Shadows of Dawn

Chapter 1

Five years later

I surveyed the room. Mats covering the floor and sweating bodies punching and kicking different things. Some throwing knives. Others wield swords.

"Good job everyone. Keep up the good work," I praised, nodding to the wolves in the training center to carry on what they were doing.

I make my way back to the front of the building, receiving a few greetings and barred necks from other wolves. My beta stands by the door and opens the door for me as I walk out. Immediately as I step outside I'm hit with the nice, crisp evening air.  Over by some trees, flowers of different colors are blooming beautifully. We walk back to the pack house, only the sound of crunching leaves under our feet.

Until my beta, Sawyer starts. "Alpha," he addresses.

"Sawyer cut it with alpha bullshit," I state, putting air quotes on the word 'Alpha'.

He starts laughing. "I know. I know," he admits putting his hands up in mock surrender. "But we have a pack meeting to get to. I told you last week to put it on your calendar, did you not?" He questions.

I look at him in bewilderment. "You think I keep track of these things? I'm starting to think you don't know me at all Sawyer," I say putting my hand on my heart, "That hurts," I said as I fake sniffled.

"Oh be quiet you big cry baby," he jokes, pushing me lightly.

We make it to the pack house and open the doors to be met with an array of potted plants. I wanted to give our pack house a nice and cozy feeling, not too modern. We have about five couches that recline and an ever-growing pile of blankets in the corner. I take my shawl off and put it on the hanger by the doorway.

Sawyer and I walk down the hallway to the conference room, it's technically a big ass table in the middle of the room with a lot of chairs around it, nothing fancy. As we walk into the conference room all traces of joking leaves Sawyer's face and he goes into serious mode. Serious much?

At first glance, Sawyer may look mean and serious, but on the inside, he's a nice guy. He's quite handsome too. He has beautiful dark skin and these hazel eyes that shine when the light hits them just right. 

"Thank you everyone for being here. Now I've been informed that we have some stuff to discuss...." I trail off waiting for someone to say something.

My Gamma, Jax, is the first to speak up. "Yes Alpha, so I've been told that Alpha Rowan of Summer is hosting his annual Mating Ball this year. The ball is coming up very soon, next week actually, and some of the wolves here are asking if we will be attending this year." He explains.

My muscles tense and the room goes silent. The Mating Ball is a dance that the Alpha of Summer hosts every year for unmated wolves from each pack to come together and hopefully find their mate. For the last two years, we have not been going on my account because I was still a fairly new alpha. The thing is, I don't want to find my mate. I've heard how possessive and protective they are over their mates and I don't want to have to give up my pack to go and live in theirs.

"It's necessary we attend this year, Alpha. To be able to get an understanding of the other packs," Sawyer announces from across the table.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Opening up my eyes again I'm met with everyone watching me, waiting for a response.

"We will be attending the Mating Ball this year-round. Is there anything else to discuss?" I ask. No one speaks so I dismiss the meeting and head upstairs to my room.

My room was mostly grey with white and black accents throughout. I plop onto my bed and let out an exhausted groan. I then feel the bed slightly dip and I already know who it is so I don't even lookup.

"Hi Leo," I mumble to the small child perched on my bed.

"Hi," he giggles.

I look up and rest my head on my arms in front of me. "What are you up to buddy?" I question, as I haven't seen him all day.

"Nothing, I was just playing outside," he says while he crawls onto my back and lies his head on my back. He sticks his head in the crook of my neck and inhales deeply.

"Did you eat dinner?" I ask. I feel him nod. "What did you eat?"

"Dinosaur nuggets," he cheers. He's been obsessed with dinosaurs lately so one of the cooks bought some of the ones you stick in the oven and that's all he eats now, but I get a few veggies in here and there.

"How about you go and bother Sawyer for a while before bed?" I suggest. He immediately gets off of me and gets off the bed and goes out the door at the mention of Sawyer's name. I drag myself into the bathroom and start the shower.

It was a large walk-in shower with grey tiling on the wall and floor. I stepped into the shower, tilted my head back, and sighed. I lather my hair with my shampoo, enjoying the lavender scent. I rinse my hair and let my head fall under the water, letting my shoulder relax, feeling the hot water cascade down my back. I finish my shower and dry off. I walk out into my room and into my closet. The racks were filled with mostly earthy tones with a few pops of color here and there. I reach into a drawer and grab a pair of black and white plaid print pajama pants, and a cropped black tank top.

I walk out to my bed and lay down under the covers. I slowly drift off to, yet another, sleepless night.