said.

“Aleu is your daughter?” Connal asked.

Jenna nodded.

“How is it that she came to lead the Talbourne then?” He responded

Jenna sighed. “My mate… Balto is half wolf. She embraced that side of her.”

Connal nodded. “Wise choice.”

Jenna sighed. “I just… I wish I could go back, knowing what I do now. I wish I could redo it.”

Jade stepped forward and put her paw on Jenna’s shoulder. “Dwelling on the past won’t make the present any better, and it will most certainly taint the future.”

Connal smiled. “My mate is right…” He looked at her and smiled. “…as she always is.”

He looked back at Jenna.

We all have things in our life we regret, but if we think on them now, then we are prone to repeating those mistakes, or making new ones.”

Jenna nodded.

“Besides,” Dolo said, stepping next to her. “You’re with us now, a part of the Lorelei Clan. It is better to embrace the things we have to teach you, things that will prolong your life out here. It is better to forget the past… your past life.”

Jenna nodded.

He was right of course.

“…but can I do that?” Jenna thought. “Can I forget about Nome…about Balto?”

She didn’t know.

Dolo smiled at her. “Come Jenna, your training will begin at once, your survival is important after all.”

Jenna nodded.

“We’ll be gone for a few days Connal.” Dolo said, walking toward the entrance to the small cave.

Connal nodded. “Take care of her Dolo. She hasn’t grown in this environment, and doesn’t know much about the dangers that exist out here.”

Dolo nodded. “I’ll watch her.”

He turned to Jenna. “Follow me.”

Jenna turned and followed Dolo out of the cave,

Back in Nome, Balto was walking down the street when he saw Drake walking toward him.

“It couldn’t hurt to ask. After all, Drake and I have been friends for a long time.” Balto thought. “Maybe he’ll listen to me.”

He walked up to Drake.

“Hello Balto.” Drake said. “How are you doing?”

Balto sighed. “I’ve definitely been better.”

He sighed.

“Is there any way that I could convince you to revisit your decision on Jenna’s case?”

Drake sighed. “Balto please don’t do this, you know how this works. Why would you even ask?”

Balto felt himself growing angry.

“Well excuse me for having a little hope here Drake. You just took away the one thing that meant something to me in my life. I can’t live without her.”

Drake shook his head. “Do you think I don’t miss her too?”

“You exiled her.” Balto said.

“You think that was easy?” Drake asked. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Drake too felt anger bubble to the surface of his emotions at Balto’s ignorance of his own feelings.

“You forget that Jenna was mine at one time.”

“At one time.” Balto said. “…not now.”

“Listen.” Drake said. “I still love her. She made the decision regarding us, not me.”

“Yeah Drake.” Balto retorted. “You love her. You forget, she’d be dead if it had been up to you… or worse!”

Balto started walking a series of circles around Drake.

“You left her there with Steele! didn’t even try to fight him. Drake you’re a coward, don’t talk of love to me! I love Jenna! I would kill for her, would give my life for her! What did you give? Nothing! At the first sign of trouble, of danger, you fled like a newborn pup!

Drake was extremely angry by this point and tried to interject, however, Balto cut him off.

“Shut up!” He yelled. “Listen up, now! I tried talking to you, appealing to your freaking sense of dignity, of this “love” you speak of, but obviously that didn’t work, so I want you to know this. I will do anything it takes to get Jenna back, whatever it takes Drake… if you don’t have a sudden change of heart it won’t be a good thing for you.”

Balto turned and walked off.

“Is that a threat Balto?” Drake asked.

Balto stopped and turned.

“…after all these years, you’re threatening me, your friend?”

“You’re no friend of mine.” Balto said.

He turned and left Drake standing on the sidewalk.

Chapter 3:

Drake walked straight home after his confrontation with Balto.

What his friend had said had scared him, and he felt he had to talk to Gemeni right away.

As he walked into the old mill, Gemeni stood up. “Hey Drake, you alright? You don’t look so good.”

“Balto talked to me today.” Drake said. “He’s mad at me.”

Gemeni sighed. “I figured he would be.”

“I’m afraid he’s going to do something stupid.” Drake said. “I want you to be careful around him.”

“Around Balto?” Gemeni asked, laughing

softly.

She stopped as she saw the look on her mate’s face. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.” Drake said. “Just do it for me okay?”

Gemeni nodded. “I’ll watch for him.”

Drake nodded back at her and sighed. “I have to investigate some thieving that’s been going on at the butcher’s the past few nights.”

Gemeni sighed. “So it’s another late night, huh?”

Drake nodded. “Prob’ly early morning… I’m sorry.”

Gemeni smiled. “Don’t be. It’s your job, and it’s important… I just wish you could be around more.”

“I know,” Drake said. “…and I know I told you I’d be home tonight, but… you know how the butcher is, if he finds whoever’s doing it before I do, they’ll wind up dead.”

Gemeni nodded.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” Drake said. “Now, I’ve really got to get going.”

He nuzzled her.

“I love you.”

Gemeni smiled.

“I love you too Drake.”

He turned and walked out of the old mill.

“Who was that?” Jason said, walking into the room.

Gemeni sighed. “Your father.”

“Out on the job again?” Jason asked.

Gemeni nodded.

“So much for family night then, eh?” Jason said.

“Guess so.” Gemeni said. “You know how important you father’s job is.”

Jason nodded. “If I don’t have to be here tonight, is it all right if I go across town and see Ramsey?”

“That’s the German Shepard, right?” Gemeni said.

“No Mom,” Jason said, rolling his eyes. “The “German Shepard” is Jack, Ramsey is the Corgi.”

“Oh.” Gemeni said, “I’m sorry… yeah, it’s all right, just make sure you’re home by ten, you know how your father feels about you guys being that far away from home when it’s that late.”

“Alright,” Jason said.

“I mean it young man,” Gemeni said. “Ten o’clock.”

“I’ll be here Mom.” Jason said, walking toward the door.

“…be safe, don’t play near the road and stay out of the outskirts.” Gemeni said.

Jason stuck his head back in the door.

“Mom, you really worry too much.”

Then he walked away.

Gemeni laughed to herself. “Wait till you have children of your own kid,” she thought, “you’ll learn to worry too.”

It was around one o’clock in the morning when Drake finally made it home.

The stakeout hadn’t produced any leads; apparently the thief hadn’t been hungry tonight.

He sighed and walked into the old mill. He was tired, and very ready to go to sleep.

It had been a long day.

All his weariness left him however when he saw Gemeni.

She was crying.

“What’s wrong?” Drake said, walking up to her.

“Oh Drake, you’re home!” She said through her tears. “I… Jason, he’s… he’s…”

A great sense of dread filled Drake then.

“Take it easy dear, calm down.” He said. “What’s wrong with Jason?”

“He didn’t come home.” Gemeni said. “I just know something has happened to him.”

“He’s not here?” Drake asked.

“No,” Gemeni said. “He went to see one of his friends, a… Ramsey I think was his name.”

“Ramsey!” Drake said. “Isn’t that the Corgi who lives across town?”

Gemeni nodded. “I told him to be back by ten.”

“Then he’s very late.” Drake said.

Gemeni nodded. “I just know something has happened to him. We should go look for him.”

“I think I know where to find him.” Drake said.

“Where?” Gemeni asked.

“I told you to be careful and you laughed at me remember?” he sighed and felt a wave of hot anger flood his system, clouding his thoughts.

“I think Balto may have taken him.”

“What?” Gemeni said. “You… you can’t be serious.”

“I’m going to get him.” Drake said. “Wait