The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 27

Lyra

As our lips met in a tender kiss, I sensed something was off with Ryan. Our kiss deepened under his insistent coaxing, but there was a hesitation in his touch.

That didn't stop our tongues from dancing... exploring...tasting. I curved my arms around his neck, breathing in his scent of eucalyptus and mint. I wanted to show him that I was ready. I wanted to be claimed by him. With a strength that caught him off guard, I pulled him on top of me, feeling the heat of his body through the layers of the comforter.

If that weren't a clear message, I didn't know what was.

I arched into him with a soft whimper, every nerve ending buzzing with anticipation as I leaned up to capture his mouth with my own. My fingers traced the stubble on his chin, and I loved the prickles against my skin. I pushed all I felt for him into my gaze and said, "Ryan... don't stop."

Desire flared in his half-lidded eyes, but there was something else there, too. Doubt? Fear? I wasn't sure. But I knew that I wanted him, and I was willing to give him something that no man had ever taken.

When he pulled back the cover, I didn't feel vulnerable or exposed. No, I felt empowered at the way his cock inched over his waistband. He wanted me as much as I wanted him.

Uncovered and out in the open, my scent was strong, and it made him react. One hand cupped my breast, teasing the nipple, while the other slid onto my hip, caressing my skin gently.

I shivered as he murmured soft words against my neck, thumbs grazing across my bare skin. It drove me wild, and in that moment, I would have done anything he asked. "Ryan... take me," I whispered.

But instead of giving in to his desire, he pulled away, eyes cold and mouth drawn in a thin line.

"I can't do this," he said, his voice hoarse. "I can't be with you."

And with those words, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone in the darkness.

All I could do was stare at the closed door, slickness between my thighs where he once again denied me. I rubbed at the space where my heart pounded, hoping to stop the ache. One minute Ryan was kissing me, the next he was gone... What a sick, cruel joke.

How could I be such an idiot? He played me like an instrument and I let him.

I kept seeing his face, feeling his hands on me, and it just made the knot in my stomach twist tighter.

Was our connection a lie?

Tears spilled over before I could stop them. Everything was too damn much. I just wanted to scream. Rage. yell. Why did he do this? Did I do something wrong? I wiped my face, trying to pull myself together.

Goddess, I felt so alone. I wished I could talk to someone, anyone... who wouldn't judge me, someone who'd actually get it. With Sally gone, I had no one. I was stuck with all these feelings and no outlet... "Screw this," I muttered, a jolt of anger at what Ryan had done, replaced the ache in my heart. I stood up, shoulders back, spine straight. That wetness in my eyes... it hardened into a steely glare. 'He will answer for this. Tonight!'

I yanked on a hoodie, my jeans, and some sneakers. Taking the key from the hook on the wall, I slipped outside. I was on the path to Ryan's office when I heard the voice. "Lyra... he needs you." "Who's there?" I called out, head whipping around as if the sound came from the trees. It hadn't and I knew it hadn't. It was the voice I'd been hearing for years, come back for another round. "Hurry, Lyra. Go to him."

I walked through the trees, following the path that seemed to call me. The voice, still at the back of my mind was there, encouraging me to keep walking.

The deeper I went into the woods the more my senses sharpened. I could smell the damp earth after the rain, the sweet scent of wildflowers, and the bitter tang of pine. The trees formed a canopy over my head, blocking out the light of the moon, but I didn't mind. I felt secure in the darkness, like I was meant to be there.

I finally emerged into a clearing, the moonlight bathing the open space in a silvery glow. The voice in my mind was stronger now, a light guiding me to my destination. I could feel the urgency in its tone, and I knew that I was running out of time...

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the trees. The sound, filled with terror and despair, slammed fear into my very soul. My heart began to race, and my body trembled with adrenaline as I realized that someone was in grave danger. "Are you okay?" I called out, my voice barely heard over the pounding of my heart.

There was no answer, but the screams continued, each one more desperate than the last. "Arrrrgggghhh. No. Please..."

The plea was weak, but it was enough to spur me into action. I followed the sound, my feet pounding against the soft earth as I pushed through the trees. The branches whipped at my face and arms, leaving behind stinging welts that I hardly noticed.

I sprinted through the forest my heart pounding in my chest, the voice urging me on. "Go Lyra... keep running."

As I rounded a bend, I skidded to a halt, my eyes widening in disbelief. Before me, a man was on his knees, his hands clasped together in a desperate plea. And towering over him, a large shape with enormous wings unfurled, smoke curling from its nostrils.

A dragon.

I'd heard stories, of course. Creatures of legend, powerful and fierce. But I'd never truly believed they existed. Until now.

The man's voice trembled as he begged for his life, but the dragon seemed unmoved. Its scales shimmered in the moonlight, a deep, fiery red that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

And then, with a deafening roar, the dragon unleashed a torrent of flames. Even at my distance, the heat seared my skin. The stench of burning flesh choked the air, and the inferno's blaze swallowed the man's screams. In seconds, he was gone. Nothing but ash and smoke remained.

I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. All I could do was stare, my mind struggling to comprehend what I'd just witnessed.

But then, the dragon turned its gaze on me. Its eyes, a brilliant, glowing red, pinned me to the spot.

I knew I had to run... get out of its line of sight. My legs refused to obey. All I could do was stand there, frozen, as the dragon began to advance, the earth around me trembling with each step.

And that's when I heard it. A howl, unlike any I'd ever heard before. It was powerful and fierce, and it seemed to echo through the very fabric of the world.

The dragon hesitated, its gaze flickering away from me for a brief moment. And in that moment, I found my strength. I found my courage.

I turned and ran, my feet pounding against the soft earth as I raced through the trees. I could hear the dragon behind me, its wings beating against the air, but I didn't look back. I couldn't. I had to keep moving. I had to survive.