#bio: aneurin callaghan

[fairywilds]

Since birth, Aneurin felt overshadowed by his older sister, Orlaith, who seemed to be the golden child. This dynamic proved challenging for Aneurin. Their family lived in Ireland until Orlaith was nine, deepening the divide. Aneurin, born three years later, faced a significant twelve-year age gap. This played a role in amplifying the sense of living in his sister's shadow. The family dynamic was further complicated by their mother and grandfather's alpha status. In Northknot, Orlaith was groomed for alpha leadership, leaving Aneurin, the second-born, without the same opportunity. In result, he found himself on a path with no encouragement or acknowledgment, grappling with his identity within familial and pack expectations. The parents had old-fashioned views and judged quickly without taking the time to understand. Aneurin felt like the odd one out, not fitting into the strict expectations their parents had. Especially because Orlaith went through life so easily; handed everything on a silver platter. Aneurin chose to keep his own thoughts. He'd learn to keep his own secrets too while still attempting to figure out how to navigate life. It didn't help that Aneurin sensed his difference from what was expected and he silently acknowledged his bisexuality, but kept it hidden while under his parents' roof. The dynamics shifted when Orlaith was revealed to be gay, and that she had tried to suppress it until now. Although this resounded with him, it boggled his mind because: how could the golden child have a single flaw? This revelation shook Aneurin's perception of his sister. Encouraged by her honesty, he began exploring his own suppressed urges more, but still vowing to keep concealed from his parents. When Orlaith was disowned because of this, his parents redirected their strict expectations onto Aneurin, and he retreated into himself to weather the storm; no longer aspiring to their expectations, but instead feeling the urge to run. Aneurin still maintained a distance from Orlaith, but things began to change after high school graduation. Moving out of the family home allowed him the freedom to think independently. This newfound autonomy prompted Aneurin to reach out to Orlaith, gradually bridging the gap. The effort brought them a bit closer. Reconnecting also meant meeting her fiancée, Elsa, and he found himself strangely comforted by her. His anxiety lessened, perhaps due to her sunny disposition that lifted his spirits. Elsa, engaged to his older sister, began treating Aneurin like a brother, creating a sense of being seen and understood that he had longed for. Despite the warmth, Aneurin still grappled with understanding Orlaith's choices, as the childhood trauma made it a learning process, but one he had slowly been putting more effort into lately. Aneurin found a community of fellow wolves, including Molly, Laurel, Lachlan, and Astrid. Their household thrives on communication often expressed through gossip sessions on their expansive porch. During this time, the alpha status of the Moon Valley pack shifted to Orlaith and she claimed Laurel Parks, one of Aneurin's roommates, as her beta. While such a development might have angered Aneurin in his more immature years, he now understands this as it was always to be his sister's destiny. Considering all Orlaith has endured with their parents, Aneurin believes she is well-suited for the position and graciously accepts his place under her leadership in the pack. In his early twenties, Aneurin connected with McKenna, a fellow werewolf from a different pack. Their passionate relationship endured for a few years, but Kenna's avoidant tendencies led to challenges. Navigating moody phases, Aneurin eventually felt the relationship became a burden. Around this time he had been hired as a park ranger and, with this new job, he prioritized his well-being, and ended things with McKenna; leading to a messy breakup which he at the time believed was best for both of them.