× Dixie ×
The room fell silent. The kind of silent that leaves the walls screaming its name. Even the ceiling is scared of breaking the it.
Sooner, the silence in the room is almost frustrating, yet, my mind is still that of confusion and fear. Jennie is about to leave when I stop her, my curiosity and anxiety getting the better of me. I know she would know something.
“Jennie, wait,” I call out. “Can you tell me more about this full moon stuff? How does it work with the werewolf traditions? I need to know what I’m up against.”
"Up against? You make it sound like you're in some battle. Well technically." She said, smiling.
× Trix ×I walk into the room and see Ryder and Alvera talking. It's unusual to see them together, not on the field fighting but talking. They barely speak to each other, not out of dislike but more out of indifference. Story for another day, I suppose. But today, their conversation seems intense.I join them, and the look on both their faces tells me the news isn't good.“What's going on?” I ask, bracing myself for whatever bad news is coming.Ryder's jaw tightens. “Another attack. One of our pack members was found injured in the woods. He's in the hospital now.”My heart sinks. “Is he going to be okay?”Alvera nods, but her expression is unreadable. “He'll live, but he's in bad shape.”Ryder's eyes flash with anger. “This is all Dixie's fault. Ever since she showed up, we've had nothing but trouble.”I feel a sudden surge of frustration. Ryder us right, but the guy should have also known his boundaries. “It's not entirely her fault, Ryder. If that guy hadn’t been wandering around
× Trix ×When I reach the hospital, I find the boy’s younger sister sitting in a corner, sobbing quietly. She looks so small and terrified that it breaks my heart a little. I approach her slowly, trying not to startle her.“Hey,” I say gently, crouching down to her level. “I’m Trix. I’m here to help.”She looks up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes but doesn’t say anything. Her body is shaking with fear. I sit down next to her, keeping my voice soft and calm. I reach out and gently pull her into a hug, trying to give her some comfort. She stiffens at first but then leans into me, her sobs growing louder.“It’s okay,” I whisper. “You’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you. Can you tell me what happened?”She shakes her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. I sigh, knowing this is going to take time. “Take your time,” I say. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”Reluctantly, I release her from the hug and leave her with the medics. Her fear is evident, and it only fuels my anger and cur
× Trix ×As the time for my speech approaches, I feel the weight of the pack’s expectations pressing down on me. I can almost taste their fear, their unease. They need reassurance, a sign that we’re going to get through these difficult times. We always have.But this seems fucking harder.I step onto the platform, my eyes scanning the crowd. My pack. My responsibility. I take a deep breath, ready to address them.“Everyone,” I begin, my voice carrying over the gathered werewolves. “I know these are difficult times. I can sense your fear, your uncertainty. We’ve faced attacks, betrayals, and hardships. And I want to apologize. I’m sorry for the dangers we’ve faced, for the losses we’ve endured. We’re working tirelessly to ensure our pack’s safety.”As I speak, I notice their gazes shifting toward Dixie, who’s standing off to the side. I can feel her almost melt under their scrutiny. It's uncomfortable, but I can't let it distract me. Clearing my throat, I continue, “We’re taking eve
× Dixie ×No one told me that shifting is going to feel like all of my insides are burning.First, it is the singing. The chanting is unbearable. The sound seeping into my bones, fueling the pain, making it worse. I want to scream, to tell them to shut up, but I couldn’t find my voice.I move my gaze to Trix, Alvera, Ryder. They are standing there, watching, their faces mirroring that of anticipation and indifference.At this moment, I hated them all. Every single one of them. They are the reason I am here, suffering, feeling like my body is being torn apart from the inside.The pain is relentless, undyi
× Dixie דGive her time.”Alvera’s words echo in my mind again, a lifeline, something to hold onto in this sea of agony.Maybe she’s right. Maybe I just need more time. But how much more can I endure? How much longer before this pain finally breaks me?I think of Trix again, his words cutting deeper than any physical pain.She’s a weakling.Fuck him. Fuck all of this.I hate Trix. I hate this pack. I hate this curse.
× Dixie ×Panic…I try to focus, to think about how to unshift back to my human self. I concentrate, willing my body to change, but nothing happens. Panic begins to set in even worse.I’m stuck. I can’t control this new form, can’t find my way back.Then, I hear something, like a rustling in the bushes.My ears perk up, heart pounding. Fear grips me, making me freeze in place.What if it’s the same predator that killed the deer? What if it’s something worse?The rustling grows louder, closer. I brace myself, ready to fi
× Dixie ×Jennie squeezes my shoulder. “You’re doing great. Just a little more.”“A little more, she says,” I mutter, taking another breath. This time, I focus on the feeling of being human, the way my skin feels, the way I move.The pain is excruciating, but I force myself to stay with it. My bones crack and shift, and for a moment, I think I’ve done it. But then the pain overwhelms me, and I’m back to my wolf form. “Shit, shit, shit!”“You’re almost there. One more try,” Jennie says, her voice steady.I’m shaking now, I want to give up but I&r
× Trix ×× 3 Hours Ago ×I had made up my mind to rule with an iron fist. My father, despite his physical strength, ruled with kindness, always hoping to win loyalty through respect and understanding.But what did that get him? Disdain and disrespect. People took advantage of his sacrifices, and our pack suffered for it. I couldn’t let that happen under my rule. I wanted my people to fear me. Because fear meant control. And control meant security.But how could they fear someone who couldn’t protect them? How could they respect an Alpha who allowed chaos to reign?It’s not enough to just be strong, you hav
× Trix ×After what feels like an eternity of trying really hard not to gawk at Dix, I finally spot the Nardoos Alpha across the room. And I mean, really, it’s a feat of self-control because Dix has been driving me to the brink of madness.Every time I glance down at her, the way she bites her lip when she’s trying not to laugh, or how her eyes light up when she’s teasing me about my lack of dance skills, it’s almost too much. Almost. But this isn’t the time to be a lovesick idiot. Nope. We’re here for a reason, and that reason just stepped into view. The Nardoos Alpha is hard to miss.He’s got that commanding presence that makes everyone around him take a step back. His shoulders are broad, his posture rigid, and there’s this air of arrogance around him that I can sense even from a distance. The way the crowd seems to part for him, it’s like he’s a king i
× Dixie ×I have to admit, it's actually super duper nice to know that Trix is all over me like a little lost puppy.And not just any puppy, I’m talking a full-on, tail-wagging, “I’d follow you anywhere” kind of puppy. Like... Bambi level cute. Who would’ve thought that the big, bad Alpha with that intimidating vibe would be this all in on me? It’s wild, honestly.If someone had told me a few months ago that Trix would be this way with me, I would’ve called them crazy and laughed in their face. But here we are, and I can’t even pretend like I’m not enjoying every second of it.And that kiss? Oh god, that kiss. It felt like the world paused for a moment. Like all of time stopped so I could just... feel . I still can’t get over it.My heart’s still doing flip-flops, and yeah, I know, I’m trying to be cool about it, but damn , I’m
× Trix×We pull away from each other, breathless, but the air between us still crackling with that electric pull. My heart’s hammering in my chest, and for a second, I can’t think straight.It feels like the whole damn room is spinning around us, like nothing else matters except the two of us standing here, tangled in this moment.I glance at her, and she looks back at me, those eyes wide and intense, like she’s feeling it too. There’s this... connection . Something deeper than words, something more than just the heat between us. It’s us. And in this split second, I know. I know what I want. What I’ve always wanted.I take a deep breath, and I’m suddenly aware of the way my hand fits against hers. Her palm, her fingers, they hold me like she knows exactly what I need without me having to say it. The bond between us is solid, unshakeable.
× Trix ×I can’t believe I’m even in this room. This ballroom. This den of wolves who have caused my pack nothing but pain, humiliation, and loss.All this time, all this effort to keep my pack together, and now I’m dancing in the middle of it, in the middle of them, with my mate by my side, pretending like this is some fairy tale. Like none of it matters.But it matters.Dixie must sense the shift in my mood because she’s quiet now. She stops swaying, her hand still in mine, but she’s not pulling away. She’s waiting for me. I can feel the weight of her eyes on me, but I can’t focus on her. Not now. Not with the Nardoos Alpha still missing from this room.“What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice low, almost too calm. She’s used to me being distant, to my silence, but this is different. I don’t want her to know the truth, do
× Trix ×The room is alive with chatter and laughter, the kind of buzzing energy that comes with a hundred people trying to look effortlessly fabulous at the same time.But then, the music changes to a soft, slow melody begins to spill out from the speakers, the kind that makes everything feel like it’s in slow motion.Couples begin to fill the dance floor, and I can’t help but feel a tug in my chest. It’s like a pull that’s drawing me in, and I know exactly who I want to be with.I glance over at Dixie, who’s standing beside me, her gaze scanning the crowd, her lips curled in a half-smirk as if she’s silently judging everyone on the floor.I can’t wait anymore.“Dance with me,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. My voice isn’t demanding, but there’s a soft co
× Trix ×We’re in the car, cruising down the long, rough road that leads to the Nardoos Ball. I'm starting to get nervous and no matter how much I try to shake it off it's not going.Outside, shadows of trees blur by, and the silence in the car is interrupted only by the soft hum of the engine and the occasional crunch of gravel beneath the tires.I force myself to focus on the road ahead, trying to keep my breathing steady. It’s not like I’m really nervous, I’m an Alpha, after all, but something about tonight feels monumental, and it’s hard not to feel the pressure.I can’t afford to mess this up, not for the pack, not for Ryder, not for Dixie... especially not for Dixie.A light touch on my arm snaps me out of my scattered thoughts.Dixie is staring at me, her
× Trix ×I can’t help it. The laugh that bursts out of me is loud and I know it's echoing around the room. I laugh so hard I have to press a hand to my chest, trying to catch my breath.Dixie watches me with mock offense, but there’s a hint of something softer in her eyes, like she enjoys making me laugh this much.“Okay, okay,” I manage, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. “As... as unforgettable as that look is, you won’t be needing it.” I stand and walk over to the small intercom system on my table, pressing the button that connects to the main hall.A few moments later, there’s a polite knock at the door, and a maid walks in.Her name is Laramie, and she’s young but experienced, always carrying herself with the quiet confidence that comes from working in a house full of chaos.
× Trix ×The light in my room catches on the glint of silver buckles as Dixie carefully secures the straps on my pack.Her movements are almost precise, fast. She’s exuding nervous energy but as always she wouldn't say so. She would rather disguise as an expert packer, and she’s trying very hard to act like her hands aren’t trembling, under my watch obviously.I lean back in my bed, using my hand as a shield for my head, watching her in a way that I hope comes off as casual.Spoiler: It’s not. Not even close. Because nothing about Dixie has ever made me feel casual. And right now, with only hours left before the Nardoos Ball, all I want is to make sure she’s... ready. Safe. But mostly, I just want to be around her.“We need to sort out your cover, and it has to happen fast,” I say, cutting into the silence. My
× Dixie ×I’m helping Trix fold the last of his shirts when he suddenly says, “Come to the ball with me.”I freeze, the shirt slipping from my hands as I stare at him like he just spoke in another language.Did he seriously just invite me to that ball? The one thrown by people who’d probably love nothing more than to see me six feet under? But there’s this glimmer in his eyes, like he’s actually waiting for me to say yes.And suddenly my mind is a chaotic mess of thoughts.“Hold up. You want me to go with you?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but my heart’s pounding.He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Yeah. Might be better if we’re together, you know, strength in numbers and all that,” he says, but there’s something else in his tone, liike maybe it’s not just about safety.