Page 14 of Awakened By the Guardian

And yet, he couldn’t stop hoping. Was magical regeneration any stranger than the fact that he’d been a bear last night? A bear with full use of its legs. God, just the memory was wonderful enough to bring tears to his eyes. He’d had working legs again—which made him hate his chair more than ever.

He wanted to be a full man for Margaret. She’d see him as a romantic possibility then. She’d forget her charade.

She stood before him, tense, clearly trying to avoid a fight. “I…um…don’t know what you want me to say about the change. I saw it, Gary. I was looking right at you, and you changed into a bear.”

He nodded, though the very idea was crazy. “And before that?”

She shrugged. “You were angry. Worse than I’ve ever seen you before.”

“I was ramped up all day. But I’d never hurt you.”

She flinched. “I know you wouldn’t. But…what about you as a bear?”

“Even as a bear,” he promised. Had he really just said that?

She swallowed then nodded. “Okay. But…how could that happen? How could⁠—?”

“I need some coffee.” He was weak with fatigue, and he had no answers.

“Are you sure? Maybe⁠—”

He snarled, overwhelmed, and she gave a little gasp of surprise.

Damn it. He was making things worse.

“Don’t be afraid, Margaret. Please. I’m terrified enough for us both. And hungry as…” He snorted. “Hungry as a bear.”

She had a way of putting everything in her eyes. Hopes. Fears. Needs. Everything was right there in those changeable irises. Right now they were running more blue than green, and glinting as if she were fighting tears.

“Why are you about to cry?” he asked, working hard to keep his voice gentle.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m hoping for you, and I’m afraid to hope. I’m scared for you—and for me. I want to help, but I wonder if it would be better for me to leave. But I don’t have to. Work called, and the trip is cancelled⁠—”

“Good!” he said. The thought of her leaving for any reason clawed at his insides. He needed her with him. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “We’ll just…watch the movie. We forgot to do that last night. Not sure how.”

She smiled at his joke and seemed to relax. “Okay. If you want me here, then I’m here.”

“For the record—yes, I want you here.”

Her gaze slowly dropped down his body. “You could really feel the cath?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I really could.” He started thinking as he wheeled himself toward coffee. “I could walk as a bear…”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “You could.”

She sounded tense again, so he felt the need to reassure her.

“I’d never hurt you—as a bear or a man.” As he spoke, he sipped his coffee. Somehow, she always made it better than he did. Everything was better with her around.

“Should I make us some eggs?” she asked.

“I can⁠—”

“Please, let me.”

He wheeled backwards to let her into the kitchen. Then he watched her work efficiently in his kitchen.

“This might be a stupid question,” she said, “but did you have any idea that…um…that would happen?”