× Dixie × I hear a knock on my door, and I don’t even need to guess who it is. Trix. The way he knocks is steady, calm, controlled, just like him. My heart stutters, but then I remember the hours I spent waiting in the garden. The knot in my stomach tightens. Anger, sadness, and a touch of embarrassment swirl in me like a messy cocktail.I sit on the edge of my bed, arms crossed, staring at the door like it personally offended me. I don’t want to answer. I shouldn’t answer. He made me wait for two hours, and now, what? He just knocks, and I’m supposed to let it slide?But I know I will. I have to.I shuffle to my closet, rummaging through my clothes. No way I’m answering that door in this dress , I'm not well covered. So, I grab a soft hoodie and some sweatpants, something that screams “I’m comfortable” and “I’m not trying for you.” Petty? Yeah. But at this point, it’s my love language.As I pull the hoodie over my head, I take a deep breath. My mind’s already rehearsing what I’m
× Trix ×The night is beautiful. With the way the stars align, quiet in a way that almost feels sacred. The garden breathes around us, the cool air carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers, but it’s the kind of peace that only makes the storm inside me more violent.It’s dark. Still. I listen to Dixie, her voice soft, tracing through the air like smoke. Little stories, small worries, the kind of talk that doesn't need answers. Just her voice. Steady. Soothing. And for a moment, I almost forget the weight pressing down on my shoulders.Almost.I catch the glimpse of some movements between the hedges. Another figure, half-hidden in the moonlight, moving with that
× Trix ×I reach out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It was pride because I couldn’t admit it. And fear because I knew once I did, everything would change.”She swallows, and I see the flicker again. This time, it’s different. Softer. Vulnerable. “Trix…”“Yeah?”She looks away, biting her lip. “Why now?”I know what she’s asking. Why now, after everything? After the hostility, the coldness, the years of keeping her at arm’s length. I don’t have an easy answer. I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.“Because I’m tired of fighting it. Tired of pretending. I , ” I stop my
× Trix ×The papers in front of me become blur as my mind drifts back to last night. My fingers hover over the documents, the pen so close to them, but I can’t focus. I can't even remember what I was supposed to sign. The weight of everything just presses down, but there’s something else ,something that keeps pulling my attention away from these endless forms, these demands.I exhale loudly, setting the pen down with a soft clink against the surface of my desk. My gaze drifts toward the window, but all I can see is the image of her ,Dixie. Her face, her voice, the way she looked at me, how she felt against me. The kiss. That damn kiss that won’t leave my mind. It haunts me. It’s like a memory I can’t shake, and no matter how many times I try to refocus, it lingers, just out of rea
× Trix ×I hear it before I see it , an undercurrent of noise coming through the thick walls of the pack house. First, it's a murmur, like a distant rustling. Then it grows louder, sharper, like the subtle pressure of a storm gathering in the distance.I glance up from the stack of papers I’ve been half-heartedly flicking through for the past hour. It's not the type of noise that fits with the usual rhythm of the house, the soft shuffle of pack members and staff, the hum of distant conversations or the muted clink of dishes being cleaned. No, this sound is different. It's out of place.My instincts flare, a low hum of warning in my chest. I lean back in my chair, pushing the papers aside. I don’t need to look at them to know the pack&rsquo
× Trix ×The pack stands there, unsure of how to respond. Some of them look away, embarrassed. Some are still seething with anger. But there’s a shift in the air, something I can’t quite place. It’s like they’re starting to realize that maybe they’ve pushed too far. They’ve pushed me too far.I turn back to them, my eyes hard. “This conversation is over. And if anyone else has something to say, we’ll handle it. But I’m not tolerating this disrespect.”The silence stretches for a moment, but it’s not as thick now. It’s quieter, uncertain.“You're self sabotaging!” I hear them roar. All at once.
× Dixie ×I want to scream at them to shut up. To tell them to mind their own business. But my throat is dry, the words stuck somewhere between my chest and my mouth. Every time I try to speak, another voice comes at me, sharper than the last.“Who does she think she is, standing there like that?” one of them says, sneering. “Not even from this pack. And now look at her, parading around like she belongs here.”I clench my fists, feeling my nails bite into my palms. It’s like their words are cutting through me, slashing at every part of me they can get to.They don’t know me. They don’t know anything about me. They don’t k
× Dixie ×It’s like a weight has settled on his shoulders, a burden too heavy for him to bear. I see his jaw clench, his fists tighten at his sides, and his eyes? They’re dark, clouded with frustration and helplessness.But beneath all of that is something I don’t want to see , something that makes my chest tighten and my breath catch in my throat.It’s the way he’s standing there like a kid, like the grown-ups have cornered him and are shoving their beliefs and their threats down his throat. He’s the Alpha, but right now, he looks like a kid who’s lost control. And it tears me apart to watch him struggle in silence.Why isn&rs
× 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