Page 8 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
It all seemed so surreal. Had he truly just met his mate thanks to one of Finn’s matchmaking mix-ups?
Yes, his bear roared in his head.
Stanley glanced sideways at the crate resting on the passenger seat. The soft rustling of straw as the rabbit burrowed deeper was actual, living, breathing proof of his encounter with June.
Yet, it was still hard to believe. After so much longing, so much waiting, he’d finally met his mate.
He kept one hand on the wheel, the other steadying the crate as he steered the truck around a bend. His fingers trembled slightly as the enormity of the last couple of hours hit him. He’d met his mate. And she had a son.
Which meant he had a ready-made family.
How lucky was he?
Very, his bear stirred with restless energy.
Stanley exhaled through his nose and tightened his grip on the wheel. He needed to keep his focus on the road. He needed to get the rabbit back to the store and settled for the night, just as he’d promised Oli.
Oli… He was a special kid. It was obvious he saw the world differently, but he had a quiet inner strength and gentle kindness about him. Despite his own challenges, he’d showndeep empathy for the rabbit. He’d calmed himself, even though, when Stanley arrived, it had sounded like he was in the middle of a meltdown.
Then he’d focused on helping, speaking softly to the rabbit with a steadiness that moved Stanley more than he could say. There was courage in that kind of calm. A quiet bravery. And Stanley sensed how much it had cost Oli and understood how much it meant.
He couldn’t wait to be a part of their lives. To make a home with them.
His bear gave a soft growl.Then tell her.
No.His voice was firm now.It’s too soon. She probably doesn’t know. About us. About any of it.
She will if you tell her, his bear said.
Yeah,he whispered.But not yet.
June was cautious around him. Maybe because he’d turned up in her backyard unannounced. Or maybe because of her past. Of whatever had brought her to Bear Creek.
But one thing was certain, the wariness in her posture hadn’t been imagined. He’d seen it in the tight set of her shoulders, the protective way she kept Oli close, the barely veiled suspicion in her eyes, even as she’d begun to trust him.
Stanley understood that kind of weight. That kind of responsibility.
He signaled and turned onto the road that led toward his shop. The town was quieter now. Most folks were home, preparing dinner, settling in for the night.
Stanley’s pulse finally began to slow as the store came into view, though he still buzzed with pent-up energy. Meeting June had awakened a primal part of him he never knew existed. A partthat wanted to claim her, right then and there, to tell the world she was his.
His bear gave a low rumble of agreement. But they both knew that kind of behavior would have done nothing but scare June off.
Stanley pulled into the narrow drive behind Bear Creek Pets and parked the truck. He got out and reached for the crate. Herbert blinked up at him, ears twitching, as if he, too, sensed something important had shifted in the world.
“Big day for both of us,” Stanley murmured. “Let’s get you settled.”
The soft chime above the back door of Bear Creek Pets rang as Stanley stepped inside, Herbert’s crate balanced carefully in his arms. The store was dim and peaceful this time of evening, the front lights already off, the aisles quiet and still. Only the gentle hum of the fish tanks and the occasional rustle of small paws in the enclosures broke the silence.
Stanley moved through the store as he always did after hours, calm, steady, methodical, careful not to spook the animals. He carried Herbert to the back corner, where he kept a few extra enclosures, reserved for boarding pets or strays like this one. He set the crate down on the floor beside an empty pen, already cleaned and lined with sawdust.
“Here we go, little guy,” he whispered. “Fresh start.”
He opened the crate door and waited, giving the rabbit space. Herbert took a tentative hop forward, then another, ears twitching. Stanley didn’t rush him as he crouched down, watching as Herbert adjusted to his new home. That was the key to animals, he’d learned. Space. Gentleness. Time.
His bear stirred contentedly.That will work on our mate, too.
I believe it will.Stanley reached for a small ceramic bowl and filled it with water, then added a handful of leafy greens to a terracotta dish. The final touch was a handful in the corner of the pen, just right for burrowing.
