× 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
× Dixie ×I smile.Trix leans forward. “I get that. But you don’t have to give up your dreams just because things got complicated. You’re stronger than you think, and honestly? If anyone can juggle being Luna and killing it in the fashion world, it’s you.”I look down, chewing on the inside of my cheek again. “You really think so?”He smiles slightly, nodding. “Yeah. I do.”For a moment, I don’t know what to say.I glance around the room again, the peaceful atmosphere wrapping around me like a blanket.“I wish my life could just be this simple,” I say, almost to myself. “Just... peaceful, quiet. No drama, no supernatural craziness. Just... me.”“Maybe it can be. Maybe you just need to figure out how to balance it.”I look over at Trix, narrowing my eyes slig
× Trix ×I move a little closer to her, not enough to make it weird, but close enough to really look at her. I mean, really look at her.Her hazel brown eyes are staring at the mural, and the way the light hits them makes them even more intense. They shift between shades of brown, gold, something I can’t even name and I realize I’ve never actually taken the time to notice her like this.Her jawline is sharp but soft at the same time, fitting weirdly into her face, but in a way that works.It’s like a puzzle piece you didn’t think would fit, but then it clicks into place, and suddenly everything makes sense.She turns to me, probably sensing me staring, and raises an eyebrow.“What?” she says, “You planning on sketching me now or something?”I smirk, shaking my
× 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.