Chapter Three
Remington Fortier didn’t feel like being social.
In fact, all he really wanted was a few beers to help him relax before he fell on his bed, where he planned to sleep like the dead for the rest of the weekend.
Just the thought of loud music, forced conversations, and the inevitable hangover from drinking a variety of magical brews was enough to make him cringe.
The pre-season football training schedule over the past few weeks had been brutal.
While the two-a-days with the entire football team weren’t bad for someone with his strength and endurance, the late-night training sessions that had been set up for the supernatural players were a completely different story.
Since most of the coaching staff were also supernaturals, they were well aware of what each of their players was capable of. Because of that, they didn’t hold back when the humans weren’t around. Training was such a tame word for what they were put through.
They literally beat the hell out of the players.
And when they were done, they did it all over again the following day.
He couldn’t count how many times he’d actually fallen asleep standing up in the showers after practice.
And when he finally got back to his apartment, Remy was often too tired to do anything but shove some food in his mouth before collapsing into bed.
Even though he cursed the coaches for torturing their players, there was no doubt they got results.
The Trifecta University football team’s championship record proved it.
While there were some who believed supernaturals should completely abstain from participating in human sports, it was widely accepted as long as they followed the rules.
To qualify to play football, supernaturals had to learn how to hide their true strength.
They could excel, but they couldn’t be too good.
Otherwise, they could put the whole supernatural community at risk.
It was a tricky balance, but it got easier the more they practiced.
While some people would consider it an unfair advantage, Remy thought it was even harder because of all the additional restrictions that had to be considered.
Magic was strictly prohibited on the field, and their strength and speed had to be carefully controlled.
Although Trifecta University wasn’t the only school that had supernaturals on their teams, they were the best. Remy loved playing football, and he was damn good at it.
As a wolf shifter from an alpha family line, he was naturally stronger and faster than most shifters.
He could throw with precision and could also run the length of the field to the endzone without getting winded.
Because of his abilities on the field, a lot of people speculated that he would be signed by a professional team. Scouts were always showing up to games to check him and his teammates out, but he knew his days of being a star running back would end once he was done with college.
While many supernaturals went on to play professional sports, Remy had other responsibilities that were far more important to him. For him, loyalty to his heritage and the well-being of his pack outweighed the allure of fame and fortune that a professional football career could offer.
As the alphas of the largest pack in Louisiana, Remy’s family had ruled over New Orleans for centuries.
It was the oldest shifter group within the state, and the only one in the area that welcomed more than just shifters into their pack.
Unlike other groups who lived together in a massive stronghold, the Fortier pack was spread out.
Because of the unique setup, their members owned various businesses and residences in the city, adjacent towns, and even deep within the bayou.
As alphas, Henri and Maggie Fortier were active leaders who focused on the needs of their people.
Although they lived in an exclusive gated community that was strictly for pack members only, they constantly traveled around to visit their people and to help with the various businesses run by the members.
Pack meetings were held in a large clubhouse located in the center of the gated community.
The clubhouse was a huge, sprawling structure large enough to comfortably fit the entire pack.
There was a gym, an indoor pool, a massive dining hall, and a large amphitheater inside the building, but located on the lower level was a magical training facility that was like an entire world of its own.
The members in the area gathered together for pack dinners at least once a week.
They also got together for most of their special occasions like holidays, awakening ceremonies, and mating celebrations.
Those who belonged to the Fortier pack were proud members who wanted to be there.
They were given space and freedom to live their lives, but they had the full weight and support of the pack behind them.
While Remy’s parents focused on the broader responsibilities of running the pack, like maintaining alliances and resolving disputes, Remy’s older brothers, Valentin and Beaumont, managed the day-to-day operations of their family’s thriving business in the heart of New Orleans.
The Fortier Grand Hotel was located directly on Bourbon Street and was a well-known destination for both guests and locals. They had an excellent restaurant and a few bars located on the property, but they were mainly known for their comfortable rooms and large balconies.
The interior rooms’ balconies looked out over the pool and a lush garden and outdoor lounge in the center courtyard, while the exterior rooms had balconies that overlooked the respective streets they were located on.
Guests booked the Bourbon Street suites well in advance for occasions like Mardi Gras, New Year’s Eve, and other holidays when the city turned into celebratory chaos.
As the next in line for the alpha position, Valentin was in charge of overseeing the operations of the family’s renowned hotel. His innate leadership abilities made him an ideal manager, and the pack members employed at the hotel looked up to him with genuine trust and admiration.
To those outside of the pack, Valentin’s reserved demeanor often made him seem cold and unapproachable. Beaumont’s strong will and determination played a crucial role in the success of their family’s enterprise, though he tended to scare the shit out of people with his fiery temperament.
On the other hand, Remy and his twin sister, Ava, both had friendly and outgoing personalities that were a good contrast to their brothers’ stricter styles.
Together, their complementary strengths ensured the hotel not only thrived as a business but also served as a central hub for the pack’s community and interests within the city.
Remy and Ava looked forward to finishing school so they could return home to help run the pack.
They did what they could during their breaks from school, but it wasn’t the same as being there full-time.
They understood that being part of the Fortier pack meant embracing both privilege and responsibility in equal measure.
Although the twins wouldn’t be taking over as alpha, that didn’t negate their duties to their family and the pack members.
He missed his hometown almost as much as he missed his family. Being away from home gave him a good perspective, though. Ultimately, the sense of purpose and belonging he found within the pack was something no professional sports career could ever replace.
Choosing to focus on his obligations to the pack wasn’t a sacrifice.
Actually, it was a source of pride. He found fulfillment in helping maintain the stability of the pack and was immensely proud that his family ensured that every member felt supported and included.
Whether it was overseeing aspects of the family business, organizing community events, or simply being present when someone needed advice or a helping hand, he knew their actions helped keep their pack strong and united.
But before he could officially return home, he still had to fucking graduate.
Attending a magical academy was required by the Supernatural Council, but Remy wasn’t exactly thrilled to be there.
At least playing football helped pass the time while he was there.
He had always been confident about his shifter abilities, but with the magical upgrades he’d just experienced, school was bound to be more taxing.
When it came to spellcasting, shifters had always been known as the weakest within the supernatural community. However, very few people had been aware that most of the shifters’ magic had been stolen from them until it had recently been returned to them.
The sudden surge in magical powers had caught all the shifters completely off guard.
Without warning, Remy and the rest of their pack had been struck by an overwhelming wave of intense pain, leaving them shaken and bewildered.
The following day, the Supernatural Council issued a brief explanation regarding the abrupt magical upgrade, but the answers were vague and left them feeling more confused than ever.
The real story behind the loss and restoration of their magical abilities remained a mystery, but Remy figured something extreme had to have gone down.
They might never know the full truth about what happened, but it was enough to know that the shifters finally had the ability to protect themselves.
They had always been superior to most when it came to physical strength, but they had been at the mercy of other supernaturals for far too long when it came to using magic.