Chapter 2: The Birthdays She Spent Alone

~ Elara ~

*Ironwood Keep.*

“Happy birthday, my Luna.”

Elara looked up as her loyal servant, Rose, entered the dining hall carrying a freshly baked honey cake.

Rose grew up with Elara, and she considered her a best friend more than just a servant. 

“I had the kitchen prepare your favorite dishes," Rose said warmly, setting the cake on the dining table.  “Prince Cassian promised he would return before sunset.”

Elara forced a smile. “I know.”

“You should eat before it grows cold,” Rose suggested. 

Elara nodded, though she had little appetite.

The hall was unusually quiet.

There was no laughter, no music, and no birthday banquet.

The servants moved silently, pretending not to notice the empty seat beside their Luna.

Time passed.

The candles slowly burned lower.

Outside, the afternoon sun dipped toward the western mountains.

Still... Cassian never came.

Elara's gaze drifted toward the empty chair across from her. She had hoped he would come, but for the past six birthdays, Cassian had never once been there.

After seven years of marriage, she should have known better.

She was recognized across the kingdom as his wife, the Crown Princess of Asteria, and the Luna of Ironwood.

Yet she had never felt more alone. 

A knock echoed through the hall.

Elara immediately stood. A smile appeared on her face. “That must be him.”

Instead… A royal messenger entered and knelt, presenting a sealed letter. “My Luna. The Alpha Prince Cassian requests that I deliver this immediately.”

Elara's smile slowly faded.

She broke the royal seal.

Inside was only a single page. She read the letter:

[The children wish to spend the night with me, and Mira isn't feeling well. I won’t be returning. Forgive me for missing your birthday. We shall celebrate together upon my return. 

Cassian]

Her heart sank. 

Elara read the letter again and again. 

Why did she even expect?

Since he and Mira had children together, he had missed every one of her birthdays.

Behind her, Rose reacted, her eyes landing on the letter.  “My Luna… That’s unfair of His Highness.”

A bitter smile touched her lips.

"No, I am to blame. I did this to myself." Elara folded the letter. 

Another knock sounded.

“Luna!” A blood-soaked warrior knight stumbled inside. “Our border has been attacked!”

He fell to one knee. “Commander Cedric...has fallen!”

The letter slipped from Elara's trembling fingers.

For a long moment, she couldn't breathe.

Her brother… Cedric Ashbourne.

Her last remaining family...

Was gone.

In that moment, everything she had endured became meaningless.

***

*House of Ashbourne.*

Elara woke with a crushing pain in her chest.

“Cedric!” she cried. “Cedric!”

“Don't leave me!”

She was reliving the night her brother died.

“You swore you wouldn’t leave me!”

“Elara!”

The door burst open.

Standing in the doorway was the very man whose death had haunted her dreams.

“Cedric!” She got off the bed and rushed towards him. “When did you get back?”

Her brother had been stationed at the border these past few days, so she had not seen him since her rebirth.

Cedric held her tightly and caressed her head. “Late last night. You were already asleep. I didn't want to wake you. What happened?”

Elara sniffed her tears away. She cupped her older brother’s face and said, “I’m glad you are still alive.”

“Of course, I’m alive.” Cedric flicked a finger on her forehead. He chuckled and said, “Don’t worry. It will take more than a few rogues to kill me.”

He held her arms. “What happened, Elara? Did you have a dream? You rarely have nightmares.”

It had been only five days since Elara was reborn. She was still struggling to separate the past from the present. Most of her memories returned in dreams, while others surfaced without warning in fleeting moments throughout the day.

“A dream? Yeah, you could call it that. I believe it’s a premonition,” she slowly said. Elara wouldn’t dare tell her brother she had lived this life, and that she had buried him next to their parent’s grave. 

“Premonition?” he echoed. 

“Yes,” she said, nodding. 

Elara held her brother tightly, lingering in his embrace longer than she ever had before.

In her previous life, she had wasted years trying to prove she was more worthy than Mira, while neglecting the people who had loved her unconditionally.

Now that she had them back, she wasn't ready to let go.

She didn't know how long she remained in her brother’s embrace. Only after her breathing steadied did she slowly pull away.

“Cedric,” she began, her voice still unsteady. “I'm going to make a lot of changes to House Ashbourne. You're the only family I have left, and I need you to trust me, no matter what I decide.”

“Changes? What changes?” Cedric asked, confused. 

“For one, I’m not marrying Cassian,” she replied. 

“What?” Cedric frowned. “Why? You have known each other since we were kids. This was part of our alliance agreement with the Royal Family. Elara, you can’t decide on that…”

“I know. I know,” Elara said. “And trust me, I will figure it out.”

“You have been invited to the Royal Family dinner, have you not?” she asked. “On that day, you will understand my choices.”

Cedric paused. He studied her intently before conceding, “I’m not sure about believing in dreams, Elara, but you are my sister. And I love you. Whatever happens, I'll stand by your side.”

Elara smiled. “Thank you, Brother.”

***

Three days later, Elara and her brother travelled to Mooncrest, the capital of Asteria. It was the home of the werewolf king, Aldric Draven, and his wife, Luna Queen Elowen Draven. 

The Royal Family's monthly dinner was more than a social gathering. It was the one evening each month when the Alpha King gathered his heirs and the noble leaders under their command to share a meal, catch up on the affairs of their territories, and discuss any challenges they faced.

Elara and her brother were already in the carriage when Cedric asked, “Why didn’t Cassian pick you up? In the past, no matter how busy he was, he always found the time to fetch you before the monthly dinner.”

“The answer will be before your eyes in the evening,” she said quietly as she closed her eyes to rest.

Cedric did not bother her with more questions. 

After a long journey, Elara and Cedric had finally arrived at the Mooncrest Castle. 

They were among the first to arrive in the royal dining hall.

Only two men had arrived before them.

The one standing alone before the grand windows was her target.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark robes embroidered with silver wolves. And although the hall was nearly empty, his presence was impossible to overlook.

Alpha Prince Kael Draven.

Elara walked straight to him without hesitation. “Your Highness, good evening.”

Kael frowned at her. His eyes studied her from head to toe. 

“Lady Elara, I did not know we were close,” he said in the most sarcastic tone.

Elara simply smiled. “Neither did I, Prince Kael.”