Darkest Before the Dawn (Sample)

Prologue

Darkest Before the Dawn

Prologue

I didn't need to hear the sound of dying warriors to tell we were under attack. I didn't need to feel the rumble of paws to sense the arrival of the next wave of enemies. I didn't need to flinch every time the pack link became weaker with each fallen warrior. All I needed was the metallic smell of blood...everywhere.

My senses were overloaded, jumbled in ways I've never experienced. I could hear the growl of the mighty wolves, the earth shaking like quakes beneath my feet. I couldn't find my mother, my wolf still to young to use the mind link to find her or feel emotions or pain. If she was hurt, I'd already be too late. My father would protect her as well as he could, that provided me with very little comfort. I loved my father, but he wasn't a strong warrior.

A loud crash sounded from the hallway, a large force was slamming against my bedroom door. Trying to snap the lock in two. As the door violently shock as the body slammed into it, I cowered back hiding behind my bed watching in horror as the door flew open.

I let out a sigh of relief when it was my Alpha who came storming through the door. I raised my hands in the air, indicating that I wanted to be picked up as if I was a small child. The Alpha ran towards me scooping me up into his arms.

"Dawn we have to get you down to the safe room with the other untrained wolves"

He said carrying me swiftly through the halls of the pack house. The sound of fighting got louder the more we ran towards the safe room. The Alpha quickly puts me down and pushes me behind him.

"The rogues are trying to break into the safe room"

He whispers turning to face me, he places his hands on my shoulders and looks me deeply in the eyes. His pupils dilated and I knew he was going to use the Alpha command on me.

"Dawn go straight to my room and lock yourself in my closet, don't go anywhere else I have to help fight"

He commanded and I nodded my head in agreement. He let go of my shoulders and runs away. I start running to the Alphas room, my wolf under the power of the Alpha command. I heard the painful howl of a wolf and my heart shriveled up, it was the cry of my mother. My wolf was roaring in my head, trying to pull me to go back on my ordered path but I didn't want to. Your wolf side is supposed to be the dominant one, who uses the Alpha command and pure natural instincts to decide what's the best path. Although it can be our weakness at times it's how the wolves have lived since the beginning of our history. Though today the Alpha command seemed to be slipping as if it never had been put there in the first place. I blocked my wolf and ran back down the stairs and out the front door. Most of the enemy had either been killed or had retreated. I heard my mother's howl once more and I ran off in the direction of her cries.

My steps seemed to echo through my mind as I sprinted over to my mother, I found her tossed up against the side of the tree. I ran over to her and pulled her head onto my lap.

"Dawn?"

She whispered shakily staring up into my eyes in confusion. I smile down at her and softly brush the sweaty hair off her face.

"Yeah momma I'm here now"

I whisper soothingly moving to the side of her body so I could place my arms under her armpits and under her knees to pick her up bridal style. Cradling her tightly to my chest, I carried her quickly back into the pack house and towards the infirmary.

Sophia the pack nurse rushed over to me and takes my mother out of my hands and onto a gurney. I watch as she wheels her away.

"Dawn why are you here?"