But instead of explaining all that to Harlan and sounding like he was giving a sermon, Noble simply said, “We’ll always be a pack. Argus just has to find his way.”

The bus had crested the last rise in the roadway and was now bearing down on them. They’d be on it in minutes.

“Hey!” a voice cried from the end of the drive near the house.

They all turned to see Argus running toward them.

“Like I said,” Harlan commented smugly. “We are four. Always have been. Always will be.”

“Good to see you,” Noble said as Argus arrived. “We were wondering if you’d ever be coming back.”

Argus was all smiles, but his grin seemed strained somehow, as if he were putting on a brave face. “Are you kiddin’ me? I wouldn’t leave you guys for anything. I just needed, well, some time to think, you know.”

“Did you talk to Phelan?”

“I did.”

“And what did you learn?”

“That he’s a little too wild for my liking.”

That much was true, Noble thought. Even though Phelan was probably closer to what their real parents had been like, he was too far removed from what they’d become to be thought of as family. But that was his opinion, Argus had to make his own decisions and come to his own realizations. Of course, Phelan might not have wanted Argus hanging around…In the end, Noble decided that it didn’t matter what had happened in the forest. Argus had returned to them and that was all that was important.

“Besides,” Argus said, making light of the situation to save face with his brothers and sister. “We’re a team. And no matter how disappointing it might seem, you guys are stuck with me for life, so you better get used to it.”

Tora was the first one to step forward. “I’m not disappointed,” she said, putting her arms around him and giving him a hug. “I’m glad.”

Harlan welcomed his brother back into the pack.

The bus pulled to a stop and the doors opened.

Noble joined in with the rest. It felt good to be together.

“Uh, I hate to break up this feel-good moment,” said the bus driver, “but I have a schedule to keep.”

The pack separated and stepped onto the bus without another word.

* * *

At school Tora left her brothers and hurried off on her own. Michael Martin had gotten a ride from his father and was waiting for her in the library. She put her things in her locker, took what she needed for the morning classes, and hurried off to meet him.

Michael was sitting at a table in the corner with the play book open in front of him.

“The bus just arrived,” she said. “Have you been here long?”

He shook his head. “Twenty minutes. Maybe less.”

“Sorry.”