And then, to everyone’s surprise, Noble—who had up till now been lying motionless, listening—struggled to sit up in bed. “Argus is right,” he wheezed. “The people around here know there’s something special about the forest, and they know there’s something special about us, too.” Phyllis held a glass to his lips and he sipped some water. “But that’s as far as they’re willing to go right now. They’re not quite sure about us … and maybe they’re a little bit afraid.” A pause, while Noble caught his breath. “In a few more years—after we’ve proven ourselves and shown them that there’s nothing to be afraid of—then maybe they’ll accept us for who and what we are. I don’t know when that time will come, but I know it’s not now. Not today.” Phyllis gave him another sip of water. “Today, we hold onto our secret until we have no other choice but to let it go.”

The room was silent.

No one said a word. No one needed to.

Noble slumped back on the bed, exhausted. He had spoken for them all, summing up all the good in people, and the hope the pack held for the future.

“Well, that’s enough excitement for one day,” Phyllis said, pulling the covers over Noble’s shoulders. She turned to the rest of them. “All right now, let’s get out of here before he decides to run for mayor.”

Everyone smiled at that, as much in response to Phyllis’s joke as in relief that Noble was obviously feeling better.

As they left the bedroom, Argus asked, “Who’s up for a run?”

It was just the thing the pack needed after a stressful day at school.

“I’m in,” said Harlan. “Me too,” echoed Tora.

“I’d love to,” said Ranger Brock. “But how would you three keep up with me?”

Chapter 13

Maria Abruzzo crouched behind a tree and checked that her camera was working. It was after dinner and it was already dark—the sun set so early in December but the camera had a nighttime setting that would help her take a picture without a flash. That was important to her because she didn’t want them to know she was taking their picture. A camera flash in the darkness would surely give her away, and then the Brock freaks would come after her looking to destroy her camera…maybe even her.

“I’m cold,” said a small, weak voice a short distance behind Maria.

“Shhhh!” Maria said, turning around and putting a finger to her lips. “I told you to be quiet.”