Wolf Call

by Rachel M. Raithby

Zach has spent years burying the past—the night he was bitten, and the chaos that nearly destroyed his family. He has found peace within Dark Shadow—purpose, family, and control over the wolf he never asked for. But when the man who turned him returns claiming ownership, Zach’s world fractures. Neil isn’t just back… he’s building a pack of his own, forged through fear, force, and stolen lives.

Ashley wakes in that same world: healed from an attack she can barely understand and trapped behind bars. Monsters lurk in the shadows, a wolf stirs beneath her skin, and reality blurs at the edges. Her human life, the fragile normality she clings to—feels impossibly far away. And every day, that distance grows. Yet, in the confusion and fear, there is Zach — calm, steady, and disarmingly familiar.

As Neil’s violent pack closes in, Ashley must decide whether to embrace the wolf she fears or cling to a human life that may no longer exist. And Zach must walk a razor’s edge between obedience and rebellion, knowing that any misstep could cost them both their freedom… or their lives.

A story of survival, found family, and fierce loyalty —Wolf Call is a gripping return to the New Dawn world.

ebook

First published March 1, 2026

About the author

Rachel M. Raithby started her writing career in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. She draws her inspiration from the many places she has lived and traveled, as well as from her love of the paranormal and thriller movies. She can often be found hiding out with a good book or writing more fast-paced and thrilling stories where love always conquers all. A Brit who has lived in many places, she now resides in a small town in New Zealand, with her dog, three cats and four children.

Reviews

[Kathy Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book for so long. But I also understand life happens. I'm glad the author has had some time off for her family. This book can be read as a standalone. Once you read it I would encourage you to go back and start at the beginning of A New Dawn with Winter Wolf. It's one of my favorites! And this series is unique in that two packs actually become one that's briefly explained because it's already happened by the time of this book. Okay, so Zac who was bitten by a wolf was left to fend for himself by his monster of an alpha named Niel. Zac's family immediately seeks help for him. Zac has a sister that's a veterinarian. That helps because she can sedate him & help get him to other wolf shifters. Zac turns out to be a really strong wolf. He could almost be an alpha. Because of that he can choose a different alpha than Niel who turned him. Zac finds a great pack. He is able to work a job flipping hamburgers at a dinner around humans. And he likes protecting the pack. The women, children, & less dominant wolves. Plus you never know when another pack will attack.

Niel is the worst alpha ever! He hunts humans who he believes need a purpose & he thinks will not be missed by anyone. But he was wrong about Zac & he's wrong about Ashley. Neil has been stalking Ashley & because her mom's in a psych ward her dad is too busy working & visiting his wife to even communicate or stop by the house. He rarely checks to see if she made it home or if there's food in the house. Neil makes his move & attacks Ashley by biting her. He lets her go home so he can watch to see if she can survive the change. Ashley wakes up & runs downstairs on 4paws. She thinks she's going crazy like her mom. Neil and some of his pack kidnap her & take to their pack territory. To confuse her she is blind folded. Held in a cage. She spends most of her time in human form but transforms to sleep. Ashley has no will to live

Zac is taken off guard when he is ambushed by Neil when he's supposed to be protecting a friend's wolf cub. In order to save them he goes with him willingly. But Neil holds grudges so he kidnaps the mom & wolf cub to get Zac to do as he's told. When they awake in a basement with boarded up windows & I special cages they discover Ashley in her shifted form. Zac is taken with Ashley to numerous locations until they arrive at Neil's compound. Zac soon realizes that Ashley is his mate. He has to protect her. But Ashley hates what she's become & wants nothing to do with this new life. In Neil's pack you fight daily for dominance. If you don't he'll kill you. Can Zac save them both? And what happens when Zac finds out what Neil is really doing?

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW it's great to be back in this world

Well the wait was worth it!

I Loved being back inside Ms. Raithby's New Dawn Novels world, The Dark Shadow pack and the dynamics within pack life.

As stated by the author, this could be read as a standalone, but hopefully new readers will be hooked into the characters and the world of Dark Shadow and of course the neighboring Allied pack River Run.

Zac has been a favorite character from the series for me, and now he's a young man on the cusp of adulthood.

His dad's worried he's not really achieving anything in his life (the normal human stuff like career etc) but all Zac wants is to be a Protector of the pack, to keep the people he cares about safe, he loves his pack life, the balance between his wolf and human side finally equal. Life is good.

But the storyline soon heats up when Neil the Alpha who turned Zac finds him, an Alpha who has lost all his humanity, Neil runs his pack by fear alone, obey or die, only the strongest survive.
When Zac is captured he goes with Neil to keep his pack mates safe, knowing he will find a way out - eventually, or die trying.

But what he didn't expect to find was another captive, Ashley who has been bitten and kidnapped by Neil and who is lost and confused surrounded by 'monsters'. Zac's Wolf recognizes his mate, but Ashley is battling to accept her new reality, she won't accept the wolf inside her, she thinks she's going crazy.
Zac helps her cope and try to understand the new world she's been thrust into, but also walking a fine line between keeping her and himself alive by appeasing Neil's requests, and figuring out how to escape before he loses his humanity from the tasks Neil sets him to ensure her safety.

From one page to the next, I was with Zac and Ashley as they navigate surviving and the mating bond that they both feel. Zac is all in, but understands Ashley's reluctance to understand its meaning.

In this book Ms. Raithby explores the dark side of a shifters pack, where morals, loyalty and compassion are missing.

There's plenty of action, danger and of course the connection between Zac and Ashley, but I'll leave you to read and enjoy the story yourself.

The book ends at a point where the danger is not over, but where Zac and Ashley are happy... I was so glad there wasn't a cliffhanger ending. But I hope there's another New Dawn Novel out soon... As I need to know what happens next.

Grab your copy now.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHE’S BACKKKKKKK

This book was a heartbreakingly beautiful love story from beginning to end. This book has a raw, powerful intensity, but what really made it unforgettable was the emotional depth between the characters Zac and Ash. Their connection felt fierce, tender, and completely consuming.

The romance was written so beautifully, with just the right mix of passion, longing, and pain. It pulled me in right away and kept me emotionally invested the entire time. There were moments that made my heart ache, moments that made me hopeful, and scenes that stayed with me long after I finished reading.

If you love wolf shifters, emotional romance, and stories that leave a lasting mark on your heart, this one is definitely worth reading. It was beautifully written, deeply moving, and impossible to forget.

[Alice Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

Such a great book series, I'm so glad she continued on it and I hope there's more to come 😀