Alpha gave a curt nod. “He may be all those things, Beta, but this Pack is at full strength. We don’t need another dog.”

“Moon will be nursing her pups for at least another full journey of the Moon-Dog. We are one good fighter short. Lucky could take Moon’s place on patrols, and Spring could go back to hunting. Then you can judge for yourself what kind of Pack member Lucky’ll make.”

Slowly Alpha nodded again. “You talk sense as usual, Beta.” She dipped her head in acknowledgment as Alpha went on. “And if you vouch for this City Dog, then he can stay for now.” The cold eyes swiveled to Lucky, and Alpha’s lip peeled back from his teeth. “But he must prove himself of use. If he does not succeed, we can still throw him out—with a beating for his impudence. What does the Pack say?”

Lucky watched the Wild Pack as they reacted to Alpha’s decision. Despite their earlier fierceness, Dart and Twitch looked at each other and their tails quivered in agreement.

“We can use another Patrol Dog,” Twitch said.

Spring muttered something Lucky didn’t hear, shaking her head a little.

“I say welcome,” said the small tan-and-white female beside Fiery.

“Well said, Snap,” said Twitch.

Fiery stayed silent, though his face showed he wasn’t at all convinced. Mulch was looking away, as if he couldn’t trust himself not to earn another whack from the big dog.

Lucky let out a breath for what felt like the first time since he had arrived in the clearing, lowering his head humbly. “Thank you, Alpha.”

“You’ll join the Pack in the place everyone does: at the bottom, superior only to Omega. Your immediate commander is Twitch.” The dog-wolf jerked his head at the limping black-and-tan dog. A smug look crossed Twitch’s face.

“As you say, Alpha.” Lucky faked gratitude by lowering his head even more. He had anticipated that he would join the Pack with low status, but to be placed at the very bottom—above only the Omega—was nevertheless a surprise.

He couldn’t help glancing at Sweet. He couldn’t think of her as Beta. He’d picked up plenty of information about the way Packs worked over the years, from Wild Dogs who came into the city, but it seemed there was still a lot he didn’t understand. It was strange to realize that. He’d gotten so used to being the one in the Leashed Pack who knew about the wild . . . but he was still a City Dog who’d never had to think about rank or status before.

Still, his status was something he could work on. He was smarter than Twitch—and Mulch too, he suspected—and he was sure he could swiftly rise to something better in the hierarchy.

Something closer to Sweet’s rank . . .

“While you’re all gathered . . .” Alpha’s bark became brusque and practical. “Make sure you keep your eyes open for that pathetic gang of Leashed Dogs. I don’t want them regrouping and trying another attack. If you see them, chase them off. If they won’t be chased, kill them. Understood?”