Secrets of the Wolves Read Online Free PDF

considering the risks of your actions.”
    Kivdru lowered his eyes.
    The Greatwolf Jandru, who had been silent since Zorindru entered the clearing, stepped forward. I held my breath. He and Frandra, as the Greatwolves responsible for the Swift River pack, were accountable for our actions. They had stood with us against the other Greatwolves. But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t turn against us, as they had at autumn’s end.
    “You know we have to do something, Kivdru,” he said. “I don’t like using this pup any more than you do. She’s reckless and disrespectful. But the humans no longer listen to our ambassadors, and we must find another way to remind them that they are part of the natural world and not creatures apart from all others.”
    “As we have discussed all winter!” Zorindru snapped. “It may be the only way to protect the Balance. If Kaala can succeed, we will have made some progress with the humans. If she fails, we are no worse off than before. We have nothing to lose by trying.”
    “We have everything to lose!” Milsindra snapped back. I was glad that Zorindru stood between me and her teeth. “You know that it is the Greatwolves who are supposed to watch over the humans! You know that, Zorindru.” There was a challenge in her gaze when she stared at the ancient Greatwolf, as if she was daring him to say or do something. This time, it was Zorindru who shifted uncomfortably. When he said nothing, Milsindra gave a small, satisfied grunt. Something had been communicated between the two of them, and I didn’t know what. Behind me, Ázzuen whuffed impatiently, as he did when he wanted to ask a question about something and couldn’t.
    “We are the ones to guard the humans,” Milsindra continued. “It is unacceptable to let weak-willed smallwolves take the task. As for this pup, for all we know she is the one come to destroy us all, and we anger the Ancients by letting her live, much less giving her power.”
    I cringed. From the time of my birth, many wolves believed I might be a wolf of legend, born to either save or destroy wolfkind. It was because of my mixed blood. For generations, the Greatwolves had forbidden Wide Valley wolves from mating with wolves from outside the valley. They wanted us to keep our bloodlines pure because they were trying to breed smallwolves that were not drawn to the humans. Every few years they would allow a Wide Valley wolf to mate outside the valley so that our bloodlines would remain strong and we would not have deformed pups, but no wolf could do so without their permission. My father was an Outsider wolf, and my mother did not have permission to have pups with him. It was why Ruuqo had killed my littermates and banished my mother. The legends tell us that someday a mixed-blood wolf will be born to be wolfkind’s savior or its destroyer, and that the mixed-blood wolf will have the mark of the crescent moon upon it. I have just such a mark, with the bottom of the moon beginning near the top of my forelegs and the top opening up to my face. It’s not an unusual mark for a wolf, but all wolves with such a mark are carefully watched. That mark, along with my mixed blood, was why Frandra and Jandru had saved me—and why some Greatwolves still wanted me dead.
    Milsindra glared at the ancientwolf and pawed the dirt.
    “It’s stupid, Zorindru, and much too risky.”
    I looked at her in amazement. I couldn’t believe she had just called her leaderwolf stupid.
    “I have heard your concerns, Milsindra, and yours, Kivdru,” Zorindru said. “Which is why the council has agreed to your conditions. But the decision stands. You have seen this young-wolf. I’ve respected your wishes in this. Now return to your territories, or else challenge my leadership and accept the consequences.”
    Milsindra averted her gaze from Zorindru’s and glared at me. “I think you’re trouble, youngwolf,” she said. “I think we should kill you now and save ourselves the trouble of