× 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 ×If only Dixie knows what she does to me every time she looks at me like that. That’s the frustrating part! I feel the attraction from the bond more than she ever will. I have to mask it all every single time so she won’t see me as a freak. I’d rather be called a 'bully' than a 'freak' any day.“Seriously, I don’t get you. What’s the catch? If I remember correctly, you’re so against me having some freedom,” Dixie says, switching on her bitchy attitude.“You act like I choose to be around you,” I blurt out. “You have what my pack needs, and I know you have a knack for attracting trouble. That’s why I have to make sure you’re protected all the time. If I let you go to your grandma’s place by yourself, I give you five minutes before you land in some big shit.”“I’m an adult,” she says so boldly that I laugh. “Please, tell me, what part of grown?”“Asshole!” she spits out before getting out of the bed. She gets a little dizzy when she tries to walk abruptly. At that moment, every
× Dixie ×As always, Trix finds a way to escape answering my question. I throw a glare at him before getting out of the car and slamming it shut.“Be careful, silly. Don’t take out your bitchy attitude on my car,” he yells from the car. Ignoring him, I head straight to the front porch and knock on the door. Grandma should still be awake; she never sleeps early.I can still see the lights are on inside. She’s probably watching TV. I knock again. This time, I hear her yell from a distance, “Who’s disturbing my peace at this time of day?” Her words are followed by a string of curses and threats if the knocking is a prank.“Gran gran, it’s me,” I almost yell, but it seems like she doesn’t hear me. It isn’t until she opens the door and sees me.“Gran gran! It’s so good to see you.” I hug her immediately. “I missed you.” Though I have my arms wrapped around her, she just stands there, stiff, without saying a word or hugging back. When she finally speaks, it’s with a hint of worry in her voi
× Dixie דNo, Gran gran. I don't mean to put myself in danger,” I try to explain to my grandma, but she's not having it.“What do you think you're going to achieve by going out on your own?” Gran gran asks before continuing, “When you were young and hidden from this dangerous world of ours, I was able to protect you from human problems, but now I can't. The only one who can is your mate, Trix.” I feel like she’s not listening to me, so I explain again.“I’m on my own, Gran gran. I’m just getting out of the hospital—” She cuts me off before I can explain.“Hospital?” she exclaims. “How...”“Gran gran, please listen. I end up in the hospital because of this rune in my hand, but that’s not the point now.” I take a deep breath before explaining. “I simply want to take a walk out of the room. I’m on my own. I don’t do anything. Then this crazy werewolf comes at me, pursuing me like I’m some criminal. It says I’m the one responsible for something I didn't do. Trix did it! Not me!”“You’re
× Trix ×Self-control is definitely the hardest thing to do. And of course, we’re bickering again.“I don’t even know why we’re here.” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. And I'm like, you wanted to be here in the first place.Her eyes are fiery, like always. “She’s not going to tell me anything I actually want to know.”“She’s your gran, Dixie. You might get more answers than you think.” I lean back against the wall, trying to keep my cool, but honestly, it’s hard being this close to her without feeling that pull. That bond. It’s so damn strong, stronger than she even realizes, and it’s messing with my head. She doesn’t feel it the same way yet, and it hurts. A lot more than I’d ever admit.Dixie rolls her eyes and paces the room, her boots tapping against the old hardwood floor. “You think just because you’re here, everything will magically make sense?”I smirk, unable to resist. “Well, I am pretty magical.” She snorts, turning her back to me, clearly not amused. She g
× Trix× I was clearly looking for trouble saying that to her. “Oh, so now I’M the problem?” She throws her hands up, clearly frustrated. “You’re unbelievable.”“No, you’re not the problem,” I say, stepping closer again, softening my tone. “But you make it hard for anyone to get close to you. Even your gran sees that.”She narrows her eyes at me, crossing her arms tighter. “What’s that supposed to mean?”I've heard that question so many times my ears ache at the mention of it.“It means you’ve built these walls so high, even the people who love you can’t get in,” I say quietly, my gaze locked on hers. “You push everyone away because you’re scared. And you act like I’m the one who doesn’t belong here, but maybe you’re the one who feels out of place.”The silence that follows is heavy, her lips pressing into a thin line as she glares at me, but I can tell my words hit a nerve. “This isn’t about me,” she finally mutters, her voice wavering just a little. “You don’t know what you’re tal
× Dixie ×I can’t sleep. I thought I could, but the minute Trix fell asleep, I felt it. That weird surge of gratitude creeping through our bond. It’s kind of unsettling.I mean, seriously? Gratitude? From Trix? The guy who’s made my life a living nightmare for years? It’s ironic. It's almost laughable. But there it is, this warmth spreading through me like he’s genuinely thankful we’re sharing the same space.I toss and turn, the sheets tangling around me, feeling restless. All the stuff he said earlier, the way he looked at me... like he SEES me? That’s new. And uncomfortable.I’m not used to him seeing anything other than a challenge in me, and now he’s throwing all this weird, intense emotion my way. It’s... confusing.But then there’s something else. Som
× Dixie דYou wish.”That is all I can say.He grins wider, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Your Gran didn’t seem too convinced. She practically sprinted out of here. Guess she knows when to leave us alone, huh?”“Shut up,” I mutter, crossing my arms and turning away from him.This is the last thing I need. I am still recovering from the fact that I’d just told my grandmother we were having some sort of... couple's moment, and now Trix is making it worse.He stretches, standing up from the couch and walking over to me, still smirking like he found the whole situation hilarious. “What? You don’t have to be embarrassed. It’s kind of cute, actually.”I whip around to glare at him. “You think this is cute? My Gra
× Trix × Hermes is completely distracted by his women. Scratch that, he is distracted by the flock of giggling, preening admirers that cling to his every word. It’s borderline pathetic, but he’s basking in the attention like a king on his throne. His weaknesses are so blatantly obvious, and it’s almost laughable. If this is what keeps him complacent and entertained, I’m tempted to encourage it. Still, watching their conversation feels like some kind of medieval torture. Each giggle, each flirtatious touch to his arm, drags this interaction out longer than it has any right to be.I try to ignore it, keeping my posture composed and my expression schooled into something that isn’t pure irritation. But let’s be real: these women have nothing on Dixie. Their attempts at flirtation are so shallow, so painfully transparent, it makes me want to roll my eyes all the way into the next century. It’s like watching a bad play, one that I’m forced to endure even though I didn’t buy a ticket.He
× Dixie × Trix is over there, standing face-to-face with the man who’s made his life, and by extension, my life miserable. The tension between them is so thick you could cut it with a knife. It’s honestly not the most pleasant sight to behold, and I have to admit, I’m feeling all kinds of things watching it unfold. Not that I care about Trix’s pack or anything. Because I don’t . Or, well, maybe I do. Okay, fine, I care about Trix now, and that’s new and weird and ugh , kind of sweet. There, I said it.The way he carries himself, all confident and commanding, even in front of the enemy, sends shivers down my spine. And not just because of the impending drama. The man has a presence that demands attention, and even though I’d never admit it to his face (his ego is big enough, thank you very much), it’s kind of… well, it’s kind of hot . The way his jaw clenches, the way his shoulders stay square and steady, it’s enough to make anyone a little weak in the knees. Not me, obviously. I’m
× 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.