Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

*~Unknown~*

Finally, I was back in New Orleans.

After all these years of staying away, I had secretly hoped the city would ignore me as I stepped over its border but no, the familiarity gaped at me like a leech. It had changed, yes, but the buildings were the same. Upgraded buildings, brighter lights, but the old magic still pulsed under the surface.

I stepped into a nearby bar, lifting my chin slightly, the brim of my hat shading my eyes, my arm curled under the weight of my long, heavy gown. As I entered, silence swept the room. All eyes turned to me—mostly male. Mostly wolves.

They stared until I took a seat at the bar. The bartender came out, wiping his hands on a towel, and his scent hit me instantly wolf. Another one.

"Hey, beautiful. What do you need?" he asked, eyes flicking over me with that familiar predatory flirtation.

"Just a drink, please," I said plainly, scanning the bar again. No witches. Strange.

Back in my day, New Orleans was alive with both wolves and witches, like blood and bone. Now? Only wolves.

A sudden shriek sliced through the air beside me.

I turned. A woman stood trembling, a knife clutched in her hand. Four male wolves faced her. One of them growled, "Don’t you know witches are no longer allowed here?"

Another barked, "Alpha Cayden told us—if we see a witch, we kill."

"You and your coven rejected his offer to be tamed," the third one spat.