Bruno was born into a pack that never wanted him. They were called the Black Sheep, and they lived a savage and ruthless life on the edge of a human city. The stole food and harassed humans. He was taught to be ruthless and brutal and have no mercy. But he wasn't strong or fast or tough or smart or ruthless. And so he was rejected from his pack since the day he had his first solo mission, when he was barely six moons old. His father, cold and angry as always, dragged him by the neck in front of the leader. The leader, a big brute of a male called Sei, stared down at him. "Your mission," he said, his voice low and full of disgust, "Will be to take one of the Dime Scraps' pups and deliver it to me." Bruno bowed low and said, "Yes sir." He hesitated, and asked, "Will the pup be harmed?" Sei grinned savagely. "If you fail, you'll get added to the food pile. And if you succeedโฆwell, he'll be your victory feast." Sei laughed, his sharp teeth gleaming menacingly as he strutted away. Bruno filled with dread.
That night, Bruno covered himself in mud to cover his blonde fur and hide his smell. He slipped onto the Scraps' territory, following his nose, trying to stay downwind of their guards. He crept to the hole in the ground, slipping in the pup den. He stared at the small pups, around 13, sleeping in a pile together. They looked so wholesome, and he felt horrified at what he was going to do. He was about to pluck a pup from the pile, when he heard a low, scary growl behind him.