Lucky was farther back, half pushing and half dragging the reluctant Grunt. The giantfur dropped to its paws and roared once again, turning its head and rolling back its lips. Its yellow fangs were covered in slobber. Lucky’s heart shuddered with fear as he and Grunt got closer to the forest. The beast’s paws thumped the ground as it gave chase, gaining on them. Then, almost as suddenly as it had turned on the dogs, the beast stopped. Lucky risked a glance back and saw the giantfur sniffing the air. It followed its nose in another direction.

Lucky dropped Grunt and collapsed beneath a tree, his flanks heaving. He turned angrily on the pup. “What were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself killed! And what about the others—don’t you care what happens to them?”

Grunt was unapologetic. “I’m not scared of bullies!” he growled. “You never back down before the enemy!”

Lucky noticed that Grunt’s growl had grown deeper. There was a ruthless look to his eyes that Lucky hadn’t seen before. He’s less of a pup every day.

“You could have gotten us all killed,” Lucky told the pup. He couldn’t believe he needed to say this. “Your behavior was reckless. It’s good not to be scared of bullies, but it is foolish to pick fights with them. The giantfur was bigger than the rest of us put together! You need to think before you go charging in like that. Hasn’t Daisy taught you anything today? Do you think she’s proud of you now?”

Grunt’s eyes shifted to the ground. He at least had the decency to look ashamed. Lucky felt the anger drain out of him. How could he begin to explain to this young dog that he was being manipulated by Alpha—that he had walked into danger only because the half wolf wanted him to?

He sank his head against the grass, closing his eyes and wondering if Alpha could have been right.

Maybe there was no hope for the Fierce Dog pups after all.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A day later, when the Sun-Dog was reaching the highest point in his journey, the Pack assembled in the meadow not far from the sloping hill. The sweet scent of pines and warm earth mingled in the air, lifting on a gentle breeze. Lucky glanced back at the rocks that lined the edges of the forest. He pictured Grunt, Lick, and Wiggle, who were taking a nap in the main part of the cave with Dart watching over them. Lucky had listened as Alpha had instructed her to keep the “vicious Fierce Dogs” away from Nose and Squirm, who were resting in the pup den. He could accept that Grunt had behaved badly and needed to learn his lesson, but to condemn Lick and Wiggle in the same breath seemed deeply unfair.