× Dixie ×
Coming back to the pack feels like being dragged through old scars. The kind that itch under the skin, never fully healed.
Everywhere I look, there’s some memory waiting to punch me in the gut. The training field, the old barn, hell, even the stupid flowers in the garden remind me of something cruel. I can’t escape it.
It’s not fair that I’m stuck here, reliving this while everyone else moves on like it’s nothing. I’ve told myself that a hundred times. I should be stronger than this, but the past doesn’t let go so easily.
And then there’s Trix. I mean, what is his deal?
One minute he’s the guy who made my life hell, the next he’s acting all nice, soft even. It’s like he’s flipped some switch, and now we’re… talking. Like actual talking. No growling or snide remarks. And honestly? It scares the hell out of
× Trix ×I’m walking out of the sparring room, my body still reeling from the workout, and honestly, I’m just trying to clear my head. Everything has been too much lately, Alvera’s info on the Nardoos, Ryder, all this mess about bonds and destinies. I need a breather.But then, right there, bingo.My heart suddenly starts racing, and I swear it’s like some scene out of a cheesy movie. You know the one where the guy freezes in place because there she is, like a spotlight’s been turned on her.Dixie.She’s standing by a patch of wildflowers, staring at them like they’re the most interesting thing in the world.And the way the light hits her... Honestly, she looks so beautiful it’s almost unfair. Her hair catching the sun, the gentle curve of her lips as she’s lost in thought.I've
× Trix ×We sit here for a while and I breathe in, trying to steady myself, trying to act like just being this close to her doesn’t set every nerve in my body on fire.It’s strange, being this close to her, not saying anything but feeling like I should.I want to say something comforting, something to let her know that even though I’m usually an idiot, I’m here for her. But every time I look at her, my brain freezes.I mean, how did we even get here?Not that long ago, just seeing her in the hallway back in high school made me want to turn the other way.I remember the first time I saw her, full of fire, with no filter and no patience for anyone. And me? I hated her guts. Thought she was way too much, too loud, too stubborn.Now, look at us. Sitt
× Trix × “One minute we were… I don’t know… almost okay. And then the next minute, it was like the walls came crashing down again,” I say, shaking my head. “She wouldn’t even hear me out, Alvera.”I look across the desk at Alvera, who’s sitting there, arms crossed, looking at me with an expression that’s somewhere between sympathy and exasperation.Alvera leans back in her chair, sighing. “Trix, you need to understand that she’s been through a lot. And you’re a big part of that ‘lot.’” She pauses, giving me a pointed look. “She’s not just going to throw her arms open and welcome you in because you’ve suddenly decided to be decent. It doesn’t work like that.”“But I’m trying here, you know? I mean, I’m not saying I deserve a medal or anything, but… I’m making an effort. I don’t know what else she wants from me.”“Trix, you have to realize that it’s not about what you want, or what you think is enough. It’s about what she needs. And right now, she needs time. She needs to see that yo
× Ryker ×Unpopular opinion, but I think Trix is doing way too much. Like, ever since that girl Dixie strolled into his life, it’s been dramaaaa upon dramaaaa.And now that they’re married? Forget it. Drama x 2000. And the worst part? There’s literally nothing I can do to help him out when I see my best friend going through it. Absolutely nothing.I toss another shirt into my duffel bag, the frustration growing up inside me as I fold my black tactical pants and shove them in. I’ve got to head out soon, go play undercover spy and sneak into the Nardoos' territory to get us some intel. Fun, right? But, all I can think about is leaving Trix in this mess with her . The cruelest girl I’ve ever met.I mean, I’m no therapist, but anyone can see Dixie’s been tearing him up since day one. And Trix? He doesn’t care. Or at least he pretends not to.&nbs
× Trix דHas the Luna eaten?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even. The maid before me hesitates, her eyes flickering toward me, before she shakes her head.I'm standing in the hallway, trying not to look out of place as I talk to one of Dixie's maids. She keeps her head down, respectful, as if she knows there's tension in the air, which, fair enough, there is.“She won’t come out of her room, Alpha. Refused everything we brought up,” she murmurs.I nod, even though inside, it feels like someone’s twisting a knife.It shouldn't be bothering me this much. It really shouldn’t. I tell the maid to send up the food anyway.Maybe she'll get hungry enough and eat something later.“Just leave it by her door,” I add.She bows and leaves, and I'm left
× Trix ×I hear a loud cry and I instantly figure it's Dixie.My heart slams in my chest, like it just forgot how to beat. For a split second, I freeze, my mind spinning out of control.Then I’m start running, the adrenaline quickly kicking in, and I head towards her. I don’t even think, just pure instinct.When I reach her, she’s sitting on the ground, holding her leg, her face and body in pain.I check around for what it is and I see a dark spot on her skin. No way.Was she bitten?Before I can even say anything, she looks up at me, frowning.“Before you say ‘I told you so,’” she hisses, her voice strained, “tell me this motherf ing snake isn’t poisonous.”My stomach drops, but I kneel down beside her, examining the wound.&n
FLASHBACK × Dixie × ~ 5 hours ago- I walk into this room, and the air just shifts . It's like stepping into another world entirely…everything feels softer, calmer. Sort of.I can’t believe I haven’t found this place before, but then again and on a second thought, I’ve barely explored a quarter of the rooms in this massive building, let alone the entire pack territory. I've been so caught up in everything, with Trix, with... well, everything , that I’ve hardly taken a second to just BE .My eyes sweep across the room, taking in the details. It’s elegant, sure, but not in that over-the-top, "look at me" way. It’s very thoughtful too. Peaceful. The colors, the way the light shines in through the tall windows, the little trinkets and pieces of art placed just so they all seem to whisper, "Stay here. And rest."And then, I notice the real magic. The art. Handmade, and a closer look at it and it's obvious that it's made of paper . I blink, leaning closer to get a better look, my mind
× Dixie דWow,” I murmur, trying to process it all. “That explains a lot, actually.”He chuckles, but there’s no humor in it. “Yeah?”“Yeah,” I say softly. “I mean, even back in high school... you were always so upfront. So... intense . I used to think it was just because you were, I don’t know, an arrogant jerk.”He snorts. “I probably was.”I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “No, I get it now. You weren’t just being a jerk. You were scared. Scared of what people would think if they didn’t see you as... perfect.”Trix doesn’t say anything, but I can see the way his jaw tightens. Like I hit too close to home, but I’m not wrong.“I never wanted to be perfect,” he says after a while. “I just didn’t want to be a failure.”Real. Because, honestly, I get it. That fear of failure? That constant pressure to be more than what you are? Yeah, I know that feeling all too well.“I feel that,” I say quietly. “I’ve always felt like I was never enough. Like no matter what I did, it
× 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