His father was a vagrant that found work in Aberdeen, and his mother was the daughter of a famous naval officer. Although the Imperial Army has no true navy, they do station a handful of wolves at the shores to watch for storms and evacuate residents when needed. Cailan, with his eagerness to learn and own aptitude for understanding the ocean, had quickly garnered the old man's favor. Not enough to earn his daughter's hand, mind you, but enough to keep around.
As such, a slow burn blossomed between the two. They were enemies, then respected peers, then friends, then lovers. After the old man passed and rebellion broke out, there were no more soldiers to replace him in Aberdeen. Cailan took over the role of watching over the people and even helped out in stopping a skirmish or two. When he accidentally killed an Imperial soldier, he was struck with an impossible decision. Stay, risking his family? Or leave... risking his family? Both his presence and his absence could mark the worst for Aigean and their two young pups.
She threatened to follow him through the sea and straights of the world if he left, and so he stayed. Only to mysteriously disappear after being dragged off by Imperial soldiers during the throes of a storm.
His body was never found and that fact dwells heavily on the family.