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"And them?" Sion said suddenly. "Eira and Bowen." Anger coloured his voice. "Why did you allow them to disrespect her? She has been their mother for eight years."

"I swear to you," Blaidd said desperately, turning to him, "I didn't know. I was selfish. She accepted them as her own, and I"—his throat moved as he swallowed past the lump in his throat—"I hoped that would be enough while I waited it out."

He dragged a hand through his hair, breathing hard. "When I was home, they were always quiet. I thought it was that age. I never thought—" He had to stop and clear his throat. "I didn't know they were behaving this way. My fault for being a coward and staying away...all my fault."

His eyes hardened. "All I can do is make sure it won't happen again."

He straightened again, pain radiating through him. "Take me to her. Please."

The room fell silent as Maxen exchanged a look with Lisna.

"She's long gone," Maxen said carefully.

Blaidd knew it in his heart, yet the words struck like a physical blow.

Blaidd swayed. "Then I'm going to die trying to find her," he said flatly. "But she needs to know the truth." His voice thickened. "She needs to know this was my fault."

He dropped his head, fists clenched at his sides. "My hands were tied, but still, I was a coward. I left her to carry the weight of this family on her shoulders alone."

He lifted his gaze again, eyes burning. "I will beg her forgiveness on my knees if I must."

Everyone exchanged glances as if trying to come to a decision.

Finally, Sulien seemed to yield.

" Let's not die just yet. I can't tell you where she is," he said slowly. "I have vowed—"

Blaidd surged to his feet as fresh blood bloomed through the linen at his arms as the wounds reopened, his wolf snapping at the leash, ready to tear through anyone who stood between him and her.

"Move," he growled.

Sulien held up a hand. "Let me finish. I vowed I wouldn't tell you," he continued evenly, "but I never said I wouldn't take you there."

Sulien met Blaidd's gaze, something resolute and grim in his expression as he gently placed a hand on Blaidd's shoulder. "Had I known," he added quietly, "I would have found a way to help you both."

Blaidd sagged back against the bed, the fight bleeding out of him.

"I remember being on the cold ground after the challenge," he said after a moment, voice distant. "And then, this amazing smell of orange blossoms. It was like being cocooned in warmth after a long winter…like coming home."

His eyes were unfocused as the memory dragged him under.

"A brown wolf was standing over me. Like she wanted to protect me." His breath hitched. "For a moment, I thought they had sent another one to torture me…" he whispered. "That this was yet another trick."

Maxen nodded slowly. "If there was a way to send her away, it would have been a mercy.."

"And let her think I rejected her?," Blaidd said. "How?" His eyes lifted, haunted. "My wolf was certain. He came out of hibernation. I thought he was dead since Isolde... He was so happy. He had finally gotten it right."

He gave a short, broken laugh. "I wouldn't have survived her leaving, and neither would she. You know mates cannot bear to be apart once they recognise each other."

"So, for eight years," he said quietly, his shoulders slumped, "I kept my distance. I learned to guard my thoughts. She must have hated me." His jaw clenched. "And I hated myself for it."

Lisna exhaled shakily.

"I regretted the rune every day," Blaidd went on. "I kept thinking, why did I do it? Why? Why did I let that witch who hated me, touch my body? Carve me into less than a man?" He closed his eyes.

"I couldn't get rid of Isolde's things. I couldn't allow the curse to be unleashed on the pack. I was trapped." His voice faltered. "The only time I could be with her was when—"

Sion cleared his throat loudly. "Some things I really don't need to know about my sister."