“And their leader?” prompted Sweet.

“She will be Omega,” growled Alpha. “Do you know what that means, pet dogs? She will fetch and carry for the Pack, take all orders without complaining, and if she has any time to sleep she’ll be in the Omega den, drafty and damp. That can be justice for Mulch. When a full turn of the Moon-Dog has passed, she can challenge if she likes. If she survives that long.”

Bella stood up, her hackles raising. Lucky’s fur shivered. Was she deciding whether to fight after all? Around her, her Pack muttered and whined.

“Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with,” said Martha.

Bruno growled: “Show them you can survive!”

Lucky longed suddenly to be one of them, to be able to guide and advise them like he used to. Becoming Omega for a turn of the Moon-Dog was Bella’s best hope, he knew. Surely she did, too? But he couldn’t interfere. He didn’t dare.

I’m not one of them. Not openly. Not if I want to live. . . .

This whole battle, everything that had happened, was his fault. He’d agreed to Bella’s suggestion of becoming a spy, not thinking for a moment that she would deceive him. Worse, he’d told Bella about Whine and what a poor patrol dog he’d be; he’d given her the information about when the hunters would be away from the camp. All his spying hadn’t helped Bella and her Pack; all it had done was harm all the dogs, and in the most horrible way. When Bella and her friends made their choice, what would he do?

Will I remain with a larger Pack? Or if they stay separate, will I stick with Bella, or find a new place here with the Wild Pack?

Or will I do what I always meant to do, and strike off alone again?

Bella and Alpha were still staring each other down, but Bella was licking her chops nervously now. At any moment she’d make her choice.

“Well?” sneered Alpha. “The decision’s yours, Bella the Leashed Dog.”

“Wait,” barked a new voice.

Lucky took a breath, startled. As all the dogs turned, the pudgy dog who’d gotten Lucky into this mess trotted forward, head and tail high, an expression of cocky vindictiveness on his snub-nosed face.

“Don’t decide anything yet, Alpha.” Whine sat down, tilting his head at Lucky.

Sweet snapped her teeth at him. “Who are you to interfere, Whine? If Bella rejects our offer you’ll be back to Omega, and don’t you forget it.”

“Oh, but I have something interesting to tell you.” Whine’s tongue lolled as his mouth stretched in a wide grin. “Alpha needs to know this, before he takes any new dogs into our Pack. You see that City Dog?”

Alpha glanced at Lucky, irritated, and back at Whine. “What about him?”

Lucky’s heart was frozen in his chest. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Whine was watching him closely, licking his teeth. Lucky felt himself shrink, his forequarters ready to bow, ready to beg uselessly for mercy.