He looked up at Sweet, but as he did she turned and padded away, her face unreadable. Lucky felt a pang of sadness as he watched her go. Couldn’t she even bear to speak to him now? Perhaps Beta shouldn’t be seen discussing Pack business with Omega. He hoped she wouldn’t make too much of Wiggle’s mistake when she reported to Alpha.

On the other side of the camp, Bella stood up and padded toward him, throwing a look at the big water-dog as she and the puppies rounded behind the pine trees and disappeared from view.

“I saw what that pup did. It looked painful,” she said. She leaned over to inspect the bite, but he pulled away from her. The swift movement sent a shot of pain through Lucky’s neck and he struggled not to wince or yelp.

“He was only playing,” said Lucky defensively. “He didn’t mean anything by it.”

Bella whined uncertainly. “He can already cause damage and he’s only a play-fighting pup. What will happen when he and the others have deadly weapons in their mouths? Don’t you remember the Dog-Garden?” She shuddered, her ears twitching.

“They’re still young, Bella. We can raise them in the right way. We can teach them to be careful. Just because they’re Fierce Dogs, that doesn’t mean—”

A howl cut through his words, immediately followed by a volley of distressed barks. Lucky’s heart lurched. He bolted toward the river with Bella at his side, in the direction of the sounds. Other dogs had also heard and were tearing across the camp. Lucky saw the flash of Mickey’s black-and-white pelt and the patchwork of Dart’s mottled coat. By the time he and Bella reached the riverbank, half of the Pack was already there, although Alpha was not among them.

Lucky could hardly believe his eyes—gentle Martha was facing off against Moon, spit frothing at her jowly lips. The Fierce Dog pups were lined up behind her, Lick and Wiggle looking tense and fearful, while Grunt snarled and gnashed his teeth. Lucky saw that he had short white fangs, just like Wiggle’s.

Hostile scents tingled Lucky’s nose. He had never seen Martha like this and it disturbed him. And where were Moon’s pups? He could smell them; they had to be close.

Bella, Mickey, and the other dogs were still as they watched the standoff.

“They’re little savages!” Moon growled. “Look what that one did to her!” She glared accusingly at Grunt.

Lucky crept around Martha and Moon. He spotted Squirm crouching by a tawny bush. She whimpered pathetically as her litter-brother, Nose, nuzzled her, his eyes leaping fretfully to the Fierce Dog pups.

Lucky’s stomach churned with nerves. “What happened?”

Moon turned her eyes on him. “That vicious little Grunt attacked my Squirm for no reason at all!”