Storm of Dogs Read Online Free PDF

taking her eyes off the pond. “There is a part of the ceremony that is only between an Alpha and her Beta, a part that no other dog can know about. I did it when I became Beta, and now it’s your turn. You have to swear loyalty to me and vow to serve the Pack as best you can—you must do this before the Sun-Dog returns. If you do, you will begin the new day as my official Beta. Unless . . .” Her head dipped, and her eyes were hooded. She continued in a quiet voice. “Unless you’d rather not be my Beta? It isn’t too late to change your mind.”
    Lucky reached over and licked her ear. “I don’t want to change my mind.”
    She looked up at him. “It’s just . . . you’re hard to figure out sometimes. You can be the bravest dog I’ve ever seen, but you don’t seem to want responsibility. I still remember what you said when we escaped the Trap House, all that stuff about being a Lone Dog.”
    â€œThat was a lifetime ago, Sweet. I’ve changed.” He eased himself down onto his haunches. “Before the Big Growl, I had only myself to answer to, only myself to look after, and I was fine with that. When I met Bella and the Leashed Dogs, all of them looked to meto make decisions, and I started to dread the day when I ran out of answers—when I let them down.” He cleared his throat with a gruff cough. “Some Lone Dog I turned out to be!”
    Sweet rested her head against his neck. Her voice was soft. “Haven’t you learned yet? You were never a Lone Dog, not really—you just hadn’t found your Pack yet. You’ve proven that you want to serve the Pack to the best of your ability. The only question now is, will you be loyal to me, whatever happens?”
    Lucky tried to shift his position so he could look her in the eye, but Sweet’s head was heavy on his neck. Instead he spoke into the darkness. “ Always. You should know that by now. Whatever happens, I will always stand by you.”
    Sweet gave a satisfied sigh. “Thank you, Lucky. I needed to hear that.”
    Then she plunged her fangs into his neck.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Searing pain shot through Lucky. Sweet bit harder, forcing her teeth deeper into his flesh. A choked whine escaped Lucky’s throat, but he was too shocked to move.
    She’s attacking me!
    Sweet lowered her chest against his back, her thin tail curving around Lucky’s flank. He froze beneath her weight, feeling the pressure of her chest as it expanded and relaxed with each breath. His limbs tingled, and he struggled to order his thoughts. Pain surged through the deep punctures in his skin, and his pulse thumped against his ribs. Or was it Sweet’s pulse? They seemed to be thumping to the same beat.
    Feeling flooded back to Lucky’s limbs as Sweet eased her grip. His leg muscles flexed. He could throw her off now, turn on her angrily, but he found he didn’t want to. His bodyrelaxed beneath Sweet’s grip. He hardly noticed the pain in his neck as her warm, soft pelt pressed against his. It felt right to be so close to her. This is where I’m meant to be.
    He felt Sweet’s breathing slow down to the same pace as his. Then she let go of his neck and slipped off his back, stepping around him to meet him face-on.
    Lucky stared at her, seeing his own blood glistening on her fangs. It dribbled down her bottom lip and spilled onto the grass. “I have bitten you beneath your fur,” Sweet said solemnly. “It is a mark that no other dog will ever see. But the wound will scar, and we will know it is there. You are my Beta, and you must always be loyal to me.”
    Lucky’s tail drooped, and he dipped his head. His body seemed to know what to do, and the right words seemed to slip from his tongue. “We will know,” he echoed. “I bear your mark, and I will always be loyal to you, Sweet—my Alpha.”
    A ripple of unease ran over