× 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×We wait.I grow weary every second as I strain to hear any sign that Jackson is gone.My hands are clenched at my sides, the urge to rip through that door is nearly overwhelming. But I can’t. Not after I promised Dixie I wouldn’t.She’s pacing around the room, avoiding my gaze, probably as on edge as I am, but she doesn’t show it the way I do.After what feels like an eternity, the sound of voices fades, and I finally let out the breath I’ve been holding.“He’s gone,” I say, more to myself than her.Dixie nods, her face pale, eyes distant. Without a word, she opens the door and slips out into the hallway. I follow close behind, my muscles still tight, my mind racing.
× Trix ×We keep driving, but I can’t stop stealing glances at Dixie. She’s quiet, her arms are crossed, and she is staring out the window like she’s counting trees.The whole car ride is heavy with the conversation we didn’t finish. I want to break the silence, to say something…anything..but I hold back.Maybe now’s not the time. She’s still processing, and honestly, so am I.By the time we reach the pack, I can feel the weight of everything settling back on my shoulders. The pack looks... off.Like it's been running on autopilot while I was away. Geez, it's only been eight hours.I scan around. The guards are there, but they seem less sharp. It’s subtle, but I can see it. The wolves are restless, even if they try to hide it. It&rsqu
× Trix ×Alvera turns away from the window, the look in her face says a lot. She’s chewing on something, I can feel it is something big. And then she says it, her voice low like she’s afraid the walls will hear.“It is actually not about what they want. It's what they have. They might have the Moon Tears.”I blink. My brain stalls for a split second. “Wait… what?”She gives me that look, half irritated, half dead serious kinda look.“The Nardoos, Trix. They might actually be hiding the Moon Tears.”I just stare at her, trying to piece that together.“Are you serious? How is that even possible? The Moon Tears… that's not something THEY should have. And now you’re saying—”“I&rs
× Trix ×She laughs.“Look,” I say, “you know I trust you, Alvera. But you’ve gotta admit, this is a big leap. We’re not dealing with a rogue pack here. The Nardoos are organized, they’re ruthless, and if they really do have the Moon Tears, we can’t just rush in.”“I’m not rushing in,” she says, her voice somehow softer now. “I’m planning. I wouldn’t have brought this to you if I wasn’t sure. But we need to act before they get too far ahead of us. Before they tip the balance.”I stare at her. She’s right about one thing; if the Nardoos are making moves, we can’t afford to wait. But this? It’s like walking into a storm blindfolded.I rub my temples, trying to shake the doubt staring at me.“Alvera
× Trix ×I take a deep breath, rubbing my hands over my face before I decide. I can’t keep Ryder in the dark anymore. Not with the way things are stacking up. At least he deserves to know. “Actually, there's something more Ryder, we need to talk,” I say, my tone more serious than usual.He turns, eyeing us with a raised brow. “Oh yeah? This about that thing you’ve been trying to keep hush-hush?”Alvera and I both pause dead in our motion, and she shoots me a glance like, What the hell? Ifeel my stomach twist for a second.“Uh, what?” I try to play it cool, but it’s obvious Ryder knows something. He leans back, arms behind his head like he’s got all the time in the world. “Yeah, man, I mean, I didn’t catch everything, but I overheard some of your chat back there. Something about the Nardoos and needing someone from the inside?” Alvera gasps, but it’s more playful than shocked. She punches him lightly on the shoulder, grinning. “Ryder, you sneaky little eavesdropper! You really hea
× 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’
× 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 ×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
× 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 × 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 ×Stunned. I stare at Salcom, my blood boiling beneath the surface, every muscle in my body coiled tight. He’s playing his games again, twisting the moment to fit his narrative, and I’m already tired of it. Exhausted by the dance, the posturing, the damn theatrics he always loved. I don't ask him anything else. No more questions. I won’t give him the satisfaction. I know his tricks, his manipulations ,the way he thrives on pulling strings and watching people squirm. I won’t be his puppet. But then, with that oily smirk plastered across his face, he opens his mouth, and the words that come out hit like a sucker punch.“I’m here to issue an ultimatum,” he says, his tone shifting, a faux casualness that screams deception. An ultimatum? My instincts are already screaming that it’s a lie. Every syllable drips with calculated intent, a setup waiting to ensnare. My eyes narrow, heart pounding in my chest. “What ultimatum?” I ask, my voice low, dangerous. His eyes gleam, feeding o
× Salcom ×The energy is electric , dangerous, inviting, almost intoxicating. This baby girl , standing there with fire in her eyes and betrayal written across her face, has no idea what she’s radiating. Just by looking at her, I can tell. The connection is undeniable. Her bond with Trix pulses in the air, something primal, something sacred ,and that’s what makes it delicious. Fragile things always shatter so beautifully.I take a step closer, and the chaos around them fades. Pack members are still scattered, watching, whispering, but I barely hear them. All I see is her. The way she holds herself, defiant yet trembling, like a candle flickering in a storm. Who would’ve thought this was the one who could unravel him? Trix, the almighty Alpha, brought to his knees by a human. I almost laugh. Fate really does have a twisted sense of humor.And Trix? Oh, he’s trying so hard to play it cool. Standing there, fists clenched, that classic scowl plastered on his face. But I see it ,the flic
× Trix ×What? Salcom?The name alone sends a chill down my spine, like ice-cold claws raking through my veins. I freeze for a split second, but in that moment, everything around me seems to slow. The noise of the pack, the murmurs, the anger ,it all fades to a low hum, like I’m underwater.All I can focus on is the figure standing there. Salcom.He’s the last person I expect to see here, and the look in his eyes, that predatory glint, is more than enough to send alarms blaring in my head.Why is he here?
× Dixie דI never loved her,” he says again, his voice hard. Final. Like a door slamming shut.I flinch. I can’t help it. Each repetition is a reminder, a confirmation of every fear I’ve ever had.Why does it hurt so much? I knew this. Deep down, I knew. The whispers, the rushed marriage, the way he always kept me at arm’s length. It was never about love. It was strategy. A means to an end.But hearing it. God, hearing it is something else.The crowd is eating it up. I can feel their relief, their satisfaction. They wanted this. They wanted him to put me in my p