OF COURSE, CELL-PHONE reception and internet cafes near Sienna’s home turned out to be nonexistent. So I was entirely out of touch with my mate when the letter arrived the next morning. Well, I was physically out of touch, but Wolfie was still very much on my mind. So, rather than diving into the pack problems awaiting my attention, I was instead sitting in my office in the Barn doing my best to emulate Wolfie’s more human approach to educating Ember when my stepmother tapped gently on the already open door. “Are you busy?” Cricket asked, a sheaf of papers clutched in one hand and her bird-like shoulders tense. I wasn’t able to ask the source of her worry, though, because Ember’s excitement at the entrance of a new playmate spurred the wolfling to hop down off my desk and to dance around