Page 52 of Samuel
The dragon growled low in its throat, prowling around the boulder like a predator toying with its prey. It knew I was trapped.
I had to think. I couldn’t outrun it forever. I needed a plan. But what could I do?
The rifle was useless, and I had nothing else that could even scratch the thing’s hide.
The ground trembled again as the dragon circled closer.
Its glowing eyes burned through the smoke and shadows, locked onto me. The moment I made a move, it would strike.
But if I stayed here, I was dead anyway.
A surge of defiance rose up inside me. I wasn’t going to die here, not like this.
Samuel had bitten me to save my life once, and I’d fight to make sure that sacrifice wasn’t in vain.
With a deep breath, I shoved off the boulder and sprinted out into the open, aiming for the thickest part of the forest.
The dragon let out a furious roar and lunged after me, its claws digging deep furrows into the earth as it gave chase.
Trees blurred past me as I ran, my legs burning with effort.
I could hear the dragon’s breath, feel the heat of it growing closer and closer.
Just a little farther. If I could just keep it distracted long enough, maybe Samuelwouldcome.
Maybe.
The dragon roared again, and I barely dodged as its tail swept through the trees, snapping trunks like twigs.
My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a desperate plea for survival.
Samuel, please. I need you.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SAMUEL
The momentI stepped out of the truck, the cold wind whipped against my skin, but I barely felt it.
My focus was sharp, my senses on fire with one thing only: Blake.
With each passing second, his fear intensified through the bond, tugging at me, faint but unmistakable.
He was out there, in danger, and I was wasting time.
My hands fumbled as I tore off my clothes, casting them aside without care.
No human eyes were around to witness what came next.
No one would see the brutal, agonizing shift as my bones cracked and elongated, muscles tearing and reforming beneath the surface.
The pain was searing, white-hot, but I welcomed it. Ineededit. The faster the change, the sooner I could get to him.
I gritted my teeth as the familiar searing heat took over, my skin rippling as scales burst forth, thick and impenetrable, the sound of my body transforming echoed through the silent woods.
Wings unfurled from my back, massive and powerful, casting shadows in the moonlight.
My claws dug into the earth, leaving deep gouges as I finally stood, fully in my dragon form.
