Chapter 3: Elara’s Proposal

~ Elara ~

*Mooncrest Castle*

Kael's eyes moved to Cedric for a brief moment before settling on Elara once more.

“Few dare address me so boldly,” he said evenly. “Not even my Beta.”

His expression remained unreadable. “What is it that you want, Lady Elara? Speak before Cassian arrives and misunderstands us.”

“Elara, what are you doing?” Cedric stepped in between her and the prince. He turned to Kael, his face white as a ghost. “Please excuse my sister, Your Highness. She did not mean to disrespect you.”

“Cedric,” Elara said softly, turning to him. “Had we not agreed for you to trust me?”

Cedric studied her for a long moment, searching her face for answers.

Elara gave him the same look she always had whenever she wanted him to stop asking questions. And with that, her brother stepped away. 

Returning her attention to this stoic alpha prince, she said, “I’d like to speak to you in private, Your Highness.”

Kael's brows drew together. His eyes narrowed.

He looked around. Seeing only Cedric and Commander Ronan in the royal dining hall, he asked, “This is not private enough?”

Elara bowed to his presence. “Please, Prince Kael.”

She looked at him. 

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, while his steel-gray eyes remained fixed on hers.

“This way,” he said with a sigh of irritation. 

A servant intercepted them just outside the dining hall, offering a tray of wine.

Kael accepted a glass and took a slow sip before leading Elara onto the nearest balcony.

Below them, Mooncrest glowed beneath the moonlight. Lanterns illuminated the winding streets, while pale stone buildings and towering watchtowers stood against the night sky. Along the city walls, enormous wolves patrolled in silence, their glowing eyes scanning the darkness beyond the gates.

“Tell me, Lady Elara, where is your fiancé?” the prince asked. 

Elara shook her head; her gaze lingered on the city below. “He's investigating the spreading frost with a lady from Embre.”

A scoff left Kael's lips. “The frost has plagued the realm for decades. Even the priestess has found no answers. What more can a rogue from Embre do?”

Elara shook her head. “From what I have heard, she isn't a rogue.”

Kael looked at her.

“After Embre fell, some of its survivors gathered into settlements led by self-proclaimed Alphas. They have no king, no laws recognized by the kingdoms, and no place among us... but they are not rogues.” She paused. “This lady... She goes by Mira. She was born into one of those settlements. And she may be… a Fireblood.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“Impossible,” he said. “Northhaven slaughtered every last one of them. Those bastards made certain the Firebloods perished with Embre.”

He wasn't wrong.

Decades ago, the king of Northhaven invaded the Kingdom of Embre, home to the Firebloods. By the time the war ended, Embre had fallen into ruin, its throne erased from history. The surviving lands became a haven for rogues and wandering nomads, while the Firebloods were believed to have been wiped out entirely. 

It was said that, from that day on, the Moon Goddess abandoned the werewolf realm.

“Well, they say this lady can wield fire,” Elara explained. “And because of the prophecy, Cassian has decided to explore the lands outside Asteria, where the frost is prominent. He wanted to test if this lady could truly make a difference.”

Kael frowned. “There was no need for him to go himself.”

He looked toward the Frostfang peaks in the distance. “Nor beyond Asteria's borders. The frost reached Frostfang long ago. My territory bears its name for that very reason.”

Then, a laugh escaped him. “Or perhaps he has his reasons for avoiding me.”

Kael raised the glass to his lips. “Cassian has always known where to stand.”

He paused, further explaining, “Where the praise is loudest.”

Elara stared at him. If it were in the past, she would have argued with him and defended Cassian, but now, she truly understood why they never got along. 

Cassian, the Alpha King's favored son, had always been the one celebrated for his achievements. Yet few seemed to remember that it was Kael who guarded Asteria's northern border, standing between the kingdom and their long-standing rival, Northhaven.

“Lady Elara.” He looked at her. “Say what you came to say. If this conversation proves to be a waste of my time, don't expect another.”

‘So typical of him,’ she said in her head. ‘No wonder I remained blind until I died in my last life.’

Elara looked away from him and sucked in a deep breath. “Your Highness... as the eldest prince, you have no shortage of achievements.”

Kael waited.

“Your territory guards the northern frontier,” Elara continued. “You command the largest force of warriors in the kingdom, and they are fiercely loyal.”

The prince lifted his chin. 

“No Alpha in Asteria has slain more Northhaven warriors than you. Countless have fallen beneath your claws.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed. He was studying her, trying to understand where this conversation would end. 

“Yet... despite everything you've done…” She hesitated. “You remain politically isolated.”

Kael arched a brow. “Lady Elara, are you here to evaluate my political career?”

She immediately shook her head. “No...not exactly. I’m getting there.”

Kael sighed. He looked at his glass and said, “You have until my wine finishes.”

She inhaled again. “The court has become increasingly dangerous.”

The prince said nothing, but his eyes turned lethal. 

“The noble houses are choosing sides.” She hesitated. “The Alpha King is growing older...He is...”

“Lady Elara.” Kael’s voice sounded more irritated.  “You continue to state facts known to every lord in Asteria.”

She cleared her throat. “What I'm trying to say is…”

Another pause. “...your position could become stronger...If House Ashbourne stood beside you.”

Silence.

Kael frowned. “...As an ally?”

Elara opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

“No,” she finally said. “Not as an ally, but through marriage.”

Kael choked on his wine and spat. 

He looked at her and stared into the hallways as if finding someone. When he managed to clear his throat, he rasped, “I’m not marrying your brother!”

Elara, “...”

“Of course not!” She herself became flustered. “I mean me…”

“Prince Kael Draven, I’m asking you to marry me.”