"I'm so sorry for showing such a miserable display last night." murmured Sara, although she looked a lot more refreshed than before. "Thank you for taking care of me and putting the food away, Anwyll."

"You're welcome." I said politely, loosely hugging Matteo's neck.

He refused to put my feet on the floor, so I was tucked into his side while we greeted his stepmother. She stared worriedly at Markus, who was stonily staring at the table.

"Anyway, you should go see your father."

I pressed my lips to Matteo's temple when he inhaled sharply. He squeezed my thigh, then slowly exhaled.

"Fine, but Anwyll is coming with me."

Sara covered her mouth. "Are you sure? He might—!"

"Anwyll is strong, Sara. Much more than me, in many ways."

I nosed his hair and sighed softly, turning my head and closing my eyes. I had slept well in Matteo's arms last night, but I just disliked conflict and tense situations because they always make me feel exhausted.

"All right, if you're sure. You should head out after breakfast."

Matteo grunted. "Maybe."

"Matteo, please."

"Why do you care, anyway? Do you even love him?"

Sara sighed. "This isn't about me. Just go see your father and talk to him."

I pushed my fingers into Matteo's hair and kissed his nape, soothing his growing tension. "Sara, pushing him isn't going to help. How about we all have breakfast first?"

Sara sniffed. "Fine, I suppose that's good enough for now."

A bowl of salad from last night was given to Matteo and a plate of eggs for me from Sara. I thanked her with a smile as Matteo took a seat next to Markus. The man flinched and scooted away from us. I rolled my eyes and turned a bit to make my fried eggs into bite-sized pieces. Matteo fed himself with his left hand and fed me with his right hand. Markus glanced over while Matteo stuffed my cheeks, his eyes growing wide while I chewed with full cheeks.

I leaned back against Matteo and my tail wiggled next to me. Matteo kissed my head once he finished his third bite, but I was still on my first. I kept eating at my own pace. Matteo finished first but hugged my waist while he finished feeding me. I wiped my lips and set his bowl on top of my plate, then felt Matteo lift me again and return the dishes to the sink.

"Going?"

Matteo grunted. "Yes."

"Be good."

Matteo bristled as he marched out, but I made sure to thank Sara for breakfast. She weakly waved her hand just as he nearly slammed the door. I hugged his neck with a soft laugh on my lips when I noticed Markus watching us leave from the window. Matteo turned his head and kissed my cheek.

"Mattie, are you okay?"

"For now, yes. Are you okay?"

"Mmhm." I hummed, pecking his lips as he set my butt in the passenger seat. He blushed from my action while he buckled me into the rental car.

"You're so cute." he whispered, pushing his fingers through my silvery-heather waves.

I grinned. "You're dressed very sexily today."

Matteo's face flushed, so he quickly shut my door and hurried to the other side to hop into the driver's seat. He buckled himself in and started the car, so I made Viola appear in my hands. I cuddled her to my chest and lowered the back of the seat, turning on my left side to watch Matteo. The apples of his cheeks turned rosy red when he noticed me watching him.

"You really are adorable, Master. Did someone pick those clothes out for you?"

I giggled. "Mmhm. Damon chose them."

Matteo chuckled. "He did well."

I looked down at my pastel set of clothing with a happy smile. I was wearing a baby blue shirt with a lavender skort with suspenders. My knee-high socks were striped with white and blue, and my oversized button-up sweater was the same color as my skort and had white and blue flowers that were stitched on. My shoes were sneakers that matched with the outfit. I was really comfy with Viola in my arms, too.

Matteo was dressed in a form-fitting button-down shirt like me, but his shirt was navy blue. He left a few buttons undone and I could see his sexy chest hair. His dark jeans hid the definition of his muscled thighs, but he was very sexy nonetheless. Matteo also slicked back some of his hair, showing off his handsome face and piercing navy blue eyes.

"You're staring."

I beamed. "I know." I responded, but blinked a few times. "I really am amazed by how sexy you look all dressed up today, Mattie."

He inhaled sharply and coughed, his face flushing furiously red. "Th-thank you, Master."

I giggled with a happy grin. "There's no need to thank me for that. It was the truth after all."

Matteo blushed a deeper shade of red and scratched his cheek with one finger as he turned the car down a street. I continued to study him for awhile until I noticed myself dozing off. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, then curled up again with a soft noise of pleasure. It felt so good in the warm morning sun. I was a bit chilly, but I was doing okay.

"Just sleep for awhile, Anwyll. The hospital is another fifteen minutes away."

"Will you be okay, though?" I asked through a yawn, gently rubbing my eyes. "You will park in the parking lot of the hospital, right?"

Matteo chuckled. "I've come this far, Anwyll. I will park where I need to."

"Good." I grinned, then closed my eyes and yawned again. "Love you."

"Love you, too."

My consciousness drifted off not long after, but it felt like only a minute that I was asleep when I felt the car being parked. I squirmed, then stretched in the seat with a yawn on my lips. I felt fingers brush over my face and nuzzled them before they moved away.

"Master, we're here. Do you want to take Viola with you while I carry you?"

"Mmhm, please." I mumbled, forcing myself to open my eyes. My vision was blurry and my eyelids were weak. I let them fall again as Matteo climbed out of the car.

He shut the door and came around my side to open mine, then leaned in and unbuckled the seatbelt. I hummed as he lifted my weak body into his arms, so I clutched onto Viola with shaking fingers and tucked my head against Matteo's neck. A pleased rumble started in his chest as he shut the door and locked the car.

I lifted my head and nuzzled the underside of his jaw, gently kissing it before dropping my head again. Matteo kissed the tip of my left wolf ear, rubbing my back as he changed my position a bit.

"You can do this, Mattie." I murmured. "Don't hesitate. You are strong enough to face your fears."

He inhaled deeply and let out a sigh. "Okay, Master. I know you're here to bring peace to my mind and body, and to also remind me that I am loved."

"Mmhm." I hummed, nosing and kissing anywhere I could reach while I slowly awakened. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Anwyll. A lot more than I thought was ever possible."

After that statement, he began to walk towards his destination. I curled my left hand's fingers onto his shirt and held Viola with my right hand. Matteo's chest rumbled with another noise of pleasure. I giggled under my breath and kept close to him as we reached the doors of the hospital.

They slid open and Matteo walked inside. Not many people were in the lobby, but I could see many in glass rooms off to the side. They seemed to be organized by their level of emergencies. Matteo walked up to the front desk and tapped his nail on the wood.

A woman looked up. "Pediatric care is down the hall on the left."

"No, I am here to see a patient."

She hummed. "Who?"

"Caleb Knight. He had a heart attack last week and was brought in."

I praised Matteo for his firm tone and lack of nervousness. I gently kissed his cheek and returned to my former position in his arms. The woman frowned at the sight.

"Second floor, twelfth door down. What is your relation to him?"

Matteo tensed. "His eldest son." he ground out, nearly spitting the words out like they were venom.

Her eyes grew wide. "Wait, you're Matteo?"

"Yes, why?"

"Your medical records...oh shit." she whispered.

I frowned. "What?"

"When I pulled up Mr. Knight's medical records, your name popped up with the list of all of your hospital visits. He said it was fighting that caused those injuries, but..."

Matteo growled. "Ah, I see." he spat. "Nice to know my bastard of a father is still exactly how he was back then."

He whirled away and walked to the stairwell, slamming the door open and shut. He climbed the first flight and stopped on the landing, pressing his face in my hair as he stood in a corner.

"Anwyll, I never should have come back here."

His pained whisper broke my heart. I hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, Matteo."

He shook his head and kissed mine. "It's not your fault. I should have known."

"Mattie, I have a suggestion."

"Okay."

I kissed his cheek. "Talk with him today, then we'll go back. We'll go home. You never have to see or talk to him ever again. You can cut him out of your life completely, because you will have gotten everything you've wanted to say to him out of your heart and mind."

Matteo whimpered. "I-I'm not sure I can. I hate him so much, Anwyll. I hate him and I'm scared."

"You don't need to be scared. Just take a few deep breaths and let them out, my handsome, strong Matteo."

I moved so that I was cupping his cheeks. He stared into my eyes with navy blue orbs shimmering with unshed tears.

"I am so unworthy of your light and love, Master. Yet, I don't ever want to let you go."

"You don't have to, Mattie. I won't let go of you." I whispered, wiping away his tears. "I love you, my beloved bull."

He chuckled through his tears. "I love you too, my beloved little wolf."

I hugged his neck again and he relaxed himself, then began to climb the last flight of stairs. He opened the door to the hallway. It was mostly quiet, other than the whirr of machines. It was bright in the hallway, and Matteo's footsteps echoed. I could hear his heart pound, so I rubbed his chest with my hand.

"Ssh..." I soothed, kissing his jaw. "Breathe, Matteo."

He did as told, and his heart had eased its rapid beat. I was starting to feel anxious for Matteo, but I breathed through it as he approached the door. Matteo took several deep breaths and tapped his knuckles on the door.

I heard an older voice croak, "Come in."

Matteo's heartbeat stuttered, then pounded rapidly again. His hands became clammy in a cold sweat. I sat back and cupped his cheeks again, staring at his eyes.

"Mattie, breathe."

He inhaled upon command and promptly exhaled. I sighed with relief as I clung to his neck. Matteo opened the door and ducked under the doorway, then we looked at the patient.

I'm pretty sure Matteo was in shock, because the man in the bed was frail, elderly, and clearly very thin. Matteo shut the door and remained along the wall. The man opened his eyes and looked over.

"Who are you?"

Matteo tensed, and he came closer. "You don't remember the face of the son you sired, who you beat and tortured everyday for sixteen years?" he spat, and the man flinched.

"M-Matteo?" he breathed, his dark blue eyes widening. "I didn't recognize you."

"Sure, although it was more like you erased me from your memories. I came back to end everything here, old man. I am not coming back again, not even to your damn funeral no matter how much Sara cries."

Caleb Knight cast his eyes down. "Fine, kill me."

Matteo was startled. "What?"

"I could see how much raw hatred you held for me. I was just waiting for you to kill me. You left me, though, so I left you in the past."

Matteo growled deeply. "What the actual fuck? Are you retarded? Why the fuck would you brutalize your own son and feel upset when he didn't kill you!"

Caleb blinked. "It was foretold."

Honestly, I can't follow what's going on anymore.