A Pack Divided Read Online Free PDF Page B

Bella was true: Tiredness weighed on the nape of her neck like a stone, and she felt a wave of it wash through her as she trod heavily through the entrance of the hunters’ den. Her nest of leaves had never looked so welcoming, yet she wouldn’t be in it for long before the Sun-Dog rose.
    It was only when she had curled into it, and her eyelids had almost closed, that the vague, nagging question at the back of her skull finally took shape in her mind. But she was right on the verge of sleep, and just as she thought it, she began to tumble over the edge into blissful unconsciousness. . . .
    What were Bella and Arrow doing out there?

CHAPTER FOUR
    Storm was surprised at how fresh and awake she felt as she bounded through the woods with the hunting party the next day. It was good to stretch her muscles properly, to feel the tiredness of the previous night fall away with the touch of the cool breeze in her fur.
    I won’t think about that dream. I won’t think about waking up on cold rock, far from my den. That was in the past; now she was hunting in a team led by Lucky, and she was determined to make a good showing for him. The air was cool and crisp and sunlight dappled the forest floor, betraying the scuttle and rush of small prey. It was going to be a good day.
    The weasel in front of her was fast, but she was faster. Her paws pounded through drifted leaves as she raced to intercept the flash of red fur. It was panicking, darting this way and that insearch of escape, but she was too experienced to let it slip away. Lucky was driving it toward her, with Bruno and Breeze, and Bella was out at her flank in case it shot away in a sudden diversion; all she had to do was wait for the weasel to come within reach of her jaws. She could trust Lucky, she thought as she halted and crouched behind a grass tussock.
    There was her Beta now, muscles stretching under his golden fur as he raced after the prey. Storm forced herself to stay still and low in the shadow of her tussock; she didn’t need to use up all her energy by pouncing for her prey. She could wait for it to come to her. It was as good as dead.
    And then Lucky’s head jerked abruptly up, his nostrils flaring to scent the air. As his pawsteps faltered, the weasel took its chance. It shot to the side, not yet near enough to Storm’s snapping jaws, and darted into the trees. With a flicker of red fur, it was gone.
    Breeze skidded to a halt, raising her head to give a howl of frustration and anger. Storm rose to all fours, disbelieving. He let it get away! It’s just like the hunt with Whisper and Arrow! But this is Lucky. . . .
    Does he hate hunting with me? The notion crawled inside her skull like a biting insect, making her nape prickle with horror. Lucky hesitated. He didn’t drive the weasel to me. Doesn’t he trust me?
    She almost didn’t dare look at her Beta, but when she did, Lucky wasn’t watching her. He seemed to be paying her no attention at all; he was turning, searching the landscape as if he was hunting for something besides a weasel. And none of the other dogs wore hostile expressions; they all looked just as confused as Storm felt.
    Bella gave a yip of bemusement. “Beta, what’s going on?”
    â€œHush, Bella.” Lucky’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the trees. “Don’t you smell it?”
    The other dogs glanced at one another, then Bella shrugged and began to sniff at the shifting breeze. Bruno and Breeze tipped their heads back and joined in. There was something, thought Storm as a tang of something rich and dark tickled her nostrils.
    â€œDeer?” Bruno echoed her suspicions aloud.
    â€œNot very fresh deer-scent,” said Breeze, with a thoughtful wrinkle of her muzzle.
    â€œIt’s probably long gone,” sighed Bella.
    All the same, Storm found herself licking her chops. It had been a long time since any of the Pack had tasted the warm flavor of deer, had filled their