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“You’re not Pack Leader,” Dekka said

The coyote tilted his head quizzically “Pack Leader die Pack Leader now”

Pack Leader dead? Maybe this was an opportunity “If you hurt me,” Dekka warned, “my people will kill coyotes”

Pack Leader—the new Pack Leader—seeht and focused, but almost seemed to contain a trace of humor

“Pack eat dead hu voice of the mutated coyotes

“He’s not dead,” Dekka said

“Pack eat,” Pack Leader said

“No,” Dekka said “If you try, ill—”

There was a flash of tan and gray fur and so bowled Dekka over She rolled and came up into a squat Three coyotes were on Edilio Blood was pu freely from his chest

“No!” Dekka cried

She raised her hands and suddenly Edilio was floating up off the ground, along with three panicked, scrabbling, yip yip yipping coyotes

Pack Leader bounded away to a safe distance

And there cah speed

“Almost there!” Drake cried, ecstatic

The night hipped their faces as the torn-open Escalade bounced and flew Overhead the fuel rod was like a cruise ainst the seatback, hands held high