Gwen paced around the parking lot, shaking her head as she cursed her shitty neighbor. What the hell was he doing? Peeing on a tree?

He was gone awfully long for a pee, and besides, there was a bathroom in the restaurant.

She bit her lip as she leaned against the truck, wondering why he always had to ruin everything. They were having a nice night, full of laughs, and good conversation. There was a spark of something between them, and Zane was even being romantic by opening doors for her and refilling her wine. She should have known that the date was going to end up in disaster, and that’s exactly what this was. A disaster.

Nothing else but ‘a disaster’ could explain what happened when your date ran into the woods in the middle of the night to get away from you.

I should just go.

She exhaled long and hard as she looked at the keys in her hand, daring herself to do it. That would show him.

“Five more minutes,” she muttered as the last of the staff left the restaurant and shuffled to their cars.

The manager locked the door and looked at her funny as he walked to his car. “Are you guys having car problems?” he asked.

“No,” she said, feeling the panic start to rise inside her. “Uhm, my friend is just looking for his… sunglasses.”

“Sunglasses?” the manager said, looking around with a scrunched up forehead.

“Yeah,” Gwen lied. “We were walking around in the forest before dinner, and he dropped them. He’s looking for them now.”

“In the pitch black?” he asked.

Just get in your fucking car, go home and watch Netflix already.

“Yeah,” Gwen said with a forced smile. “It’s his favorite pair.”

“Okay,” the guy said with a roll of his eyes. “Get home safely.”

“I will,” Gwen said, squeezing the keys in her hands. Zane on the other hand…

She was done waiting. She waited until the manager drove out of the parking lot, leaving her all alone, and then she opened the door on the driver’s side and climbed in.

“Worst neighbor ever,” she muttered through gritted teeth as she shoved the key into the ignition. She turned it and the powerful engine roared to life.

Her hand hovered over the gear shift as she stared at the forest, giving him one last chance to get back before she drove home.

Two thunderous cracks rang out from the forest, making her jump in the leather seat. “What the—”

She leaned over the steering wheel and stared forward with her jaw hanging open as two tall trees that were close to Draven’s cottage tumbled over in the forest.

Zane!

She was out of the truck and running across the parking lot before the trees slammed into the ground. She had no idea what Zane was doing in there, but he could be hurt, and she couldn’t leave without making sure he was okay.

The forest was so dark with the canopy of trees covering the moonlight. She tripped on a root, nearly falling to the ground as she ran, but she managed to regain her balance, and kept running.

Her heart was pounding and her legs were burning as she pushed forward up the incline. She only stopped when she heard voices. One was Zane’s.

She was so confused. Who was he talking to in the forest? Why were trees falling down? Why didn’t she do more cardio?

Her chest was on fire, and she could barely breathe as she jogged the rest of the way. She gasped when she saw the two fallen trees and a stranger walking between them toward Zane who was lying on the ground.

Her limbs started shaking as the blood drained from her face. She didn’t know what she was seeing, but she could tell that it wasn’t good. Zane looked hurt, and the man approaching him looked like he wasn’t even close to being finished.

Gwen still had Zane’s car keys in her hand. She turned them around until the long key was sticking out between her fingers like a pathetic one-clawed Wolverine, and was about to take a step forward when Zane leapt to his feet.

She recoiled back, staring in terror as his body shook and swelled up. Long brown hairs sprouted from his skin as his body grew to an unnatural size. She winced as the horrifying sound of bones popping and tendons snapping crawled through her ears, sending cold shivers racing down her spine.

Before her mind could process what she was seeing, an enormous brown bear exploded from his skin.

She rubbed her eyes and shook her head, counting how many glasses of wine she had at dinner, but when she reopened them the bear was still there.

He was standing on his hind legs with his terrifying jaws stretched wide open. He let out a roar so loud and frightening that Gwen almost wet herself.

She watched in horror as the bear charged forward at the man. The man just laughed as he cocked his fist back, and let it fly at the charging beast. His fist slammed into the bear’s jaw, crunching bone, and driving the huge animal headfirst into the dirt so hard that the ground shook as a small crater was formed under the bear’s thick skull.

Gwen felt the impact from where she was standing and gasped at the devastation of it.

The massive bear who looked so terrifying a second ago was lying on the ground, twisted into an unnatural position. He was whimpering as he tried to get up, but he was severely injured and in too much pain. He collapsed back down to the dirt with a sad whelp.

Gwen squeezed her fist around the key as the man stepped up to the poor bear, standing over him. “Make sure my brother comes to us, or we’ll come to him.”

The bear just writhed around on the ground, whimpering with his eyes closed as he tried to raise his head.

Gwen clenched her teeth in anger as the man stepped back. His body flexed and shook, just like Zane’s had, but instead of a bear bursting out of him, long gray wings that looked like they belonged on a reptile ripped out of his shoulder blades.

Gwen covered her mouth with her hand to prevent herself from screaming and stayed rooted to the spot as his skin burned off, revealing gray scales underneath. It all happened so fast, and within a blink of a terrified eye, a monstrous gray dragon burst from his body.

The dragon jumped in the air and flapped its two horrible wings, sending him sailing up over the trees.

Gwen watched in horrified fascination as the dragon disappeared into the dark night.

The bear was still down, writhing around in pain. She turned to run back to the car when it finally hit her. That bear is Zane. He’s a shifter.

But that couldn’t be. Shifters only existed in stories and fables made up to scare children. They didn’t exist in the real world. Did they?

A sad whimper from the bear made her turn around. Her heart broke for him, and before she could tell herself that this was a horrible idea, she was racing over to check on the injured animal.

He raised his head as she approached, and she took in a quick intake of air when she saw it in his eyes. Zane. She recognized him immediately. She would recognize those sexy dark eyes anywhere.

The bear grunted in pain as he raised his head, and Gwen finally saw what was wrong. His entire lower jaw was dislocated, hanging down at an unnatural angle. His long pink tongue was hanging off the side of his mouth as short heartbreaking whimpers escaped his throat.

Gwen dropped down to her knee in front of the bear with her heart racing. Its sad eyes were focused on her as she slowly reached forward and pet the top of his head. He closed his eyes and groaned as she pet his soft fur.

“Zane,” she said softly. “I know you’re in there. Tell me what to do. How can I help?”

The bear sniffed her and then inched forward, nuzzling the top of his head against her neck. He closed his eyes, and then pulled away, grunting as he struggled to stand up on wobbly legs.

“You can do it,” Gwen whispered, encouraging him as he tried to balance himself.

He finally managed to steady himself, but his jaw was still hanging loosely.

Gwen bit her bottom lip as a tear rolled down her cheek. It looked so painful. She couldn’t imagine the pain he was going through.

With a grunt, the bear turned and walked toward the thick maple tree behind him. He swung his head, and slammed his jaw into the tree, setting it back in place.

The bear whipped his head back and roared out in furious pain, so loud that Gwen had to cover her ears. He was thrashing around in agony, but at least his jaw was no longer dislocated.

She was anxious and afraid as the large bear paced, breathing heavily as he squeezed his eyes shut. But she wasn’t afraid of the bear, she afraid for the bear. She was biting her bottom lip nervously as she watched, hoping he was okay.

After a minute, the bear was looking more composed—the worst of the pain was gone. His breathing slowed and his pacing stopped.

She swallowed hard and took a step back as he turned his enormous head to her.

“Zane?” she whispered as she stared into his bright brown eyes. It didn’t make any sense, but she knew it was true. Zane was in there. Those were his eyes.

Her heart pounded in her chest as he slowly walked up to her on paws as big as her hips. “Is it you?” she asked.

The bear lowered his head as she raised her hand. Her let out a soft groan as she slid her fingers through his long brown fur. All of the tension just melted away as she wrapped her arms around his head and hugged him, resting her cheek on the soft fur on the top of his head.

“It is you,” she whispered.

A few moments later, the bear pulled away and backed up out of her reach.

“Where are you going?”

But the bear wasn’t going anywhere. He stopped and took one last long look at her before his body began vibrating and then convulsing violently. Gwen gasped out loud as a naked Zane burst out of the bear.

He stood in front of her on firm muscular legs, watching her with a pain in his eyes. The same eyes she had seen a moment ago on the bear.

“You’re a shifter?” she asked. There was a tremor in her voice. Her hands were shaking.

Zane lowered his head and sighed. “I’ll take you home,” he said before walking to the pile of torn clothes.

“I don’t want to go home,” Gwen snapped. She stepped between him and the clothes, staring him in the eyes.

His eyes were wet and full of shame. His shoulders were hunched forward and he was barely even looking at her.

“Can you please explain all that?” she asked, placing a palm on his chest. His skin was so warm despite the coolness in the air. “You have a bear inside you?”

“You don’t have to do this, Gwen,” he said, turning to her with a somber look in his eyes. “I can drop you off at home, and you don’t have to talk to me ever again. I’ll understand.”

“Understand what?” she asked, dropping her hand. “I don’t understand anything right now. You’re a bear shifter?”

“I am,” he said in a low voice. “I’m sorry I led you on. I’m sorry I took you out. I’m sorry I dragged you into all this. I should have known better.”

Gwen narrowed her eyes on him, trying to understand what he was talking about. “Wait a minute,” she whispered when it dawned on her. “Are you ashamed of your bear?”

Zane closed his eyes and flinched. “You’re an incredible woman, Gwen. You deserve better than someone with a beast living inside them.”

“A beast?!?” she snapped, glaring at him. She was surprised at how protective she already felt for the adorable bear. “He’s not a beast! He’s beautiful. Magical. He’s a miracle.” She stepped forward and gently ran her fingertips over his massive chest. The bear grumbled from inside his chest, making her giggle. “He’s talking to me!”

“You think he’s beautiful?” Zane asked in an uncertain tone. He was watching her, looking like his whole worldview was crumbling down around him. “You’re not afraid?”

“No,” Gwen said, slowly shaking her head. “How can I be afraid of him? I want to see him again.”

Zane looked shaken up. “I thought you would… because I am…”

“You thought I wouldn’t like you because you’re a bear shifter?” she asked, finishing the thought for him.

He nodded.

“I think it’s sexy,” she said, grinning as her eyes fell back down to his naked chest. “A bear shifter,” she whispered as her lips curled up into a smile. “That’s hot.”

“It is?” Zane asked, jerking his head back.

Gwen bit her bottom lip and nodded. “Very.”

“I wanted to tell you,” Zane said, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her. “But I thought it would drive you away.”

“Why would you think that?” Gwen answered as she melted under his thick arms.

He exhaled long and hard. “It drove my parents away. When they first saw my bear, they drove across the state and dropped me off at an orphanage. They lived in a nice part of town, and they didn’t want me to make them look bad.”

“That’s horrible,” Gwen said, squeezing him tight. “Your parents are jerks.”

“It wasn’t just them,” he continued. “When I first phased at the orphanage, they kicked me out. They were worried they were going to lose their funding because of me.”

Gwen’s heart broke for him as she listened. She had no idea that he had been through so much pain. She instantly forgave him for all of the stupid fights they had over the years. She was finally ready to put all of that behind her.

“Look,” she said as she slid her palm up his cheek. She smiled as the rough stubble tickled her hand. “I’m not your mom or dad, and I’m not the cowards at the orphanage. I like you.” Her eyes dropped down to his chest where his beautiful bear was hiding inside. “All of you.”

His strong hands tightened on her body as he lowered his head, staring at her with passion in his eyes.

“Oh,” she gasped before he kissed her with an intensity that shook her to her core. Gwen moaned as his big arms held her protectively while his tongue made her legs weak.

He pulled away with a suddenness that was jarring. Gwen opened her glazed-over eyes and gasped when she looked into his face.

Zane was staring at her, but there was something wrong with his eyes. The beautiful deep brown hues were gone and were replaced by a black cloud that was spreading over each eye.

She was initially panicked, but the warmth flowing into her melted any negative feelings away. All she could do was stare into his eyes as her body connected with his on a level she didn’t think was possible.

Gwen felt pulled to him, drawn to him, in every possible way. It was like her heart was beating for his now, like he was the new center of her universe.

She stared at him in awe, completely overwhelmed by the intense emotions as his eyes slowly returned to normal. His sexy lips curled up into a smile that made her heart flutter.

“That was…” she whispered, unable to find any suitable words to describe such an amazing experience. “Incredible.”

“It’s you,” he said, staring down at her with wonder. “You’re my mate.”

“Your mate?” she asked, swallowing hard.

“My bear bonded to you,” he explained. “Do you feel that pull to me?”

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. She definitely felt it.

“You’ll feel that forever,” he said in a voice as smooth as butter. She never realized how beautiful his voice felt in her ears before. “It will only grow stronger over time.”

“So, you’re telling me,” Gwen said, trying to contain her excitement. “We’re like soulmates?”

“Stronger than soulmates,” he said. “Our souls and bodies were made for each other.”

“Then, I guess that was a pretty successful first date.”

“I guess so,” he answered with a laugh.

Gwen stepped on her toes and kissed him softly on the lips. “You know how the best dates end…” she whispered with a grin.

Her grin turned into a smile as she felt his erection harden against her stomach.

“Easy, boy,” she said with a laugh. “Take me home first. I don’t mind kinky, but I don’t want a pine cone up my ass. I’m not that wild.”

Zane laughed and then kissed her on the lips again.

“One more question,” Gwen asked as she took his hand and pulled him in the direction of the car.

“Anything,” he answered.

She looked up at the night sky and frowned. “Was that a fucking dragon?!?”