Page 44 of Raised By Wolves

WE WAIT.

And wait.

Andwait.

I start to get cold, even with all my layers. I shiver. Move closer to my brother. Wish for the hundredth time that I had a thick pelt of fur.

“Call them again,” Holo urges. “Your howl’s louder than mine.”

I snort. “Remember when you sat in a tree for a whole day waiting for a woodpecker chick to hatch? City life didnotruin your attention span already.”

“But I’m so tired,” he says.

“Quit whining. Even if they’re six miles away, they heard us. But I think they’re closer. And if they want to come, they will.”

Annoyed, Holo sticks his tongue out at me. What a stupid human expression. I answer it with a growl. Because I’m tired, too, and I’m also scared.What if they don’t come?

“They’ll recognize us, right?” Holo whispers.

“Of course they will.”

“They won’t attack?”

“No, Holo. We’re still family.”

Aren’t we?

But I realize that’s not up to me to say. If you leave the forest, you become something else.

Maybe, to a wolf, you might even become an enemy.

Are we making a huge mistake?

There’s no way to tell. Not yet, anyway.

Wind rustles the leaves above us. Something skitters through the underbrush. A branch cracks.

Was that a pawstep?

I freeze. Hold my breath. Listen.

Everything’s dead quiet.

Suddenly I’m thrown sideways by impact. I land hard on the ground, and all the breath goes out of my lungs. I’m on my back, half-blind with fear. Something huge is on top of me. I can’t move. I can’t even breathe.

Sharp white teeth come snapping toward my face—I try to block them, and I feel my sleeve shred. I scream. Then a long warm tongue slobbers its way up my cheek.

Oh my God, I’d know that kiss anywhere.

“Harriet, you practically killed me! And now you’re getting me all wet!” I’m laughing and crying as the big female wolf licks my nose and mouth. Greeting me. Welcoming me back to the pack. I reach up and wrap my arms around her neck and bury my face into her thick, musky ruff. I didn’t even realize how much I missed her until now.

“Oh, my sweet girl, I’m glad to see you, too,” I cry.

Harriet yips and wags and wiggles. She licks the tears frommy face. She keeps stepping on my arms and chest. I try to push her away but she’s much too strong. I laugh and try to duck out from under her paws. She headbutts me and knocks me over again.

“Ooof! Get off before you squish me to death, you giant, beautiful mutt!”

Finally she backs away from me, tongue lolling and tail wagging madly.

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