Mother Wolf Ch. 18

Bram looks out the window and into the backyard.

He watches on as the guests for Clawdia's wedding arrive and started to take their seats. There are decorations put up and some tables set to the side and one long table with various foods placed upon it.

The vampire lets out a sigh as he feels he shouldn't be here.

"Hey, man!" Clawd calls out.

When Bram turns to his roommate, his face is met with a clothing bag. "What on Earth!?" he drops the bag to see Clawd wearing a tuxedo.

"Hurry up and get ready. The Ceremony is about to start stoon."

"Wha…" the vampire stares at his roommate, dumbfounded. "I was not aware that I was invited."

"Of course, you're invited," Clawd chuckles. "You're practically part of the family at this point. Plus, Mom thought it be rude to kick you out of the house for the day. Now, hurry up! Clawdeen put a lot of work into theses suits." The werewolf leaves the room.

Bram unzips the bag and nods in approval. The fashion ghoul sure has great tastes.

.oOo.

Bram walks down stairs wearing a bloodred tuxedo. When he reached the bottom steps, he is met with the sight of Harry in a tux, Harriet and Clawdeen in matching dresses, and Ivan in a silver suit chatting among themselves.

"What are we supposed to do?" Harry growls.

His wife puts a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Calm down, Honey."

"How can I possibly be calm?"

The vampire approaches them, "Is something the matter?"

Ivan rubs the back of his neck before informing. "We don't have anyone to officiate the wedding," he sighs.

"What!? How? Why?"

Clawdeen lets out a growl herself. "They wouldn't say. They just called and canceled on us. That's very unprofessional of them."

That's when Harriet lets out a sigh. "We may not have any choice but put everything on hold."

"We can't do that!" the fashion ghoul turns to her mother. "Everyone put in a lot of work for today. We can't just let it all go to waste!"

"Perhaps I can help?" a new voice enters the conversation. Turning to the source, everyone sees a vampire woman standing in the doorway of living room with a couple suitcases behind her.

"Mother?" Bram blurts out. "What are you doing here?"

"Not now, darling," Charlotte waves him off. "It seems that these people could use my assistance. Which, I'll gladly offer."

Clawdeen crosses her arms. "What makes you think we want it?"

"Clawdeen!" Harriet snaps at her daughter. "I'm sorry about that. Please, come in. We tend to be protective with our pack. Though," she tilts her head. "What kind of help can you offer?"

The vampire woman grabs her bags and walks up to them. "I'm actually licensed to oversee marriage ceremonies."

At this, Bram raises a brow, "Since when?"

"I got bored one day and took that little exam on my phone," she turns to the patrons of the Wolf household and bows. "For taking care of my son in my absence, I would be honored to oversee the wedding of you daughter."

The older Wolfs turn to one another and smile as Harriet turns back to Charlotte. "We would love that. I'm Harriet and this is my husband Harry. It's so nice to meet the woman who raised such a nice young man."

"Charlotte," the vampire introduces herself. "It's my pleasure to meet the parents of the ghoul who seemed to have captivated my baby darling Bram's heart."

"Mother!" her son whines.

Ignoring her son's complaint, the woman starts to dig into one of her bags. "I'm certain I have something decent in here to wear."

"Nonsense!" Harriet announces. "Clawdeen! Think you have something for her?"

Before the vampire woman knew it, the werewolf ghoul has grabbed her wrists. "I can whip something up," and she drags the woman up the stairs.

.oOo.

The ceremony starts and Clawdia walks out of the house and down the carpeted path to her soon to be husband, she stops for a moment once she spots the vampire woman standing at the altar. The woman just smiles back and soon, the blonde werewolf continues down the path.

Charlotte starts, "We gather here today for the joining of two hearts."

Howleen leans closer to Bram who is sitting next to her and whispers, "I thought a guy was officiating the wedding?"

"They apparently cancelled, so my mother gladly volunteered to take their place."

The werewolf's eyes widen, "Your mom!? What is she doing here in the first place?"

"No idea," the vampire smiles up at his mother. "But it is nice seeing her again. It has been a while."

"By the power invested in me," Charlotte announces. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."

Clawdia didn't have to be told twice as she pulled Ivan in for a deep kiss, and everyone present rose from their seats to applaud the couple. After the ceremony, the newly married couple approach one of the tables set up for the buffet that has been set up. Particularly the one with the large cake.

With everyone being distracted by the guests of honor, Bram approaches his mother who is standing to the side, feeling unwelcomed here. "Mother!" he calls out.

"Bram, my darling! It's so nice to see you again," Charlotte pulls her son into a hug before kissing his cheeks. "I've missed you so much, darling. Are you eating well, and I mean besides those sweets I know you must hide somewhere, and please tell me you bathe regularly"

"Mother!" he whines before pulling away. "People are watching."

"I am so sorry. I've just been away from my darling boy for far too long. I wanted to do that since I first saw you earlier but knowing that the family who graciously took you in had a dilemma, I had to prioritize them first."

"And we can't thank you enough," Harriet approaches them along with her husband. "We want to officially welcome you here, Mrs. Devein."

"Please, Charlotte is just fine," the elder vampire waves it off. "We are practically family given that we are about to share grandchildren."

"Indeed, we are."

The vampire woman then lets out a sigh. "I just wished that Allister would have seen it my way. But after what he tried to pull for this wedding. I cannot forgive him."

Bram tilts his head. "What do you mean, Mother?"

"Bram, darling. Since Allister kicked you out, I've been trying to talk some sense into him. But that man's pride is too big for his own good. No matter what you tell him, he's right just because he says he is."

Harriet comments. "Sounds like most men. Especially this one," she points at her husband.

Harry whines, "Harriet!"

"Anyway," Charlotte continues, "When I thought that I was finally getting through his thick skull, I found out this morning that he used his connections and got the service that was to oversee your daughter's wedding to cancel on you."

Hearing this, Harriet actually growls. This catches Harry off guard as his wife never growls. "That fanged scumbag tried to ruin my daughter's day!? I want to strip him bare, leave him bound in the hottest dessert when the sun's the highest!" the Wolf matriarch takes a deep breath. "No offense to you, Charlotte."

"No offense taken, Harriet. I was just going to burry him so deep in the nearest cemetery that he'd be lucky to see the moon by the Howlidays. But I like your way of thinking. We should get to know one another more over tea."

"I'm more of a coffee ghoul but I'm flexible."

"Aren't we all?" the two mothers laugh.

When they quiet down, Harriet then asks. "So, what are you doing now? I'm guessing those suitcases aren't for an overnight trip."

Charlotte shakes her head before turning to her son. "I'm sorry to say, but I left your father."

Bram stares dumbfounded at her. "Mother?"

"That man has to learn that his stubbornness has consequences," the woman crosses her arms. "My original plan was to stay at a nearby hotel for a while until I found a more permanent solution. However, I contacted the bank and found out that he has already cut me off from the account."

Harriet notes, "That can't be legal."

"Normally you'd be right. However, with his connections and the fact that we have been together for so long, most of our assets are entangled so much that it's hard to tell what belongs to whom. Other than what I brought with me, I have very few things that my husband doesn't have his hands in. Perhaps I could sell a few of them and stay at a low-class motel for a night."

"You shouldn't have to do that," Harriet announces. "You can stay here until you figure things out."

"Oh, I can't possibly intrude any further than already I have."

"Nonsense! You said so yourself. We're family. The couch may not be five-stars, but It's better than nothing. Of course, we could always kick the boys out of their room, and they can sleep in the living room."

Harry chose this moment and clears his throat. "Harriet. The house was already crowded before letting Bram stay with us. We don't have the space."

"If it's space you're worried about," Charlotte pulls out a card. "This is one of the few assets I have that never included my husband."

The father Wolf accepts the card. "You work with Maryblood real-estate?"

As if she was told a joke, Charlotte laughs. "Oh, no! I own Maryblood real-estate. Maryblood was my maiden name. A name that became so well known, the normies named a drink after me. I can find you a suitable living space for your family that will even accommodate my grandchildren," she then gestures over to the house. "I can even place your current house on the market on your behalf. I bet that I'll be able to get you triple its value."

"If you're so successful then why are you lacking in funds?" Harry then receives an elbow into his side from his wife.

"Well," the vampire trails off. "The thing is, any of the money I earn that doesn't go into the business itself currently gets deposited into the shared account with my husband. I'll have to set up a new account just for myself. I'll only be troubling you for a couple of weeks. Then I'll be out of your hair."

"No trouble at all," Harriet insists. "You can stay as long as you want."

"Thank you," Charlotte bows. "I'll be sure to give you a discount. We are family after all."

Moments later the newlyweds start the first dance, Bram has taken this as an opportunity to grab a couple plates from the buffet before walking back to the table with Howleen. "Figure you'd be hungry," he sets a plate overflowing with fish sticks in front of the ghoul.

"Ah! I'm starving," Howleen was quick pick one up and stuff it in her mouth. "I know that I originally complained about everyone catering to me, but I'm glad they were willing to serve these."

"It is not only that," Bram gestures over to the direction where Toralei and Leo are dancing with one another. "They were even wiling invite Toralei and allow her to bring a plus one."

"She may be a cat, but Toralei has is like a sister to me. She's part of this family."

"You have a big family," he looks around and the various werewolves attending. There were other monsters attending as well. "I doubt anyone would notice one more."

At that, Howleen snickers. Then goes quiet as she stares at everyone dancing. Clawdia with her new husband, Clawd with Draculaura, even Clawdeen is with the lead guitarist from the band. Bram of course notice this. "Would you like to dance?"

With a sigh, the ghoul tells him, "I would like to. Especially since Dr. Feathery says she's going to put me on bed rest soon. But I doubt anyone here would be desperate enough to dance with a ghoul this big," she pats her tummy. She hears a chair being scooted out. When Howleen looks up she sees Bram holding his hand to her. "What are you doing?"

The vampire shrugs, "I am just desperate for a dance," and flashes her a smile.

Howleen smiles back as she accepts his offer. The two went to join the others in a slow dance. After a few moments, the two look one another in the eyes and before they knew it, they kissed.

Hiding in a tree not far from the party, a bat glares at Howleen and Bram before flying off.

.oOo.

A bat flies through the window of the Devein Manor and transforms into Allister Devein. "They think they can get away with embarrassing me!" he grabs the phone. "I'll show them!" and dials a number. After a couple of rings, someone answers. "This is Allister Devein. I have a favor to ask of Vlad Transyl himself."

End