Starts a bit graphic, sorry if it offends anyone but the story will get happier eventually. And again Carpathian world not my creation all credit goes to Christine Feehan. And if you're picky enough I know the rate which Gabriel gets from France to Russia is a bit quick, the story would of gone on a bit otherwise.

Within the confines of the bathroom, she felt it, the surge of drug fuelled rage and violence creeping steadily towards her. Panicked caught in her throat threatening to suffocate her, the windows were clad in heavy steel bars and she was eight stories up. The only escape was out of the door. Huddling in the corner Skyler waited with terror filled eyes until the door burst from its hinges. In its wake stood Fletcher Duran, Skyler's stomach rolled at the familiar glint in his beady, loathsome eyes, he crooked his finger at her
'Come here you little whore and I'll show you what a real man can do'

Skyler waited in total stillness until his face twisted into a grimace of fury. Striding across the room he yanked at her hair, pulling her out of the room towards the grimy mattress. The breath rushing from her lungs as she was slammed down to the bed beneath the man she despised above all others.
'Skyler... Skyler!' the masculine voice echoed through her mind producing a fresh wave of terror through her shaking body.
'No!' she half screamed, half choked

She started kicking, punching, refusing to open her eyes. Strong arms locked around her waist, holding her still 'You were having a nightmare, Sivamet, Be calm, nothing's going to hurt you, sssh zena maya.' My wife, my woman. The endearment should have frightened her, but the comfort and peace his softly spoken words was a temptation too strong to resist, she relaxed in his arms, concentrating on the strong, steady beat of his heart,

'Can I ask you a question?' she whispered

'Of course'
'Why did you leave your people, I saw in your mind, you'd never returned to the mountains until the year we met, I heard Gabriel and Lucian talking once about you, said you just left in the middle of the night and no one had heard much about you since, what happened?'

His handsome face was crossed with indecision, those heart stopping, glacier blue eyes clouded with grief laid bare after all these centuries. He took a deep breath and told the tale he never once shared with another soul.

'When was just past my first century of life, the wars that robbed us of our people swept through our lands, laying waste to everything that it came upon. I had been one of the few fledglings that had survived, what remained of our people were gathered and evacuated by Mikhail and Gregori to the mountains in Hungary. I was struck with grief, as we all were, I had watched as my father had been slaughtered before me when he had tried to save the children trapped in the barn, but my mother had survived, she hid me and my four baby sisters until it was safe, two of them were still too young to be without a mother, she valiantly stayed with us until the time came when she could join her beloved lifemate, it was miraculous really, for a mother to have given birth to four beautiful baby girls all within five years of each other , all had survived their first year of life, a precious miracle bestowed upon the Carpathian people. That was until...'
Skyler watched as his eyes closed, the torment in his glittering eyes made her heart clench, instinctively she moved her body more fully into his.

'Go on Dimitri, you can tell me'

'I had left the house one night to practise fighting with Tiberiu and Julian, I knew it was selfish of me to leave my mother with the girls by herself, but I wanted to be a hunter my father would be proud of so I went anyway. When I returned the stench of evil was everywhere, a vampire had broken into the house, he had r-raped my mother and killed my sister's, when I found her she was still clutching their tiny bodies to her as she drew her last breath. The shame I felt was overpowering, I had failed my family, my father, my people to protect the beings that had brought such hope to all of us, I had deprived four males of their salvation with my stupidity. I was so sickened by what had happened I ran to a land unclaimed by any other hunter '

Blood-red tears welled up in his eyes as he buried his face against her neck. Skyler felt her own tears trickling down her face, in spite of her fears and inadequacies she felt so compelled to comfort the poor man she found herself turning in his arms so they were chest to chest, her arms circled his neck, fingers stroking absently through his thick hair.

'It wasn't your fault Dimitri, you couldn't have known that was going to happen, you were too young to know any different, it's OK'

For a while they just laid there, for once she had reached out to him and was content to offer comfort as well as be comforted, for the first time in his life he felt free, after sharing the shame, the sorrow that had plagued him throughout his existence the relief was devastating. Lying there together they both had a jolting realisation. They felt complete. It wasn't love, but it was definitely a start.

High in the air, two streams of vapour made their way towards their destination, the larger stream was pulsing red in fiery anger. Will you calm down, wild man, he hasn't hurt her, merely kissed her, you acted more discourteous when we first met. You knocked me up for heaven's sake in spite of herself Francesca injected a little humour into her voice.

You saw for yourself what he did to her, how dare he act in such a manner. You heard what he said, Francesca, 'he will act in an honourable fashion' HonourableGabriel gave an inelegant snort at the tripe that man spouted.

And he has, he hasn't bound her to him, hasn't even exchanged blood. It was just a kiss! Other teenage girls do far worse with their boyfriends Gabriel, you have to give them time or they'll never work this out. But she knew this was futile, Gabriel had made up his mind to act as the avenging father, all she could do was hope he would see enough sense and not tear his throat out.

Dimitri watched as Skyler swirled the soup around the bowl, regarding it as if it were about to leap from the spoon if she were to take a sip of it.

'From what I've read, you're supposed to drink it.' Dimitri grumbled
'It smells good, thank you for making it for me, but I really don't think I'm hungry'

'You have to eat, myed honey, you haven't eaten since you left Paris, I'll help you keep it down'

As he spoke Dimitri grabbed the bowl, bring the rim to her reluctant mouth, he merged his mind with hers, sharing images of wolves in their natural environment, how they tend their young, pack hierarchy, the respectable efficiency they held when hunting. Skyler studied the information with quiet awe, she had to go see for herself. The bowl left her lips, she was astonished to see it was empty, with Dimitri holding his hand out to her 'Shall we?' A small heart melting smile tugged at his lips, honestly why would he want her, with his looks he could get absolutely anyone, hell most men probably would want a piece of that

'you know, I count my blessings that I have never come across a man who wanted a piece of... Piece of what exactly?' he asked, his expression heavy with confusion.

'Never mind.' She blushed, catching at his hand, he drew her up from the stool she was sitting on and lead her out side. At once his body contorted, glossy black fur streaked through his body until he was crouched on all fours as a heavily muscled wolf staring at her with hungry blue eyes

Climb on my back

What are you planning?

You'll enjoy it, promise

As soon as she complied, he took off at breakneck speed Hold on tight, she allowed a squeal of delight to escape her throat as he manoeuvred skilfully through trees and fallen logs until they came upon a large clearing, littered with dozens of full grown wolves and their pups. As soon as they caught sight of Dimitri, they rushed toward him, rubbing their muzzles against his neck and torso. Several wolves sniffed cautiously at Skyler's hands and arms, then licked her fingers after assuring she was not a threat. Pups yapped at her, demanding attention, carefully she got down from Dimitri's back, tickling a large white timber wolf behind the ears. Dimitri's form shifted back in to a man as he settled beside her, his back to a large tree trunk, she was a natural with animals, there wasn't a hint of fear as she played with several cubs clambering over her, her laughter played through his ears like the finest soprano, his body tightening to a relentless ache, he moved to stand slightly behind her, 'do you like it' he asked tentatively.

'Do you really get to do this every day, it must be so wonderful,'

'it's never been like this Skyler, I've never had you with me' he whispered, the ache in his voice accentuating his unsteady breathing.

Those few words tore like a blade through her heart, she had to comfort him. Slowly she turned to face him, her hands sliding up his rock hard chest to settle on his shoulders, coming up on tip toes she pressed her lips to his chiselled mouth. At once he responded, his arms, gentle this time, curved around her tiny waist. Her tongue slid against his lips, immediately his tongue caressed hers with enough tenderness to produce a moan in her throat so it reverberated through his body straight to his groin. He was determined this time to not screw it up, letting her lead the way, his hands slid caresses down the length of her dark, silky hair as his tongue continued to duel tantalisingly with hers. All of a sudden he felt the air shift suddenly, he only had enough time to push Skyler away before he was thrown through the air, crashing against a tree so hard, the bark buckled and splintered several large chunks embedded in his back.

He flipped to his feet to face Gabriel, deflecting the blows that were coming towards his face, somewhere he heard Skyler's shout of denial, he looked to see tears streaming down her face, the look on her face distracted him momentarily, enough for Gabriel to rake claws up his chest and neck. The attack so persistent, so quick he had no time to get his bearings, his head spinning wildly, Gabriel's furious growls filling his eardrums, the taste of his own blood in his mouth as the punches continued to rain down on his face and torso. Dimitri tried to get around Gabriel to comfort Skyler as her tears and sobs burned through his soul, but Gabriel wasn't having any of it, fingers curled around his throat in a vice like grip as he was pushed back against a tree trunk, pain tore through his side as Gabriel stared, shock evident on his handsome face, a sense of clarity seemed to seep back into the soulless black eyes as his gaze drifted back to Dimitri's face. Everything seemed to be getting cloudy, further away, as his life's blood seeped from dozens of different lacerations, he glanced down suddenly realising what was causing such horrendous pain. The twelve inch tree branch which had impaled itself through Dimitri's back right through to protrude obscenely from his stomach. Only then did he feel Skyler's gentle hands caress his face and neck as she sobbed uncontrollably against his shoulder. As he reached to wrap her in protective arms, the blackness consumed him, until he dangled limply in Gabriel's arms.