His revelation at discovering who Fraeya, this female elf who now took care of him, was to him must have freed the memory of that fateful day. How could he have forgotten how he watched his friends die? The pain and guilt from being blamed for their deaths and then abandoned by the ones he loved?

The elder Ciyradyl would rather sentence an innocent to death than admit to the possibility that Elwin might be right. Despite knowing the truth of her feelings and betrayal, he still loved Fraeya.

He could no longer hide from his past.

Elwin felt her body pressed against his fur, arm wrapped around his body. She stirred, giving him enough room to slip out of her grip and sit up. The desire for a life he lost overwhelmed him, Elwin climbed on top of the sleeping elf and nuzzled his head on her chest. He brushed his nose against her cheek, breathing in her scent.

He lifted his head and their eyes met. Knowing he might never get a chance like this again, he pressed his nose against hers, then licked her mouth. Fraeya proceeded to roll him off her and franticly wipe his drool off her lips.

"You just had to ruin the moment and slobber me with a kiss. What is that taste?"

Elwin sat there wagging his tail in bliss watching her change into her leather armor. With a smile on her face, Fraeya waved at him and called out, "Let's go for a walk."

Escort in tow, Elwin took the lead on their trip through Unn Thalor. He walked with purpose and knowledge. No longer a stranger to these winding paths, Elwin's heart beat in anticipation as he drew closer to his destination. He wanted to see her one last time.

Fraeya stopped at the fence surrounding a small cottage. Flowers bloomed on either side of the door with lush grass blanketing the front yard. Under a small apple tree sat a woman on an expertly crafted bench.

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Elwin closed the distance, nuzzled up against her leg, and then sat at her feet. Eyes closed, he breathed in her scent and tried to remember the days before he ran into that beast.

He heard soft footsteps then a voice. "Hello, Alma. How are you?"

Silence answered her question with a deafening roar.

"This is the wolf that saved me and my patrol in the forest. His loyalty and bravery reminded me of your son." After a slight pause she continued, "I wonder why he came to see you?"

The wind filled the gap where Alma's reply should have been.

Elwin felt the ground shift as Fraeya knelt and stroked his fur. He looked up at the tears rolling down her cheeks. She faced Alma and confessed, "I loved him. Even so, I convinced myself to distance myself from him as the elders demanded."

Drowning in sorrow, Fraeya forced down her guilt and continued, "I'm sorry that you lost your husband and only son. I'm sorry that I turned my back on him when he needed me most. Please forgive me."

Alma placed her hand on the crying elf's head and spoke for the first time in years.

"Thank you."

Fraeya lifted her head and asked, "For what?"

"For loving my son."

Elwin sat up and pushed his head into his mother's hand. This time she acknowleged him and sank her fingers deep into his fur. He wagged his tail in response.

One cough from their escort and Elwin knew his time had been cut short. Alma wiped away Fraeya's tears and smiled.

Together, they left Alma to her thoughts and headed back towards Fraeya's home.

When they reached the fountain, A howl reverberated across the sky that he knew all too well. Vanima!

Elwin left Fraeya's side and dashed through the town towards the entrance. "Please don't go!"

He heard her plea, but couldn't ignore the bond that tugged him towards his mate. Luck on his side, Elwin made it to the front courtyard and dashed out the gate before they could close it. The guards, under orders from the elders, raised their bows to fire at the fleeing wolf but stopped when Fraeya begged them.

Vanima ran towards him in the open field and Elwin pounced when they closed the distance. The two of them rolled around in the dirt. Two hearts joined as one.

"Elwin, my love, you're alive! I missed you. The pack misses you."

Deep down he knew that the bond he shared with Vanima could never be broken.

"I remembered more of my past. My mother. The day my people turned their back on me and left me to die alone."

Vanima curled up beside him and asked, "Do you still want to protect them?"

With no hesitation, he said, "Yes."