A Pack Divided Read Free Page A

frustration and anger. Behind her, Arrow and Snap had drawn up too, snapping their drooling, empty jaws.
    As Whisper bounded to a faltering, shamed halt between them, Storm turned on him.
    â€œWhy did you do that?” she barked furiously. “We lost two good rabbits!” And more , she realized. In the confusion of Whisper’s mangled hunting attempt, several other rabbits had reached the safety of their warren.
    â€œThat was the fattest rabbit!” added Arrow in an angry snarl. “Those two would have fed three dogs between them!”
    â€œWhat were you thinking? Were you thinking at all ?” Storm laid her ears back and growled furiously at Whisper.
    The dog ducked his head, lowering his forequarters and shuffling forward, his tail clamped down tight. He looked as if he wanted to sink right through the earth and join the rabbits underground.
    â€œI’m sorry, Storm,” he whined miserably, blinking and flattening his ears. “I didn’t mean to . . . I thought . . . I just meant . . .”
    Storm gave her head a violent shake. “ What? What did you mean?”
    â€œI—” Whisper’s glance flicked quickly toward Arrow, then back to the ground.
    â€œDon’t be hard on him, Storm.” Snap took a pace forward, and nodded at the unhappy Whisper.
    Storm turned to her, surprised at the hunt dog’s tolerance. “He spoiled your hunt too, Snap.”
    â€œLook, Storm, it’s obvious.” Snap tilted her head and sat down, curling her tail around her haunches. “Whisper was nervous of Arrow. He doesn’t like hunting with him, and to be honest? I understand why. I don’t blame Whisper.”
    Storm stared at Snap’s cool expression, her jaw loose. “What?”
    â€œAfter all we went through with the Fierce Dogs, it’s hard for us to trust any of them.” Snap hunched her thin shoulders. “I know Arrow’s in our Pack now, but it’s hard to treat him as a true Packmate.”
    Not knowing what to say to that, Storm turned to Arrow. His short black fur bristled along his shoulders and spine, andresentment oozed from him, but the Fierce Dog said nothing. He licked his jaws angrily, and looked away. Then he padded across to one of the dead rabbits, picked it up in his powerful jaws and paced in the other direction.
    And what do I do now? Snap wasn’t being fair, and this felt so wrong to Storm. Just when I was thinking how good it was that we were united, that members of all Packs were working together.
    But if she spoke up for Arrow, Snap would think she was only siding with her fellow Fierce Dog. She might even accuse Storm openly of favoring her own kind, of being Fierce Dog to her core. What might she say aloud—that I’m ruled by my bad blood?
    â€œYou all trust me,” she said at last, staring at her Pack-mates. Snap, Mickey, and Whisper looked so resolute, and Storm’s head spun with confusion. “You trust me, and I’m a Fierce Dog too. Just like Arrow!”
    Mickey caught Snap’s eye, and Storm saw a look pass between them, one that she couldn’t quite read. Snap’s ear flicked once, dismissively. Then, tentatively, Whisper gave a soft growl.
    â€œYou’re not like Arrow,” he mumbled. “You’re different.” He glanced at Snap and Mickey. “Storm’s different, isn’t that right? She killed Blade!”
    Storm stared at him, open-jawed. With a crawling sense ofhorror, she realized that Whisper’s eyes were fixed on her again, worshipful.
    She shook herself, dumbfounded. “Let’s gather the prey,” she told them. “What there is of it.” Gazing dismally at the pitiful haul of rabbits, she felt a crushing sense of disappointment. Her hopes had been so high for her first time as hunt leader. “We’ll try another spot before we return to the camp, but we’ll have to go some distance. All the prey around