Before I Wake Novels & Stories

When I wake, I’m in a place I don’t recognize, but the person over me is very familiar. “You…”

A surge of powerful vitality coursed through my entire body; not a single trace of the frail, sluggish exhaustion from my lifelong asthma remained. I lightly turned my wrist, and my watch screen flickered to life: 7:15 PM. My heart nearly skipped a beat. Past seven in the evening? I had slept straight through for over fourteen hours? A wave of panic shot directly to my brain. The flight... The flight banishing me to a foreign country was at 10:00 AM this morning. I had missed it. Nurse Mary hadn't woken me up. I threw off the covers and stumbled toward the bathroom, flicking on the light to splash water on my face and wake myself up. But the moment I looked up, I froze completely at the refl

Roman’s POV I woke up before the sun even thought about rising. The alarm on my phone buzzed softly, pulling me out of a deep sleep. Another work trip. I sighed, rubbing my eyes as I sat up in bed. Serena was still curled up beside me, her breathing steady and peaceful. I didn't want to wake her, not yet. These early mornings were tough, but the job demanded it.

Elvira I woke before dawn, the chill of the early morning seeping through the thin silk of my nightgown. Even in sleep, the night had left a residue of unease clinging to me, and I couldn’t shake it. Today, I knew, would bring truths I wasn’t entirely prepared to face, but I had to. For the pack, for Jaxon, and for myself.

Jade I wake before dawn. Not because I slept badly. Not because I had a nightmare. No. I wake simply because I decided to. No alarm. No noise. Nothing. Just this suspended moment, when the house is still numb. And me, perfectly awake. Lucid. The bed is comfortable. A bit too much. The sheets smell of family laundry, soft, warm, almost maternal. That kind of scent that reassures, that lulls, that makes you believe in a normal life.

she fades away before handing me my gift. I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock. What the hell was that about? I enjoyed my mother's spirit, but she needed to stop vanishing before telling me important things. Turning off the alarm clock, Libby was still asleep. That girl could sleep through anything. Determine not to bother her. I put on some athletic wear to go for a run. Before I could make it out of my room, my stomach started rumbling.

“You’re going to get through this, I believe that. You’ll wake up and be home before you know it. Back home where you belong.” Greg turned away from the bed then and didn’t see the fingers of Bernie’s right hand twitching or the sudden fluttering of his eyelids.

“I need to wake up.” I desperately whisper into the dark before it swallows me.

Amber cried out in pain, instantly drawing all of Jeremy's attention. He turned to me, his voice cold. "Are you satisfied now?" The entire household erupted into chaos as everyone rushed to support Amber, even urgently calling for a doctor. As they were leaving, Christine didn't forget to turn back and scream at me. "You cursed wretch!" I stood in place until my legs went numb before finally making my way to the maid's room. The exhaustion, both physical and emotional, crushed me completely. I collapsed onto the narrow single bed and fell into a deep sleep.

I exhale and close my eyes. Sleep. That’s what I need. I’ll wake her up in an hour. Maybe.