for bed.” The voice came from directly over me.

Startled, I jumped and rolled to the side, looking for who had spoken. Miki raised an amused eyebrow at me as her pups scampered off to the den. “Relax, Balto. Most of us don’t bite.” She smiled.

“Heh.” I gave an embarrassed grin in reply, as my heart painfully pounded in my chest. “Sorry. I’m just…jumpy today.” -an understatement. Simply being startled had sent my flight or fight response into overdrive. It was an uncomfortable reminder of why I was here in the first place. After everything that had happened, it had almost completely slipped my mind. It was apparent, however, that my nervous system had not forgotten.

“Well, jaunts in a frozen river tend to put you on edge.” Miki smiled, oblivious to the real reason of course.

“Yeah,” I laughed nervously as she stepped around me to follow her pups.

I was an idiot for accepting Sakari’s offer to stay with the pack. I wished rivers of ice were my biggest concern, but no. I had hunters calling for my blood- hunters who might eventually pick up my trail again and follow me straight back to this innocent pack. I don’t know why it took me that long to consider myself a danger simply by being here. Maybe it was because I secretly hoped I could actually put my past behind me. If worst came to worst back in Nome…maybe I would have a home here.

I shook my head. No, Balto. You’re running away from the problem again. What is with you? I mentally slapped myself. I’d put myself ahead of these generous strangers, simply for a few hours of carefree relaxation. I’d told myself that the hunters were long gone, but how did I know that? If they were angry enough about Rosy’s attack, they might follow me to the end of the world just to make me pay.

I looked longingly in the direction of the den before I climbed to my feet and headed off into the woods, in the opposite direction.

“Where are you going?”

I jumped again, but quickly calmed this time as I spotted Ataneq ahead of me. “Hi…Look, I- I shouldn’t be here. I really do appreciate your hospitality, but I’d be ungrateful if I stayed.”

Ataneq gave me a quizzical look. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m putting you in danger by being here. I have to go.” I explained, taking a few steps away from him and deeper into the trees.

“Stop.” His commanding voice instantly caused me to freeze, foot hanging in the air as I stared at him in surprise. The powerful wolf approached me, studying me with his brown eyes. “Sit.” Like an obedient house pet, I obeyed. “Tell me what you mean by that.”

I swallowed, carefully averting my eyes as I started speaking. “I mean…I have hunters after me- human hunters. If they find me here…” I trailed off, staring at the dirty snow under my feet.

Ataneq was silent for a minute. “And why are they after you, exactly?”

“They think I attacked one of their young.”

“You didn’t?”

“No!” I answered a little too forcefully. I lowered my head even further.

“Well, Balto, if they haven’t found you by now, I doubt they ever will. I think you should seriously consider staying.”

My ears perked up. What did he say? I looked up at him in shock. “But, what if-.”

“I’ve found that “what ifs” are hardly worth their trouble to consider. But,” He took a few steps toward me, “if we ever run into hunters, you should know that we wouldn’t hesitate in protecting you as you protected my son.” The words didn’t match the tone in which he said them. I barely caught the glint in his eye through my brief sensation of panic.

He was playing with my head, and he was thoroughly amused by it. “Anyone would have. It was just one thing-.”

The wolf raised an eyebrow. “Would you like me to chase you off? Actually don’t answer that. You’re staying. I can tell, Balto, you are not like everyone else. Not everyone has a heart like yours. It may have been one act, but it says much about who you are.”

I was at a loss for words, but managed a soft “Thank you.”

He smirked, a sparkle in his brown eyes. “Nonsense, this is me being selfish. We could use someone like you around.”

A nervous smile made its way to my otherwise stunned face.

“Lighten up, Balto. You’re with family now.” Ataneq said as he trotted past me and back to the den.