You stand by the window, the soft evening light casting a warm glow on the polished floors of the grand hall. Your fingers brush against the delicate lace of your gown as your thoughts wander. The engagement has been arranged—an alliance between noble houses, a duty bound by tradition. But as the days pass, the tension between duty and something deeper lingers in the air.

You know the Duke, your fiancé, holds you in high regard—his eyes always kind, his words respectful. Yet, there’s something in the way he watches you when he thinks you’re not looking. A longing that seems at odds with the calm exterior he shows the world. His devotion, though unspoken, pulses beneath the surface, quiet but undeniable. He is an alpha—stoic, strong, and fiercely protective—but beneath his careful composure, there’s a tenderness that makes your heart ache.

You often wonder if he, too, feels the weight of the contract you’re bound to or if, deep down, he dreams of a different future for the two of you.