Mother Wolf Ch. 12
Back in the present, everyone is still in the living room of the Wolf residence.
"I stood out there for I don't know how long before I realized, no one was going to answer," Bram explains to them.
Harriet looks upon the vampire boy sadly. "Oh, poor thing. But why come here? Surely you have other friends you could go to?"
The vampire boy sits back with arms crossed. "Any friends I have were due to my father's connections. And if I know him, which I do, he already spread word of my disinheritance and among vampires, it's that big of a deal."
Draculaura then asks, "What about Gory?"
"We haven't spoken for a while, now."
Howleen droops even more. Having a feeling as to why that is.
"I'm not even sure as to why I came here if I'm to be honest. It's just the first place I thought of where my father's connection does not reach."
"Bram," Harriet kneels in front of him. "How would you like to stay here for a while?" That question causes an uproar among her family. Mainly Harry, Clawd, and Clawdeen. The Wolf mother just barks at them to silence her husband and children.
"That's too much to ask for, Mrs. Wolf."
"Nonsense," Harriet insists. "You're the father of my grandpups. We can't just leave you homeless."
"Harriet," the father of the Wolf household whines. "Can we discuss this first."
"What's there to discuss, Harry?"
"I don't like the idea of the guy who did that…" Harry points at Howleen. "…to our daughter!" that causes the youngest Wolf sibling to flinch. "Being under the same roof as her."
"Harry!" his wife barks. "Do not get me wrong. I myself wish to rip out his stomach just to force it back down his throat." Bram flinches at threat. "But right now? He's just a kid that has no one to turn to. He can sleep on the floor in Clawd's room until we can dig out Clawdia's old bed. Then, we can move him into the attic or basement if it comes to that."
At that, Howleen tilts her head. "But, we don't have an attic?" and turns to her sister.
"Nor do we have a basement," Clawdeen adds.
"Oh, right!" the mother turns to them. "We'll be moving soon."
A resounding "What!?" leaves every Wolf sibling.
"Why?" Clawd asks.
"It's not like we have much of a choice," Harriet explains. "With three pups on the way, we need a bigger house."
None of this conversation is making Howleen feel any better as she stares at her stomach, stroking the bump.
Harry growls. "Fine! But he is never to be alone in the same room with Howleen as long as he's under my roof."
"I think we can manage that," Harriet smiles before turning to Bram. "Now, Clawd will show you to the bathroom and loan you a change of clothes for the night. Won't you, Clawd?"
"Yeah, alright!" the Wolf brother gets up to leave the room. "Come on!"
Bram stands up as well and bows to Harriet. "Thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Wolf."
"Oh, please. Mrs. Wolf was my mother-in-law. Harriet is just fine," she smiles sweetly at the boy. Though, something tells Bram that he should not trust the smile completely. He then follows Clawd out of the room.
The rest of the household remained in silence. It was getting to Howleen. "So…" she turns to Ivan. "You're the guy who's gonna make me a sister-in-law?"
"And you're the ghoul who is making me an uncle," the white wolf smiles brightly at her. "Wonderful! Nice to finally meet you as well as the rest of the family."
"Yeah. Sorry it couldn't have been under better circumstances," Howleen looks down.
"Howleen. You know why I became a stuntman?"
Clawdia snorts. "Cause, you can't act?"
"No!" he answers his fiancé immediately before thinking for a moment. "Well, technically yes. But that's not the main reason," Ivan turns back to the smallest Wolf. "You see, Howleen. I like excitement. Doing daring and dangerous things. But from what I just seen. This entire family is exciting and for that, I look forward to becoming a part of it more than what I already did," he laughs.
Howleen smiles up at him. "Glad that we could entertain you. So, when's the wedding?"
Clawdia and Ivan glance at one another and the blond werewolf answers, "We're honestly not sure yet."
Ivan shrugs. "We originally had a date set aside. But do to something unforeseen, we have to alter our plans for a later date."
"What would that be?" Harriet asks.
"Well, you see?" Clawdia messes with her glasses. "Our original date was pretty close to when…" she glances down at Howleen's belly.
The youngest Wolf sister looks down as well. "What!? No! You can't do that just because of me!" she shouts as she stands up. "I don't want to ruin anything for anyone else!"
"Hun," her mother walks up to her. "You didn't ruin anything for anyone."
"Didn't I?" Howleen gets teary eyed. "You and dad are having to buy new house, Bram has been kicked out his, not to mention I pretty much ruined his relationship with his ghoulfriend, and it's all because of this!" she places her hands over her bump. "I already feel so bad that everyone is forced to accommodate for me. I don't want you to hold off your wedding because of me! Sometimes, I just wish—" she is silenced when a pair of arms wrap around her.
"Kitten," Toralei whispers. "You do not want to finish that thought," she starts to tear up as well. "If you do, then the regret will follow you wherever you go, no matter what. I would know." Hearing that, Howleen hugs the werecat back and cries into her shoulder.
Harriet speaks up and everyone turns to the mother. "You know? There is one way we could fix this," she turns to her eldest daughter and soon to be son-in-law. "You two could just get married sooner rather than later?"
Clawdia looks over to Ivan. "Can we do that?"
"I don't see why not," the white wolf shrugs. "My family has been urging me to hurry up. But where would we have it?"
"Why not here?" Harriet announces. "The house may not be big enough, but we got plenty of room in the back. And as for food, I'm sure I can come up with something," she smirks at the couple.
The blond Wolf turns to her fiancé. "How soon?"
"Two months at least. We need to give everyone enough time to get ready. What about music?"
"Your cousin Silvi is in a band, right? Think she'd be willing?"
"Not sure," Ivan gets up as he pulls out his iCoffin "But I can call a call."
"I'll need a dress," Clawdia snaps. "Clawdeen!"
"Way ahead of you, Sis!" the fashion ghoul already has her sketch book out, quickly working on a few ideas. "I'll need to take your measurements," she grabs her older sister's hand and drags her upstairs.
.oOo.
Bram steps out of the bathroom wearing a set of yellow pajamas decorated with crossbones.
The vampire is met by the big brother.
"You may be under the same roof as us," Clawd gets up in his face. "But you must be crazy if you think that I'll let you hurt my little sister."
"Please, Clawd," Bram waves the threat off. "Bringing harm to Howleen is the last thing I'd ever want. Trust me."
"Trust me when I tell you that I may not be able to punish you in this house, but as captain and coach of both the Casketball team and SKRM, I can make every evening very painful," the werewolf lets the threat linger before heading back downstairs.
Bram lets out a sigh, knowing that things won't be easy here nor at school.
"That was harsh," Howleen commented. "You want me to talk to him?"
The vampire waves of her suggestion. "Not to worry, Howleen. Besides, that's likely to make things worse if he thinks I'm trying to use you as a shield." He then jumps back as he registers the ghoul's presence and turns to see that she's standing outside a window on the roof. "Howleen!?" he reaches a hand to her. "What are you doing out there? Come in before you get yourself hurt."
"I want to talk to you privately," she moves away to sit down away from the window.
"But I'm not to be alone with you while under this roof."
"Then, get on top of the roof," Howleen smiles at him as she starts rubbing her stomach.
Bram looks down the hall before hesitantly climbing out to sit next to the ghoul.
After a couple of moments of silence, Howleen says, "Sorry for ruining your life."
The vampire's head shoots towards her, "Why should you be sorry? You did nothing wrong."
The ghoul just sighs. "Didn't I? Your father kicked you out because of the pups. And then there's Gory."
"It was my father's choice to kick me out. You had nothing to do with that. Even then, I could have easily caved into my father's demands and pay you and your family off," the blond explains. "But I did no such thing and that was my choice, Howleen."
Howleen lets out a small chuckle. "My dad probably wish you would. Not only would you be out of our lives, we'd be set for the rest of ours."
"As for Gory?" the vampire thought for a moment. "That has less to do with you and I and more about her." he sees the ghoul about to open her mouth, but Bram stops her. "I cannot say more than that as it is purely her business. Not mine."
Howleen nods in understanding before looking down at her stomach. "Look, Bram. If you're just doing this out of some sense of obligation? Please don't. I can't stand the idea that I'm the one keeping you from living your own life."
"It's not about obligation."
"Huh?"
"The idea of having kids and not being part of their lives. I don't think I could forgive myself for that," Bram looks her in the eyes. "I said I'd take responsibility, Howleen. For you and our kids. As long as you will let me, that is?"
Howleen couldn't help but smile at the monster in front of her. Suddenly, those sad red eyes seem highly irresistible to the ghoul.
The werewolf then gasps as she grabs her stomach,
"Howleen! What's wrong?"
"Oh, my ghoul! I think that was a kick!" she is feeling around her belly. Hoping to feel another.
"Really?"
"Yeah, really!" Howleen grabs Bram's hand and places it on the bump. "See?"
It took a second, but the vampire did indeed feel something pressing against his hand followed by several more. "Wow! They are quite lively."
"Yeah," Howleen smiles at her belly. "I guess they're excited that their dad is sticking around?"
"If that's the case?" Bram then leans in close to talk to Howleen's belly. "I don't plan on leaving you guys, nor your mother," and glances up at the blushing werewolf.
.oOo.
In the kitchen, Toralei has her iCoffin on selfie mode, sticking out the window, and held at an angle so she, Twyla, Draculaura, Ivan and the rest of the Wolf family could see what's going on with Howleen and Bram.
"You know, Harry?" Harriet leans against her husband. "As much as I think someone should tear his arm off to beat him with it. I think Bram would be good to Howleen. Don't you think so?" she smiles at her husband.
The father of the household mumbles, "Yes, Harriet."
End