him realize what we felt like.”

“Oh Jenna.” Balto said. “Drake wasn’t responsible for Everest’s death, in fact, he’s not dead at all. All you’ve done is get yourself in deep trouble.”

He paused and sighed. “Why didn’t you talk to me?”

“I wanted to Balto,” Jenna thought. “…but the voice… it threatened the kids… and you… if I didn’t follow through with it’s wishes… if I told you anything. I… I did it so you would be safe.”

“Really?” Jenna asked. “Everest is alive?”

Balto nodded. “He and the children are living with Aleu right now.”

“Then I have made a mistake.” Jenna said.

“I’ll say!” Balto yelled.

This sudden outburst startled Jenna, and she backed into the corner.

“I don’t know what Drake is going to do with you!” Balto continued. “He can have you killed! Do you realize that? Did you think about that? What that would do to me?”

Jenna sighed and shook her head. “No… I didn’t.”

“Well think about it now.” Balto said. “Think about it long and hard Jenna.”

Jenna sighed again, hung her head and closed her eyes.

Balto sighed. “Your trial is scheduled for two days from now. I suggest you find something better tell Drake than you told me by then, otherwise…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, just turned and walked out the door, leaving Jenna in the dark shed… alone.

Chapter 6:

Aleu and Shadow were walking through the woods near the Talbourne’s cave.

They’d almost made it home.

Both Aleu and Shadow were moving somewhat slower than usual, owing to the fact that both of them had been knocking on death’s door only yesterday.

Aleu hopped over a fallen tree, waiting for Shadow, who climbed over.

Shadow seemed to be hurt worse than Aleu. He was moving quite a bit slower than Aleu would have liked.

She wanted to get home.

A new group of humans had begun to attack the Talbourne, and their weapons rivaled anything Aleu had ever seen.

She especially feared for her children’s safety. If one of the humans had been able to pick off she and Shadow, the kids would be easy targets for him.

They were about twenty miles from home now, and Aleu wanted to run all the way, but Shadow couldn’t keep up with her, and Aleu herself was not sure she could even do it if he could.

“So,” Shadow said. “Who do you think is behind this new attack?”

Aleu shook her head. “It has to be Shade. He targeted the two of us specifically.”

“…but we were both shot.” Shadow retorted. “Shade couldn’t do that, could he?”

Aleu and Shadow began to climb the steep hill in front of them.

“Not as a wolf.” Aleu said, looking at him. “No.”

“So you think he’s a human?” Shadow asked.

Aleu sighed. “Most likely.”

The two of them stepped up on top of the hill and stopped for a moment to catch their breath.

“That’s not good.” Shadow said. “He’s hard enough to fight as a wolf.”

Aleu nodded.

Suddenly, a black blur shot out of the trees in front of the two.

“Look out!” An unfamiliar voice called.

Aleu was struck by the black blur and knocked to the ground.

A yelp escaped her as she landed on her stomach and rolled over backwards, the black thing on top of her. The two of them rolled off the edge of the hill, and toward the bottom.

Just as Shadow was about to lay into whatever had attacked Aleu, a sharp crack split the air, and the ground where Aleu had been standing exploded upward in a plume of snow.

Shadow leapt down the hill, following Aleu.

He ran to the bottom, where Aleu and a large black wolf, of a type Shadow had never seen before, lay.

Aleu rolled over and shook her head.

“Oww.” She said. “What was that? What happened?”

Shadow was short of breath from his sprint down the hill. “You almost got shot again.”

“What hit me?” She asked.

“He did.” Shadow said.

“Who?” Aleu asked.

Shadow tossed his head in the direction of the black wolf.

Aleu turned and stood up quickly. “My, he’s big!”

Shadow nodded. “I haven’t ever seen a wolf that big before. He must not be from around here.”

Aleu nodded. “I wonder where?”

“I don’t know.” Shadow said. “Why don’t you ask him?”

“What?” Aleu asked.

“He’s coming around.” Shadow said.

Aleu walked over and stood over the unconscious wolf.

He groaned and opened his eyes. He blinked a few times and looked around.

At first his vision was a little blurry, and it seemed as if there were three of Aleu to him, all rotating around each other. Soon though, the three images coalesced into one.

“Hello.” Aleu said.

The black wolf groaned again, and sat up.

“Thank you for saving me?” Aleu said. “What’s your name?”

“My name is Saeidifar.” The black wolf said.

“Well… where are you from?” Aleu asked. “…obviously not from around here.”

Saeidifar laughed. “No, not from around here. I used to live in Persia.”

“Persia?” Aleu asked. “Where’s that?”

“Suffice it to say that it’s a long ways from here.” Saeidifar said.

“Oh…” Aleu responded. “What brings you to Alaska, so far away from home?”

Saeidifar sighed. “My… my mate and only child were taken from me, trapped in the mountains by a group of humans… I’m trying to find them.”

“How did you get here?” Aleu asked.

“I snuck on board a ship that was coming here. I heard this is where they were taken.”

“That’s awful.” Aleu said.

Saeidifar nodded. “Yeah…” he said, sighing. “It… it is.”

Shadow stepped up next to Aleu. “Do you have anywhere to stay?” He asked.

“No.” Saeidifar said. “…but I’ll make do.”

“Nonsense.” Aleu said. “I’m the alpha of a Clan nearby, you can stay with us for a while.”

Saeidifar smiled. “Thank you for the offer, but I really must continue my search.”

“Oh come on.” Aleu said. “Stay one night at least, I owe you my life, it’s the least I can do to repay you.”

Saeidifar laughed. “Alright Aleu.” He said. “You talked me into it.”

Saeidifar yawned.

“I am a little tired.”

“Well just follow us.” Shadow said. “We’ll lead you to our cave.”

Saeidifar smiled. “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

Aleu and Shadow began to walk back up the hill, Saeidifar close behind.

Blaize was walking down the street, headed once more for the house that Astarre lived in.

He felt as if he were walking on air.

“So this is what it feels like to be in love.” Blaize thought dreamily.

Blaize had finally found the dog that was for him, and her name was Astarre.

He’d been unable to stop thinking about the golden husky since he’d first laid eyes on her a few days ago.

Though they hadn’t known each other long, Blaize knew this was the dog that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

He thought that Astarre might feel the same way, but there was no way for him to know but ask, and he couldn’t even think about that right now. The very thought made him feel lightheaded.

“I’ll find out soon enough.” Blaize thought.

He stopped as he came near the door to the now familiar home that Astarre lived in.

He heard yelling coming from inside.

“Where do you think you’re going?!” a gruff voice said.

“I’m going for a walk.” Astarre responded.

“Is that boy going with you?” The other dog asked.

“Yes! Yes he is!” Astarre yelled. “Does it really matter?”

“Young lady if you talk to me like that again, I swear…”

Astarre cut off the dog.

“…that what!? You’ll hit me again!? No wonder mom left you!”

There was a long pause.

Blaize stepped up on the porch.

“That must be her father.” Blaize thought. “…but she said “again”, when has he…”

Blaize stopped as he remembered how many times Astarre had “hurt herself” in the last few days.

“Oh man!” Blaize thought. “She was trying to cover for him.”

Blaize felt his anger rise as he thought of Astarre being hurt, and it took more than a little willpower to keep him from marching inside and taking care of the problem.

Soon, the door creaked open, and Astarre stepped out onto the porch.

“Hey Astarre.” Blaize said.

Astarre looked up at him. Her eyes glistened with the tears that coursed down her cheeks.

“Did you hear that?” She asked quietly.

Blaize nodded.

Astarre sighed. “Please… don’t tell anyone.”

Blaize shook his head. “Astarre, what he is doing to you is wrong, we should tell Drake.” “No!” Astarre said. She stopped and looked back to the