I've decided that my next two updates, including this one, will be double posts since this story is almost over. I look forward to the next story I'll post and want to finish this one first.

Chapter Eight- The Pups

A week passed since his encounter with Yugi and Joey had half-hoped that his pal would come back so he could explain everything- once Yugi woke up after passing out from hearing a talking wolf, that is. But, he didn't return and Joey considered calling Yugi and explaining everything over the phone. He was reasonably certain he could work a phone with paws and claws.

The doorknob to the bedroom opened and Kaiba walked inside. Joey got up from the floor and padded over to his mate before licking the man's hand. Kaiba smiled as he stroked Joey's head. "Hello to you, too," he said. "How does a big steak for dinner sound to you?"

"Sounds great. I'm-," Joey trailed off as he noticed that his voice was higher than normal. Human and wolf stared at each other with wide eyes before Kaiba gave a small smirk.

"Well, we're closer to being parents. The gender switch just occurred.'

"Oh, is that what you're gonna call it?" Joey asked. A shudder went through her body. "Man, I sound weird."

"You sound like a girl, but you're still Joey. Besides, gender switch is an appropriate phrase to use and it'll be more appropriate once you've delivered and start changing forms for a month."

Joey was silent for the rest of the night and for the next two days, mostly due to the fact that she didn't want to hear the sound of her new voice. Seto could hardly fail to notice his mate's recent behavior and decided to talk to her about it after dinner that second day.

**Joey, you are going to have to talk at some point. You can't spend the next several weeks, refusing to speak when in wolf form. I can't pretend to know what you're going through and I'm not even going to try. What I do know is that when I think of you, I find it hard to remember that you're a girl right now.**

Joey was silent as she lay curled up in bed next to her mate. Finally, she lifted her head to look at him. **You have a point, Seto. I should get used to how my voice sounds because it'll be a long time before I'm male day and night.**

Seto gave a wolf's grin. **I knew you would eventually see it my way. By the way, you sound beautiful. It complements your looks nicely.**

**Are you sayin' you like my female body more than my male one?**

Seto seemed taken aback. **No. I hardly noticed any change in body, only the voice. I don't care if you're male or female, I love you for being yourself.**

Joey yawned as she got comfortable on the bed. **Night, Seto.** She sighed softly as she drifted off to sleep.

**Night, Joey.** Seto lay awake, his mind whirling with recent events. He could hardly believe that almost two months had passed since they found out that they were to be parents and three months since falling in love and becoming wolves. Life had sure taken some surprising turns and Seto didn't regret a single decision since realizing that he loved Joey.

Speaking of Joey, those pups will be here any time now. The information I found said six to eight weeks. This is week six and Joey's already become female. I wonder how many pups we'll have, not that I don't have enough money to support however many we have. Seto sighed as his eyes slid close and before sleep stole over him, he thought, Whatever happens, I'll take it as it comes.

Joey howled as another stab from the labor pains hit her. It had been a week since the gender switch and now she was giving birth. Oh, man. This sucks. I can't believe that giving birth has to involve so much pain. I swear I am never initiating sex with Seto again. He can be the one to start it and he can go through what I've went and am going through right now.

Seto nuzzled Joey's cheek with his muzzle. He felt the timing couldn't be better. It was nighttime as well as Friday which meant he could spend the weekend with his new family. **Deep breaths, Joey. You need to push when you feel the stabs.**

**And how do you know that?** Joey growled.

**I read about it from books and the Internet.**

Joey was about to respond to that when another stab hit her. She pushed and howled her pain before panting from the push. There was a timid knock at the door before it opened slightly and Mokuba poked his head in. "Seto, what's going on?"

Seto gestured at Joey and then at her back end. He hated being reduced to gestures when something this important was going on, but Mokuba wouldn't understand wolf speech so this was the best he could do.

Mokuba looked at him blankly. "Seto, I don't understand. Is something wrong with Joey?"

Seto nodded as Joey pushed and howled again. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and looked to see a tiny head starting to emerge! He looked at his brother and gestured for him to come closer. The young boy complied and when he saw the head, his eyes widened and a gasp came out.

"The pups are coming out. Don't worry, you two. I'll get some towels and warm water." Mokuba was about to leave when Seto grabbed his sleeve in his mouth. Mokuba looked back to see Seto release the sleeve, shake his head, and point his head at Joey.

The first pup had fully emerged and Joey was attending to it already. She had brought the pup around and placed it between her forepaws before licking it clean. Once clean, she put it near her stomach before pushing and howling again. Seto walked over to his mate and nuzzled her again before admiring their firstborn, who was covered in golden fur. He checked under the tail and saw it was a girl.

He looked up to see Mokuba leaving the room and closing the door behind him. He probably feels sad that he's not needed for the birthing process. I'll be sure to talk to him tomorrow. He turned his attention back to Joey and saw a small gold and brown ball in her mouth! The second pup had arrived. Joey attended to it just as she did with the first one. She proceeded to push and howl while Seto checked to find the second one was a boy. He saw something brown move and looked to see another pup sliding out of the birth canal. He quickly picked it up and put it in front of Joey who took her time cleaning it before putting it down to drink. Seto checked it and saw it was another girl.

**That's it. I'm done,** Joey said in a tired voice.

Seto licked her cheek. **You did well, my love. We have two girls and one boy.**

**Which is which?**

**The gold one and the brown one are the girls and the other is the boy.**

Joey sighed. **Oh, man. I'm exhausted.**

**Get some sleep, Joey. We'll name them tomorrow. Perhaps, Mokuba would like to help.**

**Why not? The uncle deserves to be some part of this.** Joey closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.