× Dixie ×
“Give 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
× Dixie ×(Present)I'm standing in front of the mirror, staring at myself, but instead of my reflection, I see a wolf form. For a moment, panic flares up inside me. Whoa, okay, that’s new. I try moving to the left, and it followed me. I moved to the right, it still followed me.I move closer to the mirror and I see this creature staring at me, like it's daring me to choose between screaming or running. The green eyes, silver fur. Bro, this is dope.That fierce creature is mine. My wolf. Still strange to me.My senses are sharper than ever. And I can see so clearly, and my sense of smell? Next level. I catch an aroma of something delicious— roasted chicken, probably from the kitchen, which is pretty far from my room. My stomach growls in response. Great, now I’m hungry.But these new abilities are still very strange to me.I think about going to get some food, but the idea of running into Trix or Ryder makes me pause. Running into them again this morning?No thanks. I’d rather
× Dixie דWho does your Alpha think he is to command my movements?” I yelled at the guard in front of me.My voice echoed off the walls, propelling me to stand up. I was tired of being confined, treated like a prisoner.The guard, standing rigid and straight-faced, only nodded out of respect but didn’t budge an inch.His face remained expressionless, like a mask of obedience. I hate this.“I’m sorry, Luna, but I have strict orders. You are not allowed to leave the house or visit the pack’s hospital.”I clenched my fists,
× Dixie ×The sting of the slap is immediate and unexpected. I reel back, my hand flying to my cheek. "What the hell, Alvera?!"She tries to explain, her voice urgent. "Erm…Dixie, I’m sorry, but you were out of line. I just wanted to make you stop before you said something you’d regret."But I’m too angry to listen. "You think slapping me is going to solve anything? This is just proving my point about how messed up this place is!"Ryder steps in, his eyes cold. "You deserved it. You have no idea what you’re talking about, and you’re insulting everyone who’s worked hard to keep this pack safe."
× Ryder ×It has always been like this.One headache or the other.I watch as Alvera snaps at Dixie and I, dishing out orders to us both.Alvera. She has a knack for dealing with situations like this, diffusing and managing tensions with a few well-placed words.But Dixie’s attitude always puts me on edge. I’ve been skeptical about her from the start, questioning her every move, her every word. There’s something about her that just doesn’t sit right with me.But today? Today is different.Dixie had the nerve to call me Tr
× Dixie דYou must be out of your mind!” I spat at the guard standing in front of me. He isn’t the real problem here, but he’s the one who gets to bear the brunt of my frustration.“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”“Luna, please calm down. Alpha Trix is attending to important matters. He will speak with you as soon as he is available.” the guard said, pleading.I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Important matters? And what am I, chopped liver? This is unbelievable. Do you have any idea how frustrating this is?”“Luna, I’m just fol
× 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