Read Online The Pack by Dayna Lorentz - Free Book Online Page A

took my man from me,” Blaze said, sighing.
    They went on about their humans, what they were like and the silly things they did, like wearing shoes and watching the light-window. It made Shep happy to tell Blaze all about his boy, and to hear about her man. The only other dog he really barked with was Callie, and she only ever woofed about the stuff of this world, the world of the storm, the world without people.
    By the time they turned onto the street where the bus lay, it was midsun and the pack was scattered, sniffing around in the trash. Callie was furious — her hackles were up and her tail was low.
    â€œAnd where have you been, partner ?” she grumbled.
    â€œWhat are you, his master?” snapped Blaze. “We were out. Hunting.”
    Callie trembled with rage. “I’m not his master,” she snarled, trying very hard to keep her bark even. “We’re a team . And teammates don’t run off for half a sun without leaving some whiff of where they went.”
    Shep stuck his snout between the two before the fur started to fly. “You’re right,” he woofed to Callie. “I should have woken you.” Callie’s hackles smoothed, but Blaze sneered. Shep continued, “Anyway, looks like every thing’s well-furred here.”
    Callie’s tail started to wag. “Yes, things are good here, no thanks to you,” she woofed. “Virgil and Honey scavenged one of the surrounding buildings and found a whole loaf of bread in one of the dens. We saved you each a slice.” She snagged two pieces of bread from inside the bus’s broken front window and dropped them at Shep’s paws.
    Callie straightened her stance. “This den smells like the perfect haven to wait in for the humans to return,” she barked loudly, as if trying to catch the attention of all the nearby dogs. “We’re close to buildings to scavenge, we’re safe from the rain, and with only one entrance, we can defend it easily. Now that you’re a part of the pack, Blaze, I’m sure you won’t mind if we all share your den.” Callie glared defiantly into Blaze’s muzzle.
    â€œClever dog,” Blaze snuffled, a rather frightening smile spreading over her jowls. “Of course, you all are welcome to share this den,” she barked, matching Callie’s strident tone. “But I don’t recommend it. This bus is not as safe as it looks. There’s a hole somewhere in the back that rats can get through. And one way in means one way out: We’re too easy to trap.”
    Shep felt like something important was going on, but he hadn’t the faintest scent of what it was. It smelled like Callie and Blaze were having a marking contest, only no dog was peeing.
    Callie stepped closer to Blaze. “So you’d have us wander the streets looking for someplace slightly safer, all the while leaving us prey to whatever wants to attack us, be it a wild dog or a water lizard?”
    â€œNo need to wander,” Blaze barked. “I know the perfect place.” And with that, she turned tail and shot off down an alley.
    â€œVirgil!” Callie bayed. “You’re in charge. Higgins, follow me!” Then she raced after Blaze.
    Shep felt like the odd dog out. Should he follow or stay? He wanted to follow. Callie had left Virgil in charge. I’m following , he concluded and charged down the alley. He tracked the fresh scent of Callie’s chase — she reeked of anger — and soon caught up with the three of them.
    They stood before a wider section of canal, almost the size of the Park. The twisted remains of docks floated in the water. On the sunset side of the canal, the stone wall was smoothed to form a steep ramp up to street level. The space around the ramp was open pavement, edged by trees and grass, and then low buildings — or would have been, save for the pack of various-sized boats cluttering the plaza. The alpha of