#moondraught

He brought him food when Will pawed at the fridge, and would brush his thick fur when he was calm. He found that it was good for both of them. Each relaxing stroke through his fur cleaning and removing any dirt or excess fur caught in it. Matthew had never spent more than a week in his wolf form, so it was a learning experience with Will. What they now needed to do since he could no longer shift when he needed to clean. It had felt odd looking on the internet to find out what to expect, but he knew that his people avoided mating when in wolf form for a reason. At least with the research he knew what was happening when Will started acting antsy. The wolf started by grabbing all of the sheets and blankets off the bed and making a little bed in the closet. He would crave darkness and comfort for when he was whelping. Matthew mostly tried to stay out of the way, but he was nervous. He couldn’t stop watching Will from the doorway.  He knew it would be a while, that Will would be preparing for what was about to happen. He wasn’t sure if he should call the vet, but he managed to wait six hours before he started to panic. It was when Will laid down and started making little groans that he realised that he was starting to whelp. He had the phone in his hand as he called into the bedroom. His voice was still soft, but he couldn’t hide his anxiety about becoming a dad to four. “I am going to call the vet.” There was a deep growl from the closet. It helped Matthew decide to put the phone back on it’s stand. He hovered for a while before he heard a whine, and then he couldn’t stay away. Matthew stayed in human form, knowing that another wolf around would make Will nervous. They may have been more conscious than a real wolf, but after two months as a wolf Will would be closer to that than a human. He didn’t want Will to have to worry about protecting their puppies from him even if nothing happens.

Children

Matthew had to correct himself. “I’m going to come in.” There was a sound he could only take as agreement and he tried to fit into the closet. Will lifted his big head and gave him the room to fit. He felt almost shy when Will’s large head rested on his arm and he felt a huff of air.

“I know baby.” He rubbed at Will’s hard flank, and the wolf groaned.

Even as a human his hearing was sensitive and he heard the rush of water. Will started to pant again and after a few minutes he lifted his head and leaned behind him. In the darkness of the closet he couldn’t see much, but he knew. It was his first baby. Matthew didn’t dare try and touch the pup, letting Will rip the membrane off and lick it clean. Only when he was sure Will was finished did he lean forward and carefully move the puppy to his belly. It felt so tiny and only had the smallest about of fur on it’s damp body. “Should I get a towel?” Will seemed too distracted to answer so Matthew just stayed with him, talking to him and petting his head and flank as he puffed.

It was almost two hours later when the fourth puppy was moved to his belly, and Matthew felt himself start to relax. Even though he knew birth was easier in wolf form, he also knew how energy intensive it was as well. He kissed the top of Will’s furry head between his eyes, feeling proud of how well he had handled it. “You’re all done. I’ll give you a minute and then I will bring you a nice clean blanket. I can even toss in it the dryer so it will be warm for you and the children. ”

Will shook his head and lightly nipped Matthew, letting him know not to leave. “Okay we can stay here for a little longer. You’re probably too tired to move.”

Will shook his head again, but Matthew didn’t understand what he wanted. It wasn’t until almost another hour later when the process started against that he realised that Will wasn’t finished.

He remembered the vet had said four, that there was only going to be four puppies. Matthew felt a hint of panic when he thought of five. It was only one more, but it would still be a lot. When they started shifting five would feel like ten, hell maybe even twenty. Matthew had to keep calm for Will, so he started breathing deep and slow. “It’s all good, we can add another bed to the nursery. We have a lot of money saved up between us, one more will be perfect.” It was when Will finished cleaning up the puppy and yet wasn’t ready to leave that Matthew realised he still wasn’t done. “Six is probably better. That way it’s an even number. It will be easier, everything comes in packs of six.” Matthew tried to reassure Will and also himself. They would need to make a second nursery for them the kids started shifting into humans, he was only thankful that it wouldn’t be for a while yet. He felt how small and sweet the puppy was as he started to move it to Will’s belly.  In the end he brought it up to his lips and kissed it, nuzzling it gently before setting it with the other pups.

He looked over each one, they were in different shades and colours and their little eyes were still closed tight. Even the worry couldn’t touch him as he looked at them. He was proud of Will and of the perfectly formed pups that were nuzzling at his belly to feed. “I’ll go get the new blanket now.” There was a shape nip on his already sore arm and Matthew froze. “Sorry I won’t leave.” It was hard to know what to do so he stayed, rubbing Will’s face and kissing his muzzle. He didn’t realise what was going on until Will started panting again. Will still wasn’t finished. This time it was a lot harder to hide his panic as Will worked on birthing the next one. He was praying that it would be the last one, that they wouldn’t be getting an even number after all. Matthew didn’t even know how they would transport the children when they shifted. They would have to buy a church bus. Will kept licking at the last pup and then he heard another long whine before he nudged him with his nose. Matthew understood, something was wrong with the puppy. Matthew leaned over and picked it up, it was limp in his hands and he could feel it wasn’t breathing.  He started rubbing it between his hands until he felt the little breathes. Even then he held it for a while. His heart pounding in his chest. Seven was a lot, but he didn’t want to lose a single one of them. “Can I get a blanket now?” Matthew asked, almost not daring in the fear that he would jinx them and that there would be another one.

Will gave a sloppy nod and Matthew got up. His entire right leg was completely numb and he shook it out for a few minutes before he dared to step on it. He had yet to put the puppy back at Will’s belly. He needed to be reassured that the puppy was breathing alright before he did that.

He grabbed the spare blankets that they used in the winter and set it on the bed in a nest. Because one hand was full of a very small puppy, he made another two trips to bring warm water and a towel. Will stood up slowly and Matthew washed him down, cleaning up anything that he hadn’t licked away. Only when he was finished did he help Will move all the puppies onto the bed. By the time Will was curled around them, Matthew started take care of the blankets that he had whelped on. It took almost no time to get it in the washer. He was so tired, he could hardly guess at how Will was feeling, but he knew enough to make a dish for Will to eat, to help him make milk.  

He would be starving. 

Matthew put a lot of liquid in the dish before he brought it, setting it on the bed. He trusted Will not to slop on their bed. Matthew climbed up beside Will, curling around his furry back and slipping a hand over his side so he could touch the small pups. “Seven babies huh?” There was a grunt and then the large wolf head turned to look at him. For a second he thought he was going to get half his face bit off, but there was only a snuff and the sandy feeling of the large tongue rolling over his cheek. Matthew’s face changed to hold a warm smile as he looked at the person he was so in love with. Even as a wolf he was still who he wanted. “I love you too Will.”