what’s wrong?” he asked again.

‘I’m… I’m….”

Dusty could hardly say it.

“Ben, I’m pregnant.”

“Oh!” Ben said, standing up rather quickly. “Well… that’s… that’s not so… bad.”

Dusty sighed and stood up, having regained control of herself once again.

“It is when my mate is coming home soon.”

“Mate?” Ben said, backing away from her. “Well… yeah, that… that would complicate things a bit…”

“Ben, I came to tell you I can’t be coming here anymore…”

“But… but Dusty I…”

Dusty cut him off.

“Don’t Ben, please don’t, it was good while it lasted, let’s remember it that way. I’ve…”

Dusty stopped and turned away, walking toward the doggy door.

“I love him, and I’ve got to try to salvage this… somehow…”

Chapter 3

It was a few days later, and Dusty was laying in the floor of the barn that she and Kodi had made their home in.

“Kodi…” Dusty thought.

She covered her face with her paws.

“What was I thinking?”

She shook her head and stood up.

“Stop it Dusty, there will always be regrets, what’s done is done, now you just have to hope he finds it in his heart to forgive you.”

Dusty heard the door swing open then.

She jumped to her feet, as Kodi stepped in the barn, out of the swirling snow.

“Kodi!” She said, “you’re… you’re home early…”

“Yeah…” Kodi responded. “Is everything alright? I know you’re going to think this is crazy, but I felt something was horribly wrong, here back home.”

“Where’s the rest of the team?” Dusty asked.

“Probably still in White Mountain.” Kodi said.

“You left them!” Dusty exclaimed.

“I told you,” Kodi said, stepping forward. “I felt as if something awful was happening back home. I came as fast as I could.”

Dusty started to cry.

Kodi looked concerned.

“Dusty, what is it?”

“Kodi I’m… I… God Kodi, I’m so sorry, so sorry…”

“What is it?” Kodi asked, now seriously worried about her answer. “What’s wrong? Dusty, speak to me, come on.”

“I’m pregnant.” Dusty said.

Kodi stepped back.

“Well that’s not so bad, I mean we’ve been parents before, true, it’s a little unexpected but…”

Dusty cut him off.

“Kodi they’re not yours.”

Kodi stopped in mid sentence.

“What?”

“Kodi, I’m so sorry.”

“Not… not mine, but… but that means…”

Kodi’s eyes filled with tears, as he realized what the trouble back home had been.

“Kodi, I’m so sorry, I… I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Get out.” Kodi said flatly.

“What?” Dusty asked.

“I said leave, get out of here Dusty, NOW!”

“Please find it within you to forgive me.” Dusty said. “We can get through this together.”

Kodi laughed.

“Well now, that would be perfect for you, wouldn’t it? I won’t go anywhere near them.

“Kodi I love you so much.” Dusty said.

Kodi turned back to her, his eyes and temper blazing.

“Yeah!” He yelled. “Yeah you love me so much that when I’m not home for four weeks, you run around on me, oh you love me a boatload!”

He sighed.

“Dusty how could you do this to me!? You think I didn’t miss you, didn’t have… opportunities? But I remained faithful, and you, you find time to cheat on me even after taking care of the kids, or did you throw their love and considerations out the window with mine?”

Dusty took a step back, her eyes filling with tears as well.

“Kodi please…”

Kodi cut her off, and when he turned to face her, the look of sadness was gone, replaced by pure hatred.

“No Dusty, just leave.”

“Kodi if you’ll just…”

“No!” Kodi yelled.

Dusty jumped back.

He stopped, took a deep breath, and exhaled. “Dusty, I’m restraining myself right now, but I don’t know what will happen if I let go. Now leave.”

Dusty walked over to him, as he turned his back on her.

The door to the barn was still open, and Dusty could see the swirling snow as the blizzard moved in.

“But… but Kodi I… I love you…”

Kodi sighed, and turned back to Dusty.

This time, a great pain was etched across his features, a pain unlike any Dusty had ever seen.

“I do too Dusty…” Kodi said. “… but love isn’t enough anymore.”

He turned away from her again.

Dusty sobbed, turned, and sprinted through the door as fast as she could.

Kodi sat down rather hard.

“Dang it, I love you Dusty, why.. why’d you do this?”

“Daddy?”

Kodi turned at the small voice.

He smiled through the tears that were coursing down his face.

“Julie.”

His daughter looked concerned as she walked over to him.

“What’s wrong Daddy?”

Kodi smiled.

“Grown up stuff.”

The young pup yawned, and Kodi led her to her bed.

“Where’s Mommy?” Julie asked.

Kodi sighed.

“Mommy may not be coming back for a while. Get some sleep, and I’ll explain in the morning.

“Okay Daddy.” Julie said.

Soon she was fast asleep.

Kodi walked over to his bd, laid down, and cried.

Dusty walked quickly up the steps to the small cabin.

She didn’t know where else to go.

Balto and Jenna would probably hate her for what she’d done to their son, so she couldn’t go there.

She ducked through the doggy door, and walked into the living room.

Ben stood up and smiled, walking over to her.

“Hey Dusty.”

His smile faded when he saw how upset she was.

“What’s wrong Dusty?”

“Kodi found out.”

“What?” Ben asked. “How?”

Dusty just looked at him.

“I’m pregnant, it’s going to be pretty apparent soon… I had to tell him.”

“What did he do?” Ben asked.

“I…”

Tears started to form in Dusty’s eyes.

“I don’t have a home anymore.”

Ben understood why she’d come back here then.

He backed away from her.

“Dusty… as much as I love you… I’m not ready for kids, for a family.”

Dusty just stared at him.

“What?”

“You can’t stay here with them.” Ben said.

More tears filled Dusty’s eyes then.

She did her best to hold them off, long enough to talk.

“Fi… Fine, but do me a favor…. If you see my mate, his… his name is… Kodi… tell him… tell him that I loved him more… more than he’ll ever know, and… and I hope… hope he has a good life with… without me…”

Dusty turned and ran out of the cabin.

Ben sighed, feeling sorry for her.

He stepped outside. He could hardly see for all the blowing snow.

“Dusty!” He yelled.

The sharp wind yanked his voice away, and Ben could hear nothing.

“Dusty!”

This time the call got past the wind, but as Ben stood there… no Dusty.

He sighed.

She was gone.

Chapter 4

The following morning, Kodi walked slowly up the steps to his father’s porch.

“Maybe he can help me…” Kodi thought.

Kodi jumped through the window of the cabin, and walked into the house.

He saw his dad laying down beside the fireplace.

Kodi joined him.

“Oh hi Kodi,” Balto said, “I didn’t know you were there son, bout gave me a heart attack…’

His smile vanished as he looked up and saw his son’s eyes.

“Kodi, are you alright? You look tired.”

Kodi yawned.

“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Is something wrong?” Balto asked, standing up.

Kodi sighed.

“Dusty is pregnant.”

“Really?” Balto said, “what’s so horrible about that.”

“They’re….”

Kodi had to stop, afraid he would start crying again, and never be able to stop.

He sighed.

“Dad, they aren’t mine.”

Balto looked confused for a moment, then abruptly took a step back.

“You don’t mean she…”

Kodi nodded.

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Kodi said.

Balto sighed.

“Kodi I… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what Dad?” Kodi said, “You didn’t do anything, Dusty did.”

“… but I’ve been there before.” Balto said.

Kodi nodded.

“Angel.”

Balto sighed and nodded at his son.

“Yeah…”

It was silent for a moment.

“Where is she?” Balto asked.

“I don’t know.” Kodi answered.

“What do you mean?” Balto asked.

“I kicked her out.” Kodi replied.

“In the middle of the storm?” Balto asked.

Kodi nodded.

“What else was I supposed to do? What would YOU have done!” He yelled.

“Hey Kodi calm down.” Balto said, “son I know how she feels, and… well you’ve got to find her, and talk to her.”

Kodi shook his head.

“No, we’re through, I never want to see her stupid face again, EVER!”

Balto sighed.

“Kodi…. I know that’s not true.”

Kodi looked back at his father.

“You… you sympathize with