*Trix*She gives me a small, encouraging smile. “That’s all I’m asking. And remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Lean on your people when you need to. We’ve got your back, Trix, whether you like it or not.”I manage a faint smile at that. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep that in mind.”Alvera turns to leave but pauses at the door. “Oh, and one more thing, don’t go in there with that ‘I’m the Alpha, do what I say’ attitude. She’s already on edge. If you want any chance of getting through to her, maybe try being... I don’t know, a little less you.”I chuckle despite myself. “I’ll take that under advisement.”I know I have to deal with this, but the thought of facing Dixie, of confronting everything that’s been left unsaid between us… it’s enough to make me want to punch something.Now, the only question is: how the hell do I even start?I stare at the door for a solid minute as Alvera leaves, every part of me screaming not to go through with this.I’m supposed to be the Alpha, strong, decis
× Trix ×It happens so fast. Watching Dixie scream in pain pierces a side of me I never know exists. Without wasting a second, I run to her side just in time to catch her as she falls unconscious. Cradling her in my arms, a familiar fear creeps into my body.The fear of loss.I don’t want to lose her. At least, not like this. I can hear the commotion around me, but it all dulls as all my attention is on the girl in my arms.“Dixie! Dixie, wake up!” No matter how many times I shake her, she doesn’t respond.“What just happened?” I hear someone say from a distance.“She fell. Y’know how fragile humans are,” another voice says.“How did we accept a weakling for a Luna?” one of them laments. Hearing these voices from a distance does nothing but turn my fear into anger. “Silence!” I roar, and the entire room becomes silent. How can they say despicable things like that to a person in pain? From what I noticed earlier, it was like she was tortured immediately after the so-called gift was ope
× Trix דI kinda understand why you'd hide that, but I can't believe there's a girl who didn't fall for the great o' Trix,” Eva teases me.“Come on, that's a good thing. I don't want to make another woman obsessed over me like you already are,” I throw back at her. “Hey, are you sure what you did is working?” I ask, noticing how the hand with the rune is swelling. “Check that arm, Eva. I think it's swelling up.”We stand beside the bed where Dixie lies while we talk. Eva goes over to the other side of the bed, where Dixie's palm bears the rune.“Ouch!” As soon as Eva touches Dixie's arm, she pulls back, yelping in pain.“What's wrong, Eva?”“She’s burning up, like literally burning up. Oh goddess, help us. Her condition is beyond drinking from the blessed waters,&
× Dixie ×When I fall unconscious, I don’t just fall into the dark abyss of sleep; I fall into a different world as well. At first, I see myself in a world filled with darkness. Nothing but color black.Slowly, the darkness fades, starting from the sky. The dark empty horizon then forms into tangible things like trees, mountains, and a large bright sky filled with clouds and birds flying from a distance. Right before me is a gentle water stream falling from a height a little above mine.I look down to see that my legs are deep in a stream, with continuously flowing water reaching my knees. Though the water is cool, every part of my body feels warm. In fact, I’m sweating.How strange.Walking out of the river, I notice how the world is far different from modern times. It’s like I’ve fallen into a forest. The scent of wet ground after a downpour
× Dixie דThey fight many battles together to protect the pack. The Nardoos shiver in fear when they hear their names, and the rogues avoid them at all costs. They hide in caves to stay alive and avoid ending up dead at either Wilshire or Delreau's hands,” the man continues the story.“Together, they usher in an era of peace,” his voice is deep and smooth as velvet. “But that peace is short-lived when Delreau breaks a sacred law.”“What does he do?” I ask, hoping to hear something cruel like killing a fellow werewolf of the pack or destroying the temple of the moon goddess, but that’s not it. The so-called crime is something harmless.“He mates with a human,” the man says.“What? Is that it? Is that the crime that’s so vile?” I ask incredulously.“At that ti
× Trix ×I sit in my seat, relaxed as I watch other council members agree with Mr. Clyde Rahl, the troublemaker. Seeing his supporters agree with what he says, he continues.“We understand that the rune is necessary in waking up the sleeping Bamboo alpha, the only one who can remove every trace of rogues in the world. If that is the human's only use, that is not a guarantee that she can be a strong Luna. I mean, she literally just fainted not too long ago, Your Majesty.” With all audacity, Mr. Rahl says, and the hall immediately fills with chatter, everyone voicing their opinions all at once."Silence.” I only have to say it once, and the hall goes quiet. “You can sit, Rahl. You are, after all, a concerned councilman, speaking on behalf of my people,” I say, nodding my head in agreement with a blood-curdling smile that says otherwise. I stand up from my seat.
× Dixie ×The place we enter is filled with nothing but grey. The sky is dark and heavy like a storm is coming. From where I stand to the horizon, all I see are dead bodies, burning huts, and weapons sticking firmly into people's bodies. It looks like a battleground.“This is a pack territory that turns into a battleground,” the storyteller confirms my thoughts. “It’s more of a slaughter. At one point, everyone here is alive, going about their day, and then the rogues come. They come in numbers, killing anyone in sight. This is a pack after a rogue attack.”Looking around, my gaze falls on a little boy who is shredded to pieces. My hands shake as I struggle with the reality of how a child can be so brutally killed. I look away, shaking. Seeing dead bodies reminds me of my parents. “Take me out of here,” I look up at the warrior with tears gathering in my eyes, threate
× Dixie ×When I'm pushed back to reality, the first thing that hits me is the aroma of bacon. The warm air also carries the scent of chips and that of a man I know. Blinking repeatedly, I try to adjust my vision as it’s blurry. The last place I had been in had a bright sky with dead people on the ground, but upon waking up, I find myself on a soft bed in a dark room. That's the first thing, aside from the aroma, that I notice.While I'm still taking in my environment, someone suddenly hugs me. “Thank the goddess, you are alright.” I can feel the relief he feels. I know for a fact that it’s genuine. His voice comes out deep and calming. His scent is familiar. I didn't know I missed it until I had it again. It takes me a while for my senses to register that it’s Trix hugging me.“What the fuck? Since when did we start hugging?” I push him away, glaring at him even though he looks back at me with a smile.“I'm glad you are alright.” Again, I feel it in my chest that what he says is true
× Trix דDixie, what’s with that pouty face?” Gran Gran’s voice comes from the hallway, teasing but warm. She steps into the room with that no-nonsense energy she always has. The kind that says she’s got a hundred things going on, but none of them are more important than getting to the heart of whatever’s happening here.“Grandma, it's lovely to see you.” I say, greeting her. “Trix, good to see you sweetheart. I see you're getting handsome by the day.” She says and she winks. Oh my, sometimes I forget how goofy this lady is. I turn to look at Dixie, my heart pounding a little harder now. Dixie’s pouting? She’s always got a way of hiding her feelings, but I can see it now, the tightness around her mouth, the uncertainty in her eyes. But before I can even process it, Gran Gran just waves it off.“Never mind. That’s not why I came down here.” She pauses, her eyes shifting between the two of us, a knowing glint in them. Dixie glances at me, she's curious. The air between us feels he
× Dixie ×Finally, the smell of home. There's this warmth that wraos itself around me as I step into the familiar wals of my Gran Gran’s house. I practically green up here. It’s small but cozy, with little sunlight streaming through the windows and that earthy scent I’ve missed for months. For the first time in what feels like forever, I can breathe easy. No more battles, no more scheming, no more bloodshed. Just the quiet comfort of being back where I belong.I slip my shoes off at the door and head straight to the kitchen, the warmth of the house seeping into my bones. There’s a kettle of tea waiting on the stove, just the way it usually is.I fill a cup and sit at the small wooden table by the window, staring out at the small garden where Gran Gran used to tend to the flowers. The petals are still in bloom, a bright splash of color in the morning light. I take a sip from the cup, the warm liquid soothing my nerves, but no matter how many deep breaths I take, there’s this tension
× Alvera ×It’s a new day, and for once, it actually feels like one. I lean against the wooden post of the meeting hall, watching Trix speak with one of the elders. The elder nods at something Trix says, his stern face breaking into what looks like approval. Approval from him is a miracle in itself, and I can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. I’ve known Trix for a long time, and seeing this moment of quiet acceptance fills me with a sense of peace I didn’t know I needed. Things are finally falling into place. That doesn’t mean the wounds have healed but the scars are starting to feel like something we can bear. I’m still struggling with my own demons, the battles we fought left marks that don’t just disappear overnight. But today? Today feels lighter. I glance over at Dixie, who’s standing a few feet away, watching Trix with a soft expression. She looks tired, but there’s a warmth in her stare that wasn’t there before. The pack’s whispers about her have quieted, and th
× Trix ×The entire pack compound is filled with killings, and shootings a d fights. I can smell blood and sweat all around me. But I can also see dead bodies on the floor. It's painful but we're not done yet. I can even feel my own exhaustion scratching at the edges of my resolve, but there’s no room for weakness here. Not now. Not when everything depends on this moment. I look around quickly, taking in the scene. Dixie is taking the pack members to safety. Alvera ks fighting both Salcom and Hermes, she looks mad. And her injuries are supposed to slow her down but she isn't giving up.Just then, Blade Alpha fires at me again, his claws aiming for my throat. I barely sidestep in time, the whoosh of his attack grazing my ear. My wolf howls within me, urging me to finish this, to end him. But how? He’s too strong, his skin is thick to everything we’ve thrown at him so far. Every cut we’ve made heals almost instantly, as if mocking us. “Silver,” a voice whispers in the back of my m
× Dixie ×Alvera steps out of the healer’s hut, and for a moment, time seems to pause. “Alvera, no!” I shout, running to her. She waves me off. “I’m fine. Focus on the fight.” I want to argue, but there’s no time. She looks drained, her steps slower than usual. She’s in her battle suit, the dark leather clinging to her like a second skin, and her weapons gleam under the faint light breaking through the smoke-filled air. She looks like someone who crawled straight out of the flames, and trust me, that’s not just a metaphor. Trix notices her too, his head snapping toward her like he’d been holding his breath this whole time. He frowns, his lips moving slightly as if he’s about to tell her to sit back down, but then he stops himself. It’s not his call, and he knows better than to underestimate Alvera’s resolve. "Let’s finish this," she says, her voice a little hoarse but steady. Trix nods, his gaze hardening as he shifts his focus back to Salcom, who’s standing in the middle
× Dixie ×A gunman spots us, his eyes narrowing as he raises his rifle. Trix moves faster than I can blink, grabbing the guy’s arm and twisting it until I hear a sickening crack.Satisfying.The gun falls to the ground, and Trix kicks it away before slamming the guy into the dirt. I don’t have time to be impressed, because another gunman is already running toward us. “Behind you!” I shout. Trix turns just in time to dodge a swing from the guy’s rifle. He grabs the weapon, yanking it out of the man’s hands before delivering a swift punch to his jaw. The guy goes down, and Trix turns to me, his expression grim. “Are you okay?” he asks. I nod, even though my legs feel like they’re about to give out. The sound of a wolf’s howl pierces the air, and I glance over to see one of the Nardoos locked in a vicious fight with a pack guard. It’s a horrifying sight, but I can’t look away. I see Salcom retreating, and his stupid laughter fades as he steps away from the whole drama.
× Dixie ×Why does these things keep happening? It's been one chaotic event to another. One battle to the next and it's tiring.Trix steps closer to me, his hand instinctively reaching out, but I can’t take my eyes off the Bamboo Alpha. His chest rises. It’s slight, barely noticeable, but it’s enough to send a jolt through me. I grab Trix’s arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve as we watch in stunned silence. The Bamboo Alpha’s eyes snap open. I gasp, scrambling back instinctively, as my heart begins to race. His eyes are glowing, a piercing silver light that seems to cut through the darkness around us. His chest heaves again, this time more pronounced, as if he’s taking his first breath in centuries. “Trix…” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I see it,” he mutters, his tone laced with awe and unease. The Alpha’s gaze shifts slowly, locking onto me. It’s like being pinned under a spotlight, every nerve in my body screaming to look away, but I can’t. His expression is unr
× Trix ×The bamboo forest feels colder than usual, even under the faint glow of the moon. Shadows stretch long and thin across the ground, their dark parts weaving between the trees like whispers of things better left unsaid. I shouldn’t feel this uneasy here, not in the heart of my own territory, not in the presence of Dixie, but tonight, nothing feels right. Dixie walks ahead of me, her grip on the bottle of Moon’s Tears is so tight that her knuckles turn white, her other hand trembling at her side. She hasn’t said much since we left Alvera in the healer’s care, and I haven’t pushed her. This moment, this plan, feels too fragile to poke at. One wrong word might shatter whatever thread of hope she’s holding onto. “Are you sure about this?” I finally ask, my voice low as the bamboo alpha’s tomb comes into view. The ancient structure is now overgrown with moss and vines, with its stones worn smooth by centuries of wind, sun and rain. It doesn’t look like much… it's just like a fo
× Trix × My heart feels like it’s been torn straight out of my chest, and I’m running on pure adrenaline. And I'm fueled by a grief so massive I can barely keep it from swallowing me whole. Ryder’s face keeps flashing before my eyes, the bloody mess of him, the way his voice cracked when he told me to leave, and that final, broken smile he wore like some kind of shield. I can still hear him saying, “I’ll be fine,” but we both knew he was lying. My lungs burn, and every step feels like I'm trying to outrun a storm that’s already caught up with me. The forest blurs around us, dark and unfamiliar, shadows twisting like they want to pull us back. Ican hear Dixie’s ragged breaths beside me, and Alvera’s limping footsteps not far behind. Every instinct I have tells me to stop. To turn back for Ryder, to fight until there’s nothing left, but I can’t. We’re alive. For now. And as much as it kills me to admit it, that’s what Ryder wanted. Leaving him wasn’t part of the plan. None o