I was tense as Nosey sniffed about the hillside. What if we had lost Sunrise’s trail? We certainly hadn’t been paying much attention to it as we’d fled from the reptiles.

What if Sunrise hadn’t left the park by the same gate we had? What if – the thought made my stomach turn – what if she hadn’t made it out at all?

Nosey gave a little woof.

Found her.

Thank goodness!

Nosey trotted away up the hill. We followed, keeping well away from a road that also travelled upwards. We stuck to trees and bushes as much as we could, though they were pretty patchy.

My relief that Sunrise was alive quickly turned to frustration. She had put us through a lot to find her. As if we didn’t have enough problems! As if we hadn’t lost enough loved ones! Not to mention the mortal danger the whole group had been placed in because of her.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one having dark thoughts.

Why are we even tracking her?growled Brutus.

She’s pack, said Tiny.

She left us! She abandoned her pack.

And we have to find out why!

Nosey eyed them resolutely as they bickered, then turned back to the trail.

The scent grows stronger.

Rupert spoke softly by my side. ‘I hope you’re prepared for whatever we find. The fact is, Sunrise chose to leave. It may be that she doesn’t actually want to rejoin us.’

Anger bubbled up, though I wasn’t sure who it was directed towards.

‘At the very least,’ I said, ‘I need that shawl back. It’s our only clue.’

The surrounds were quiet, and we saw no vehicles on the road. There was something almost peaceful about the place, if I could forget what had brought us here.

We made it to the top, where some kind of compound was visible through the trees. We edged closer for a better look.

A two-storey mansion and its grounds stood enclosed by a tall wire fence. At each corner was a metal tower with radar dishes at the top.

It seemed Rupert was right about the place being something to do with communications.

‘Satellite towers,’ he said. ‘On the roof too.’ He nodded at the mansion. ‘Looks like some rich family’s rural getaway has been repurposed.’

‘Which means it’s important to the enemy,’ I said. ‘But why would Sunrise come here?’

Nosey edged closer to the fence.

‘Careful,’ I called softly. We had a little cover, but it wasn’t much.

Nosey held up a paw and pointed.

Something was moving beside the mansion.

I quickly swung up into a tree to get a better view. What I saw came as a big surprise.

The wolf pack moved together, sniffing the air as they cautiously made their way around the building. It seemed as if they were being drawn by something.

I carefully moved a branch out of my view so I could better see what it was. And then …

I saw Sunrise.

I clapped a hand to my mouth to stop myself from crying out. If the other wolves attacked, she would be overpowered in seconds! Why wasn’t she running away?

The wolf pack circled her, emitting a menacing group growl. Sunrise rose slowly, and moved towards the two biggest ones.

I held my breath, my knuckles white on the branch.

‘What’s she doing?’ hissed Rupert.

‘Ssh!’ I said.

And then …

Mum... Dad... whimpered Sunrise.

For a moment I struggled to understand what I was seeing. Then realisation hit me.

Sunrise was being reunited with her family! That’s what the other scent on the shawl must have been!

All my angry thoughts about Sunrise came back to haunt me – she had been looking for her real family! If anyone could understand that urge, it was me.

Still, it wasn’t enough to heal the hurt.

I dropped back down to the others.

‘Those are her parents?’ said Rupert.

‘I think so.’

‘How is that possible?’ said Rupert.

‘I found her when she was just a puppy,’ I said. ‘She was lost and alone in the forest, like me. She must have gotten separated from her pack while the soldiers were rounding everyone up. Perhaps she was meant to grow up and become a guard wolf, like them?’

Rupert frowned. ‘Why would the smell of a wolf pack be on your mother’s shawl?’

‘She was wearing it when we escaped. Maybe she got caught by whichever squad of soldiers was using these wolves to track people down?’

There was a crunching on gravel as a black car pulled up at the compound’s front gate. The wolves’ ears all pricked up.

A soldier appeared out of a little booth and opened the gate. The car drove through and up to the house, to park outside the front entrance.

Rupert gave a little gasp.

‘What?’ I said.

‘I know that car,’ he said.

‘Who is it?’

Rupert just kept staring.

The front door opened and a man of maybe around thirty got out. He was wearing a black uniform I hadn’t seen before.

‘Captain Stone,’ muttered Rupert.

‘You know him?’ I said.

The wolves padded towards Stone, tongues lolling and tails wagging.

‘Well, look who it is!’ exclaimed Stone with a big smile. ‘My most fearsome lords and ladies.’

He gave the pack a deep bow, then produced biscuits from his pocket and threw one to each.

Despite everything, I couldn’t help but be impressed. This guy had trained a pack of wolves?

Sunrise dithered at the back, looking uncertain. When Stone’s eyes found her, they opened wide in surprise.

‘And who is this?’ he said. ‘My goodness, I don’t recognise you. Or do I? Those markings on your fur …’

He stepped closer, and Sunrise tensed. Slowly, carefully, Stone took out another biscuit and tossed it to her.

‘How amazing,’ he said. ‘Could this be the one we lost?’

Sunrise’s mum went to her, and nuzzled her.

Stone laughed. ‘Incredible! It’s little Rage, all grown up!’

Rage? I thought. What kind of name was that for a beautiful animal?

Stone managed to get close enough to let Sunrise sniff his hand.

‘That makes Fern and Dusk your mum and dad!’ he said. ‘And this is your aunt and uncle, Tala and Joffa, and your cousins, Shadow and Ronin! It’s a whole wonderful family reunion.’

Stone clapped his hands with glee, startling Sunrise. Then he spotted the shawl beside her.

‘What’s that?’ he said. ‘Do you mind if I take a look?’

‘Who is this guy?’ I hissed at Rupert. It was so annoying that he wouldn’t answer me!

Stone inspected the shawl, sniffed it himself, then frowned and tucked it into his belt.

‘Well,’ he said, ‘this is all very nice but, if you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to.’

He went back to his car and opened the back door. He reached in and hauled someone out – one of the workers from the mine!

The poor man must have been recaptured in the forest.

‘Okay, doggies,’ said Stone, ‘I’ll see to this fine fellow while you keep a watch on things out here.’

I couldn’t believe he called them doggies too!

‘Why don’t you show Rage the patrol routes?’ said Stone. ‘After you’re done catching up, of course. Oh and …’ He pushed his prisoner out in front of him. ‘If you see anyone trying to escape, make sure they don’t.’

The wolves growled in answer, and Captain Stone nodded with satisfaction.

He went up the steps to the mansion’s front door. As he opened it, I noticed there was a big dog door set in it. Did the wolves patrol inside as well?

Dusk and Fern led Sunrise around the front of the mansion, all the while touching heads and wagging tails. They reached the far corner of the house and disappeared around it.

I didn’t think I had ever felt so conflicted.