It was early morning. The air was still cold, and a light fog still lingered over the grounds. Yet, I was already at the Grand Roses Farm, nestled within the estate of Windsor Mansion. I had come here to gather the newly bloomed red roses. Doing this has been my favorite. It clears my mind, brings me comfort and I love placing the fresh roses in a vase in my bedroom.

I had been here for a while, enjoying the peace, when I noticed two of our maids hurriedly approaching. Even from a distance, I could see the panic etched on their faces, sending a jolt of nervousness through me. I dropped the basket of roses onto the damp ground and turned to face them.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice binded with urgency.

They bowed their heads before speaking. "Young Lady Caroline, Alpha Gregory has been rushed to the infirmary. He suffered another seizure and is unconscious," One of them explained.

Her words hit me hard. Without hesitation, I gathered my skirt and ran toward the mansion. Once inside, I frantically searched for my car keys and sped off to the pack's infirmary. My heart raced, anxiety clawing at me. And while my tears fall, I forced myself to focus on the road ahead.

Gregory Windsor is the Alpha of our pack, the Green Valley Pack, and I am his only daughter—his only child, in fact. He has been an extraordinary leader, dedicating almost all of his time to his duties, often at the expense of his own health. His commitment to serving the pack has always been relentless, and while the pack has thrived under his leadership, the toll on his health has been evident.

Two years ago, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor—stage two glioma. He has been undergoing treatment, but recently, his seizures have become more frequent.

Watching his health deteriorate breaks my heart. I've already felt the unbearable pain of losing a mother, and I can't bear the thought of losing him too. We have wealth beyond measure, yet it seems none of it is enough to cure him.

After a while, I finally reached the infirmary. I wasted no time and rushed inside after parking my car. Upon finding his room, I wiped the tears that stained my face before entering. His personal healer, Bern, stood beside him, surrounded by a few nurses. They bowed respectfully as I entered.

I approached my father. My heart eased slightly when I saw him awake and smiling at me.

I took his hand gently and turned to Healer Bern. "How is he?" I asked softly.

She offered me a kind smile. "Young Lady Caroline, it might be best to discuss his condition outside—"

Before she could finish, my father raised his hand, cutting her off.

"You don't need to hide it from me, Bern," My father said, his voice calm. "I can feel it in my body. I know that with my declining health and these frequent seizures, my life could end at any moment." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "I'm not afraid to die, knowing I've already fulfilled my duty to this pack and my role as a father. But I do have one concern." He turned his gaze to me, and in that moment, I knew exactly what he was about to say.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. "Father, now isn't the time for that conversation. Please, focus on your health—"

He interrupted me, insistent. "No, Caroline, I need to say it…"

And so, he began again, speaking about the future of the pack—something that had been bothering his mind ever since his cancer diagnosis. The uncertainty of Green Valley's future loomed over us, but it haunted him most of all. I am his only child, the sole heiress to the Windsor name and everything that came with it—the properties, the wealth, the legacy.

But as the sole heiress, I was also expected to become the next Alpha. There came the problem. In our pack, like many others, a woman could not be given the Alpha position. The pack's laws forbid it, the same discrimination that exists in nearly every wolf pack to this day. And according to the same law, if the Alpha had no male heir, his daughter would become the Luna, and her mate would ascend as the next Alpha.

My father's eyes reflected a lifetime of wisdom and worry as he spoke of this future—a future I wasn't ready to confront.

The bigger problem is, just a month before our mating ceremony and after completing his training for the Alpha role, my fated mate, Zandro, encountered a massive rogue attack during one of his hunts. His wolf was resting at the time, and with only a spear for defense, his skills weren't enough to fend off over fifty rogues, especially since he was outside the pack's territory.

That incident killed him.

It has been two years now, and I've lived with the hollow ache of being mateless ever since. My father, ever practical and forward-thinking, has urged me countless times to find a chosen mate, someone who can undergo the same Alpha training and prepare for the role before our mating ceremony.

Truthfully, I've already started looking, and I think I've found someone. A potential chosen mate. But I haven't found the courage to introduce him to my father yet.

Alpha Gregory expects my chosen mate to be from one of the elite families in our pack—someone with a name that carries the same integrity as ours. Someone with status, reputation and influence. But the wolf I have in mind doesn't meet any of those expectations.

His name is Edward Tudor, a pack warrior from the middle class and an orphan. He doesn't have the prestige my father would want, but there's something about him that I… wanted.

He's kind, strong and grounded.

And while my father might have never like him for me, I think Edward has already captured my heart.

A few months had passed, and to my relief, my father's condition had improved. He had regained some of his strength, and his seizures had become less frequent. He was finally home, out of the infirmary and resting. But, as always, I couldn't stop him from tending to his duties as the pack's Alpha. No matter how hard I tried, he just wouldn't listen. So, the best I could do was help him, easing his burden where I could. In a way, it felt like my own preparation for the role of the Luna that would soon be mine.

After finishing the last of the pack work my father had assigned to me, I hurried to my room. I quickly freshened up, then stood in front of my closet, sifting through the hangers. My fingers paused on a soft, yellow sundress—it looked perfect, light and bright, just like my mood. I slipped on it, pairing it with white heels, and a few delicate accessories. After brushing my hazelnut hair into soft waves, I sprayed on my favorite perfume, the scent instantly lifting my spirits.

I then moved quietly, sneaking out of my room and moving past the mansion's doors, careful not to catch my father's attention. Once outside, I inhaled deeply, the fresh air filling my lungs.

A smile formed at my lips, growing wider as excitement grew inside me. My heart pounded in rhythm with the anticipation building within as I get into my car. I couldn’t wait to see him again...

The moment I pulled up to our favorite coffee shop, I jumped out, my eyes instinctively scanning the crowd. And then I saw him—standing by the entrance, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. My heart skipped a beat.

"Edward!" I called out, my excitement bubbling over as I approached. He flashed that familiar smile and, with a soft laugh, pulled out a bouquet of red roses from behind his back. It was a gesture that instantly melted my heart.

Edward wasn't the wealthiest man I knew, but he always found ways to make me feel cherished. It wasn't about grand gestures or expensive gifts; it was the thought and the effort that counts. And this bouquet, simple as it was, spoke volumes to me.

"It's always a pleasure to see your beautiful eyes, Young Lady," He greeted me warmly, taking my hand in his and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. My heart fluttered at his touch.

I rolled my eyes, though the smile never left my face. "I've told you a thousand times—stop calling me Young Lady," I teased, glancing down at the roses. "But thank you, they're lovely."

His smile grew wider, and without another word, we made our way inside. The familiar scent of coffee filled the air as we ordered our usual drinks and headed to our favorite spot—the quiet, cozy corner tucked away on the second floor. It was always our place, far from the bustle below, where we could talk freely.

We settled in, falling into easy conversation, catching up on each other's lives, sharing laughter, and simply enjoying the moment. With our busy lives, we didn't get to see each other as often as we'd like, but every visit to this coffee shop felt like a ritual—one I treasured more than I could ever put into words. And every time, I found myself eagerly anticipating the next.

As our orders arrived, Edward gently touched my hand, and our eyes instantly locked. I tried to remain composed, but inside, my heart was already racing. His sweet gestures always had this effect on me, no matter how hard I tried to hide it.

"I have something important to tell you, Caroline," He said softly, his eyes shimmering with an intensity I had never seen before.

"Go on…" I replied, my voice a little shaky. I couldn't look away from him.

He held my hand a little tighter. "I love you, Caroline. I've been sure about this feeling for a while, and now that you know, I want to prove it to you—right here."

My heart pounded so loud I thought he might hear it. I hadn't expected this confession today.

"How can you prove it?" I managed to ask, my voice almost a whisper.

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed. "Yesterday, I met with Diana Louis, my fated mate. I rejected her, Caroline. I rejected her for you, for us. I rejected her because I wanted to pursue you, to see where this connection between us would lead."

I blinked, trying to process what he had just said. My mind raced, but there was a quiet understanding settling in my chest. I knew what it meant to reject a fated mate. It wasn't a decision made lightly. A part of me felt sorry for Diana, knowing she would be mateless for a while. But another part of me, a larger part, understood that Edward had made this choice not out of recklessness but out of love—a love he was offering to me.

In our pack, rejecting a fated mate for a chosen one wasn't forbidden, as long as you hadn't done the mating ceremony yet. Choices like this were allowed and fully accepted. And now, with Edward confessing his feelings and giving up his fated mate for the chance to be with me, I knew I couldn't turn away. I don't want to turn away. I wanted to follow my heart, no matter the risk.

"I've never felt this way about anyone," I admitted, my voice soft. "Not even with my fated mate. What you've said made me happier than I ever thought possible. Edward… I can finally have you for myself this time. I don't understand this feeling though. My emotions are mixed up." I paused for a while. "Am I in love with you too? Is this how love feels like?"

He leaned in closer, whispering. "Maybe..."

Slowly, he leaned in, his face so close I could feel the coldness of his minty breath. We were alone on the second floor of the coffee shop. So, I guess it's the quiet intimacy of the space giving Edward the confidence to close the distance between us.

"Caroline," He began. "It's been almost a year since we started seeing each other. In all that time, my feelings for you have only grown stronger, but my intentions have never changed. I intend to give you the love that you deserve. I intend to treat you right." He paused, his gaze flickering to my lips before he gently licked his own, a subtle gesture that made me crave the touch of his mouth on mine. "You know what they say—that you can truly understand your feelings for someone with a kiss. If, in that moment, everything else fades away and it feels like the world stops spinning, then it's love."

"Then kiss me, right now," I whispered, my heart racing.

With deliberate tenderness, he cupped my face in his hands, his thumb tracing my lips before he pulled me closer. When his lips finally pressed against mine, time seemed to slow. Just as he said, the world stopped spinning, and all that existed was us.

I smiled and breathed deeply once the kiss ended, "I guess I'm in love."

The next day arrived, but the memories of yesterday lingered, playing over and over in my mind. I had officially opened my heart to love Edward Tudor, and now, he was my boyfriend. Letting him into my life felt like the best decision I had ever made.

I was still lost in daydreams when a knock on my door pulled me back to reality. "Come in, it's open," I called.

A maid stepped inside, bowing her head slightly. "Young Lady Caroline, the Alpha has asked you to come to his room. He said there is something very important he needs to discuss with you."

Uneasiness had quickly settled over me as I nodded and followed the maid down the halls toward my father's bedroom. My nerves were on the edge, and as we walk, I was trying to guess what this was about.

When I entered the Alpha's room, I greeted him quietly and sat on one of the couches. He wasted no time, cutting straight to the point. "Do you have something to confess, Caroline? Something about your fated mate?"

My heart jumped. "What do you mean, Father?"

He adjusted his sitting position, his eyes scrutinizing my every movement. "One of the mansion guards saw you at a local coffee shop yesterday. He reported that you were with someone—a man, specifically. So I'll ask again, Caroline, do you have something to confess?"

I swallowed hard. Despite the nerves, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to introduce Edward to my father. So, I gathered my courage and I began telling him everything about Edward—his background, how we met, my feelings for him, how he treated me as a lady, and our relationship.

As I spoke, I kept my head down, afraid of how my father would react to the wolf I had chosen. But when I finally glanced up, I saw nothing but understanding in his eyes. Perhaps it was his perspective as an Alpha, a leader who believed in treating everyone in the pack equally. His belief had always been the same, and it's to give someone a chance before casting judgment. I admired him for that.

Eventually, Alpha Gregory told me he was willing to meet Edward in person. Not only that, but he was also open to putting Edward through Alpha training to see if he had what it takes to become the next leader of Green Valley.

It didn't take long for Edward to meet my father, and after a few weeks, the training began. Edward threw himself into every task, determined to prove something. And, in such a short time, he exceeded expectations. He's completing the challenges efficiently and with unwavering determination. I could see the growing respect in my father's eyes and the quiet admiration as Edward pushed beyond what was asked of him.

With every day that passed, a feeling took root in me, a sense that this journey was leading to something meaningful. And if Edward were to ascend as this pack's next Alpha, I knew he would be more than deserving of it.

Edward's Point of View

After the intense Alpha training, I headed straight back to my small, cramped house. Once inside, I tossed my things to the floor and slumped onto the old couch, exhausted. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the flame instantly flickering in the dim room.

The heat inside this house was unbearable, and every muscle in my body ached from the day's demands. Frustration boiled inside me as I took off my shirt, letting it fall carelessly beside me.

Damn it.

I'm Caroline's boyfriend, her future mate and the next Alpha of this pack. So why in the hell won't they let me live in the kingdom already? I'm tired of being in this pathetic house. I want comfort. I deserve it.

It doesn't matter.

A few more years, and everything they own will be mine—the Windsor properties, let alone this pack. A few more years, and I'll be the Alpha. Then, no one will tell me where to live or what to do. No one will control me anymore.

I inhaled deeply, letting the cigarette smoke deep in my lungs before releasing it in a slow exhale. "Damn it, Caroline," I muttered, equally annoyed and satisfied. "I won't ever let you go..."