Finally, the hunters returned. The other dogs in the Pack rose to greet them, ears pricked and jaws wet with eagerness, and Lucky took the chance to glance around the camp.

Yes, all the dogs were here—all the ones he knew about, at least. Only Moon was out of sight. She had to be with her pups in their cozy nest. With the whole Pack waiting eagerly for food, this would be a perfect time each day for Bella and the Leashed Dogs to creep down unseen to the lake’s far shore. As the undergrowth rustled with the sound of returning dogs, Lucky stored away the knowledge for later, feeling pleased with himself.

Bella’s plan might actually work.

The big brown dog—Fiery—advanced into the center of the clearing and dropped a small corpse of prey. He turned his head, sniffing the air, proudly howling to Moon: “We have mice and voles, rabbits and gophers.” And a fat game bird, Lucky thought, his mouth watering. And a couple of squirrels. Not a bad share for each of us.

Spring dropped her catch onto the pile, growling at the broken body of a rabbit. “That one was slippery,” she panted. “It almost got away.”

Snap gave her ear an affectionate lick. “But you caught it in the end!” Lucky noticed the little dog’s fur was stained with mud and blood.

The hunters joined their friends, sitting down to relax. Spring trotted over proudly to Twitch, her head high, and began telling him about the hunt as the limping dog listened appreciatively, his eyes wide with admiration. Mulch and Dart began to tussle, the long-eared black dog rolling the brown-and-white smaller dog over in the dirt as she snapped irritably at his paws. Lucky’s stomach growled. He was so hungry.

At last, Alpha stalked forward, sniffing approvingly at the prey, and Lucky rose and started eagerly toward the gophers.

He swallowed a yelp when he felt a hard nip on his flank, and turned to see Dart baring her teeth in a warning.

“Not yet!” she growled in a low voice.

Mistake! None of the others had made a move, so Lucky quickly backed down and lay beside Dart and Twitch. “Sorry,” he murmured. “Does Alpha divide the food himself?”

They watched as Alpha selected the plump bird along with the best of the rabbits, and settled himself down to pluck and tear at the prey with his teeth.

Lucky glanced around at the other dogs, but none of them had moved at all. They either lay with their heads on their paws, or sat patiently, with their tails flicking the grass, while Alpha ate his fill. On the other side of the circle, Fiery was deep in conversation with Sweet.

Lucky’s stomach rumbled. “I don’t understand,” he said. “Don’t we all get to eat?”

“One at a time,” said Dart, her eyes glimmering in amusement. “Who in the name of the Moon-Dog taught you manners?”

“It was different in the city,” Lucky grumbled.