Page 41 of Draven

"I nearly..." Draven's voice trailed off, his expression clouded with self-directed anger.

"Don't blame yourself, Draven," I said. "I just think…well, this is a lot to process."

He nodded, avoiding my gaze, so I reached out, grasping his hand firmly.

"This isn't me saying it's over between us," I told him.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Thanks for clarifying," he replied.

"I can still feel my beast, lurking beneath the surface," Draven admitted, his eyes dark with frustration. "I need to shift."

"I can manage the drive back to town myself," I assured him. "But before we go...can I watch?"

At my unexpected request, Draven chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

I stepped back as Draven instructed, giving him the space he needed.

"Is this good?" I called out, ensuring I was at a safe distance.

"Good enough," he answered.

Draven closed his eyes, his muscles tensing as energy pulsed around him. Slowly, his form began to change, morphing into something magnificent and terrifying.

A sense of awe washed over me.

First, his skin took on a dark hue, shimmering with an otherworldly iridescence. His limbs elongated, muscles bulging.

Then came the wings, unfurling from his back, their span stretching wide enough to cast a shadow over the forest below.

His features stretched and contorted, reshaping into that of a dragon, complete with fearsome fangs and gleaming golden eyes that seemed to pierce through to my very soul.

Heart racing, I approached Draven with cautious steps, suppressing any signs of fear that threatened to surface.

Despite my attempts to remain composed, a part of me couldn't help but feel intimidated by the sheer presence of the majestic dragon before me.

But I refused to let fear overshadow my feelings for Draven – the man I was crazy about.

Draven lowered his head, allowing me to reach out and touch his muzzle.

A pleased rumble reverberated through his chest as I ran my hand along his massive jaw, feeling the rough texture of his scales beneath my fingertips.

"I'll see you later," I whispered, knowing that he needed this time to let loose.

In response, Draven exhaled a cloud of steam, the warmth enveloping me in a comforting embrace.

Draven spread his wings and launched himself into the night sky.

I stood there, watching in silent fascination as his form disappeared into the darkness.

The sight of him soaring through the air. Part of me still couldn’t believe I was actually dating a dragon shifter.

Once Draven's form became nothing more than a distant speck in the night sky, I reluctantly tore my gaze away and began the hike back down the hill.

Half an hour later, I approached my parked car. A shiver ran down my spine and an inexplicable sense of unease crept over me.

The familiar feeling of safety and invincibility I experienced when I was with Draven had vanished, replaced by a nagging sense of vulnerability that made my skin prickle with apprehension.

Every instinct in me screamed that something was terribly wrong.

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