Lacking Humanity|Half Crescent

Chapter Thirty-Seven (Rewritten)

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The night of the fight, Andy hadn't managed to close his eyes for more than a few minutes, while Sage had gotten a few hours of soundless sleep before turning restless.

Perhaps she had heard news that she hadn't agreed with, but Andy could not tell how long the call was or what it was about.

So he lay awake, staring at the ceiling and repeatedly reminding himself that this was just another challenge.

Sage's subconscious blessed her with the reminders and teachings that Papa Leo and Luke had taught her, beside Blake and Papa Hayes.

But most importantly, Remus.

All of them held similar fighting styles, courtesy of Crescent Moon's inherited techniques. But besides that, their words of encouragement ventured to land at the same thing —that not everyone would like her.
She felt much better understanding that Julian only acted because of his position. However, a part of her knew that even if she did miraculously lose, Andy would have the final word on the poison.

When the time finally came, the energy in the room had sparked tremendously. Wolves that Sage had never seen before came with cautious looks to said she-wolf that Lucy had poisoned.

But the others who had been the product of Lucy's carelessness weren't afraid of Sage; instead, they conformed to their own union.

All of them were going to be watching the challenge with ease.

Based on what Grey and Severin could rally around Andy, even Oak Wood's pack members agreed that Lucy was a dead wolf.

Whatever their opinion of Sage was, there was still a target on Lucy's back. This invoiced challenge had been the talk of the pack, as were the blessings that having witches on pack grounds could offer.

To prepare, Sage ate a hefty breakfast and spoke with the Luna and Alpha as if everything was normal—as if Sage hadn't snuck into Alpha's office.

While Andy acted as if he didn't know, though he wasn't the best at keeping a straight face when his anxiety was pumping for two reasons.

Alpha Julian had to give the guest Luna props for acting more mature than her male, who was still sulking over his plate as though it were his fault.

Both the poisoning and what he was planning to do if they reached Crescent Moon and her mate was still alive.

"Come on, Hera, why don't I braid your hair before the challenge?" Luna Alana offered, and Sage thought it was a beautiful gesture. The guilty smile that rose on Alanna's face caused her to rise and follow after her, just not before she nodded toward Andy in recognition that things were alright.

Julian let out another smile, and Andy ignored it, his eyes following after his female in an attempt to calm his wolf. This was the first time she was farther than arm's length in public since she'd been poisoned. "You're going to have to get over it eventually. Going back to pack settings is dangerous for she-wolves like hers."

"Yeah? And I'm supposed to say 'please' and 'thank you' because it's fucking polite too, but that's earned. Isn't that what you told me when I first came here?" Andy huffed, his glare daring towards the all too relaxed Alpha beside him.
"That was years ago. You're an Alpha in your own right now. Not some scronny two-faced Rogue that stumbled half-alive in my pack's territory." While the nickname wasn't entirely reserved for Alanna, it felt strange—Andy wasn't looking for another father figure in his life. His record of fatherly relationships had almost gotten him killed.
No, Alanna was the perfect match for an adoptive mother.