He lowered his tail, tilting his head mischievously. “You don’t need any more ordinary dogs, but what about one as strong and fast as me? I catch a good rabbit.”

Alpha yawned widely, showing every one of his teeth. “So does Mulch. And Beta can bring down a deer. But then you know that, don’t you, City Dog? Since you know her so well.”

There was a distinct menace in the dog-wolf’s eyes now. Lucky swallowed, then let his tongue loll. “Seems to me you have a lot of brute force in this Pack. But I am clever. That’s what comes of city life. And I can survive in the wild, too. The Forest-Dog favors me.”

“Is that right?” Alpha rose up on his forepaws, stretching, muscles rippling with malevolence.

Lucky ignored the dog-wolf’s tone. “I can be very useful. I can bring a fresh . . . attitude. I see things differently. That can be helpful in a Pack.”

“Do not tell me what’s good for my Pack,” snapped Alpha, and Lucky took a backward step. He had to tread carefully.

“I would not dream of it,” he said, more meekly. “I was just . . . explaining my experience. The ways I think I can help. You have such a fine Pack here, I want to be part of it.”

Alpha seemed slightly mollified, but the long-eared black dog gave a shrill bark of objection.

“Throw him out, Alpha! He smells wrong. He stinks of longpaws and stone and metal. Chase him away!”

Alpha turned his cold eyes on the black dog. “Mulch,” he growled. “Are you telling me what to do?”

The massive dog called Fiery whacked a paw across Mulch’s head.

Mulch yelped and ducked, backing off. “Of course not, Alpha. I was just—”

“Then keep your jaws shut. Or I will have Fiery give you a proper beating.”

Lucky glanced around at the other dogs who had gathered. It was not only Mulch who cowered, subdued and scared. All of them looked terrified of Alpha, their eyes wary and nervous.

Except for the brutish Fiery. And Sweet.

Because Mulch had not tried to run away, Lucky assumed this was not unusual behavior from Alpha. Despite how harsh and cruel the dog-wolf seemed, none of his followers seemed desperate to leave. Lucky’s old dislike of Packs swelled in him again. The little band of Leashed Dogs traveled together because they wanted to—because they knew one another, liked one another.

What was binding this Pack together?

Lucky’s thoughts shattered like rain on stone when he saw Sweet leap gracefully up onto Alpha’s rock to stand beside the dog-wolf. He did not smack her down or scold her, and she stood with her flanks close to his, proud and strong. If anything, Alpha seemed to stand taller in her presence.

Lucky’s gut twisted with dismay and jealousy. Was Sweet the dog-wolf’s mate?

His horror melted into gratitude, though, as she began to speak.

“I knew Lucky in the city,” she declared. “He was my only Pack when I escaped from the Trap House, and I would be dead if it was not for him. Several times over.” She paused to look at each of the Pack in turn, and let her words sink in. “He is loyal, brave, strong, and smart. He would be a fine member of this Pack. In fact I asked him to join us before. He said no.” She turned her head to watch Lucky, expressionless. “If he has changed his mind, that is a piece of good fortune for us. You should welcome such a dog, not”—she gave Mulch a contemptuous twist of her muzzle—“chase him away.”