention, but he hadn't gotten all that far before Sage shifted and looked at him in confusion, lust, and curiosity.

"How're feeling, hun?" She smiled, holding the shredded blanket to cover her body from the blasting cold air. And he couldn't depict if she was teasing him again or not, and that is how the Alpha persuaded his Luna into taking a shower with him.

To see Sage in that stage of calmness was monumental, she didn't look frightened or worried. Full of smiles and while part of him wanted to believe it was because he was just simply back, but he must've done something right last night.

Or that tranquil feeling would've lessened long ago.

One thing he did have to note was how fresh her mating mark looked, and while he thought of it on the walk towards the Packhouse. His mate growled in confirmation over it.

Jack however was making his way from his cabin off near Blake's and waved to the couple. "Hey, I was just going to pick up Arabella from the Elwood's...Did you want to come?" Sage nodded before Remus could even piece together what was being asked.

"You can meet Arabella, she's so sweet and cute. And very funny." She said up to her mate, kissing his cheek in departure before they separated. And in seeing Remus enter his office alone, a satisfied grin formed.

"What's that look for?"
"Luna unavailable today?"
"No. She's picking up the pup." The two began the work that was due before the end of the month, trying to make the deadlines as the pup ceremony was going to be held and it was a very late affair.

Remus was very excited about this year's ceremony.
While Sage has already done a few pack events as Luna. This was one he knew she was going to enjoy, to see all the pups of age shift for the first time.

And there was a large number this year.

Sage, however, had to link her mate saying that she was going to be late because Arabella had caught sight of a playground. Sure, Sage said ten minutes, but it wasn't enough time for Sage herself to explore what a playground is, leavingJack in a difficult position. So much so that he linked Blake in order to think up a plan.

"You want to pull the Luna away from this, goddess, this is a field day for her."
"Look, Alpha's scheduled a meeting and I'm sure he wants Sage there." The two males were in a bit of a bind, though Sage knew that Arabella was close to a nap—Considering the time and the fact that she was over the Elwoods all morning probably playing with Casey.

So when the two males saw her pick up a rather limp pup, it was clear what she was trying to accomplish.

"Luna?" The voice was foreign in Sage's ears, and thus the she-wolf offered a smile before turning to an elder wolf. One she knew very well now that she connected the scent with the voice and face.

This was the woman who said she was infertile.

"Hello."
"I wanted to ask you about the ceremony, will it be near the water's edge like last year—or at the clearing? I always thought it looked wonderful at the water, the moon and all."
"Oh, I don't know...I can ask—"
"You don't know?" Sage blinked to the elder and shook her head.

"I don't know, but I find out."
"The Luna is supposed to plan the ceremony, I have grandpups shifting this year!" Sage took a cautious step back, the abrupt shout had managed to get more attention from those on the playground.
Especially since Jack and Blake came to the rescue.

"Is something wrong here Luna? Mrs.Snyder?"
"Yes! The Luna isn't doing her job! She's supposed to oversee every detail for the ceremony!" Sage blinked in confusion, the last thing she could figure out was how to put together a ceremony—let alone one she's never attended.

"Actually, the Alpha asked me to put together this year...And it's at the water's edge, a lot of parents favored it over the clearing." Jack could feel the hairs on his own back stand straight when he heard the voice of Kelly come closer.

And Blake turned to look at him in confusion.

That's the Alpha's ex.

Ah, that's the one Sage beat up? Figures, she's a twig.

She's an Omega, that's why.

Omega...Right, yeah well that's still not a Rogue, man. Even the runt of the pack has a spot...Guess Sage hates her.

That's an understatement.

Mrs.Snyder, who had been so fired up had suddenly turned at ease at the presence of Kelly. A polite hand had rested onto the elder's shoulder as she explained the questions that she had asked.

"Why thank you, dearie. Such a shame you weren't the Alpha's chosen mate. Much more capable Luna than this one here is. Playing with Rogues. Gah!" Sage's eyes flickered between Kelly and then the elder.

"Kelly challenged me for Luna and lost. I'm sorry, I don't know how to make ceremony, never see it before." The way Sage spoke was making Blake antsy to get a move on, but it was clear that wasn't the case.

"That's just it then! How can you be Luna of a pack when you've never been in one?" The onlookers were staring at the encounter, wondering what the hell had gotten into Mrs.Snyder, but most knew she was a monster under that fake smile.

This came as no surprise.

"How can Kelly be Luna if she can't beat wolf who never been in a pack?... You are very rude, Snyder."
"Why you ungrateful—You should respect your elders!"
"You are not my elder, if you want to go to ceremony, you stay quiet." Jack sucked in a breath, seeing the woman starting to flare up in a flicker of anger.

But she didn't speak, nor did Kelly as her attention was strictly focused Sage.

And Jack couldn't ignore the sick feeling in his stomach.

"When the year is up, I'll be challenging you again, Sage...Shouldn't get too comfortable." "Challenge again? I make sure you will not challenge again after." Sage retaliated with a growl, turning away abruptly and pushing past either Jack and Blake.
They were mere steps behind her trying to get her to talk.

If pup wasn't in my arms I would've killed. Quiet.

Neither male had been more thankful for Arabella in their lives as they were helpless in Sage storming into the packhouse and up to her mate's office—But that was after she settled the pup into the old room she and Remus used to sleep in.

Finally, she stood in front of her mate's desk and crossed her arms, he knew something was wrong. And if that wasn't obvious enough, Blake and Jack's wide eyes were scared half to death.

"Munchk—"
"No." Eli sucked in a breath and calmly made his way from behind the Alpha and away, as far as he was concerned. He was in the target zone.

"Sage, what's wrong?"
"I suppose to plan pup ceremony?" She question, and Remus shook his head.
"No hun, I wouldn't ask you to do that."
"Cause I don't know how."
"Well yeah, and you've never been a part of a pup ceremony...I asked Julia and Elenor to put it together." While Elenor wasn't in the room, Julia was with her own set of work that she had to beg her mate for.

"Um, actually I was getting information and a she-wolf said she did it last year..." Remus tore his attention from his mate to his Beta Female, his brows scrunched together in trying to recall previous ceremonies.

"Who?"
"Um...Her name started with a K—" Julia tried to remember her name, still having trouble with the names of the new pack.
"Kelly. Kelly say you ask her." Sage claimed, her eyes showing just how angry she was.

"Can we start over, what happened? I thought you were at the park with Arabella?" Jack rose his hand up and came up beside his Luna.

"It was Mrs.Snyder sir, she said a few things and uh—"
"And Kelly's planning to challenge the Luna after the year's up? What the hell type of rule is that?!" Blake said cutting the Delta up and Remus dragged his hand down his face.

"Sage, I didn't ask Kelly. And I didn't want that unnecessary stress when you're working on school and with the reformed."
"But if Snyder say things, more wolves think I'm not being good Luna." Remus growled, his mate was right. And now he had to worry about the impending date of Kelly challenging Sage for the position of Luna.

"So can someone explain to the Rogue in the room why there's a law in place that gives the right to a pack member to challenge for the position of Luna?" Blake said, trying to defuse the fight brewing between the Alphas.
"Because I'm a retarted mut—"
"Don't call yourself that!"
"But you don't tell me or let me plan pup ceremony! And now wolves don't like me, think I'm playing with Rogues. I do more for Rogues than for the pack." Remus attempted to make his way from behind his desk, all eyes on the Alpha couple, but Sage was having nothing of it.

Instead, she retreated from the room and went to go take a nap with Arabella. The day already exhausted her and she was hardly up for two hours.

Remus closed his eyes, pinching the brink. As if he wasn't stressed enough or stressed about Sage's emotions, this was the breaking point.

"What happened?" Remus questioned, still closing his eyes in the attempt of clearing out his impending migraine.
"Mrs.Snyder asked a question about the ceremony on where it's located, Sage couldn't answer it and the wolf—"
"Was a bitch, goddess she didn't have to be so rude about it." Blake defended after interrupting Jack, but the male continued fluently after, elaborating that Kelly was there and that Mrs.Snyder openly stated that she wished Kelly was the Luna instead.

And Sage's responses were repeated, and while Remus was proud—He was also worried on the the fact that Sage admitted that if she wasn't carrying the pup then someone would've died.

"Alpha, it's clear that the Luna is stressed right now...Especially after the bounty hunter and you leaving for the Alpha meeting. But I think we're forgetting how she used to expel her anger."
"She'd train..." Eli nodded his head and it was clear that she hadn't been cleared for any large physical activity yet—Which made Remus even more bashful about yesterday's reunion.

With the room silencing down, Julia rose up to her feet with a question at hand. "I didn't know wolves could challenge for the position of Luna, or is that only Crescent Moon?"
"It's an old bylaw, if a she-wolf is unfit or unworthy they could be challenged. Most packs don't view it anymore...Think it's forgotten actually, how did Kelly know about it?" Jack rolled his eyes at Eli.

"Because she's a fucking snake, Alpha, Sage is going to kill her the next challenge. She admitted it." Remus' jaw cracked and he decided to make a call, while he put Julia back in charge of finishing the rest of the ceremony. The female had been so guilt ridden in thinking the argument the Alpha couple had was her fault, but Eli reassured her that Kelly was just bad news.

The room was cleared, and the she-wolf in question wasn't all that surprised in being called to the Alpha's office after such a meeting with the Luna.

And since Sage had gone home, it was safe from another interaction.

"Babe...I just wanted to thank you for giving me a chance to prove myself for the—"
"Kelly, I made it clear that Sage is my mate and Luna. And even if you do somehow, miraculously win the challenge, she is still my mate and I wouldn't forget about her like you think I would."

"You love me, Remus. We shared a lot more than just a bed..."
"And you shared a bed with a lot more than just me." He countered, and he caught her in a fault.

She hadn't been prepared for that.

"Do you know how many times I almost lost control of my wolf because he was absolutely disgusted by my choice of you, Kelly? You are not destined to be Luna, you're not Sage."
"I could've been!"
"No. The council made it clear that they wouldn't have accepted you anyway. That you wouldn't have been invited to Luna's meetings—And I wasn't even mated to Sage when she had gotten the invitation. Do you see the difference? Because I don't think you do." She had attempted to speak up but he dismissed her.

"I will challenge her, and I will win this time."
"You won't be challenging Sage."
"I have every right to challenge her!"
"Not if you aren't a pack member." Her eyes widened just as widely as they did when she had been called out on her previous flings with other males.

Remus had the upper hand, as did Sage. He just needed to make sure that she remained on top and would keep a level head. Which she had done a perfect job in retaining, especially calling Mrs.Snyder rude.

How did his pack not understand the boundaries that needed to be in place? That Sage was actively working on bettering herself to be a better Luna.

His position was never questioned, but it seemed like Sage's was always getting tested and poked.

When he slipped into the house, he wasn't surprised to see that everything was quiet. And while her scent was loud, she wasn't in their bedroom. Instead, she was curled around Arabella so the pup wouldn't fall off the side in her bedroom.

He hadn't met the pup properly, and she would be leaving soon right after the ceremony itself.

He kneed down before Sage and her sleeping form, kissing her temple and removing the hair that lingered in front of her face. "Goodnight munchkin..." He whispered, and Sage peeked an open at his retreating form.

"I love you..." She spoke in return, and Remus turned back around swiftly. "Even when I'm not Luna." The Alpha had so much to say that he fell back onto his knee and asked if they could talk.

Her wolf urged her to listen and so she did just that, though she propped a pillow in her place to trap the pup from falling.

Remus was surprised that Sage agreed to talk, she usually sulked and held a grudge for something this severe.
When they came downstairs with a coffee and tea between the two of them, it was clear that she was regretting this.

"Sage I'm sorry this happened today, after everything that you've been through and the pack not—"
"Blake says that there always someone who hates me, even if I do everything right."
"That's right, I can't always be right either."
"But you're Alpha, challenging Alpha is different than challenging Luna."
"I know, there's a lot of wolves and that means a lot of different opinions." Sage had gone to take a sip of her tea, but as she turned to the side she sniffed the air.

Remus didn't dare breathe, his conversation with Kelly wasn't something he wanted to share. Especially after he found out she's delusional, thinking that she had a chance.

Not to mention she was certainly on a warpath.

However, there is still a strong majority of wolves who love Sage, and he needed to tap into that—Sage needed to tap into that.

"I'm not mad at you, Remmy. I'm upset. I don't like Kelly and I don't like that you...were with her before. My wolf doesn't like sharing."
"Sage, there isn't anyone else in the world I'd make tea for...I should've asked if you wanted to help on the pup ceremony."
"But I don't know what it is, I didn't even know it was e...event." She said, but after she finished her sentence, he caught that her nose twitched again.

And it caused her to turn around in confusion as she sniffed the air.

"I smell something..." Remus cleared his throat, but she hadn't noticed. She sniffed the tea and then the table cloth, before rubbing her nose.

"I talked to Kelly, is that what you're smelling?" She flinched in hearing that and it sanctioned a frown. "You talk to Kelly?"
"I reminded her that she isn't the Luna I chose, that my wolf never felt what he does to you—Last night proved that. Do you remember?"
"Don't talk about mating when I'm mad." That was duly noted.

"Right, I'm sorry...But Sage, please try to understand what I had with Kelly wasn't what I feel about you, I tried to believe it and I think at one point I was as delusional as she is."
"Delu—What?" He shook his head and to protest the lack of a definition she looked it up on her phone.

"'A person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined,' that?"
"Hmm. I pretended that what I had with Kelly was like this." Sage sighed, feeling even more exhausted with the conversation than before.

"What do I do?"
"Heal. Tomorrow we'll go to the Kenzie to see if you can shift. . And then we go back to how things were, people want the best for their pups. This is an important ceremony, a right of passage, almost. But you're right, Mrs.Snyder is rude."
"She likes Kelly."
"Well, that's her great aunt." A grunt escaped Sage and he nodded.

"That's why she likes Kelly as Luna? She's family." He hummed.
"And that's another reason we should consider it a blessing that Kelly's not Luna, Mrs.Snyder tends to stick her word in where it's not needed." While Sage might not have caught on to what Remus was saying, it was her wolf who suddenly felt protective over her mate and their position.

Mrs.Snyder wanted things done her way, so why did Sage just feel deflated in not being able to fit someone's standard?

Remus managed to coax his mate to go back to bed, though he did need to fix theirs. So it ended up with a large cuddle with the two she-wolves. He took Sage's position at the edge of the bed to make sure that neither would fall over.

His arms securing Sage into his chest while the pup wiggled her way between both of them.

Yeah, it was safe to say that nothing more could be ruined tonight.

______

Date: 07-30-2021

Time: 11:11 ✨

Words: 3820

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Kelly's back and with a vengeance... so it's safe to say that this is the
✨The calm before the storm✨

***

How are you all liking the sequel?
I know it's a little slow in some places but we've already reached the halfway mark!
(There are 59 chapters total!)

Any predictions on what might happen in this phase?
Let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts!