The Perfect Secret Read online

  To Prince—such a surprise, but so sweet-natured

  GROSSET & DUNLAP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

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  Text copyright © 2009, 2014 Sue Bentley. Illustrations copyright © 2009 Angela Swan. Cover illustration © 2009 Andrew Farley. First printed in Great Britain in 2009 by Penguin Books Ltd. First published in the United States in 2014 by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  ISBN 978-0-698-17179-4

  Version_1

  Contents

  Dedication

  Copyright

  Title Page

  Prologue

  Chapter *ONE*

  Chapter *TWO*

  Chapter *THREE*

  Chapter *FOUR*

  Chapter *FIVE*

  Chapter *SIX*

  Chapter *SEVEN*

  Chapter *EIGHT*

  Chapter *NINE*

  Chapter *TEN*

  *About the Author*

  Prologue

  The young silver-gray wolf bent his head to drink from the icy stream. It felt good to taste the water of his own world again.

  Suddenly a fierce howl rang out in the night air.

  “Shadow!” Storm gasped. The lone wolf who had attacked his Moon-claw pack was very close.

  Storm should have known that it was dangerous to come back. He needed to find shelter, and quickly.

  There was a bright gold flash and a shower of sparks that gleamed in the moonlight. Where the young wolf had stood now crouched a tiny beagle puppy with black-and-tan fur, a white muzzle, and four white “socks” on his sturdy little legs.

  Storm hoped this disguise would protect him until he was under cover.

  His tiny puppy heart beat fast. Storm’s floppy rounded ears flew backward in the cold wind as he leaped forward and tore up the hillside toward a small group of trees. The shape of a large wolf appeared above him, outlined against the star-bright sky.

  “Here, my son. Hurry,” called a deep, velvety voice.

  “Mother!” Storm’s tailed twirled as he dashed toward her. A wriggle began at his head and worked right down his body as he yipped a greeting.

  Canista licked her disguised cub’s little white muzzle. “I am pleased to see you again. You will soon be strong enough to take your place as the new leader of the Moon-claw pack. But Shadow is still looking for you.”

  Storm’s big midnight-blue eyes gleamed with purpose. “Let us fight him now and force him to leave our lands forever.” He trembled at the memory of how his father and brothers had lost their lives to the lone wolf.

  Canista took a step forward, but then bit back a cry of pain.

  “You are still weak from Shadow’s poisoned bite.” Storm leaned forward and huffed out a puppy breath filled with a thousand tiny gold stars. The glittery mist swirled around Canista’s paw for a few seconds and then sank into her thick gray fur.

  “Thank you. The pain is lessening.” She sighed gratefully. “But there is no time to finish the healing. You must go once more to the other world. Use this disguise and return when your magic is at its full power. I will tell the other wolves to gather and await your return.”

  Storm did not want to leave his mother, but he knew she was right. He nodded his tiny head.

  Suddenly, another terrifying howl rang out, sounding much closer than before. An enormous black shape appeared through the trees. The ground rang to the sound of mighty paws, which were pounding toward them.

  “I know you are there, Storm. Let us finish this now!” growled a cold, pitiless voice.

  “Go, Storm. Save yourself!” Canista urged.

  Bright gold sparks bloomed in the tiny puppy’s silky-smooth black-tan-and-white fur. Storm whined as he felt the power building in his sturdy little body. The golden glow around him grew brighter. And brighter . . .

  Chapter

  * ONE *

  “Can you bring those flowers from the backseat with you, honey?” asked Madison Berry’s mom.

  “Okay,” Madison answered with forced brightness, making a huge effort to cheer herself up. But it didn’t really work. She felt as flat as a burst balloon.

  Mrs. Berry let herself into the house with a spare key. “Hello! It’s only us!”

  “Come right in!” Madison’s grandma was wearing a light blue tracksuit. She was sitting in an armchair and resting her legs on a footstool.

  Madison noticed the plaste

  r cast that covered her right foot and reached all the way above her knee. She went and kissed her grandma’s cheek and gave her the flowers.

  “Aw, thanks, honey. What beautiful pink roses! How’s my favorite granddaughter?” she asked, smiling at Madison. “I expect you’re pretty fed up with your silly old Grandma Jen!”

  Madison had called her grandmother Grandma Jen when she was little and the nickname had stuck. Despite herself, Madison managed a smile. “Your only granddaughter is fine, thanks! And you’re not silly or old!”

  “Humph!” Grandma Jen shook her head slowly. “I don’t know about that. It’s not very clever to trip over the stump of a bush and break two bones in your ankle, is it? And now you’ve had to cancel your vacation to look after me.”

  “You couldn’t help it. It was an accident,” Madison said generously, although she’d been looking forward to the family vacation for months and months. It didn’t help that her two best friends, Naomi and Shilpa, had just gone away with Naomi’s parents for a whole month. Madison had gone away with Naomi last year, so this year it was Shilpa’s turn.

  Mrs. Berry ruffled her daughter’s short dark hair approvingly. “Thanks for being so nice to your grandma,” she whispered so that Grandma Jen wouldn’t hear, and in a louder voice she said, “Why don’t you find a vase to put those flowers in?”

  Madison went into the kitchen and rooted about in the cupboards. She found a vase and filled it with water.

  “It’s going to be awkward for you in the shower. And you’ll never get up those narrow stairs, Mom. I’m wondering if you shouldn’t just come home with us.” Madison could hear her mom and her grandma talking in the living room.

  “Now don’t worry, dear. I’ll manage perfectly well down here on the recliner. And I can ask for help if I need it. It’ll only be for a few weeks.” Grandma Jen sighed. “I just hope I won’t get too bored with all this sitting around.”

  “I’ll come and see you,” Madison promised, coming back in with the vase of flowers and placing it on the sideboard next to the fish tank. She picked up a tub of fish food. “Shall I feed the fish for you?”

  Her grandma smiled broadly at her. “Just give them a pinch. You know that I’d love you to visit, but I don’t want you spending all your time looking after me. You make sure you get out and have some fun with your friends, won’t you?”

&nbs
p; Madison nodded. I would if Shilpa and Naomi weren’t about a million miles away, she thought glumly. She wasn’t looking forward to the next few weeks without them.

  She sprinkled the flakes of food into the aquarium and then made her grandma some tea, while her mom organized a shopping list. Before they left, Madison fed her grandma’s two birds, Sparky and Squeak, and then helped bring some bedding downstairs and make up the recliner.

  “See you soon, Grandma Jen!” Madison sang out as she closed the front door and went out to their car.

  Mrs. Berry glanced across at her daughter as she drove home. “I think I’ll get your grandma’s groceries on the way home,” she decided. “I know how you hate going grocery shopping, so why don’t you stay in the car and read? It’ll be quicker if I do it by myself, anyway.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Mom,” Madison said gratefully. She had a new Wildlife Ways magazine in her bag. It had great pictures of colorful birds and exotic creepy-crawlies. Madison was really looking forward to reading all about them. She loved anything to do with nature—even the interesting bugs that most other kids thought were just gross.

  Her mom parked under some shady trees at the back of the parking lot and went to grab a shopping cart. Madison spread the magazine open and flipped through the pages for a while. Even with the window open, the car was broiling hot, and she decided to go and buy a cold drink.

  Madison got out of the car and had only taken a couple of steps when there was a flash of light from the flowers planted around one of the trees. A whoosh of golden sparks sprayed up into the air and crackled as they hit the ground.

  “Oh!” Dazzled, Madison blinked hard and jumped sideways.

  She rubbed her eyes, and when she could see properly again, Madison noticed that a tiny black-and-tan puppy with a white muzzle and four white “socks” was crawling out of the flowers. It had short legs, large rounded floppy ears, and the brightest midnight-blue eyes she had ever seen.

  Madison bent down and rubbed her fingers together to encourage the cute puppy to come closer and make friends.

  “Hello. Where did you come from?” she asked gently.

  The puppy blinked its dewy eyes and put its head on one side. “I have just arrived from a place that is far from here. Can you help me?” it woofed.

  Chapter

  * TWO *

  Madison snatched her hand back as if she’d been burned and looked at the puppy in complete astonishment. No way! She knew she had a vivid imagination, but it must be working overtime today. Dogs couldn’t speak!

  Suddenly, she understood. There were obviously some kids hiding nearby, playing a trick on her.

  Madison straightened up and turned around. There were bushes dotted among the trees. She put her hands on her hips. “Okay, you can come out now!” she challenged. But no one emerged, and after a few moments she looked slowly back to where the tiny puppy was blinking up at her.

  “I don’t get it,” she said, puzzled.

  The puppy took a few steps toward her. It drew itself up. “I am Storm of the Moon-claw pack. Who are you?” it woofed.

  Madison swallowed, stunned into silence. This couldn’t be happening. Talking puppies didn’t just appear to ordinary girls in supermarket parking lots. But this one had. Storm was looking at her quizzically, obviously expecting an answer.

  “I’m M-Madison B-Berry,” she found herself stammering.

  Storm bowed his head. “I am honored to meet you, Madison.”

  “Um . . . me too. But . . . who are you? What are you?”

  “Follow me!” Storm called, scampering past her and dashing through the trees toward a thick, spreading bush.

  As Madison turned and followed the tiny puppy, there was another bright golden flash. She looked for him but he had disappeared and in his place beside the bush crouched a magnificent young silver-gray wolf with glowing midnight-blue eyes. Gold sparks glimmered like jewels in the thick ruff around its neck.

  Madison gasped, eyeing the wolf’s powerful muscles and sharp teeth. “Storm?”

  “Yes, it is me, Madison. Do not be afraid,” Storm said in a deep velvety growl.

  Before Madison could get used to the incredible young wolf, there was a final dazzling flash of gold light, and Storm was once again a silky-smooth black-and-tan puppy with four little white “socks.”

  “Wow! That’s amazing. No one would know that you’re a wolf,” Madison exclaimed. “But why are you in hiding?”

  Storm began to tremble all over and his eyes narrowed with anger and fear. “The fierce lone wolf, who killed my father and brothers and left my mother wounded, is looking for me. He is called Shadow. Can you help me, Madison?”

  “Of course I will!” Madison’s heart went out to him. Storm was totally stunning as a young wolf, but as a helpless puppy, he was adorable. She bent down to pick him up and then walked back through the trees and into the parking lot.

  “I’m going to ask my mom if I can keep you,” she crooned, kissing the top of his soft little head and enjoying his clean puppy smell.

  “Keep who? What have you got there?” asked a voice at her side.

  Madison whirled around to see her mom approaching. She’d been so busy cuddling Storm that she hadn’t noticed her carrying the shopping bags toward the car.

  “I’ve just found him. Isn’t he gorgeous? He’s called Storm and he can ta—” Madison began, but suddenly Storm reached up and tapped her cheek with a tiny white-tipped front paw.

  “Wrr-rrr-uu-ff!” he wailed loudly, looking up at her with pleading deep-blue eyes and shaking his head.

  Madison looked down at Storm in confusion, before it dawned on her that Storm didn’t want her to tell her mom about his secret. She patted him reassuringly, letting him know that she understood, before looking back up at her mom. “I . . . um, think Storm’s a stray. Can we take him home and look after him?” she asked.

  “Storm? You’ve already given him a name? He’s rather cute, isn’t he? But he was just making a strange noise as if there’s something wrong with him. The poor fella probably needs to be taken to a vet.”

  “No! He doesn’t. He’s fine!” Madison burst out. “I mean . . . that funny noise he made was . . . a sneeze. Um . . . because of . . . the car fumes,” she said in a burst of inspiration.

  Her mom looked more closely at Storm. She stroked his little head. “He certainly looks healthy enough. You might be right about the fumes. But we can’t just take him home. What if he belongs to someone who’s inside the store?”

  Madison thought quickly. “I’ll go inside and ask if anyone’s reported a lost puppy.”

  Before her mom had a chance to protest, she ran across the parking lot. Holding Storm carefully, she went through the automatic entrance doors and hurried toward the customer-service desk.

  A smart woman in a crisp blue-and-white uniform frowned at her. “I’m afraid you can’t bring that puppy in here, young lady. No animals are allowed.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Madison said, pretending that she wasn’t aware of the rules. She moved slowly away from the desk and timed it so that she met her mom coming in through the automatic doors. “No one’s reported a lost puppy,” she said, taking her mom’s arm and gently steering her back out. It wasn’t exactly a fib, she thought, since I didn’t even ask about one. “So can we look after Storm? I’ll do everything for him: take him for walks, feed him, wipe up muddy paw prints, bathe him . . .”

  Her mom sighed. “It’s not really a good time. We’ve got your grandma to look after, and I for one don’t look forward to the complications of puppy accidents and chewed slippers.”

  Storm gave an indignant little woof at the very idea that he might not be fully housebroken.

  Madison had to try hard

  not to grin. She forced herself to look serious again. “Oh, please, Mom. Please, please,” she begged. “Look how cute he
is. He’ll take up hardly any room. And Grandma Jen will love Storm. You know how she is about animals. And she’s really sad about her ankle, and she can’t go out much. I bet it’ll cheer her up to have a puppy to cuddle,” she rushed on.

  “Enough already!” Her mom held up her hands. “I suppose we could give it a try. But I don’t know what your dad’s going to say when he sees him.”

  “He’ll love him to pieces, like I do!”

  Mrs. Berry smiled. “You’re probably right at that. You do realize that I’m going to have to report Storm as a stray? If someone comes forward to claim him, there’ll be no arguments. Okay?”

  “It’s a deal!” Madison agreed readily, positive that no one was going to come calling for her new little friend. Before she’d met Storm she’d been feeling really down in the dumps about her family’s canceled vacation and having no friends to hang out with. But the long, lonely weeks ahead were starting to look a bit brighter already.

  Chapter

  * THREE *

  “You must be hungry after your long journey,” Madison said, forking some leftover casserole into a bowl. It was the closest thing she had to dog food, so it would have to do.

  Storm licked his lips eagerly. The moment she put the bowl onto the kitchen floor, he bounded forward and began chomping the food.

  Madison watched him, smiling. It was still hard to believe that this magic puppy had chosen her to be his friend.

  Storm finished eating and sat licking his chops, while Madison washed his dish and put it away.

  “He polished that off pretty quickly!” Madison’s mom said from over by the kitchen counter where she was making supper.

  “I’ll take him upstairs to show him where he’ll be sleeping,” Madison said happily. “Come on, Storm. Let’s go!” she called.

  Storm immediately jumped to his feet and scampered across the kitchen toward her.