Mother Wolf Ch. 07

Howleen, Clawdeen, and Toralei are now standing in front of the Wolf residence.

"Do we have to do it now?" Howleen whines. "I mean, I'm sure you and Clawd are too bummed out with the game getting cancelled."

"Nice try, Howleen," Clawdeen puts a hand on her little sister's shoulder. "You're not getting out of this that easily. It's for the better."

Toralei nods on in agreement. "She's right, you know. Things like this? The longer you wait, the more it'll hurt. You just need to just bare through the pain and rip it off. Like a band aid."

With a heavy sigh, Howleen tells them, "Alright. Let's just get this over with," and walks ahead of them.

Clawdeen glares at Toralei who gives the wolf a smug look before following Howleen.

Howleen steps through the front door. "Mom! Dad! There's something I—Clawdia? What are you doing here?"

Helping her mom and brother setting the table is indeed the eldest of the Wolf siblings. "Howleen!" Clawdia runs up to her baby sister to deliver a big hug. "Look at you! You've grown," she backs away to look her up and down. "In more ways than one."

At that, the youngest Wolf blushes.

"Go easy on her, Clawdia," Clawdeen walks in followed by Toralei.

"Yeah. She's rather self-conscious of about her weight," the werecat ruffles Howleen's hair only for her hand to be smacked away.

"If she was so conscious about it, then she should watch what she eats," Clawd comments only to have his mother, Clawdeen, and Clawdia snap at him.

"Clawd!"

"You know better than that!" Harriet scolds. "You apologize to your sister right now!"

With his ears drooping, Clawd says. "Sorry, Howleen."

"It's alright, Clawd," the pink haired ghoul subconsciously places her hands over her belly. "It's actually part of something I want to talk to you about."

"Clawdeen!" Clawdia goes over to hug her other sister. "It's so nice seeing you. I heard that you're working with someone to help release and sale your own brand?"

"Well, there's no guarantee yet. But it may happen soon. However, we won't know for sure for another month or so."

The blond ghoul then looks over at the werecat. "Who's your friend?"

Clawdeen turns to glare at the said werecat. "Toralei is far from my friend. She's more of an acquaintance."

"Aw, don't be like that, Clawdeen," Toralei feigns being hurt. "We're frenemies at most," she smirks at the fashion ghoul. "Besides, I'm more of Howleen's friend. I was asked to come over. Hope I'm not intruding."

"That's fine, Toralei," Harriet tells the cat. "I tend to make more than what we need anyway," she starts setting food on the table with help from her son. "Harry! Supper's ready!" she shouts. "And we have a guest!"

The father comes down the stairs. "Smells great, honey," he kisses his wife on the cheek.

"Oh, Harry," the wife giggles as they take a seat at the table as does everyone else. "Harry, this is Toralei. Howleen's friend," she gestures over to the orange furred ghoul sitting next to their youngest.

The father briefly stares at the werecat before whispering to his wife. "You know she's a cat, right?"

"Harry!"

"Okay, okay! Nice to meet you, Toralei."

"Nice meeting you to, Mr. Wolf. Thank you for having me for dinner."

As dinner proceeded, Clawdeen looks up at her older sister. "What brings you back home, Clawdia?"

"Well, I missed you guys," Clawdia tells them. "So, I took a few days off. And I also have an announcement."

"Funny," Clawdeen glances at the youngest Wolf sibling who shrinks under the gaze. "So does Howleen. But maybe you should go first?"

"Alright," the blond ghoul plays with her glasses and then says. "I'm getting married!"

The room was in an uproar of cheers.

Clawd asks. "Who is he?"

"How'd you meet?" Clawdeen nearly jumps out of her seat.

"What's he like?" Howleen gushes.

"When can we meet him?" Harriet asks.

"His name is Ivan Timberwolf," Clawdia fixes a strand of loose hair. "He's a great guy. We actually met on the job."

"Wait!" Toralei raises a brow. "You're dating an actor?"

The eldest of the Wolf siblings lets out a snort. "Oh, gosh no! He's actually a stunt man. We met up to discuss the possibility of a certain stunt and we just clicked. He wanted to act someday but is happy doing the stuff that no one else can do. Given that Hauntlywood often sends us out, it's difficult to find time to come home. I'm hoping that we'll be able to come down so you all can meet Ivan."

"Well, we look forward to meeting him," Harriet glances at her husband to see his grip tighten on around his fork. "Aren't we, Harry?"

"Yeah, yeah," the father waves it off. Keeping his temper in check.

Clawdia then looks over at her youngest sister. "So, what's your announcement, Howleen?"

At the sound of her name, the pink haired ghoul flinches. "Oh, it's nothing really," sweat beads down her forehead. "Besides, this should be about you, and I really don't want to take that away. You know, I'm not that hungry. May I be excused?" she wasn't waiting for an answer as she gets up to leave the table. Only to be stopped by Clawdeen gripping her arm and pulling the youngest sister back into the chair.

"Oh, no you don't!" Clawdeen scolds. "You do this now or I do will!" she warns.

Howleen looks over at Toralei. "Just like a band aid, Kitten."

The youngest of the Wolf household stands up and starts pacing. Clawdeen glares at Toralei who returns it with a smirk.

"This is too hard," Howleen mumbles. "There's no easy way to tell you guys this. So, I'm just going to say it," she takes a deep breath. "I'm pregnant!" the ghoul retakes her seat.

Clawdia just stares wide eyed at her baby sister, Clawd and Harry dropped their utensils; anger evident on the father's face, Toralei and Clawdeen place a comforting hand on Howleen who is looking down at the table. Harriet is the only one not showing any emotion.

Clawd then starts laughing. "Good one, Howleen."

"Clawd!" Clawdia snaps at her little brother. "Are you sure?"

At this, Howleen pats her stomach. "Pretty sure."

Hearing that, Harry slams a fist on the table shouting. "Who did this to you!" Followed by Clawd.

"I'm going to rip his—"

Harriet lets out a bark, silencing both her husband and son. "Sit!" she commands, and the two men do so. "Good boys," then turns to her youngest. "How far?"

"A-about fourteen weeks."

"Really?" Harriet thought for a moment. "I would have thought you'd be further given your size."

"Triplets, Mom."

"Oh, geez! I know I raised four pups, but not at the same time. I cannot imagine having three at once," she smiles at her youngest. "But it's about time you said something. I've been holding in my excitement about becoming a grandmother for weeks."

"Wait! You knew!?" Howleen accuses.

"Of course, I knew. I'm a mother. It comes with a sixth sense," Harriet gestures to Toralei. "Ask your friend. She knows."

That causes the werecat to flinch as eyes were drawn to her.

Clawd opens his mouth to say. "Toralei, you—"

"I rather not dwell on it," she says while poking at her food. The orange haired ghoul then feels Howleen placing a hand over her own, causing the cat to smile at the youngest Wolf ghoul.

"So…about the father?" Harriet asks and all eyes are drawn back to Howleen. The pink haired ghoul just looks down, refusing to say a word.

"She's rather tight lipped about him," Toralei announces. "She won't even tell me. Though she hasn't said anything, I'm sure Twyla knows. But I doubt she'd say unless it would help Howleen. If it wasn't for the fact that Clawdeen and the others walked in on her measuring, Kitten here would have kept it a secret until it was time to deliver if she had her way."

Howleen turns to say something only to stop and shrug. "She's right. I probably would have."

Clawd raises a brow at this. "Why would she tell you?"

Howleen looks up at the werecat. "Toralei has been rather supportive. She knew about what I was feeling and thinking before I did. Whenever I'm scared about what might happen, she has always been there to comfort me. Especially during my doctor's appointments," the young wolf ghoul squeezes the cat ghoul's hand. "Thank you, Toralei. For everything."

"It was nothing, Kitten."

Howleen then feels that her other hand being gripped.

"Well, now that your family knows," Clawdeen tells her. "We can be just as supportive and I'm sure that I can help out with whatever you need," Clawdeen smiles at her little sister before glaring at Toralei who only smirks back.

Seeing this, Howleen sighs and turns to her brother. "Clawd. Will you pass a stake knife? I need to cut the tension between these two."

There was silence for a few moments before everyone bursts out laughing.

After the laughter died down, Harriet turns to her youngest. "So, what are you going to do now?"

Howleen shrugs. "I would like to stay in school while I can. To be as normal for as long as possible anyway," she sadly looks at her stomach while stroking it.

"Hun," Harriet smiles at her. "Things may be different from now on but that does not mean you're not normal. True, you're much younger than I'd expected you to be when you give me grandpups. But it does not and will never mean that you won't be normal."

"Thanks, Mom," Howleen wipes away a tear.

Toralei says under her breath, "Wished I had that kind of support."

"Toralei?"

"I'll be alright, Kitten," the werecat reassures the worried wolf.

Knowing that Toralei would shut down if she gets pushed, the pink haired ghoul turns to her oldest sister. "Sorry for ruining your engagement announcement, Clawdia."

"Are you kidding!?" the blond has a twinkle in her eyes. "You just made this day more memorable. You know? This has the makings of a fangtastic story. If you ever become comfortable with sharing it, I can give you some pointers at the very least."

"I, I'll think about it."

The eldest Wolf sibling nods her head, since it is her sister's decision in the end.

"There is one more thing we must discuss," the Mother of the household announces. "If you truly want to go to school, then we must inform them of the pups." Seeing her daughter sadden, she reassures. "It's for the best Howleen. You don't have to stand in front of the entire school and tell them. Headmistress Bloodgood needs to be informed at the very least. You understand?"

"Yeah."

"Great! Now then. Is there anything specific that the pups want for dinner?"

Howleen thought for a moment. "Do we have any fish sticks?"

Harry tilts his head and asks his daughter, "I thought you hate fish in general?"

The youngest Wolf sibling crosses her arms as her face blushes. "I do! But these guys seem to love it," she then points at her stomach and the rest of the household laughs at her pouting.

End

NOTE: Ivan Timberwolf is an OC that'll be introduced in a few chapters. If you've seen the G2 Specials, then you'll know where his last name came from.