cried,

“You will pay for our shame!” He met Echo head on, and they tumbled to the ground in a flurry of claws and teeth, but Echo soon had help. Gunther and Treffen joined in and pinned him to the ground as Echo stood over him. “Free pack scum! Your young ones-”

“Will remain here,” Echo finished. Looking out into the clearing, and then at the tree line, he said, “You fight well, but I don’t think your pack shares your enthusiasm.” Vanuk craned his neck and looked into the forest. Everyone else followed his gaze. Not one of the wolves moved to help their leader. Vanuk’s eyes went red with hatred.

“Traitors!” he screamed.

“You would have led us to death, coward!” one wolf replied.

“Our new leader sympathizes with us and he will lead us to victory!” From his perch behind the waterfall, Milo could see one silver wolf turn to face the others.

“You have your orders, now carry them out!” she shouted. The rest of Vanuk’s former pack disappeared into the woods, and the silver wolf was about to follow them when Vanuk cried out to her.

“Sadera, how could you?” The silver wolf turned and smirked at him.

“You weak-minded fool; you cannot even comprehend what our grand leader has planned. Therefore, you are worthless. Good bye.” She flashed him an evil smile and vanished into the underbrush. Echo, Balto and the others watched her go and then looked down at Vanuk.

“What should we do with him?” Balto asked.

“I don’t know,” Echo admitted, “but…I have a bad feeling.... Something is very wrong here.”

“I’m going back to Nome.”

“Be safe, Balto.”

Jenna lay sleeping in the kitchen when she heard scratching on the door. She lifted her head and said,

“You can come in.” The scratching stopped, but no one came through the doggy door. Puzzled, Jenna got up and walked over to the small flap. Sticking her head through it, she looked around, but there was no one in sight. She stepped out into the chilly evening air and looked around once again. The snow muffled the sound of approaching paws just long enough. Before she could turn around, a blow to her head made her collapse unconscious.

Chapter Seven

“God, look at her!” said a male voice.

“Whoa, I wouldn’t mind cuddling up with her, even if she is a naghu.”

“That makes two of us,” yet another replied.

“Hey look! She’s waking up,” the first male said.

Jenna blinked and opened her eyes. Lifting her head, she immediately felt a throbbing pain between her ears. She winced and put a paw to her head as she looked around. She saw three male wolves staring at her with their eyes wide and their tongues hanging out of their mouth. She noticed that they were staring at her exposed belly. Frowning at them, she rolled over and they groaned in disappointment. Trying to mask her fear as she looked around, Jenna said,

“Where am I?”

“You’re in Dark Mountain territory,” the closest male replied, stepping forward and wrapping a paw around her neck, “but don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” He grinned and laughed. Jenna squirmed out of his grasp and said,

“Well, I don’t intend to stay.” She began to slowly back away. To her surprise, none of the wolves made any attempt to stop her. Just then, her tail brushed against something, and she turned to come face to face with a smirking silver female.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she sneered. Swallowing her fears, Jenna replied,

“Anywhere but here.”

“You won’t be going anywhere,” the silver female replied, pointing behind her, “Someone wants to see you later, Jenna. You’ll be staying right here.” I don’t think so, Jenna thought. She turned and ran, but she heard the silver female bark orders behind her and within a few seconds Jenna was surrounded. A strong wolf with a scar across his left eye growled at her.

“You’re not getting away that easily, Miss Jenna.” How does he know my name? Jenna thought as her captor continued. “We’re going into the mountains, but first Sadera and her unit have some unfinished business with the wolf pack that your mate is friends with. Sadera.” The silver female nodded and led her wolves off into the forest.” Jenna watched them vanish among the trees, and then realizations struck her. She leapt after them, but the remaining wolves blocked her way. The same scarred wolf looked to the sky.

“Ah, a storm; it will make perfect cover for Sadera’s unit.” He turned and addressed the remaining wolves. “You all know your positions, now go!”

“Yes, captain!” they all replied in unison. The captain walked straight up to her. His eyes seemed to pass right through her, as if she wasn’t even there.

“Follow me, and don’t try anything stupid.” Quivering, Jenna obeyed. She was lead to a small den and shoved inside. “The boss said to make you feel welcome, but that doesn’t mean you get the run of the place.” He padded a few paces away, and then turned and said,

“I’ll be posting guards, so don’t try to leave…unless you have a death wish.” Slowly, Jenna backed away, her eyes fixed on the departing captain as if afraid he would return. Shivering, she lay down against the far sight of the wall and watched as the snow began to fall.

Balto padded back into Nome as the sun dipped below the horizon. He looked to the sky and smiled. The Northern Lights were dancing overhead and twilight would soon be upon the Alaskan wilderness. Maybe he’d take Jenna for a midnight walk on the beach. Tonight would be the perfect night. His thoughts were interrupted by Rosie’s small voice.

“Jenna! Jenna!” She spotted him walking towards her and ran over to meet him. “Balto, have you seen Jenna?” He looked back at her in surprise. Have I seen her? He thought, I thought she was with you! Just then, Rosie’s father walked up and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Rosie, come on honey, it’s late.”

“Dad, I have to find Jenna.”

“I’m sure she’s fine, wherever she is.”

“But dad-”

“No buts. Bed.”

“Okay,” she sighed as she reluctantly followed her father back inside their home and up the stairs to bed. In the kitchen, though, her mother and father talked. Balto walked around the house and listened through an open window.

“Honey,” Rosie’s dad was saying, “I’m sure Jenna’s fine.”

“But I haven’t seen her since we got back this afternoon,” Rosie’s mother protested, “and Balto came back here without her, and those two are practically inseparable.” She paused and listened to a noise upstairs. “Rosie can’t sleep. She’s worried.” She looked at her husband. “Please, dear?”

“Oh…oh, alright. I’ll go look.” He turned and reached for his coat and lantern, hanging on the wall. Balto left the window and dashed around to the front of the house. Any paw prints had been trampled over by Rosie and her family, but Jenna’s scent remained. Taking a good, long whiff of the scent, Balto turned and followed it.

Just then, Rosie’s father left out the front door, carrying a lantern and a small .22 rifle. He looked up in time to see Balto running off into the woods. Though he hardly knew him, Rosie’s father had a hunch that he and Balto were after the same thing, so he whispered,

“Go find her boy. Bring her back safe.” With that, he slung his rifle over his shoulder and set off after him.

Jenna lay sleeping in her small cave prison when wolf voices woke her. She looked up and almost cried out in surprise. The black and white malamute that stood before her was all too familiar.

“Steele…”

“Hello, Jenna,” he said almost casually, “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes…”

“I’m glad you decided to stay.” It’s not like I had a choice, Jenna thought. “So,” Steele continued, “Did you like the looks of my pack?”

“Th-this is your pack?” Steele nodded, pleased at Jenna’s surprised, and almost fearful, expression.

“How… Why do they listen to you?”

“I guess I’m just a born leader.” He stepped towards her. “I was hoping you might run with me. After all, I am the leader of the most powerful wolf pack on the Alaskan tundra.” Jenna took a step back.

“Steele, is that what this is about? You’re mad because I went with Balto, aren’t you?” Steele fell silent; he didn’t have a comeback for that. “I didn’t pick Balto because he brought the medicine or because he was a big hero. I chose him because he makes me feel special, he cares about me, and he loves me…And I love him back.” Steele just continued to stare at her. Jenna took a deep breath and said, “I’m Balto’s mate, and no one else’s.” Steele looked at her for a moment, and then turned to walk away, but before he took two steps his eyes burned with anger and he swung his paw at her. It made contact on her cheek, throwing her against the cave wall. He almost smiled when she cried out in pain.