Page 18 of A Hidden Enemy

“She will be Omega,” growled Alpha. “Do you know what that means, pet dogs? She will fetch and carry for the Pack, take all orders without complaining, and if she has any time to sleep she’ll be in the Omega den, drafty and damp. That can be justice for Mulch. When a full turn of the Moon-Dog has passed, she can challenge if she likes. If she survives that long.”

  Bella stood up, her hackles raising. Lucky’s fur shivered. Was she deciding whether to fight after all? Around her, her Pack muttered and whined.

  “Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with,” said Martha.

  Bruno growled: “Show them you can survive!”

  Lucky longed suddenly to be one of them, to be able to guide and advise them like he used to. Becoming Omega for a turn of the Moon-Dog was Bella’s best hope, he knew. Surely she did, too? But he couldn’t interfere. He didn’t dare.

  I’m not one of them. Not openly. Not if I want to live. . . .

  This whole battle, everything that had happened, was his fault. He’d agreed to Bella’s suggestion of becoming a spy, not thinking for a moment that she would deceive him. Worse, he’d told Bella about Whine and what a poor patrol dog he’d be; he’d given her the information about when the hunters would be away from the camp. All his spying hadn’t helped Bella and her Pack; all it had done was harm all the dogs, and in the most horrible way. When Bella and her friends made their choice, what would he do?

  Will I remain with a larger Pack? Or if they stay separate, will I stick with Bella, or find a new place here with the Wild Pack?

  Or will I do what I always meant to do, and strike off alone again?

  Bella and Alpha were still staring each other down, but Bella was licking her chops nervously now. At any moment she’d make her choice.

  “Well?” sneered Alpha. “The decision’s yours, Bella the Leashed Dog.”

  “Wait,” barked a new voice.

  Lucky took a breath, startled. As all the dogs turned, the pudgy dog who’d gotten Lucky into this mess trotted forward, head and tail high, an expression of cocky vindictiveness on his snub-nosed face.

  “Don’t decide anything yet, Alpha.” Whine sat down, tilting his head at Lucky.

  Sweet snapped her teeth at him. “Who are you to interfere, Whine? If Bella rejects our offer you’ll be back to Omega, and don’t you forget it.”

  “Oh, but I have something interesting to tell you.” Whine’s tongue lolled as his mouth stretched in a wide grin. “Alpha needs to know this, before he takes any new dogs into our Pack. You see that City Dog?”

  Alpha glanced at Lucky, irritated, and back at Whine. “What about him?”

  Lucky’s heart was frozen in his chest. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Whine was watching him closely, licking his teeth. Lucky felt himself shrink, his forequarters ready to bow, ready to beg uselessly for mercy.

  “He’s one of them. One of the Leashed Pack.” Whine gave a bark of angry excitement. “He’s been spying for them all along!”

  Silence. Lucky’s tongue felt thick and unwieldy in his jaws, and his coat prickled all over with icy fear. Bella’s friends watched him with horror, giving him away just by their aghast expressions. The Wild Pack were all turning to him, one by one, their shock and disbelief plain.

  Sweet bounded an abrupt pace forward, swinging a paw across Whine’s face. He squealed, but didn’t back off.

  “That isn’t true!” she barked angrily. “You’ll take a beating for that lie, Omega.”

  “Stop!” barked Lucky, lunging forward between Sweet and Whine. His jaws opened as he panted for breath. Terror filled him, but he couldn’t let yet another dog suffer for his misdeeds. Not even Whine.

  “Lucky?” Sweet sounded bewildered.

  “It’s true.” Lucky lowered his head, then jerked it up again to look her in the eyes. He owed her that, while he told her the truth. “He isn’t lying, Sweet. What he says is true.”

  Sweet’s eyes were wide and hurt, disbelieving. “No!”

  “Yes. Sweet, I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to go this far. I . . . I wanted to belong here too.”

  She stared at him in silence for moments that seemed like days. Behind her, Alpha was ominously still.

  Sweet’s throat sounded tight. “You couldn’t . . . You wouldn’t . . .”

  “Yes, Sweet. I did. I’m sorry.”

  “But you’re one of us now,” Sweet barked suddenly. “Even if it is true, you’re . . .” She broke off and slammed her jaws shut.

  Lucky opened his jaws. There was so much in her eyes: anger, hurt, fear, betrayal. A plea for him to say what she wanted him to say.

  Lucky swung around to look at Alpha, and then at Bella. Glancing at the other dogs in the circle, he caught sight of Whine’s smug scowl, and Snap’s bewilderment, and Fiery’s gruff challenge. Daisy and Sunshine were trembling. He could smell the tension in the air, sense the raising of hairs and the racing of blood.

  Time to choose, Lucky. Time to choose where your loyalties lie.

  Then the great dog-wolf paced forward toward him, and Lucky stood to meet him, shaking.

  Perhaps there was no choice for him to make at all.

  Perhaps it was only time to die.

  Lucky froze, his legs trembling. Silence fell over the circle of dogs.

  Alpha’s broad, wolfish face was unreadable. He drew himself up on his rock, towering over the two Packs. By his side on the grass was Sweet, the beautiful swift-dog, staring at Lucky. Lucky could scarcely look at her.

  Little snub-nosed Whine’s tongue lolled and his jaws gaped. “You see, I was right! The City Dog was spying for the Leashed Dogs. He met with that one, the one who looks like him!” Whine turned to Bella, who glared until he cringed and cowered. “I saw them. . . .” The little dog’s words trailed off.

  Lucky fought to keep his tail high. He could not let it droop in submission. That would show weakness—it would be the end of him in the eyes of this fierce Wild Pack.

  They were all waiting for an explanation, but what could he say? He had spied on them, just as Whine had said. He had never imagined, though, that Bella would use the information he’d provided to attack the Wild Pack’s camp.

  Lucky searched the faces of the dogs in the circle.

  What do I do now? If I show loyalty to the Leashed Pack, the others will kill me. But how can I turn my back on the Leashed Dogs? Bella’s my litter-sister. . . .

  He had been through so much with the Leashed Dogs. But the Wild Pack had accepted him as one of their own. He had shared the Great Howl with them, where Spirit Dogs ran before his eyes. He had felt the power of their bond, even as he balked at Alpha’s strict hierarchy.

  Then there was Sweet. . . . He stole a glance in her direction and she met his eye. He saw pain and confusion there, but also hope.

  She raised her muzzle. “Lucky fought bravely to defend the pups from the foxes. Whatever he may have done before . . . he’s no Leashed Dog. He’s one of our Pack now.” Her velvety ears twitched and she looked away. Her voice was uncertain, despite her words.

  It’s as though she wants to believe it, thought Lucky. She wants to believe that I’m who she thought I was. . . .

  Lucky barked gratefully, even though he wasn’t sure where he belonged.

  He looked at his litter-sister. Bella stared hard at him, head slightly cocked.

  She knows it’s true. A part of me has grown loyal to the Wild Pack.

  For a moment he felt guilty. Then he reminded himself that it was because of Bella that he had joined the Wild Dogs in the first place! And it was she who had brought the foxes into their home! She must have been crazy to trust those wily creatures. They’d betrayed her as soon as she’d led them to the camp, attacking Moon and threatening to eat her pups. He remembered how dogs from both Packs had broken off their battle to defend the pups when the foxes attacked them—first Daisy and Mulch, then the others. They had come together, repelling the vicious foxes. They had worked as a single, powerful Pack. . . .

  Lucky noticed
Moon and Fiery standing a few paces behind the others, their pups Squirm and Nose—the ones who had survived—nuzzled between them. Lucky’s chest tightened with sorrow when he remembered the terror and turmoil, the frenzied barking, and the dogs who hadn’t made it: little, helpless Fuzz, and poor Mulch.

  Alpha growled low in his throat. “Lucky may have served our Pack for a time, but that does not excuse his treachery. What do you have to say for yourself, City Dog?”

  Lucky licked his leg where the fox had mauled it, playing for time. His quick thinking rarely let him down, but this time he couldn’t find anything to say in his own defense.

  It was so much easier when I was a Lone Dog. A Lone Dog answers to nobody. But what if I’m not meant to be a Lone Dog at all?

  BACK ADS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ERIN HUNTER is inspired by a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior. She is also the author of the bestselling Warriors and Seekers series. Visit her online at www.survivorsdogs.com.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  OTHER WORKS

  Book One: The Empty City

  Book One: Into the Wild

  Book Two: Fire and Ice

  Book Three: Forest of Secrets

  Book Four: Rising Storm

  Book Five: A Dangerous Path

  Book Six: The Darkest Hour

  THE NEW PROPHECY

  Book One: Midnight

  Book Two: Moonrise

  Book Three: Dawn

  Book Four: Starlight

  Book Five: Twilight

  Book Six: Sunset

  POWER OF THREE

  Book One: The Sight

  Book Two: Dark River

  Book Three: Outcast

  Book Four: Eclipse

  Book Five: Long Shadows

  Book Six: Sunrise

  OMEN OF THE STARS

  Book One: The Fourth Apprentice

  Book Two: Fading Echoes

  Book Three: Night Whispers

  Book Four: Sign of the Moon

  Book Five: The Forgotten Warrior

  Book Six: The Last Hope

  DAWN OF THE CLANS

  Book One: The Sun Trail

  Warriors Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest

  Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar’s Prophecy

  Warriors Super Edition: SkyClan’s Destiny

  Warriors Super Edition: Crookedstar’s Promise

  Warriors Super Edition: Yellowfang’s Secret

  Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans

  Warriors: Cats of the Clans

  Warriors: Code of the Clans

  Warriors: Battles of the Clans

  Warriors: Enter the Clans

  MANGA

  The Lost Warrior

  Warrior’s Refuge

  Warrior’s Return

  The Rise of Scourge

  Tigerstar and Sasha #1: Into the Woods

  Tigerstar and Sasha #2: Escape from the Forest

  Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans

  Ravenpaw’s Path #1: Shattered Peace

  Ravenpaw’s Path #2: A Clan in Need

  Ravenpaw’s Path #3: The Heart of a Warrior

  SkyClan and the Stranger #1: The Rescue

  SkyClan and the Stranger #2: Beyond the Code

  SkyClan and the Stranger #3: After the Flood

  Book One: The Quest Begins

  Book Two: Great Bear Lake

  Book Three: Smoke Mountain

  Book Four: The Last Wilderness

  Book Five: Fire in the Sky

  Book Six: Spirits in the Stars

  RETURN TO THE WILD

  Book One: Island of Shadows

  Book Two: The Melting Sea

  Book Three: River of Lost Bears

  MANGA

  Toklo’s Story

  Kallik’s Adventure

  CREDITS

  A WORKING PARTNERS BOOK

  Cover art © 2013 by Julia Green

  Art direction and cover design by Cara Petrus

  Cover design by Megan Stitt

  COPYRIGHT

  A Hidden Enemy

  Copyright © 2013 by Working Partners Limited

  Series created by Working Partners Limited

  SURVIVORS: A HIDDEN ENEMY. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins ebooks.

  www.harpercollinschildrens.com

  ISBN 978-0-06-210260-7 (trade bdg.)

  ISBN 978-0-06-210261-4 (lib. bdg.)

  13 14 15 16 17 LP/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  FIRST EDITION

  EPub Edition © MAY 2013 ISBN: 9780062102638

  ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

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  http://www.harpercollins.com

 


 

  Erin Hunter, A Hidden Enemy

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