Lucky’s breath caught in his throat. Daisy and the pups! He spun around, looking Alpha in the eye. “I know this wasn’t part of the plan, but we must wake Daisy! She and the pups are in terrible danger!”

He made a move toward the white ridge but Alpha leaped ahead, blocking Lucky with his broad, wolfish body.

“You’re not going anywhere!” the dog-wolf snarled.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

Lucky tried to push past Alpha, but a paw sent him reeling back. “We have to help them! Don’t you understand? What’s wrong with you?”

The horror made Lucky’s heart thump through his chest. There wasn’t a moment to waste!

The wolf-dog gave a cruel laugh. “This has worked out even better than I’d hoped. Now we’ll see what the Fierce Dog pups are really made of. Let them face this challenge alone.”

“No, I—” Lucky began, but Alpha gave such a ferocious snarl that his words dried up.

“That wasn’t a request, City Dog. That was an order.” His yellow gaze traveled over Lucky’s back at the retreating giantfur as it plunged through the foliage. Alpha’s eyes lit up. “We’ll see the true nature of those Fierce Dogs.” His gaze came back to settle on Lucky. “Are you worried that their nature is a savage one?”

Lucky shook his coat and glared at Alpha. “What worries me is whether they will live or die.” He hadn’t felt so helpless in a long while. Had he rescued the pups just so that he could stand by and watch as they were mauled?

The giantfur trod heavily toward the white ridge. Before the beast had reached the two rocks where the dogs had settled to rest, Daisy’s small face poked out, eyes wild with fear. The giantfur paused, turning its head this way and that, sniffing the air. Lucky noticed the long, jagged claws at the end of each huge paw.

Don’t challenge him, Daisy! Lucky willed. His eyes flicked up to the sky. Which Spirit Dog could protect Daisy and the pups? He sent a silent message: Spirit Dogs. Dogs of the day and of the night; dogs of water and of earth; please protect my friends. I beg you!

Grunt suddenly appeared at Daisy’s side, growling at the giantfur, his short tail standing upright.

“Get back!” Daisy ordered, but the pup ignored her, standing by her side as Lick and Wiggle huddled just behind them.

Watching from a distance, Lucky pleaded with Alpha. “We have to help them! We can’t leave them to face this danger alone!”

“Yes, we can,” Alpha snarled, square on to Lucky. “I’ve told you. This is an important test for the savage pups.”