You're awake," he said, voice gentle. "How's Noah? And the others?"
Max gave a tired smile. "Sleeping. Safe. For now."
Silas's expression was far more serious. He walked slowly into the room and then stopped in front of their parents.
His voice was calm, but sharp. "You knew."
Leo blinked. "Knew… what?"
"Don't lie to me," Silas snapped, eyes narrowed. "You knew what Sam is. You've always known. And you didn't tell us."
Robert stood now, face unreadable.
Max reached out, placing a steadying hand on Silas's shoulder.
Silas shook him off.
"He suffered," he continued, louder now. "He spent his whole life hiding who he is, terrified of what would happen if we found out. And you—you just let him carry that burden alone.""We did it to protect him," Leo said softly, though his voice trembled.
"Protect him?" Silas's voice cracked. "From what? From us?"
Robert stepped forward. "You don't understand—"
"Then help me understand!" Silas shouted. "Help me understand why we had to find out by accident—during a drugged heat, while he was scared out of his mind!"
Max took a breath, trying to keep calm. "You could've told us the truth. We would've accepted him—loved him just the same."
"We weren't trying to hurt him," Leo said, his voice pained. "We were trying to give him a chance to choose when and how to reveal it."
Max's eyes darkened. "And yet you never prepared us. You let him walk this road alone. You say you love him, but all you did was build a wall around his truth."
Queen Anderson, who had remained quiet, stood now. Her voice was firm but motherly. "None of us wanted to create distance in the bond. We thought the safest path wassecrecy, for his sake. But perhaps… we were wrong."
Dr. Miller nodded solemnly. "Secrets, even when kept in love, can still wound."
The room fell silent.
Until—
CRASH.
Something shattered upstairs.
Everyone turned.
Max and Silas bolted without a word.