The triplets—Leo, Leon, and Liam—stood before the full-length mirrors, draped in the dark velvet and gold embroidery of their ceremonial Alpha robes. They looked like kings, but they felt like sacrificial lambs.
The door creaked open, and the heavy, authoritative scent of the older generation filled the room. Alpha Levi and Alpha Lennox walked in, followed closely by Alpha Louis, who had been away on a mysterious journey for over two months.
Despite the tension, a flash of genuine relief crossed the brothers' faces. They had always been close to their father, Alpha Louis.
"You're back," Leo said, stepping forward to pull the older man into a brief, firm hug.
But as Leo pulled away, his nostrils flared. A scent hit him—something that didn't belong to the dusty roads or the cold northern winds. It was the sweet, distinct aroma of honey mixed with the sharp warmth of nutmeg. It was a scent that had been buried in the earth years ago.
It was the smell of their late mother.
