× Dixie × They both look scandalized, and I almost expect them to start gasping like I’ve just told them the juiciest piece of gossip. Instead, Kaia-Kayla’s face goes all red, and Miranda just glares at me, like she’s thinking of a comeback but can’t find one. Ha. Score one for Team Dixie.“Dixie!” Zara calls out again, her tone sharper this time. “Less talking, more kicking!”Ugh. Right. Training. I quickly turn back to the dummy, feeling my face heat up. Great. Now I look like the troublemaker, while the girls behind me try to hold back their smug little smirks.I go for a roundhouse kick, putting a little extra power into it, just for the satisfaction of releasing some pent-up irritation. But my timing’s off, and I end up stumbling, which, of course, earns me another giggle from the peanut gallery.“Nice form,” Kaia-Kayla snickers, all fake-sweet.I spin around and give them my best glare. “You know, you two should try stand-up comedy. Except you’d have to be funny first.”They b
× Dixie × I laugh, and I realize how good it feels. It’s like Jennie’s just washed away the lingering snark from the girl squad, and for the first time in forever, I actually feel… happy? Relaxed? Like maybe everything isn’t a total disaster.“Seriously, Luna,” she says, putting a hand on my shoulder and looking at me with these big, concerned eyes. “Are you okay? I heard a little about what happened, and… well, I was worried.”I feel my throat tighten a bit, but I just nod, smiling like it’s nothing. “Yeah, I’m good. I mean, kind of. It’s complicated.” Understatement of the century. “Let’s just say it’s been a trip, but seeing you right now is making it all a little less complicated.”We’re interrupted by another exaggerated sigh from Kaia-Kayla or whatever. I roll my eyes, ready to throw one last snarky line at them, but Jennie beats me to it.“Oh, hi girls,” Jennie says, giving them her best innocent smile. “Did you need something? Or were you just lurking?”They give each other t
× Dixie × “I’ll wait for you, Luna. After all, this is the last lap, right?”My heart feels way too full. Here’s my best friend in this pack, the only person I feel comfortable sharing everything with, holding her ground for me like she’s a one-woman army, and I can’t even find the words to tell her how much it means.“Thank you,” I finally manage, my voice a bit choked, though I play it off with a shrug. “Guess I’ll go give my best impression of someone who’s interested in this… workout thing.”Jennie laughs, giving me a wink. “I’ll be here, moral support and all. If they give you any more trouble, just let me know, I’ve got a whole arsenal of bad jokes to throw at them.”I let out a quiet laugh, walking over to the sparring area where the others are pretending they didn’t just witness the whole scene. I know they’re annoyed, I can see it in the way they’re rolling their eyes and shooting me death glares. But honestly? For the first time, I actually feel like I’ve got backup. And t
× Trix ×This morning’s been a mess. My mind’s like… all over the place, bouncing from one problem to the next without even a second to breathe.Feels like there’s this invisible playlist on loop in my head, frustrations from training, weird vibes from the pack, and Dixie, always Dixie, like a song you can’t stop humming. By the time I finally get to my room, I’m just over it.The shower’s been calling my name, so I just head straight in. Maybe if I let the hot water drown me out for a few, I’ll walk out with a clearer head. I crank it up, and the steam fills the space, giving me a second to just stand there and lose myself a bit. Gosh, I love this.But the second I close my eyes, it’s like the volume of my thoughts cranks up too.I start going through everything, every single conversation from yesterday, every comment, every look. An
× Trix ×I shrug. “All yours.” But I don’t move, because frankly, I don’t trust half the people in this room.Jennie looks at Dixie. “You doing okay?”Dixie rolls her eyes, but I can see the tiny smile she’s fighting to keep hidden. “Yeah, just peachy. Y’know, sparring room and all.”Jennie gives her this look, like she’s seeing straight through her. “Right. Because ‘peachy’ is exactly the vibe I was getting.”Dixie snorts, and I realize she’s probably one of the only people who can make her laugh like that.Then, Jennie looks at me. “Don’t worry, Alpha. I’ll bring her back in one piece.”I smirk. “I better hold you to that.”Dixie rolls her eyes but looks amused, then turns to Jennie. “So, what have you been up to? ‘Classified pack business,’ really?”
× Trix ×We’re almost at my room, but I can feel that Dixie is calm, she doesn't seem to be triggered anymore.She’s keeping it together, but that edge in her posture says it all. I stop by the balcony door instead, opening it and gesturing for her to head outside. She raises an eyebrow at me, clearly skeptical.“Let’s just stay out here for a bit,” I suggest, leaning casually against the doorframe.She crosses her arms, giving me that look. The one that says she’s not about to make this easy for me.She steps out onto the balcony, glancing out at the view, and I can see the way her eyes are practically glowing just by staring at them, even if she’s still playing it cool.“I know it’s… a lot, alright? Everything here. The people. All this pack pressure stuff,” I start, rubbing the back of my neck. “I didn’t think
× Trix ×I’m standing in front of the closet, half of my wardrobe spilled out on the bed. A suit here, casual jacket there.Honestly, packing has never been my thing, but this trip feels different. I’ve gotta play human for two whole days, and it’s a room full of Nardoos too, which means it’s not exactly my typical crowd. I mean, I grew up around humans, went to school with them, I know how to blend in.But this..this feels like another level. It’s like every part of me has to be on guard.I toss a few more things into my suitcase, mumbling to myself. "Just two days, Trix. You’ve got this." I check my reflection in the mirror, still rugged enough but just the right amount of polished. This face will pass as harmless and normal to them, or at least that’s the hope.Reaching for my watch, I glance around the
× Trix ×There’s something about her, just being here, that makes everything feel…easier. Lighter, even. Which is ridiculous, but here I am.“Alright, fine,” I add. “Guess I’ll let you stick around. You know, just in case I trip over my own shoelaces or something.”She laughs under her breath, and I swear, the sound is the best thing I’ve heard all day.She glances up at me, rolling her eyes like I’ve just demanded she handle gold. “Relax, your pants are fine. I’ve got this under control.”I watch as she’s carefully folding them when she frowns, suddenly untangling something. “Wait… how did your belt even get this tangled?” Her voice goes from confident to annoyed, her fingers working carefully.And then I see it, the belt loop is actually stuck in her hair.She pulls, just sli
× 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.