Chapter 55

Rafe puffed out his chest defiantly. "And we'll keep on surviving, no matter what! Humans don't scare me!"

A chorus of yips and howls rose up from the other pups, their earlier fear forgotten and replaced by a defiant bravado. Sofia felt her mouth stretch into a proud grin at their bold display.

"That's the spirit I want to see!" She raised her muzzle and unleashed a long, haunting howl that sent a ringing challenge through the night air. "We are the children of the moon - the scions of an ancient, noble bloodline! Let any who cross our paths hear our defiance and tremble!"

Juan joined his voice to hers, their duel howls shaking the leaves from the towering pines. The pups soon Added their higher-pitched calls, until the entire forest rang with the feral chorus of the pack.

As their voices faded to silence once more, Sofia caught Juan's eye and saw the undisguised pride gleaming there. She felt her own heart s