Chapter 137 What Was Never Meant To Be Read

Chapter 137 What Was Never Meant To Be Read
~ Caelen's POV ~

I woke before sunrise with Allene still asleep beside me. Her breathing was steady, but the worried expression that had settled on her face during the night had not completely disappeared.

She opened her eyes a few moments later and looked toward the window before turning to me. I could tell she was thinking about something she had not yet decided to share.

"Good morning," I said quietly. "Did you sleep at all?"

"I slept," she replied. "I just had a strange dream."

She did not say anything more after that. I waited for her to continue, but she simply looked down at the blanket resting across her lap.

I remembered the many times I had pushed too hard when I believed protecting her meant knowing everything. Those days had taught me that trust sometimes meant allowing silence instead of demanding answers.

"You don't have to explain it yet," I said. "Not if you don't understand it yourself."

She looked back at me with clear surprise. I could almost see her wondering why I had stopped asking questions.

"Thank you," she said softly. "I'm still trying to make sense of it."

I nodded once before getting out of bed. Whatever the dream meant, I knew she would tell me when she was ready.

The rebuilt cabin felt peaceful in the early morning light. For the first time in many months, there were no urgent meetings waiting for us the moment we opened the door.

"I'll make breakfast," I announced confidently. "You can stay here and rest."

She raised one eyebrow before smiling. I immediately recognized the expression because I had seen it several times before.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked. "You remember what happened last time."

"I've improved," I replied. "You'll be impressed."

She laughed quietly as I walked into the kitchen. Hearing that sound made the cabin feel warmer than it had only moments earlier.

I gathered everything I needed and began preparing breakfast. At least, I believed I had everything I needed.

A few minutes later I stared at the frying pan with growing concern. The food looked nothing like I had expected.

Allene stepped into the kitchen after noticing the unusual silence. She looked from me to the pan before covering her mouth to hide another smile.

"Should I be worried?" she asked. "Or should I already be looking for something else to eat?"

"I think it's still edible," I answered. "Probably."

She walked closer and looked into the pan again. This time she made no effort to hide her laughter.

"I appreciate your confidence," she said. "I'm not sure the food shares it."

"I was trying to surprise you," I replied. "This wasn't the surprise I planned."

She gently took the cooking spoon from my hand without criticizing me further. Her movements were calm and familiar.

"How about we make breakfast together?" she suggested. "That sounds much safer."

"I'll accept your expert guidance," I admitted. "I clearly need it."

We stood side by side preparing another meal while talking about ordinary things instead of councils or investigations. The conversation felt so normal that I briefly forgot how much our lives had changed.

"I used to think being Alpha would prepare me for anything," I said. "Nobody warned me about breakfast."

"I don't think leadership includes cooking lessons," she replied. "Maybe it should."

"I'll recommend it at the next council meeting," I answered.

She laughed again before placing another plate on the table. Moments like that reminded me of the future we both hoped to build.

For a little while, we simply ate breakfast together inside the quiet cabin. We looked less like an Alpha and the last Moonbound than two ordinary people enjoying the beginning of another day.

The peace lasted until I noticed several vehicles approaching from the road outside. My instincts sharpened immediately as I counted more arrivals than I expected.

I stepped onto the porch while Allene remained behind me. Wolves from neighboring territories climbed out and waited respectfully near the entrance.

One of the older visitors stepped forward first. He lowered his head before speaking.

"We have come to meet the Moonbound," he said. "Many people wish to seek her guidance."

More vehicles arrived behind the first group. Some carried elders, while others brought ordinary families.

I looked across the growing crowd with increasing discomfort. Every pair of eyes seemed fixed on Allene.

They spoke about her with respect. Even so, I disliked the way many of them looked at her as though she belonged to history instead of herself.

Allene quietly joined me on the porch without saying anything. She noticed the crowd just as quickly as I had.

"I didn't expect this," she admitted. "Neither did I."

One of the visiting elders stepped closer. His expression remained polite, but his expectations were obvious.

"The Moonbound should hear every request presented before her," he said. "That is the proper way."

I looked directly at him before answering. My decision had already been made.

"No," I said. "Nobody meets Allene without her consent."

Several elders exchanged quiet looks with one another. Their surprise quickly turned into visible disagreement.

"Tradition requires the Moonbound to receive those who seek judgment," another elder argued. "The old laws are clear."

"The old laws do not decide her life," I replied. "She chooses who she meets and when she meets them."

The elder frowned at my answer. His voice became firmer without becoming disrespectful.

"She carries responsibilities beyond herself," he said. "The people have a right to her guidance."

"She also has the right to live her own life," I answered. "Before she is Moonbound, she is my mate and an individual whose choices belong to her."

The crowd became completely silent. No one interrupted as I continued speaking.

"If she wishes to help, she will help," I said. "If she wishes to rest, no one will question that decision."

Several younger wolves nodded almost immediately. Their approval spread quietly through the crowd.

A group of female warriors stepped beside the visitors without hesitation. Their leader spoke before anyone else could object.

"Alpha Caelen is right," she said. "Service cannot exist without choice."

Some of the older traditionalists remained unhappy. Even so, none of them openly challenged my decision again.

The visitors accepted the rules before meeting only those Allene chose to welcome. The atmosphere became noticeably calmer once everyone understood the boundaries.

Later that afternoon, after the last visitor had departed, Allene and I sat together outside the cabin. The breeze carried only the sounds of the surrounding forest.

"You defended me today," she said quietly. "You protected my choice instead of making the choice for me."

"I promised we would stand beside each other," I replied. "That means trusting you to decide your own path."

She reached for my hand and held it gently. The warmth of the mate bond deepened between us without either of us saying another word.

Far from Dravik Territory, Duno dismissed the messenger after accepting a sealed package from an unknown courier. He carried it alone into an empty room before carefully opening it.

Inside was no blade, poison, or weapon forged from steel. Instead, he unfolded several ancient pages recovered from forgotten Moonbound records.

His eyes settled on the title written across the first page. The words remained clear enough to steal the air from the room.

''The Severing of Fated Souls.''