The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry (Accidentally Paranormal Novel) by dakota cassidy Page A

with that attitude screws the whole damn process up. It’s a big kink, kiddo. Acceptance, and all that jazz. I might not be so freaked out if it was just Harry to think about. But kids? We can’t let anything happen to the kids. What if, like Wanda said, he frickin’ changes and can’t control it? Christ and a peacock—he’ll freak them out. Scar them for life. You heard him. They’re having trouble bonding as a unit since their folks died, or whatever fancy, hippy-schmippy therapist-like crap he spouted. I don’t give a shit what Harry says. It’s not just about him. If kids are involved, we gotta look out for them.”
    When the elevator popped open, no one spoke. Instead, in almost eerie silence, they made a break for the parking lot, following the trail of dusty drywall and bits of glass Harry had left in his wake.

CHAPTER
    4
    “Ding-dong. Vampire calling,” Nina chirped at Harry’s eyeball, peeking out at her through the small peephole in his door.
    Mara almost cowered behind her when Harry whipped open the heavy door, stepping just outside it, his eyes blazing, the arctic wind blowing the tails of his mussed shirt. He narrowed his gaze at Mara. “Didn’t I tell you I could handle this myself?”
    Nina geared up to bluster, but Mara stepped in front of her. This was her fault. She’d own it.
    Mara nodded, appeasing him the way she did everyone she’d managed to avoid confronting in her life. “You did. And I’m sure that’s probably true. Because you’re smart and resourceful.” So smart. So cutely resourceful. “But you’ve also been traumatized. It’s my duty to check on you during that trauma. I did this to you. If I don’t check on you, make sure that you’re really, really okay, I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.”
    “I wouldn’t want you to lose sleep over turning me into a
werewolf,
” he snapped the word, uncharacteristically baiting her.
    The newly turned Harry was riding the crest of an enormous hormonal wave, according to Marty’s retelling of her accidental change. Mara tried to take that into consideration. She also tried to take into consideration the fact that her serum had been infused with more female hormones than a menopausal midlifer, and Harry was in for the ride of his male life if they mimicked a real pregnancy.
    She stopped all thought. It was too horrific to consider.
    Nina put her hand on Mara’s shoulder, using her as leverage to lean over Mara’s head and jam her face in Harry’s angry one. “Dude, you’re just a little too fucking aggressive for my taste. If you don’t play nice and at least entertain Short-Shot’s attempts to make her own kinda nice, your world’s gonna get hinkier. And fast.”
    Harry gave Nina an “oh, yeah?” glance, one that was very unlike him. “I will not be intimidated by your threats, Crypt Keeper. She did this to me. Not the other way around. I have every right to be upset.”
    Mara patted Nina’s hand and nodded some more. Astrid always said she was a great yes-man. “That’s absolutely the truth, and now I’m trying to fix it—or make it better. I just want to help you, Harry. All sorts of crazy things are going to happen to your body, your emotions, and you need someone who knows what’s going to happen to you to help you through it.”
    Harry played statue.
    The loud blaring of the TV from just beyond his front door brought up another point—a valid one—one that might appeal to him on a more sentimental level. “And your niece and nephew, Harry . . . What about them? What if what happened to you in the lab happens again and there’s no one here to shield the children from seeing it? You don’t want that, do you? We can help, if you’ll just let us,” Mara pleaded with him, desperate to keep his children unaffected.
    Harry waffled, his eyes changing from hard, shiny slivers of blue to softer hues at the mention of his wards. It was only a little, but she sensed it. Smelled it. Saw it physically affect