Alpha stared down his long nose at the pups, then raised his head to meet Martha’s eye. “Very well,” he spat. “They can remain here. . . .” His yellow eyes settled on Lucky. “But they will be your responsibility.”

“So we can stay with you?” Wiggle yipped, creeping out from beneath Martha’s belly to nuzzle Lucky’s leg. Martha sighed with relief and Mickey nosed Grunt and Lick protectively.

Lucky never took his eyes off Alpha. “So . . . does that mean . . . ?”

“You will be tolerated for the time being,” Alpha barked. “You will return to being Omega—but you will also have the task of training and teaching the Fierce Dog pups, making sure they grow up to become loyal, obedient dogs who can serve the Pack—and not savage monsters who will kill us all while we sleep.”

“That will never happen,” Lucky promised.

“It’s a hard life, being Omega,” Whine smirked, his short tail thrashing. “Are you sure you’re up to the job, City Dog?”

Lucky swallowed his annoyance. He would suffer the indignity of being Omega if this was Alpha’s price for allowing the pups to stay.

The half wolf turned and strode away. Lucky watched him as he made for a knoll covered by spongy green moss and stretched out in the sunshine, rolling onto his side with a yawn.

He was doing his best to save face, but Lucky wondered if his leadership had been dented since the dark cloud after all.

Have the others realized that he is scrabbling for a foothold in this world without longpaws, just like the rest of us?

Lucky turned to the pups, who had gathered between Martha and Mickey.

“Good news,” he told them.

“But they don’t want us,” Lick whined.

“They think we’re dangerous,” Wiggle agreed.

Martha lowered her head and washed them with her tongue. The pups nuzzled against her and Lucky was touched. He saw how they were drawn to her—perhaps she reminded them of their Mother-Dog. Even Grunt yipped happily and nuzzled her leg with his short snout.

“You will be well looked after,” Martha assured them. She turned slowly, making for her den, and the pups tumbled after her. He watched them for a moment. Perhaps everything was going to work out after all.

Then his gaze fell on Sweet, who was sitting nearby, washing one elegant paw, a strange expression on her face as she peered at him. Was she sad . . . or angry? Lucky’s ears drooped and he cocked his head at her, but the swift-dog looked away, twisting around to groom her tail.

Lucky turned to a nudge from Bella. He hadn’t noticed her approaching. Her pink tongue lolled in her panting mouth and she reached forward to lick his nose, but he backed away.