Moon's Choice by Erin Hunter

sure she could bear this final awful loss.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    â€œYou’ll never guess who I found out there.” Snap’s voice was full of contempt as she trotted into the clearing, tail lashing.
    Moon got to her paws. She’d been expecting to see Snap return from her solitary hunt—with so few dogs in the Pack now, there was no team hunting—but it took her aback to see Snap wasn’t alone. There was a dog in the shade behind her, and Moon recognized his burly outline.
    Moon’s jaw felt loose, and her heartbeat thudded in her throat. He was the last dog she’d ever wanted to see again. Grimly she gritted her teeth and stiffened her shoulders, pacing forward to face him.
    â€œHunter,” she greeted him coldly.
    â€œMoon.” His tone was airy. “I’m glad to see that a few of my old Pack managed to survive.”
    I must not bite him. Moon held on to her temper. “What bringsyou back here?”
    â€œIt’s as I said. I’m glad to see the four of you escaped the sickness, but you’ve taken very bad losses, haven’t you?”
    Moon didn’t answer; she only stared at him.
    â€œSo,” he went on, “I realized where my duty lay.”
    â€œA bit late,” growled Snap under her breath, but Moon gave her a glance to quiet her.
    â€œAnd where does your duty lie this time?” asked Moon, with heavy sarcasm.
    He hunched his shoulders. “With this Pack, obviously. I’ve returned to lead you.”
    Moon looked at Snap, whose jaw was open in disbelief. She stared back at Hunter, but the tilt of his head remained arrogant despite their scorn. “You’re serious?”
    â€œOf course I’m serious.” He tapped his tail impatiently. “I’m stronger than all of you, and a better hunter. You’d be fools not to jump at the chance.”
    It was lucky, Moon thought, that Mulch arrived back from patrol at just that moment. Otherwise she really might have bitten Hunter. How I’d love to take off one of his cocky ears, she thought bitterly. Mulch was staring at Hunter too, now, and there was no expression of welcome in the black dog’s eyes.
    I wonder if Hunter expected a slightly more enthusiastic reception, Moon wondered. The thought amused and cheered her, and she managed to take a deep breath and control herself.
    â€œWhat happened to Rush and Meadow?” she asked.
    â€œOh, they got sick,” said Hunter casually. “I tried to look after them, but they died anyway.”
    Moon was too flabbergasted by his light tone to answer him, but Mulch spoke up, his voice dry as a rabbit-bone left in the sun.
    â€œThat’s funny,” he growled, and there was an undercurrent of laughter in his tone. “Because guess who I ran into while I was on patrol? Rush and Meadow are looking very well, for ‘dead’ dogs. You must have taken better care of them than you thought, Hunter.”
    Hunter opened his jaws. “I—”
    â€œIn fact,” Mulch interrupted him, “they told me they’d decided to leave you . They snuck away in the night because they didn’t like being bossed around like pups—and by a dog who’s never led a Pack before. I think the words Rush used were . . . let me see . . . control wolf .”
    For a moment Hunter looked lost for words. He swallowed hard, looking furious and embarrassed. Then he licked his chops and drew himself up.
    â€œWell, Moon,” he said grandly. He’d obviously decided to pretend Mulch didn’t exist. “Your parent-dogs always wanted us to lead the Pack together. Their dearest wish was that we should be mates, and I think we should honor that wish. You can be Beta to my Alpha.”
    Moon took an angry breath. Beta to his Alpha ? She’d actually been enjoying his obvious discomfort, but now he had riled her beyond belief. Her amusement died, and she felt her hackles rise.
    â€œI value loyalty in a