Chapter 6: The Vale of Heroes 

~ Elara ~ 

*Mooncrest*

It was the dead of night. 

Elara had stepped out from her room in her training clothes. 

She wanted time to think. 

Time to be alone. 

And time to be with her beloved parents. 

Only Cedric and the Moon Goddess knew exactly just how much she missed them. 

Elara was still at the Mooncrest castle. 

It was customary for everyone at the Royal Dinner to stay overnight, but those who lived in the capital returned home. 

She had walked past the royal guards on post. Even in their wolf form, they nodded her way with their snouts. 

“I’m going to see my parents,” she announced, just as she stepped out of the gates. 

“Commander Cedric would not allow you to wander off alone, Lady Elara,” the guard in gray wolf form said. 

“I can manage on my own,” she replied. “I am not an Ashbourne for no reason. Just tell the scouts to stay clear of my way. I want to be alone.”

The gray wolf bowed in acknowledgment before howling the others on guard. 

Elara left a bag of her clothes. 

She stepped beyond Mooncrest Castle's gates and followed the cobbled road leading away from the capital.

The Vale of Heroes did not lie within the castle walls.

Asteria's greatest warriors were laid to rest in a secluded grove several miles from the castle, beyond the royal hunting grounds where the forest remained untouched by merchants and travelers. Only members of the royal family, the honored houses, and those granted permission by the Crown were allowed to enter.

Tonight, the journey felt longer than usual.

Once the castle lights disappeared behind the trees, Elara stopped.

She closed her eyes and let her wolf free.

Bones shifted.

White fur spread across her skin.

Moments later, her paws carried her swiftly through the forest, weaving between ancient trees toward the Vale of Heroes.

It didn't take Elara long to find her parents' graves.

Two stone monuments stood side by side near an ancient oak, each bearing the Ashbourne crest. Moonflowers bloomed around their bases under the moonlight.

Supreme Commander Gareth Ashbourne.

Shield of Ironwood. Loyal Until His Last Breath.

Lady Evelyn Ashbourne.

Heart of House Ashbourne. Beloved Wife and Mother.

Seven years ago, her father had led an expedition to investigate the spreading frost beyond the Whispering Forest. Her mother insisted on accompanying him. Before they reached their destination, they were ambushed by Northhaven warriors.

Her father died on the spot. Her mother succumbed to her wounds months later.

The kingdom honored them as heroes who gave their lives for Asteria.

Elara had believed that story until the final days of her previous life. 

Now, standing before their graves once again, she no longer knew what to believe.

She transformed into her human form and knelt before them.

For the first time since her rebirth, she let herself grieve.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her chest tightened until it hurt to breathe.

“Mother... Father...” she whispered. “Was it true?”

“Did our own kingdom betray you?”

The enemy's words still haunted her, bringing her back to the day Northaven fully invaded the kingdom in her first life. 

“You still think your parents died by our hands?”

“Poor child...”

“It was your own kingdom that betrayed them.”

While countless warriors gave their lives defending Asteria, Cassian fled with Mira and their children.

Many of the people she cared about died in vain only for their “savior” to escape like a coward!

She had known she was going to die.

At the very least, she had hoped that killing the enemy would avenge her parents.

Instead... she realized she had been mourning the wrong enemy all along.

From one heartbreaking revelation to the next, she spent her final moments praying for one last chance to set everything right.

Everyone said the Moon Goddess had long abandoned the werewolf realm. Yet somehow, that night, she answered Elara's desperate plea.

“I came back,” she said in a hoarse voice. “Mother... Father... I will uncover the truth behind your deaths. I swear to the Moon Goddess, I will avenge you.”

Her lips trembled.

“Guide me,” she whispered. “Show me where to begin.”

Was the Crown truly responsible?

Or had someone sought to turn the kingdom against itself?

She had countless questions.

But one thing was certain.

Her first step was to walk away from Cassian.

Elara didn't know how long she remained before her parents' graves.

She only hoped that, wherever they were, they had heard every word.

Minutes turned into hours.

Yet somehow, standing before her parents' graves gave Elara clarity.

Deep down, she had always known where to begin. Over the past few days, however, she had been too consumed by the memories of her rebirth, and too focused on escaping Cassian, to think beyond her next step.

“Thank you. Mother, Father, I love you,” she smiled. “Cedric and I miss you every single day.”

Elara remained a while longer before it was finally time to leave.

She let her wolf take over once more.

On all fours, she looked back at her parents' graves one last time. A low, mournful howl escaped her before she turned and made her way back to Mooncrest Castle.

By the time she reached the gates, the night patrol was already waiting.

Most of the royal guards remained in their wolf forms. Their heightened senses made them far better suited for guarding the castle through the night, while their howls could summon reinforcements long before a horn ever could.

“Lady Elara,” one guard said. “Your clothes.”

She shifted back into her human form, retrieved her clothes, and changed in the nearby guard pavilion.

Elara meant to take her rest after that. 

She felt exhausted… physically and emotionally. 

But just as she was walking along the fire-lit corridors of the castle, she overheard voices. 

Two familiar voices argued somewhere ahead.

When she followed the voices, she was stunned to stumble upon Cassian and Mira arguing. 

“I’m leaving, you can’t stop me!” Mira said. 

“Why? My parents will forgive you. You are the savior of this realm!” Cassian said. 

“We don't know that yet. All I know is that I can melt a little ice and wield a little fire.” Mira glanced at her hands. “We have no idea how to make these powers strong enough to save the entire werewolf realm.”

“Besides,” Mira wept. “This is getting out of hand.”

“What do you mean? What is getting out of hand?” Cassian asked. 

Mira hesitated, but eventually she whispered, “Cassian. I’m starting to have feelings for you.”

Time stilled for a second. 

Without warning, Cassian cupped Mira's face and kissed her.

A shock rippled through her.

Elara didn't know why. She had known this moment would come, yet it still hurt.

It brought back the anger.

The frustration.

And the painful reminder of how blind she had allowed herself to become.

Elara stumbled back, but in doing so, her shoulder brushed a decorative vase, making it rattle. 

It was only a faint noise, but just enough to alert both Cassian and Mira. 

“Who's there?” Cassian demanded. “Announce yourself.”

‘No. No,’ Elara thought. 

She wasn’t ready for this. 

Elara turned around and searched for a place to hide. 

Just as she reached a few steps, she felt a strong grip on her wrist. 

She was pulled into a chamber. 

When the door closed behind her, she found herself inches away from... Prince Kael.

“You... were following me?” she asked under her breath.

Kael didn't even look at her.

“You think too highly of yourself.” His gaze remained fixed on the corridor outside. “I was spying on the realm's future savior.”