× Trix × A few minutes pass before Alvera returns, and I already know what she’s about to say before she opens her mouth. “She’s refusing to leave,” Alvera says, her voice low but clear. Her eyes flicker with concern, but there’s no hesitation. “She doesn’t want to go with you.”I grit my teeth. "I figured as much," I mutter. A storm brews in my chest, but I force myself to stay composed, to keep my cool. "I’m going to get her myself." Alvera nods, stepping aside as I move past her. I can feel the anger burning behind my eyes, but I suppress it. This isn’t the time for rage. Not now. But damn it, I need her to understand. I march down the hall, my mind racing with the thought of what might happen if I can’t get her to understand. If I can’t make her see reason. I know how stubborn she is, how her heart’s set in its ways. But right now, I need her to see that this isn’t about trust anymore. It’s about survival. I reach her door, my knuckles rapping against it sharply. "Dixie," I
× Trix דI hate you!” she screams, her fists pounding against my chest again. It’s weak. Pathetic. But I know the meaning behind every hit, every word. “I hate you for doing this to me.”The words are like daggers in my chest. I can’t help it. They hurt. But I force myself to stay calm, to keep my hands steady.“I don’t give a damn if you hate me,” I say, my voice shaking with an emotion I won’t let her see. “But you’re coming with me. Whether you want to or not.”She tries again to break free, her body tense with anger, but I tighten my grip on her, pulling her away from the door.“Let me go!” she cries out, struggling in my arms, kicking at me, clawing at me. But nothing works.“I’m not letting you
× Trix ×One of the guards, his face pale as death, looks at me with wide eyes. "The pilot... he’s been sniped."My stomach drops like a stone. What the hell?I move before I can think. “Check the systems,” I bark, my voice a razor-sharp command. But even as I speak, I know it’s pointless. The damage is done. Our pilot’s gone. The jet’s flying itself, and we’re at the mercy of whoever did this.I hear the low hum of frantic voices in the background. The guards are trying to figure out what happened, but it doesn’t take long for the panic to spread through the cabin. The guards and a few helps start whispering. Some start standing, trying to move toward the exits, but I don’t have time for any of that. I need to keep them together. I need to control the chaos."Q
× Dixie ×I can't breathe. The jet is shaking so violently, it's like it's alive, thrashing against its own destruction. The walls are vibrating under the pressure, the floor beneath me feels like it's going to give way any second.Every breath I take feels like a struggle, like the air’s been sucked out of this goddamn plane. I want to scream, to let it out, but I can't. All that comes out is a choked sob that I barely even hear over the noise of the plane.My whole body is shaking.I can’t do this.I can’t jump.The thought hits me like a ton of bricks. I can’t even wrap my mind around it. The air is so thin up here, and the thought of throwing myself out of this tiny jet ,no, it’s not even a thought, it’s a nightmare.Heigh
× Trix ×The air is frigid as we make our way to the safe house. It’s like walking through a storm, even though the sky is clear. It’s not the weather. It’s her. Dixie. She’s wrapped in a coldness I can’t penetrate, and it hits me harder than the biting chill in the air.Falling into the pond has got me so wet and a bit cold but her attitude is way colder.We don’t speak. Not that I expect her to. She hasn’t said a word since we landed asides ‘I'm fine’. And I get it. I get why she’s upset, angry ,hell, I probably deserve all of it. But it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. There’s this thick wall between us, and I can feel it with every step I take beside her.I try to offer her comfort, but I can’t even do that without her shutting me down. She doesn’
× Trix × The jet feels like a lifeline, and yet, it’s suffocating. I stare out the window, the world becoming tine beneath me, as I try to process everything. Still haven't said anything to Dixie. She refused to say anything either. I’m not sure what to say or do anymore, but I know one thing for sure: I can’t afford to lose her. Not now. Not when everything’s falling apart.Alvera’s sitting beside me, silent for the most part, her presence a calming contrast to the chaos in my head. She’s doing her best to act normal, but I can tell she’s worried. Hell, I’m worried too. From the moment I left, I felt like something was off. Something wasn’t right with the pack. It has been my burden whole time, like a this feeling in the pit of my stomach. And now, it’s all coming to a head.The flight feels longer than it should, like time’s crawling by, but we finally land. Alvera’s right there beside me, moving quickly as we walk toward the hangar. She’s all business now, no time for pleasantr
× Trix × I can’t believe the audacity of that bastard. Salcom gave me a freaking deadline ? A freaking countdown to bloodshed. My blood is still boiling, my mind racing with every possible move to counter him, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the image of his smug face from my head. He thinks he has me cornered. Four days to step down or watch everything burn. He’s underestimating me. Big mistake. Fr. I’m pacing near the edge of my desk when Ryder finally shows up. At first, I’m ready to lash out on him. Where the hell has he been? Why wasn’t he here when the pack was falling apart? I turn to him, my face hard, my arms crossed, every inch of me radiating anger. But then I take a second look at him, and something stops me cold.Ryder still doesn’t look like himself. His usual confidence, that air of casual defiance, is gone. Instead, he’s hunched over slightly, like he’s carrying a weight too heavy for his frame. His face is pale, his eyes hollow. He’s not just tired, he’
× Trix × Alvera sinks into a chair, her face pale. “This is bad,” she says, her voice trembling. “This is really, really bad. If the Nardoos have the Blade Alpha’s tomb—”“They don’t,” Ryder cuts in, his tone firm. “At least, not yet. They haven’t found it. They’re still searching.”“And you’re sure of that?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. “Because if they find that tomb...”“I know,” Ryder snaps, his voice rising with frustration. “I know what it means, Trix. That’s why I’m telling you this now. They’re close, but they haven’t cracked it yet. That’s why we still have time.”Time. The word hangs heavy in the air, a cruel reminder of the ticking clock Salcom has placed over our heads. I turn to Alvera, who looks like she’s on the verge of a breakdown. “What do you think?” I ask her, my tone softer, more measured.Alvera’s mind is a machine when it’s running at full speed. I watch her pace the room, her fingers tapping her temple like she’s trying to wring the truth out of her brain.
× 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