Werecats and Werelocks (Collection) Read Free

speech that offered her reassurance. “We don't want to frighten you. Only inform. I'm sorry my brother isn't here to apologize in person, but he will be. You can trust me when I say, I won't let this go. This is our responsibility and we plan to handle it as such.” The stern set of his jaw left Charlie certain he was serious.
    They'd given her some background on shapeshifting and all the kooky shit that went with it, then as suddenly as they'd appeared, they left to let her digest.
    When all was said and done, even after researching on the Internet what Charlie had always thought was utter baloney and someone's overactive imagination come to life on a movie screen, she'd come to accept this new fate. There wasn't much choice in the matter. The changes in her body alone were enough evidence. She was one big shedding hairball, her eyesight was so keen at night when her eyeballs weren't watering, they were zeroing in on the herd of deer she had in her backyard that were at least five hundred feet away, and then there was her nose. It was suddenly her guide to all things raw and red.
    Raw, red meat.
    And to top everything off Pinky wouldn't come near her. Not within twenty feet of her even.
    Charlie shuddered. Poor Pinky—so confused—so terrorized by her very presence he mostly didn't come out from under the bed anymore. Clearly he smelled the change in her and he wasn't having anything to do with it. Lately, when he ate, he zinged from his new hideout, nabbed a morsel or two from his bowl and zinged back under the bed for cover.
    She left the bathroom and her reverie to kneel beside her bed, lifting the comforter to peek at Pinky. “Pink? Ohhh, Pinkster ... is it that you're worried I'll eat you? I won't eat you, I promise. I love you—since the first day I laid eyes on you at the pound. I mean,” she gave him a guilty look, “I have thought about it, okay? Seriously, I'm just being honest here. You do smell good, but I've managed to fight the impulse so far. I can keep doing it ... I think ... So c'mon, huh? I'll play sock with you,” she coaxed, wiggling a finger at him.
    Pinky whimpered, curling his barrel-round body into itself and putting his head between his paws.
    Charlie sighed in defeat. “So that's a no. Okay. Fine, but you can't hide forever. I mean, eventually you're going to have to trust me.” And I totally hope to live up to that expectation by not snarfing you down whole .
    Charlie rose, her head hanging, her will suddenly stolen from her due to the scent of fresh deer meat hanging around her back yard again. She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep it from watering.
    She wanted to eat a deer and it didn't even need to be cooked as far as she was concerned.
    Jesus, how much further could she sink?
    You're a cat, oh, sorry, a tiger from Tibet, la-dee-da—that's allergic to herself. Sinking has a whole new level for you .
    Right, she was a tiger who had been allergic to cats when she was 100-percent-grade-A human.
    Now that she was half human and half tiger from Tibet, her allergies had become so much worse.
    Which was just another go fucking figure.
    Only she, Charlie Ledbetter, could be bitten by a cat, be stuck halfway between human form and cat form, and have an allergic reaction.
    To herself.
    Jesus. Effin'.
    [Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Two
    Giving up hope on Pinky for today, Charlie went to her kitchen in search of some more allergy meds. These days she gulped bottles of antihistamine like they were Pepsis, popped any kind of pill in varied combinations like she was eating potato chips, and if she wiped her nose just once more, it'd likely fall off into the tissue.
    Gripping the edge of the kitchen sink overlooking her backyard, Charlie sneezed again, her eyes sore and watering like twin faucets.
    Thank God this could all be fixed.
    She snorted when she remembered exactly how her allergy issue could be fixed. She'd only gone over it a million times since she'd found out the remedy and