them, not blinking an eye when they shifted into little bear cubs, barely able to wobble on their own paws. They shifted twice during the day, each time shocking her a bit before she really took a look and realized how incredibly adorable they were. And their eyes were the same in either form. There was intelligence there, insatiable curiosity and immense and powerful magic.
Rocky scooped up the cubs the second time they became little bears and lay down on the leafy ground with the little ones on his chest. They dug in their tiny paws and made him laugh with their antics as they sniffed at him and licked his neck and hands.
“They are so cute,” she said softly.
“Curious too,” he agreed, lifting the bear cubs by the scruff of their necks as a mama bear in the wild would have done. It alarmed her at first, but the boys seemed to enjoy the new mode of transport as Rocky placed them back in the playpen. “It’s a good thing we’ll have this addition done quickly. Soon they’ll begin to want to roam, and we can’t let them get outside or we’ll have a hell of a time trying to keep up with them.” He chuckled as the cubs settled down for a little bear nap, wrapped around each other.
Rocky looked at her and she sensed something heavy was on his mind.
“Is it bad news?” she whispered. All day, she’d watched men placing little electronic things all around the existing house. Security lights. Stuff that looked like motion sensors but really small. And after they’d been installed, they were pretty much invisible, even though she knew where to look.
“I called my parents. They’re on their way here.” Rocky’s face was grim, but Maggie’s heart lightened at the news. Then she remembered the danger and worry ate at her.
“It’s too dangerous. Did you warn them? Do they know what they’re walking into?” She bit her lip, anxiety that was never far away filling her once again.
“They know. Probably better than you do, Maggie.” Rocky placed one warm hand on her shoulder and she felt her tension ease a bit. That’s all it took. Just that one touch and she felt his strength surrounding her, protecting her.
It was so tempting to just lean on him and let him take over and do everything. She’d done that to this point, and she’d need his help a while longer until she healed fully, but it went against her grain to be so totally dependent on anyone.
Tony and she had been partners in every sense. Or at least she’d believed they had been. He’d been keeping secrets, but that hadn’t really interfered with their relationship. They had made all the major decisions together, each respecting the other’s wishes and desires. They’d both worked and contributed to the household. They’d shared chores and responsibilities, each taking on what they were best at and pitching in wherever needed.
It had been a perfect marriage. Or so she’d thought. Then one day, out of the blue, Tony had turned into a bear.
A real, live, freaking magical grizzly bear.
“The guys are going to help me move some furniture around this afternoon. The front bedroom is too exposed for you and the boys, but it makes a good guard position,” Rocky said conversationally. She looked at the tension lines around his compressed lips and realized he was anything but casual, though she supposed he was trying to keep his words calm for her benefit. “My den is in the center of the house. It’s the most secure room in the original structure. You and the boys will be safest there, and I have to make room for my parents. At least at first, they’ll want to stay with us, if for no other reason than so they can help with the twins.”
While she liked the idea of having help with the boys—especially help she knew and trusted like no other—she worried for the older couple.
“The bad guys will most likely find me again, Rocky. I’ve managed to escape their notice for short bursts of time, but they always find me. I still don’t
Rocky scooped up the cubs the second time they became little bears and lay down on the leafy ground with the little ones on his chest. They dug in their tiny paws and made him laugh with their antics as they sniffed at him and licked his neck and hands.
“They are so cute,” she said softly.
“Curious too,” he agreed, lifting the bear cubs by the scruff of their necks as a mama bear in the wild would have done. It alarmed her at first, but the boys seemed to enjoy the new mode of transport as Rocky placed them back in the playpen. “It’s a good thing we’ll have this addition done quickly. Soon they’ll begin to want to roam, and we can’t let them get outside or we’ll have a hell of a time trying to keep up with them.” He chuckled as the cubs settled down for a little bear nap, wrapped around each other.
Rocky looked at her and she sensed something heavy was on his mind.
“Is it bad news?” she whispered. All day, she’d watched men placing little electronic things all around the existing house. Security lights. Stuff that looked like motion sensors but really small. And after they’d been installed, they were pretty much invisible, even though she knew where to look.
“I called my parents. They’re on their way here.” Rocky’s face was grim, but Maggie’s heart lightened at the news. Then she remembered the danger and worry ate at her.
“It’s too dangerous. Did you warn them? Do they know what they’re walking into?” She bit her lip, anxiety that was never far away filling her once again.
“They know. Probably better than you do, Maggie.” Rocky placed one warm hand on her shoulder and she felt her tension ease a bit. That’s all it took. Just that one touch and she felt his strength surrounding her, protecting her.
It was so tempting to just lean on him and let him take over and do everything. She’d done that to this point, and she’d need his help a while longer until she healed fully, but it went against her grain to be so totally dependent on anyone.
Tony and she had been partners in every sense. Or at least she’d believed they had been. He’d been keeping secrets, but that hadn’t really interfered with their relationship. They had made all the major decisions together, each respecting the other’s wishes and desires. They’d both worked and contributed to the household. They’d shared chores and responsibilities, each taking on what they were best at and pitching in wherever needed.
It had been a perfect marriage. Or so she’d thought. Then one day, out of the blue, Tony had turned into a bear.
A real, live, freaking magical grizzly bear.
“The guys are going to help me move some furniture around this afternoon. The front bedroom is too exposed for you and the boys, but it makes a good guard position,” Rocky said conversationally. She looked at the tension lines around his compressed lips and realized he was anything but casual, though she supposed he was trying to keep his words calm for her benefit. “My den is in the center of the house. It’s the most secure room in the original structure. You and the boys will be safest there, and I have to make room for my parents. At least at first, they’ll want to stay with us, if for no other reason than so they can help with the twins.”
While she liked the idea of having help with the boys—especially help she knew and trusted like no other—she worried for the older couple.
“The bad guys will most likely find me again, Rocky. I’ve managed to escape their notice for short bursts of time, but they always find me. I still don’t
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