Standing by Alpha’s side, Sweet and Moon barked in support. Lucky felt his heartbeat quicken. What had happened while he had been in the forest? How had a simple case of play-fighting getting out of hand turned into this?

“If a pup can attack another pup without any reason,” Fiery growled, his lips curling back in anger, “what will he do once he’s a full-grown Fierce Dog?”

“The black cloud was an omen!” Dart put in. “Don’t you remember that awful day? The sky screamed, and then it came! And soon after that, they came!”

There was a bark of agreement from Moon.

Alpha raised his muzzle and the other dogs fell silent. “I was willing to give the three pups a chance despite my reservations, but they are showing all the violence and anger we have come to expect of their kind. Soon they will cause real damage. It will not be long before their fangs are long and their bodies powerful—every dog here will be at risk.”

“Sorry, Alpha, but I think that’s unfair.” It was Martha. “It’s true; the pups are strong, but they will learn how to control themselves in time. They are not cruel or violent by nature—and they are all very sorry about what happened.”

Bella barked in agreement but Lucky was quiet.

What Martha said is true of Wiggle and Lick, he thought, but what about Grunt? He remembered the pup’s expression during the confrontation between Martha and Moon. He had not looked sorry. . . .

Lucky shook himself. It wasn’t fair to be hard on the pup—not after everything he had been through. Grunt’s first experience in this world was the death of his Mother-Dog. The very first feelings he felt were grief and anger that he could not explain. There is still time for him to learn how to handle his emotions. He does not have to grow up into a bad dog.

Alpha stretched his long forelegs. “We have to find out the truth of their natures. We need to be sure that the pups won’t grow up to tear us all to shreds in our sleep.”

Most of the Pack growled their agreement at this—even Leashed Dogs like Daisy and Sunshine.

“All dogs have the ability to be aggressive when they think their lives are in danger,” Lucky said. “Hasn’t every dog in this Pack gone to great lengths to ensure their own survival?”