Uncle Andros absentmindedly stroked my hair while we sat together. I was just pleased that he didn't set me aside or go back to work. I liked being in his arms.

"Anwyll, was that true? What your daddy said about you?"

"Yes, it's true. And it's not because I feel obligated to 'return the favor' or anything like that. I want to do it. I want to make you feel happy and loved, and that makes me feel overjoyed in return if I have managed to accomplish such a feat."

Uncle Andros chuckled, the rumbly sound vibrating through me. I rubbed my cheek on his shoulder, nosing his throat and kissing it. Uncle Andros thumbed my cheek after he calmed down, his silent breaths longer than mine. I clutched onto shirt and curled my tail over my lap. My uncle gently petted it while I closed my eyes to rest them.

"Pup, do you want my claim?" he asked in a soft voice, the powerful rumble in the background this time.

I nodded. "I do, Uncle. Daddy really should take my first time, though."

"Do not worry, my precious pup. I had no intention of stealing that right from Alex." he murmured, kissing and nuzzling my silvery-heather waves.

"I love you, Uncle Andros. I meant what I said. Every bit of it."

"I know, pup." he kissed my head again. "Thank you."

"Do you love me?"

Uncle Andros pressed his lips to my human ear and hugged my body tighter. "More than you will ever truly know, Anwyll."

I blushed a bit and snuggled deeper. "Okay, Uncle. How much work do you have left?"

"One more meeting and then we can head home."

"Mmkay, Uncle. You won't leave—?"

Uncle Andros growled. "I am not leaving you alone again."

I clutched tighter to him. "Thank you."

"Ssh, you are safest in my arms."

"I know." I whispered.

My uncle kissed my head and shuffled me around to sit up. "Let's head out for the final meeting. It's at a restaurant for an early dinner."

"Mmkay," I mumbled, closing my eyes again. "I'm sleepy. Do you mind if I nap?"

"Of course not, pup. You're exhausted. Sleep well, Anwyll."

"Thanks, Uncle Andros." I nuzzled his throat again and let myself drift off in the safe warmth of my beloved uncle.

__________________________

"Pup," murmured my uncle.

I yawned softly, wiping my eyes with my fingers. "Yes, Uncle Andros?"

His large hand cupped the back of my head while he had me cradled in his arms. I nosed his side, feeling the sinewy muscles and the raw strength of my family. Uncle Andros squished my cheeks, so I looked up at him again.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Anwyll. I just can't stop looking at you. I'm in awe, honestly, that you are here in my arms and making me feel so undeniably and unbelievably happy."

My cheeks warmed and my smile grew so wide. "I'm really happy to know that, Uncle Andros."

He smiled and thumbed my cheeks again."We have arrived at the restaurant."

I went to sit up, but he stopped me. "Stay, pup. The man's assistant made a crucial error by not booking a proper private room, so we are waiting until things are fixed."

"Ooh, okay." I smiled, my tail swishing on the seat. "I was going to ask you about Daddy."

My uncle's emerald green eyes swirled with their true midnight and azure colors for a moment. "Were you surprised?"

"I was a bit stunned, but it made sense. For him to cry for years over his loss of me, and then be very stable when I met him again and didn't recognize him, he must have gotten a lot of help from someone to keep him sane. So, thank you, Uncle Andros, for saving my Daddy."

Uncle Andros lifted my head higher, so he could kiss my forehead. "I couldn't watch him waste away. It was too heartbreaking. I loved him and I still do. He's my brother."

I scooted higher to whisper, "You've loved him for a long time. Long before I came around, right? You distanced yourself from him until I was born."

Uncle Andros stiffened. "H-how?"

"It all makes sense to me now, Uncle." I murmured, then pecked his cheek and snuggled down into his arms as a well-dressed man approached the vehicle.

Uncle Andros chuckled and kissed my head. "You are far too keen, my sweet pup."

David moved off the side of the car to greet the inbound man, so I heard faint mutterings of conversation through the door. Uncle Andros prepared me for the lift and his briefcase, then stepped out of the vehicle once David opened the door. My uncle dipped his head in silent thanks and I mouthed it to David, which made the man smile.

Uncle Andros was escorted by the host into the fine wine and dine establishment it claimed itself to be. I wondered how my uncle would get by not eating, but then again, I hadn't seen him eat anything at Angel's lunch meeting either. He was just drinking fluids like water and fruit juice in a glass. No one seemed bothered, so I guess it was well-known that my uncle did not eat in front of others.

"Right this way, Mr. Lucaon." said the older gentleman, walking quickly to stay ahead of my uncle's long strides.

He led my uncle to a private room off to the right, but I heard some murmurings and felt stares directed at me. I looked around, but returned my cheek to my uncle's shoulder after a low growl rumbled. The man startled from the sound and nearly fell, but caught himself as he opened the door. My uncle stepped inside without a word, but then a different man in a dark gray suit came up to him.

"I am so sorry for making you wait, Mr. Lucaon. I hope my assistant did not ruin my chances to speak with you today."

My uncle was silent, so I prodded his throat with my nose and kneaded his chest with my right hand's knuckles. The movements alerted the man to my presence and his deep brown eyes widened as they took in the protective hold my uncle had on me while I was tucked into his right side.

"You should thank my nephew for my lenience of your mistake. Had it not been for his presence, I would have cancelled the meeting and gone home." uttered my uncle in a low voice.

The man's eyes widened further when my uncle placed his briefcase on the clothed table and cupped my cheek. I giggled lightly, nuzzling my uncle's jawline while he subtly cuddled me closer.

"Y-you have a nephew?"

"Mmhm, that's me." I grinned, my tail wagging against my uncle's side. "I'm Anwyll. What's your name?"

The man's lips curled up in a somewhat smarmy way for a split second. It was so fast I wasn't sure my uncle caught it. I held out my hand out of curtesy, so the man grasped it with gentle fingers.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jared Knoll."

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Knoll." I said softly, gently tugging my hand backwards.

The man kept holding it for a few more seconds, then released it. "Thank you for being here today. Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

I tucked my hand back against my uncle's chest before he could growl and waited for his response, since I didn't want to inconvenience my uncle. Uncle Andros stroked his fingers through my hair while he spoke to Mr. Knoll in my stead. The strange man hurried to the door and left it, returning a moment later.

"We will have a server take our orders shortly. Your nephew's drink has been noted."

"Thank you," I said quietly, since I knew my uncle wouldn't say it.

Mr. Knoll's lips curled up in a creepy way again. "My pleasure."

Uncle Andros settled my butt into his lap as he down, and I rubbed my cheek on his chest with a happy sigh. The creepy man took a seat as well, but I ignored them while they talked business. I was a bit worried about my family, since I told them I wanted to wait to be with everyone. But I could see the logic that my daddy had brought up. I didn't want to get injured, and maybe it would be more romantic to do it with one or two at a time?

"Daddy, I have a question."

"Yes, baby?" came Daddy's reply a moment later.

"I don't want the others to be mad at me about not doing it with everyone at the same time. I think I should do it with one or two at a time, so I don't get injured. I'm really scared about that. I don't want them to blame themselves it that happens, just because I was too stupid to realize it would be a bad decision."

Daddy cooed at me for my thoughtfulness and I blushed in response. "I'll let them know what will happen tonight, baby. And I will tell them exactly what you said. Will that do, baby?"

"Thank you, Daddy. I'm sorry to bother you."

"Baby, you did no such thing. I love hearing your cute little voice in my head."

I giggled a bit, but flushed when I realized Uncle Andros had stopped talking. I hid my face in his neck.

"Aw, now I'm embarrassed. I giggled aloud and now Uncle Andros and the other guy are quiet."

Daddy laughed in my head, and my face burned. "You are too cute, my adorable little wolf. Pay attention now, baby. And don't worry about the others. Do you have an extra special message to give them?"

"Uh-huh, Daddy. Would you please tell them that I love them so, so, so much and that I'll see them tomorrow?"

"Of course, baby. I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy. See you later."

The connection blinked off, but I knew it was still open for communication. I nuzzled my uncle's throat with a happy sigh and curled down again. A cup of apple juice was set down next to me, and in front of my uncle, so I peeked at the owner of the hand that set it down. It was a waitress dressed in formal attire, although her hands were shaking a bit as she served the waters. She set two wine glasses down and popped the cork, professionally pouring the fermented, bitterly sour grape juice.

"Have you decided what to order?" she asked stiffly, her posture a bit awkward. She must be able to feel the powerful aura around my uncle, but if not, why was she acting like that?

"Yes, I will have the wild-caught salmon with a garlic butter glaze. A side of steamed broccoli would do me well." said Mr. Knoll, his fingertips resting on the woman's hand in an overly familiar and uncomfortable way.

The woman looked terrified out of her wits, but quickly jot it down. She turned to my uncle, but stiffened and rushed over to Uncle Andros' left side. I peered at the man from under my eyelashes. He was chuckling to himself as he put his hand down. He touched her butt!

I was suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to tell my uncle, but he was busy ordering. Once he was finished, then I needed to go to the washroom. Uncle Andros was loathe to let me go alone, but he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The waitress offered to take me before she left, so my uncle let me leave.

I grasped the woman's hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry he's such a horrible man." I said softly, and her form tensed.

"Mr. Lucaon is a very kind man."

"I know that. I was talking about Mr. Knoll. He's so creepy."

The woman relaxed, but tensed again. "You noticed?"

"Mmhm, he had a smarmy smile when I introduced myself and he held my hand longer than necessary."

She clenched her jaw. "Waitresses weren't enough, huh?"

"Does he come here often?" I asked, as she led me towards the washroom.

"Yes, and my boss is on good terms with him because of the generous donations, which means that bast—bad man can do whatever he wants to whomever he wishes."

"I knew I should have told him..." I whispered, rubbing my face. "I'll tell Mr. Lucaon for you. He'll take care of it."

The woman halted. "He wouldn't do that...it doesn't benefit him."

"It would, actually. Think about it. Your boss is likely the manager of this upscale restaurant. The owner would rather be on good terms with the Lucaon of Business, rather than have him as an enemy. And if he or she gets rid of the corrupt management, Mr. Lucaon would likely invest in a good restaurant. So far, it seems like you have a good menu, well-dressed waitstaff with good attitudes, and the prices are good for a restaurant of this caliber. The only problem is, as I said before, the corrupt management. If you get rid of that, it's likely this business would flourish even more."

The waitress' jaw dropped. "Who are you, kid?"

I grinned, my tail wiggling behind me. "A kiddie-sized eighteen-year-old with a knack for business relations."

I let go of her hand when we reached the inset for the men and women doors to the washroom. I glanced back at her flabbergasted expression, then wiggled my fingers at her.

"Thanks for escorting me!"

I pushed the men's door and her eyes widened further. She must have thought I wad a girl, so that means Mr. Knoll also thought I was a little girl before Uncle Andros introduced me.

I quickly did my business and stood on my tiptoes to reach the soap. The door opened while I was scrubbing my hands together. I had just put my hands under the faucet when I heard snickers.

"Does she know she's in the wrong side?"

"I'm a boy." I huffed, washing the soap off my hands. "I like dressing like this, though."

I glanced over to the two people and my eyes widened. "Wally?"

Grayish-green eyes widened. "Anwyll?"

Walter McMann was an acquaintance in high school. He was pretty nice to me, but I never really had time to talk because I would get beaten black and blue if I came home even a second late.

"You know him?" asked his friend, who was auburn-haired and blue-eyed.

Walter had long light blond hair that he usually kept in a braid. It was loose, but two thin braids wrapped around the sides of his head and were tied in the back. I had always thought his hair was super pretty but never told him that aloud.

"Yeah, from high school." answered Walter, and I dried my hands while he moved to crouch down. "My god, Anwyll, you're still so small."

I blushed as I stepped over to him. "Y-yeah, but that's okay. It's so weird to see you again."

Walter held out his hands, so I grasped a few fingers of each and squeezed them. His grayish-green eyes sparkled with amazement as he took in my attire.

"It's so weird to not see you so thin and covered in bruises."

His friend gasped, and I sighed softly with a small smile. "Wally, my mom finally gave custody over to my dad nearly a month ago. Fifteen long years of horrible abuse ended. I'm so happy now."

Walter rubbed his thumbs over the backs of my small hands. "I can see that. Your dad is spoiling you, isn't he?"

"Not rotten, though." I grinned, then smacked his worried face with my tail.

Walter flinched, then blinked a few times. He rubbed his eyes and stared at my head, and where my tail was swishing behind me. Could he see them now? How?

"Anwyll, am I going crazy?"

I grinned. "Nope! My mom started abusing me 'cause of these all natural attributes."

I let go of his hands and he reached for my fluffy tail. He petted it with amazement in his eyes.

"Walter, what are you doing?"

"Crouch down, Greg."

"What?"

After the guy called Greg got glared at, he crouched down and stared at me with a critical gaze. Walter made a motion towards his friend, so I smacked Greg in the face with my tail. Greg flinched, then blinked a few times.

"U-uh..." his jaw dropped. "Am I seeing things?"

"Nope!" I grinned again. "I'm a wolf!"

Walter cocked his head to the side. "But you're human."

"A third human. I Emerged as a wolf at age three."

Greg frowned. "What's the other third?"

"Dragon." I smirked, raising my eyebrows. "Anyway, my uncle is waiting for me. If you call my dad's number, we can set up a day for visiting my home. You can meet other people like me."

Greg pointed to himself. "Me too?"

"Yep, 'cause you can see us now. Most humans can't see our attributes."

"Then why can we?"

I lifted my tail and flopped it into my arms. "I guess it's because I smacked you with my tail."

Greg raised an eyebrow. "That seems a little ridiculous, but here we are."

Walter hummed. "Okay, Anwyll. Tell me your dad's number."

I rattled it off for him and then hugged his neck after he entered the number in his phone. "It was great seeing you again, Wally. I'm sorry for not being too friendly with you. My mom would beat me if I arrived late."

Walter returned the hug. "It's okay, Anwyll. I saw the signs. I should have done something."

"There was nothing that you could do. My mom had her talons in every person that could have changed things. Even Child Protective Services could do nothing with my mother's contacts in the way."

Walter sighed. "That must have sucked."

"It did, but then again, I may not have been able to meet my dad again. Anyway, one more thing before I go..."

"Yes?"

I hopped towards the door, but looked back with a bright smile. "Your hair has always been beautiful to me!"

Walter blushed as I left the washroom. I walked back towards the private room with a jaunty skip in my step. I felt happy, so the music rose in my head. I couldn't help but dance back to the room. When I reached the door, I heard a few low whistles and some claps. My cheeks burst into flames, and my face and neck burned while I opened the door.

The door was caught and I was swept into my uncle's arms before the door was shut. I gasped quietly, but accepted the firm embrace while Uncle Andros moved to the corner of the room. My uncle's tense form slowly relaxed with his nose buried in my hair.

"What took you? I was worried, pup."

"Sorry, Uncle Andros. I met a friend from high school and we talked a bit."

Uncle Andros breathed a heavy sigh of relief and held me tightly. "I am pleased to know that, Anwyll. Next time, though, please use telepathy to tell me."

"Ooh, I forgot about that again. Also, I hope you haven't promised anything to that creep, Mr. Knoll, because he's working with the corrupt management of this restaurant. I'm sure the owner would be a much better person to work with and his or her restaurant would be a great investment to look into."

Uncle Andros chuckled. "You surprise me to no end, pup. I have not promised him anything. Tell me more about what you learned while you eat—telepathically, of course."

"Of course, Uncle." I pecked his lips with a smile, then tucked my forehead against his neck.