Page 244 of His Sunshine Baby

“I was wondering if you needed help.”

“Oh, shut up and let me through!”

I push him out of the way to get to the closet, torn between anger and embarrassment. I want to punch him, if only my arm was healed enough. I grab whatever clothes I can find in a hurry. Thank Moon Goddess, it’s the right fit, and Harry has good tastes. I find a black undergarment ensemble, and a comfy sleeveless jumpsuit from an Italian brand I don’t recognize. At least I don’t spend half an hour putting it on or taking it off, I can slide into it right away.

“Still don’t need help?”

“No!”

I hear him laugh and leave the room. He’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he?

“… Elena?”

“I’m almost done, Nate, can’t you just…”

“No, I think you should come and… see.”

His voice changed, and I realize something’s wrong. He’s in the living room? What is it? Did Estelle do something? I hurry over, and I can’t see my daughter for a few seconds, making me panic. Until I realize Nate is behind the couch, looking down. Is she crouching?

I walk over, and stand there speechless. Oh, Moon Goddess. Nate looks at me, totally stunned too.

“I think we have a problem,” he says.

I nod. Estelle is there. But not as a human.

My daughter turned into an adorable wolf pup, with perfectly white fur and big, blue eyes.

Oh, Moon Goddess. She looks like a mini-Nora. Like, a perfect Royal. White as snow, literally, and blue eyes like her dad. Holy Moon Goddess. Nathaniel is as helpless as I am, staring at her, not knowing what to do. I don’t know either.

“Estelle, baby.”

“Mommy!”

The puppy turns and throttles to me, all excited. How did she shape-shift? How can she even shape-shift when she’s not even five years old yet! I kneel to her height. What am I supposed to say? I’ve never dealt with a werewolf cub, not one so young! Is it dangerous if she stays like that? I turn to Nathaniel, but he’s already taken out his phone.

“Damian? It’s Nate, um… We have a little bit of an issue here. Estelle shape-shifted. Yes, I know, but I swear, Damian, she’s right in front of me, and she’s a pup. No… Yes, yes, okay. I’ll do that. Can you… Yes, please. Thanks. See you later.”

He hangs up.

“What did he say?”

“He said to bring her over. He’ll call Tonia so she can check.”

“Check what? Tonia is…”

“A nurse now. And she knows a lot about shape-shifting and all that; Boyan was a super precocious one too.”

He grabs his car keys, turns off the TV, and I see him run to the bedroom. What did he grab? Oh, a change of clothes. I feel totally useless, but my daughter looks fine, playing around in front of me and nibbling some toy. Is this okay?

“Elena?”

Nathaniel walks up to us, carrying a backpack. He crouches down, smiling confidently to our daughter.

“Let’s go see Auntie Nora, baby. And your uncles?”

“Now? Are we going now, Daddy?”

“Yes. Come here.”

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