Free Wolf Stalker by Gloria Skurzynski Page A

freaking out right now—”
    Troy sliced the air with his hand. “No one said you had to come with me.”
    â€œRight. I let you go, and you find a highway and hitch a ride back—”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo what about my folks? They’re responsible for you—”
    â€œOh, man, more of that responsibility crap! So someone in Social Services gets a little ticked and your parents get their hands slapped—I don’t care. I was trying to save the wolf’s life! Besides, I got bigger problems,” Troy raged.
    â€œWhy is it your problem? You didn’t shoot that wolf!”
    â€œIt’s not the wolf! Doesn’t anybody get it? My—mom—is—gone!” His hand made a fist.
    Jack noticed but it didn’t matter. He lifted his chin; Troy did the same. The hair prickled on Jack’s head as he waited for the next words, the next move.
    â€œTroy…what happened with your mom…it’s not Jack’s fault.” Ashley’s voice, steady and calm, worked its way between them. “It’s not my fault, and it’s not my mom’s or dad’s—it’s not anybody’s fault. It just happened. And Troy, it’s not your fault.”
    The last words seemed to hit Troy right in the gut. A gust of air escaped his lips. The wind blew colder, but he stood rigid, not wanting to make the first move. Slowly, his fist drifted to his side. “I—I didn’t…” He couldn’t finish. Just then, an eerie howl split the night air, lonesome and empty as a train song. Less than 15 feet away a dark shape darted through the trees, melting into one shadow, then another. A rustling, and then a streak of black. The campfire cast enough light for Jack to see two gold-green eyes reflecting in the darkness.
    â€œTroy—Jack,” Ashley breathed. “Look! Look at Silver!”
    The wolf’s head had raised almost six inches from the earth, hovering for a moment, straining toward the shape beyond, before sinking back into the ground.
    â€œOver there,” Jack whispered, pointing to a cluster of fir trees. “I bet it’s Silver’s mate. That must have been what you saw before, Ashley. She was out there all along, just watching him.”
    â€œYou think so?” Ashley asked softly.
    â€œYeah—remember how there were two of them this morning? Wolves stay together for life. I bet she’s going to watch over him all night.”
    â€œHang tough, Silver,” Troy murmured. “She’s with you now. You’re gonna make it. Just hang in there, boy.”
    He couldn’t explain how it happened, but suddenly Jack realized that the wolf and Troy and Troy’s mother had all meshed together somehow, and each piece told something about the other, just like Ashley’s story. No wonder Troy had gone after the wolf. Troy had lived through violent times, same as Silver. Both had been wounded. Maybe it was just by a thread, but the two of them were hanging on.
    Another thought worked its way through Jack’s mind while they stood, straining to see in the darkness. There was no way Jack could have made it if he’d lived the life Troy had. And if he’d survived, he knew he would have come out of it as prickly as Troy. Maybe, Jack thought with a start, he might have turned out worse. Pulling his jacket tighter, he wondered if this was the reason his dad had decided to bring new people into their cozy world.
    The wolf howled again.
    â€œWill she hurt us?” Ashley asked.
    â€œNah. We just need to stay together.” He hesitated, started to speak, stopped, then started again. “Come on, Troy.”
    Troy’s eyes slid onto Jack’s, wary.
    â€œIt’s OK. We’ll be safe by the fire.”
    Troy looked at Jack for what felt like a long time. “I need to watch Silver,” he said. “I gotta make sure he doesn’t get too cold.”
    â€œI’ll keep