She sniffed at him. “What is it, Lucky?”

He dipped his head slightly in a gesture of respect. “I want to make a challenge, Beta.”

Sweet sat back on her haunches. Raising an elegant hind leg she scratched long and painstakingly at her ear, then sat still again, studying his eyes. “Very well,” she said crisply. “Who do you wish to fight?”

“Snap,” Lucky told her.

There was a hint of an amused gleam in Sweet’s soft eyes.

“Good luck,” she said with a huffing laugh, and she stood on all four paws and surveyed the clearing. “Packmates! Hear me!”

Surprise and curiosity showed in the dogs’ faces as they hushed and turned to face her. Ears pricked and tails thumped expectantly.

“Lucky the City Dog challenges Snap the hunter,” announced Sweet simply.

Snap’s eyes widened as she rolled onto her front. “He does?”

Lucky padded forward from Sweet’s side, and dipped his head politely toward Snap.

She gave a small, sharp bark. “You’re in a hurry to challenge, new dog.”

Is it that obvious? Lucky wondered, as he heard an amused whine on the other side of the camp. “The City Dog must be tired of living.” It was Mulch.

Lucky ignored him and gave Snap a gruff bark. “I want to rise in this Pack. I may as well start now.”

Snap’s reply was a silky growl. “You won’t rise too far. But every dog is free to try.”

Glancing back, Lucky saw nothing in Alpha’s eyes but cynical amusement. Alpha was so far above the others, Lucky realized, their petty challenges meant nothing to him—except perhaps as entertainment.

“Fight me, then.” Snap rose and stood squarely before Lucky, her muscles tight as drawn-back branches, white teeth bared.

Her eyes were bright and hard and unafraid, Lucky realized, wondering if he’d bitten off more than he could gnaw. But it was too late to turn back now, and besides, it was a risk he was always going to have to take. He curled back his own muzzle as his hackles stiffened.

Sweet stepped forward, her tail high and her muzzle raised. “Before we begin, do you both understand the consequences? That if Lucky wins, he will join the hunters in Snap’s place?”

Lucky said, “Yes,” at the same time that Snap growled, “It will not happen!”

“May the Sky-Dogs look with blessing on your combat!” Sweet barked formally. “May your fight be fair, and may the outcome be favored by the Spirit Dogs. When the battle is done, we all remain Packmates. And we all shall protect the Pack!”

Just when Lucky thought Sweet’s proclamation might go on forever, the swift-dog closed her muzzle. Thank the Sky-Dogs there was nothing more for her to say, he thought. I’m nervous enough as it is!

“On my word.” Sweet sat down, studying each dog for a long moment. “Now—fight!”

They sprang, claws raking for each other’s weak spots: noses, ears, eyes. Snap was a tan-and-white blur, moving quickly, her ears perked forward and her tail curling over her back. She cannoned into Lucky, slamming the breath from his body, and making them roll over and over. She was trying to beat him with shock before they even started, he thought, but that wasn’t going to work. Springing back to his paws, he flung her off and circled her warily.