He had found game, but he had not caught it.

He had broken through the melting snow crust, and wallowed, while the snowshoe rabbits had skimmed along on top lightly as ever.
He paused at the mouth of the cave with a sudden shock of suspicion.
Faint, strange sounds came from within.

They were sounds not made by his mate, and yet they were remotely familiar.

He bellied cautiously inside and was met by a warning snarl from the she-wolf.

This he received without perturbation, though he obeyed it by keeping his distance; but he remained interested in the other sounds--faint, muffled sobbings and slubberings.
His mate warned him irritably away, and he curled up and slept in the entrance.