I petted Douglas' hair and set his sleeping form against the woman, then hopped off the bench and over to Briar. He hugged my bouncy form and brought me down into his lap, keeping my back to his chest as he curled his arms around me. Briar tucked his nose into my hair and nudged the backs of my wolf ears.

"So how were your few minutes alone?" I asked, stroking Briar's forearms.

Kiel huffed and turned his head. "It could have been worse."

"What's going on inside that head of yours? How is your other personality doing?"

Kiel glanced at me. "He's fine. I put him to sleep. I came out again because he was too stressed and because I needed to handle things."

Briar's grip tightened. "Why does he exist?"

"Why?" murmured Kiel. "I don't know. Maybe it's because he's the manifestation of the person I wanted to be? He's the protector and cherisher of my few good memories."

Briar took a deep breath in as I nuzzled his jawline. "Why did you capture those people to replay my eighth birthday?"

Kiel was silent and seemed uninterested in answering at all. Briar huffed and turned his head, refusing to talk further.

"Bri, I'm going to talk to Daddy and see if he can take care of and then find a good home for Douglas. I'm also going contact Uncle Andros about the lady."

Briar hummed. "All right."

Kiel glanced over and seemed confused as I continued staring at him while I mentally called my daddy first. "What?" asked Kiel, but I didn't respond.

"Is something wrong, baby?" asked Daddy.

"Yes and no. Nothing bad happened to Briar or me, but we happened across Briar's father earlier and we confronted him about ten minutes ago."

"Oh dear," murmured Daddy, which sounded like he knew something that I did not, but that wouldn't surprise me. "Is Briar all right?"

"As can be, I suppose. I'm sitting in his lap after they had a short talk."

"They talked?" he asked. My dear daddy sounded absolutely flabbergasted. "Therapy with Anwyll seems to be working beyond what I believed."

"What, did our time together not help you?" I asked with a teasing smile.

Daddy chuckled. "It did, baby. But in any case, what seems to be the problem?"

"Well, Briar's father kidnapped two people and had been using them to reenact Briar's eighth birthday. He hadn't done it before now, but it seems like that day really affected him to do it again on Briar's eighteenth birthday."

"Oh my word," breathed Daddy. "And what of those people?"

"A former methamphetamine addict and a young boy around eight. The latter's appearance is fairly similar to what Briar looked like when he was younger."

"Hmm, does the boy have parents?"

"I believe they've already died, but he was in foster care and about to be transported when Kiel grabbed him. But he said his parents were abusive—much more so than Kiel."

Daddy was quiet for a few moments, then he uttered, "What would you like me to do, baby boy? Find a home for the child? And what of the woman?"

"Yes, Daddy. And I was going to call Uncle Andros to see if he could find a place for her to recover in peace and enter the workforce if possible."

"I see, that is a good plan."

I chewed on my bottom lip, guilt settling in the pit of my stomach. "I don't ever mean to give you more work, Daddy."

He chuckled heartily and sent over comforting emotions. "You do not need to apologize, sweetheart. You always have the best intentions, even though the outcomes are not always what you want."

I slowly nodded and sighed, leaning further back against Briar's chest. He rubbed his head on mine and nibbled on the curve of my jaw. I yawned and stretched a little bit, noticing the bright red and orange hues of the sunset.

"Daddy," I murmured, turning my head and resting my right cheek on Briar's corresponding shoulder.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"What do you think of Kyler?"

My daddy was so silent and emotionless that I thought he ended the telepathic call. After a minute of silence, Daddy uttered, "I do not know him, but I trust you and Briar. While I am concerned because of Kyler's former connection to the Evil Spider, I know that you would have completely freed him from his fear and anxiety, as well as any remaining ties between Kyler and our enemy."

"Yes, Daddy, thank you for your trust."

He smiled gently. "Anwyll, baby, how many more?"

"More what?"

"More lovers."

I felt like I had been slapped in the face with that statement. My cheeks flushed and I suddenly felt really uncomfortable. It made me uneasy.

"Why?" I asked tentatively. "Is there actually a problem?"

Briar could sense my distress and hugged my form tighter. "Ann?"

I slowly rubbed his forearms and then squeezed his wrists. Briar tucked his nose down against my head as Daddy released a heavy sigh.

"I am just concerned that you are stretching yourself thin and that you might end up getting tired of everyone someday in the future. You barely have any time to yourself anymore—not that you had much of any in the first place."

"Oh," I mumbled. "While I agree with the latter, I don't agree with the former. But I still appreciate your concern, Daddy."

He hummed. "I know, baby. But you need to put a limit on yourself one day. I do not believe the others will accept anyone else after Kyler. The main reason why they were okay with him is because of Briar, although they now like him through talking to him or through Waltz who texts him a lot."

"I know," I whispered. "I had a feeling that was the case. And to be honest, Daddy, I don't think I can accept another person anyway. Now I have fifteen lovers, some of which are in relationships with the others. And you still need to talk to Uncle, don't you?"

Daddy groaned. "I know, and that is why I will talk to him after you do."

"No more procrastinating, okay?"

"Yes, baby. Send the boy over when you can."

"Thank you, Daddy."

My daddy smiled. "You are very welcome, sweetheart." he replied, then added, "And, baby boy, I am not mad at you or disappointed in you for taking in another person who needs you to make them whole. I am just worried about you."

My heartbeat eased from his words and I felt much better. I quietly thanked him and sent him my love, which he accepted and then sent his love to me. He ended the call and I rested my head on Briar's shoulder, a soft exhale leaving my lips.

"Kyler's the last one, Bri." I whispered, and Briar cupped my head as he nodded.

"I knew he would be."

"How?"

"How what?"

I squeezed his wrists. "How did you know something like that?"

"I could see it. You're somewhat oblivious about how crazy we all are for you, Ann. I knew bringing in an outsider to our family would reach the limit. Luckily, Kyler's a sweetheart and he easily fits into our family. But he really is the last."

"Okay," I whispered. "Fair enough."

"Were you planning on saying yes to another person like Kyler?"

"If needed."

Briar turned me around and tucked my face against his neck. "I know you were starved of love like the rest of us, Ann, but just let us be enough. We need to be enough for you. Right now, we don't feel like we are."

"I-I'm sorry," I whimpered, clutching his sides. "I didn't mean—!"

"Ssh, we know." murmured Briar, gently rocking us side to side.

I sniffled and tried to keep my tears inside. "What can I do, Bri, to be better for you and the rest?"

Briar kissed my right human ear and buried his fingers deeper into my silvery heather waves. "Let us take care of you as you take care of us. Let us spoil you rotten and love you until our last breaths. No more, Ann, will you be longing for attention and affection. We know you freely give those things to us, but we want to do the same for you."

"But you all do spoil me! Too much!" I quietly exclaimed.

Briar chuckled. "Ann, we haven't been able to spoil you because you won't let us while thinking those exact thoughts. Let us decide when we've spoiled you enough."

"Okay," I mumbled into his neck. "I'll do better."

"Good boy, my cute Ann."

"But I still want to give you a massage later."

Briar chuckled brightly, the sound making my heart flutter. "All right, Ann. I wasn't asking you to stop taking care of us and giving us affection and love."

I blushed. "I know."

"Good, now you can remove the sound barrier."

I blinked quickly. "You could sense that?"

"Yes, Ann. I have learned to sense it."

"Amazing," I breathed, kissing his throat. "You're really amazing."

Briar carded his fingers through my hair and kissed my head again. "Thank you, sweetheart." he murmured, then asked, "Have you spoken with Sir Andros?"

"Not yet."

"You should soon. Night's settling in and my father seems anxious."

"Mm," I mumbled and then yawned again, curling my tail around our legs. "Love you."

"Love you too, Ann."

I called Uncle Andros without a moment to waste and he instantly received my telepathic call. "Pup, it has been such a long time." he uttered. "Is something wrong?"

Tears rose to my eyes. I'm such a bad little wolf for not paying attention to my precious uncle Andros. For now, though, it is Briar's turn.

"I'm sorry for not giving you enough attention, Uncle."

"It is all right, my sweet pup. I know you're busy healing those you love. Whenever you get some time, I would like to fill it."

"Of course, Uncle Andros. I would like that."

"Good," he rumbled. "Now, I know you are with Briar at this time. What do you need?"

After I explained the situation, Uncle Andros said he could definitely handle the lady and to give him a little while to prepare for the magical transfer. I agreed and sent him my love, which made him happy and caused my heart to twinge from guilt.

"I love you, pup. I will call you when I'm ready."

"I love you too, Uncle. And thank you again."

"You're very welcome."

The call ended and I hugged Briar a bit tighter. He rubbed my back and asked if I was finished. I replied, "Yeah, um, Uncle will get back to me as soon as he's figured out what can be done about the lady, but Daddy said to send the boy over whenever."

"Good to hear."

Briar took me with him as he stood up and then looked down at his father. "Ready, old man?"

Kiel groaned and got up. "Not really, but just promise to come visit me, even though you hate me, and I'll do what you want."

Briar didn't even tense. "Sure, Dad, I'll come for a visit once in awhile when I'm in the state."

I sensed Kiel's surprise. "Oh, you don't live in the state anymore?"

"I haven't since I called a number on a flyer and gained a guardian a decade ago."

"That's dangerous. What would you have done had he—?"

Briar was trembling with anger now. "Don't fucking start that 'father' talk now, old man. I had no choice to make that call, but I'm damn glad I did. That guardian of mine is Anwyll's daddy and the brother of the Lucaon of Business, but he was the best father figure to me because he never hurt me—unlike you."

I tried to turn my head, but Briar kept my face firmly planted in the crook of his neck. Kiel seemed stunned and then I sensed a deep hurt inside of him.

I wrapped my arms around Briar's neck and whispered, "I think that's enough, Bri. Let's get everything taken care of so we can go to the hotel."

"All right, Ann." he murmured tiredly. "I can't wait."

"Anwyll," started Kiel, and Briar tensed. "Thank you for giving Briar and me a chance to talk. And thank you for l-loving him as much as you do."

His voice sounded shaky as if he was trying not to cry. "D-don't let him turn out like me, please. I know you somehow saw my memories, so you should know what I'm talking about. Briar and I may have had the exact same past, but don't let him choose the paths I did to get me here. He doesn't deserve that or anything that I did to him."

"I know, Kiel." I replied, turning a bit in Briar's arms to look at the older man. "I won't let him go down those paths, but you have to know that your son, despite what he went through, already chose many different paths. He has a successful business in this state, which is why he comes here when he can. He also has a best friend doubling as a special lover, whom I am very fond of and like a lot. He's got a big family who is on his side if he needs them to be, but we're all very close. So don't worry about Briar, Kiel, and focus on paying for what you've done and hope that you come out a better man at the end of it all."

Kiel was crying as he nodded. Briar whispered, "And that concludes this session of 'Therapy with Anwyll'."