Page 49 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
He nodded his massive head as he took another step closer, watching for any sign of fear.
June lowered her hands from her mouth, her fingers trembling. “It’s really you in there?”
Stanley nodded again, huffing softly.
“Can you...understand everything I’m saying?”
Another nod.
June swallowed hard, her gaze never leaving him. “Barb told me, but seeing it...” She shook her head slightly. “I never imagined...”
It’s going to be okay,Stanley said as the bear took another step closer.
I never doubted it would,his bear said in reply.
For a moment, June said nothing. She just stared, eyes wide and shimmering brightly with unshed tears. Then, without fear or hesitation, she stepped closer. “You’re beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to gently touch his fur.
The contact sent a thrill through him that awakened something ancient and deep. His bear rumbled low in his chest as he rubbed his head against her arm.
She laughed and dug her fingers deeper into his fur. “Oli’s going to be obsessed when he meets you.”
I can’t wait to meet him,Stanley’s bear said, wishing she could hear his words.
I’ll tell her,Stanley assured his other side.
He shifted back, and the instant he appeared, June took a step toward him. Stanley reached for her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away.
“I wanted to tell you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “From the first moment I saw you in Barb’s garden.”
June’s fingers tightened around his. “Why didn’t you?”
“I was afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid you might reject me.”
“Why?” she asked as she stepped closer to him.
“I know how much you love Oli. I know how hard you try to protect him from anything that might hurt him. And I didn’t want to be something that disrupted his world.”
June’s free hand came up to cup his face, her thumb brushing across his cheek. “Stanley, you’ve been the best thing to happen to his world. To both our worlds.”
The words hit him like a physical blow, relief and joy flooding through him so intensely his knees nearly buckled. His bear rumbled contentedly, practically purring with satisfaction.
“I was so worried,” Stanley whispered, leaning into her touch. “Worried that when you found out what I was, you’d think I was too dangerous to be around, Oli. That you’d leave.”
“Leave?” June’s voice was incredulous. “Stanley, I drove up here in the middle of the night because I couldn’t stand anothermoment of not knowing. Because every fiber of my being was telling me you were mine.”
Mine.The word sent heat spiraling through him.
“I am,” he said, his voice rough. “I’m yours, June. Completely.”
She stepped closer, eliminating the last inches between them. “What does it mean? Being mates?”
Stanley leaned closer, his lips inches from hers. “It means you’re the other half of my soul. It means I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting you and Oli, loving you both, making sure you’re happy and safe.”
“I like the sound of that,” she murmured.
“I can’t tell you how relieved my bear is to hear that.”
“Your bear,” June repeated, her eyes widening slightly. “You talk about him as if he’s separate from you.”
