you.''

''Sure thing.'' Kodi said. ''I'll stay here with Dusty.''

Max nodded as he, Molly, Kirby and Ralph left the house in search of the suspects.

Later, Max and Molly returned home with the news.

''Well, we alerted the other teams.'' Molly said. ''And, Kodi, two of your brothers' team mates might be the suspects, but we can't be sure yet. He and his team mates will pass in front of our house.''

''Right.'' Kodi said. ''Dusty said that the scents were familiar. I should take her to the dog door to catch the scents.

Kodi pushed her bed to the dog door and he looked through the door in case Dingo's team would pass by. Then he noticed them.

''Alright.'' Kodi said. ''You ready, Dusty?''

Dusty nodded and peeked through the dog door, trying not to be seen. She sniffed the air. Then she pulled back.

''And?'' Kodi asked.

''I think we're close.'' Dusty said. ''But I can't be 100% sure.''

''Kodi, would you please go and inspect more?'' Max asked. ''Don't worry, we'll look after her for you.''

''Yes, sir.'' Kodi said as he left the house and secretly followed Dingo's team.

As he noticed them from the alley, Vincent and Fiona went back. Kodi doubted that they'd attack her. So the only ones could be Rico and Forrest. He noticed Dingo and Dana taking Rico and Forrest to the boiler room.

He climbed from the behind and realized that he skipped one part of the conversation, but he came just in time to her Dana asking: ''Wouldn't you two have anything with Dusty's injuries?''

Kodi raised his head silently and noticed that Rico and Forrest were trying to escape upon being asked. But they were blocked as Kirby and Ralph blocked the door, growling.

''Well?'' Dingo asked, slightly mad. ''Do you have anything with that?!''

Forrest and Rico backed up to the corner. As they couldn't escape anywhere else, they muttered: ''Yes...''

''WHAT?!'' Dana yelled madly. ''Why would you do that?! Don't you two know what damage you have done?!''

''We weren't happy for losing the race.'' Forrest said.

''That's not the reason to attack the other sled dogs!'' Dingo yelled, as he and Dana were leaving the boiler room. ''You two better think about what you have done and we'll make sure you two apologize to her!''

Dingo and Dana exited the boiler room as Rico and Forrest were looking at the floor embarrassed.

Kodi returned home as soon as possible to bring out the news. He entered the house.

''Well?'' Dusty asked.

''I got some good news.'' Kodi said. ''Molly, you're right. Dingo's two team-mates were responsible for attacking her.''

Max smirked madly, but Molly shot him with that look, Max calmed down.

Then, Dingo entered the house.

''The case is closed.'' Dingo informed them. ''Rico and Forrest were the ones who attacked you.''

''Dingo, thanks a lot.'' Dusty said. ''Thanks for busting them.''

''Anytime.'' Dingo said. ''Even I'm humorous most of the time, I can be very serious when my family and friends are in trouble. I'll make sure they apologize to you, Dusty.''

''Thanks a lot, Dingo.'' Kod said as Dingo nodded thankfully.

Then Dingo left the house as Kirby and Ralph returned.

''Well, we don't have to worry.'' Max said. ''Dusty, you'll be recovering for a while.''

''I know, dad.'' Dusty said. ''Kodi said that he'd look after me.''

''That's sure nice of him.'' Max said, looking at Kodi proudly. ''You two better get some rest now.''

As the days passed, Dusty was recovering faster than expected. In the meantime, Rico came by and apologized to her.

''Is everything right now?'' Rico asked.

''It is.'' Dusty said. ''But you'll be sorry if you do this again.''

''I know.'' Rico said in shame. ''Forrest's gone. He disappeared a night ago. I don't know where.'' Then he left the house.

When John came by once again to remove the cast and the bandages, Dusty was fully healed.

''Faster than I thought.'' John said.

''Yeah.'' Simpson said. ''And it seems that Kodi and Dusty grew closer to each other.''

''I see.'' John said. ''I'll see you later then.''

As Kodi and Dusty were alone in the room, Dusty said: ''Kodi, can I ask you a question?''

''Sure, go ahead.'' Kodi said.

''Do you... love me?'' Dusty asked, surprising Kodi greatly.

''I... Yes... I do!'' Kodi replied excitedly after getting the words.

''Do you think that we should... you know.'' Dusty asked.

''I understand.'' Kodi said, knowing what Dusty meant. ''We just have to ask our parents.''

Later...

''Why sure, Dusty.'' Molly said. ''You two are for each other.''

''And yet, he saved you.'' Max said.

''Thanks.'' Dusty said. Then Kodi returned with the good news.

''My parents are okay with all this.'' Kodi said.

''That's really nice to hear.'' Max said. ''Finally Balto and I will become brothers-in-law.''

''Shall we go to the beach tonight?'' Kodi asked Dusty.

''You're on it.'' Dusty said.

Later, that night...

Kodi and Dusty were sitting next to each other at the beach, looking at the stars.

''Kodi, I want to thank you for everything you've done.'' Dusty said.

''Thanks, Dusty.'' Kodi said. ''I always knew we'd be together ever since we met in that alley three years ago.''

Dusty blushed at that and nuzzled her best friend, her savior, her future mate. Kodi nuzzled her as well.

The next morning...

''Wonderful!'' Molly said. ''You two would be great parents!''

''I know, mom.'' Dusty said. ''But we can't be sure yet if we're going to have pups or not.''

''We'll have to wait for a while.'' Max said. ''Anyways, you two make great couple.''

Kodi nodded. Then he asked Dusty: ''How about we tell my parents about this?''

''Sure, let's go.'' Dusty said as the two left the house to tell Balto and Jenna about this.

Chapter 24: Two gifts
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The news about Kodi and Dusty becoming mates spread quickly through Kodi's family, even to some others who weren't his family.

Out of the most interested ones was Kenai. He's been living in Nome for two weeks and yet, he admitted that the loved Aleu the day before they arrived.

Both Aleu and Kenai got used to the night time to walk across the town. They'd be always together though, in case no one of them would get attacked alone.

Later that night, Aleu and Kenai came to the town. Kenai was thinking what should he do for Aleu to gain her love. They were closer to each other, but Kenai wanted to go beyond.

He had no idea if he should give her a gift. Everything in town was closed and if he would end up in human's house, he'd regret that.

As much as he was thinking, he noticed that Aleu wasn't with him anymore.

''Aleu?'' Kenai asked as he looked around, only to realize that she must have gone to an another street or alley.

''She'll be back soon.'' Kenai thought to himself. ''She lived in here before she joined us. We're back, and I'm sure she got used on the town quickly.''

He started looking around for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Then, he saw a dark red husky on the other side of the alley. Kenai recognized the husky.

''Yukon?'' Kenai asked as the husky nodded.

''Hey, Kenai.'' Yukon greeted him, then he noticed that Aleu wasn't with him. ''Where's Aleu?''

''I'm asking myself the same.'' Kenai said. ''She must have walked into the wrong street.''

''Possibly.'' Yukon replied.

''I've heard that your brother Kodi has finally found his true love.'' Kenai said.

''Yeah.'' Yukon said. ''I'm really glad he found one. And what about you?''

''Ever since Kodi found his love, I decided to gain Aleu's love.'' Kenai said, blushing.

''Really? Kenai, that's great to know!'' Yukon said, surprising Kenai.

''You really think so?'' Kenai asked.

''Why of course I do.'' Yukon answered. ''After all, you live here now. And I wouldn't mind to be your brother-in-law!''

Kenai was now blushing even greater. Yukon was actually supporting him to gain Aleu's love!

''Okay, Yukon.'' Kenai said. ''I'll be going now, to find Aleu.''

''I understand.'' Yukon replied as Kenai was heading towards the alley. ''Good