Lacking Humanity|Crescent Moon

Chapter Seven

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After an abrupt turn, the once paved road had turned into dirt. And Liam couldn't contain Sage from taking a look out the window. Causing the Mystic Grimm warrior beside him to laugh.

"Listen here, asshole. She asked us what a tree was...If you have a problem—" Liam started up, but the Beta had instantly settled the matter.

"There is no problem. Is there?" Josh remained firm and defended the young wolf, who couldn't contain her excitement over the change of scenery.

However, the second that the car had crossed over pack lines, a blaring right started buzzing into her ear. Soon a painful whine escaped her lips as she leaned in closer to Liam—who is trying his best to calm her down, even going so far as to run a hand through her hair.

"What's wrong? What is it?" Her hands clamped over her ears in an attempt to stop the increasing ring, but it was only getting worse the closer they get to the pack's settlement.

Something's wrong with Sage.

Brother, can you handle anything?

Look, she's holding her hands over her ears like she's hearing something. You tell me what to do, and I'll fucking do it.

Luke couldn't even manage to give a suggestion on what to tell his brother to do. They would just have to wait it out. And if Josh's guilt wasn't high enough, seeing Liam struggling to help Sage manage her pain had cause said guilt to skyrocket further.

The dense woods finally led to a clearing. The assortment of cabin neighborhoods more or less replicated Crescent Moon, and Liam smiled at the familiarity.

Right now, even if it wasn't his pack's territory, the smell of wolves allowed him a moment of tranquility. For the first time in a while, he was able to close his eyes and relax. Tonight they would be able to sleep calmly and recharge, with the protection of being on pack grounds.

Or so he hopes.

As the others left the car, Liam waited for someone to open his door. And held onto Sage, worrying how she would react in finally being let out of the car.

She was light enough to pick up with one hand, but her head was planted into his neck and whined through the movements that disrupted her peace.

"Alpha's on his way over. My mate is preparing the guest cabin for you three with the Luna. He already agreed for you to stay." A sigh of relief escaped Liam as he looked up to Luke, though his only concern right now was. "She's burning up..." he issued, causing the Beta to take a feel of her forehead as well, and sure enough, she is.

"Is she suppressing a shift?" Sage shook her head as another whine escaped her lips.

As the Alpha of the land approached the group, he was immediately introduced to the dread coming from the three newcomers.

It wasn't common for wolves to leave their pack, but on account of a family member in another pack having a litter of pups to take care of, it was a decently fabricated story.

One he back-checked before coming down to meet them.

"Alpha Harlow, I want to apologize for making you send your men out." Luke had said with a greeting, trying to be entirely straightforward and tilting his head down in submission to the Alpha before him.

But the shift of his eyes back to Sage, it was clear to Harlow that the female's health was more of a concern at the moment.

"Running from a facility still caught my attention, and now you have it. What's wrong with this little she-wolf?" The phrase had turned into something of a trigger word for Sage as she turned her gaze towards the new male. Her eyes pooling a sickly black color as she darted her head forward towards the Alpha in defense, pairing it with a flash of her teeth.