Dalakis Passion 3 - Stefan's Salvation Read Online Free PDF Page A

cousin's. Laurel Rose stifled a scream, expecting to see the
body of that incredible beast lying in the dirt. But it was gone, disappeared into the
shadows.
"What the hell was that?" Aaron blustered as both men slowly backed away.
"I ain't seen a wolf like that before," Clem whined.
The growling started again. This time it was off to their left, near the edge of the
woods. Both men raised their rifles.
The shot ripped the ground in front of them, kicking up dirt and rocks and making
them jerk backward. Laurel Rose cocked her rifle again. "That was the only warning
you get. Now get off my land."
Both men glanced from her to the woods where the low growling continued.
Obviously deciding that it was better to retreat and regroup, they started to back away,
heading cautiously but quickly toward the dirt road that led to her property.
"Like I said, a woman alone could get hurt. All kinds of animals up here." With that
parting shot, both men disappeared into the night.
A few minutes later, she heard the distant noise of a truck rumbling to life. Still, she
didn't move from her position until the sound of the vehicle faded off into the distance.
"Oh, God." Now that the danger had passed, she could feel her hands shaking.
Slowly, she lowered the rifle and tried to move. Her legs could no longer support her
and she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the porch. Laying the gun next to
her, she used both hands to straighten her right leg out in front of her. The muscles
beneath her skin rippled as they knotted. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she began a
slow, steady massage. It was the only thing that helped when she'd stressed it this
much.
She was so intent on her leg that she didn't hear him until it was too late. The click
of toenails against wood was the only warning she got as he sauntered across the porch.
A second later, the wolf was standing right in front of her.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at him. He was so big and muscular,
with an innate animal grace that was beautiful to watch. She was afraid to move.
Instead, she opened her mind and reached out to him, trying to reassure him that she
was no threat.
At first she sensed nothing at all. That confused her. She usually had no trouble
connecting with animals. It was people that were difficult to read.
His eyes seemed to bore into her, searching her face. She concentrated harder, all
her focus on the wolf. The strain was beginning to give her a headache, but still she
persevered. There was no way she could move from her position if he didn't leave on
his own. Doubling her efforts, she tried to reassure him, tried to read him.
Then, gradually, she sensed him. The large animal radiated calm. He meant her no
harm and certainly did not see her as a threat. The relief she felt almost overwhelmed
her.
Chalking her slight difficulty in reading him up to the pain in her leg and the stress
of the ordeal she'd just been through, she finally began to relax. The two men who'd
just left were more of a threat to her than this wolf. Tipping her head back against the
wall, she closed her eyes and concentrated on taking one slow breath after another.

Chapter Four

Stefan fought his animal instincts. Part of him wanted to chase down the two men
from the bar and rip their throats out for daring to threaten Laurel Rose. The human
part of him couldn't bear to leave her side.
In his own vehicle, he'd followed Aaron's truck from the bar parking lot as it
wound around a long, twisting road that gradually snaked higher into the hills.
Keeping his distance, he'd tracked them easily through the dark. His perfect night
vision had enabled him to drive with the truck lights off, so they'd had no idea he was
following them.
When they'd turned off the main road and up a dirt one, he'd followed until he
found a good place to pull his truck off the road and into the woods. Satisfied that the
black pickup was well-hidden and couldn't be seen from the road, he'd gotten out