Dark Wolf Deleted Scenes Read online

  ~DARK WOLF: DELETED SCENE 1~

  Christine Feehan

  “Do you know what I miss most?” Skyler asked. “It’s silly I know, but remember that time we roasted marshmallows over a campfire and made s’mores, Paul? I’d never done anything like that in my life. I felt normal for the first time. Nothing had ever tasted so good as the mixture of chocolate, crackers and marshmallows. I remember I actually went to sleep with a smile on my face and didn’t have a single nightmare.” Skyler wrapped her arms around herself as if she could hug the moment to her. “I’ll never forget that, Paul. Not ever. You and Ginny supplied so many firsts for me.”

  Josef waved his hands and a fire roared to life. Built into the ground, it was ringed with stones and in the exact center of their circle as they sat there in the clearing. Overhead, the stars scattered across the sky in a strange puzzle of sparkling diamonds.

  Skyler laughed softly. “I didn’t think of that. I still think of myself as human and my first reaction is just to think about my memories, not relive them.”

  Ginny shook her head. “I wouldn’t be able to do that kind of thing, but it’s totally cool, Josef.” Her voice was a little shy and her brother glanced at her quickly with a frown. “Now all we need are the marshmallows and chocolate squares.”

  Paul moved a little closer to her protectively. “You don’t have to be afraid of what a Carpathian can do, Ginny. Someday we may be doing the same thing.”

  Ginny shook her head, shuddering a little. “They fight vampires, Paul. I want to lead a normal life. Get up in the morning, take care of my ranch, ride my horses and go to sleep at night. I’m a cowgirl, not a Carpathian.”

  Skyler caught Paul’s eye and shook her head slightly when he opened his mouth to protest. “I understand completely, Ginny,” she said. “When Gabriel and Francesca first wanted to do a blood exchange with me, it freaked me out a little bit. Of course I let them. I mean, they are my parents, but I went to bed that night with my heart pounding like crazy.”

  Ginny nodded, happy someone finally understood. “Me too. I just laid there so terrified my blood would call to a vampire or something equally as terrible. I don’t think I slept for a week.”

  Josef put a hand on her shoulder. “You should have given me a call. I would have come.”

  “To South America?” Ginny sounded incredulous. “To our ranch?”

  Josef shrugged. “I travel all over. I’ve been there before. Why wouldn’t I come for you? We’re friends.” He produced a bag of marshmallows and a large chocolate bar and handed them to her with a courtly bow. “For you.”

  Ginny and Skyler both burst out laughing.

  Paul shook his head. “You’re such a show-off, bro,” Paul said.

  “So glad I could help,” Josef answered back, his grin from ear to ear.

  “How many blood exchanges have they given you?” Skyler asked, curiosity in her voice.

  Ginny scowled. “Two. Rafael insisted on the first one and after the ranch was attacked by vampires and Zacarias came back, he insisted I have a second blood exchange.” She shuddered again. “You don’t say no to Zacarias. No one does.”

  Skyler looked to Paul for conformation. “Both of you have had two blood exchanges?”

  Paul nodded. “Rafael convinced Colby it was necessary for the first one and when Zacarias came home for a visit with Marguarite, it was just after the vampires attacked us and he was adamant. He gave both of us the second exchange.”

  “He was very gentle with me,” Ginny hastily added. “He wasn’t mean or anything. It’s just that having their blood in me, makes me tired during the day and I can’t always fall asleep at night.”

  “Wow, Paul, and you work the ranch,” Skyler said, admiration in her voice.

  “You went to school, same as Ginny,” Paul pointed out, tearing open the bag of marshmallows with his teeth. He handed one to Ginny who put it on the sharpened branch Josef provided.

  “I loved school,” Skyler said. “Really loved it. I love learning. I studied wolves because Dimitri has such a large foundation and I wanted to be an asset to him.”

  Ginny watched the marshmallow turning a golden brown as she rotated it carefully in the fire. “I still can’t believe you asked Dimitri to claim you. You’re so brave, Skyler. I love living at the ranch with all the uncles, although Zacarias can be intimidating.”

  “Not when he’s around Marguarite,” Paul interrupted. “Then he’s a complete sap and utter sap.”

  Ginny giggled and glanced around. “You’d better keep your voice down. Zacarias has ears all over his body or something. He’s got, like radar and knows everything.”

  “Is he really as scary as he looks?” Skyler asked.

  “Yes,” Paul and Ginny said simultaneously.

  Josef nodded his head vigorously. “You’d better believe it. Even when he’s being nice. But I’ve got to say, he’s the man I want on my side if there’s a fight.”

  Paul nodded his head. “And he’s surprisingly good with Ginny. Well, with all the women. Colby actually likes him. She and MaryAnn are so close and you’d think MaryAnn would have a problem with him, she’s very strong-willed, but she defers to him just like everyone else.”

  “Marguarite has him wrapped around her finger,” Ginny whispered as she pulled the sticky marshmallow off the stick and added it on top of the cracker and square of chocolate. “Totally wrapped. She wants something and she just looks at him and he moves heaven and earth to give it to her.” She took a bite and rolled her eyes in pleasure. “This is totally yummy.”

  Skyler frowned. “If that’s so, why are you all afraid of Zacarias? That doesn’t make sense. All Carpathian men are a little scary, but no one talks about them like they do Zacarias.”

  “He’s different,” Josef admitted. “It’s not like he’d ever hurt a woman or child. In fact he’d protect them with his life, it’s just that you never get the feeling that he’s not the least bit tamed. Being with Zacarias is kind of like climbing in a cage with tiger. There’s a part of you that wonders if you’re going to get eaten.”

  Skyler gave a little shudder. “I think I much prefer Dimitri. He’s very sweet and I definitely love that in him.”

  Josef and Paul exchanged a long look. Both rolled their eyes.

  “What?” She demanded. “He is sweet.”

  “To you maybe,” Paul said. “He’s a wolf. A mix of Carpathian and Lycan,” he qualified. “He’s definitely not sweet, Skyler. You have blinders on when it comes to your man. He’s lethal.”

  “I know what she’s talking about,” Ginny said. “Dimitri has a gentle quality about him.” She smiled up at Josef. “Like Josef he’s thoughtful.”

  Paul shrugged. “So is Zacarias. I guess there’s no explaining him. You can’t imagine him ever as a child. Or playing. I don’t think he knows what fun is or even how to play.”

  A small wind swept through the clearing, and the flames danced, rising toward the sky above. The brush around them rustled. Overhead an owl took flight. Several mice scurried out from under the roots of one of the plants several meters from them.

  Ginny looked apprehensively toward the forest. “I wish I wasn’t so afraid of vampires. Everything scares me now. I’m such a little fraidy cat.” She gave a small laugh.

  “There’s nothing to worry about,” Josef said. “I’m here.”

  Without warning, a tiger burst from the forest, running full speed, as fast a freight train, a good solid nine hundred pounds of sheer muscle and teeth, bearing down on them. Ginny screamed and tried to scramble backward, brandishing her marshmallow stick, complete with a warm marshmallow on the end.

  Paul leapt in front of his sister, reaching into the fire pit for a burning b
ranch. He faced the tiger, with a white face and determination written into every line.

  Josef elbowed passed Paul to take the front position, moving fast, a blurring figure, producing a large machete.

  Skyler moved just as fast, maybe even a little faster, stretching her arms out wide as she rose to allow her wolves freedom. “Wait,” she barked the order, sweeping her arm behind her to keep the wolves from attacking.

  Josef threw up a barrier and the tiger crashed right through it. Skyler and Josef moved together, closing ranks in order to better protect Paul and Ginny.

  At the last moment the tiger swerved, missing them both. Faint laughter rose on the wind as the large, dangerous cat continued fast toward the forest. Just as the tiger reached the tree line, he shifted on the run, giving them a brief glimpse of Zacarias just before he disappeared into the woods. His soft laughter faded behind him.

  The four of them just looked at one another in stunned surprise.

  Skyler pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. “I believe that was Zacarias playing with us.”

  “I think that was his idea of a joke,” Josef said eventually.

  “I think I wet my pants,” Paul added, even glancing down to make certain no such thing happened.

  Skyler glanced at Ginny’s white face and then down at the roasting stick. “Did you plan on stuffing his mouth with marshmallows?”

  The teen began to smile and then burst out laughing. “Hey, whatever works.”

  “I guess that addresses the issue of whether or not Zacarias has a sense of humor,” Skyler said.

  “And at the same time, why we’re all a little bit afraid of him,” Ginny added. She looked at her sharpened stick with the marshmallow on the end. “I really was going to hit him with this.” She jabbed it in the air toward the direction the tiger had gone.

  Josef and Paul joined her in laughter.

  “Can you imagine?” Skyler asked. “Zacarias De La Cruz, dead by marshmallow.”

  All four erupted once again in what Skyler was certain was slightly hysterical laughter.

  ~DARK WOLF: DELETED SCENE 2~

  Don’t move, Skyler. Stay absolutely still, Dimitri cautioned. Keep the wolves quiet. We accidently stumbled across a vampire’s trail.

  For real? There was no way to quiet her heart. It took on a life of its own and pounded like mad. If there was a vampire, no doubt it could hear and would come running. How do you keep so calm.

  Experience. Let your heart find the rhythm of mine. There’s no need to panic. You’ve done this hundreds of time now. Ivory and Razvan simulated hunting vampires and you’re prepared. So are the wolves. They just need you to be a strong leader in the hunt.

  Skyler scanned the area as she’d been taught. There was nothing different that she could feel. No odor that she could smell. Yet… There was something. She felt uneasy, a growing dread in the pit of her stomach and right over her ovary, a burn was growing stronger by the moment. Her Dragonseeker blood warned her that Dimitri was right, and there was an actual vampire close.

  I need to know that you can do this.

  Dimitri’s voice was always calm, and it was now, but there was an authority, a command he rarely used with her.

  I was born for this. She could taste excitement in her mouth, and feel it coursing through her veins. There was fear, yes. She’d be crazy not to feel afraid, but she knew she could follow Dimitri’s lead and if necessary, she could take down the vampire herself.

  She moved in silence, fanning out from Dimitri, signaling to the wolves that they were on an active hunt, not for food this time, but for their ultimate prey--the undead. As she took several steps on a worn deer trail, she noticed the blackened grass and the curled, withered leaves of several plants. Skyler hissed out a breath of sheer irritation. She should have seen it before Dimitri had to point it out. She knew the signs of a vampire passing.

  Her heart slowed. Beat naturally in her chest and the air moved through her lungs without that burning, gasping feeling. She settled into hunting mode. They’d been practicing for just such an event and it was time to prove that she was Dimitri’s asset, not someone he would have to always watch over.

  The trail is fresh. No more than an hour old, Dimitri informed her.

  Skyler nodded and knelt with one knee on the ground, laying her palm over the soil. At once she could feel the loathing the earth had for the unnatural abomination passing over it. The energy flowed beneath her hand and with it, information. The vampire was several miles ahead of them, but moving slow. He seemed to be searching for something, judging from the way he was moving in and out of the trees.

  He hasn’t taken to the air at all, She informed Dimitri. I can feel him moving, but at a snail’s pace.

  Something isn’t right. I don’t like it. They’re usually much more careful, Dimitri warned even as they doubled their pace to catch up with the undead.

  A partner? Skyler inquired. A master and a newly turned?

  It’s possible. Even likely. Masters are not easy to slay, Skyler, even for an experienced hunter. Perhaps you should give this one a pass.

  She noticed immediately that he said you, not we. He intended to hunt the vampire whether or not it was a master with a pawn to sacrifice. Dimitri would never cross the path of a vampire and just let him go on killing. She ignored his comment.

  He’s circling back around again. Could he have…. She broke off, looking toward her wolves.

  Moon, has alerted. She’s looking, not toward the direction of the vampire, but up toward the rocks above them, near the small waterfall bursting from the side of the mountain.

  Dimitri swore softly. Get out of there. If that’s the master, Skyler, you could be in real trouble. I’m coming toward you.

  I don’t think it’s a vampire, not by the way Moonglow or Frost are acting. I think whatever the vampire is hunting is up above us in those rocks. That’s why the vampire is circling back. He’s trying to find something.

  If you’re wrong, Skyler… he trailed off. Wait for me. That was a clear command.

  The feeling of urgency was too strong in her to listen. She signaled to the wolves and they spread out even more, slinking lower to the ground, but pushing forward up the hills, yet keeping to the sparser brush for cover.

  Skyler shifted, becoming vapor and drifting up with the slight wind, letting it take her naturally to the small cascading stream of water. She caught a glimpse of faded red hidden among the leaves and branches just behind the waterfall. Her breath caught in her throat as she shifted back to her own form, staying low to avoid detection.

  Dimitri. It’s a child. I’m certain there’s a child up here.

  Skyler it could be a trap. You have to use caution. Vampires are capable of anything at all. One could pretend to be a helpless child.

  I’m aware of that. She bit down on her lip to keep from saying anything else. She couldn’t blame him. She worried about his safety all the time and she was brand new at hunting the vampire, but she could read the earth and it wasn’t cringing from contact with whatever was above them in the rocks.

  She signaled to Moonglow to move in. The wolf pressed forward, teeth bared, eyes gleaming as it focused on its prey. A small hand shot out of the brush and little fingers wiggled toward the wolf. At once all aggression ceased. The hair of Moonglow’s back calmed and she moved forward out of sight behind the bush.

  If Skyler had been the swearing type she would have cursed a blue streak. She placed her palm onto the dirt and pressed deep so that it covered her hand.

  Dimitri. We have a small problem. Two of them. I think Gregori’s twins are up here and the vampire is definitely drawing closer.

  How do they keep slipping away? We’re far from the village. Gregori and Savannah must be desperate. They have to be able to track them.

  Maybe I’m wrong. Let me check for certain before we contact them and say we have them. How far out are you?

  Right behind you, he assured.

  Skyl
er nearly jumped out of her skin at his warmth breath touched the nape of her neck. She swung around and glared at the wolves. One of you could have warned me!

  Dimitri’s laughter was in her mind. Why would they? I’m their alpha. Of course you would welcome me.

  He signaled her to move forward and she did, approaching the brush cautiously. As she neared the opening, a little girl with a head full of curls stood up abruptly, pushing in front of someone else.

  “Hello,” Skyler greeted softly. “Do you remember me? I’m Skyler.”

  The child nodded, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, but she stood almost defiantly, clearing still protecting someone. Her twin stood up as well and reached for her hand.

  “What are you doing out here, so far from home? Are you aware a vampire is tracking you?” She spoke as gently as possible. The toddlers looked terrified and very vulnerable.