Jenna ran to Balto’s side to see if he wasn’t hurt to badly. Steele approached the body, as he came closer, it became more and more clear who it was.

"No! Why did you do that!? Why?!" Steele shouted. His voice sounded sad, like he was trying to hold back tears.

The body that laid there was Niska. She had a gash between her neck and shoulder. It was as if a higher power, pulled the demons from his head. Steele came back to reality.

Niska looked at Steele and said, "I followed you here. I didn’t want to lose you to other girls. I see that you had something else you had to deal with."

"Niska....I....im so sorry." He didn’t know what else to say.

Niska nuzzled him, and said, "I know you didn’t mean it, but I couldn’t let you do what you were going to do."

Steele felt like the stupidest creature on earth. She still loved him, even after all he’s done to her. Niska passed out from exhaustion, the bite was to much for her.

====================

Steele looked at Balto and Jenna, "Is there any where I can take her!?" he said with fear.

"Our vet was hiking on White Mountain, and was caught in a snow storm." Jenna said.

"He’s still lost up there." Balto added.

Steele thought about what he was going to do.

"Where can I find a sled?" Steele said.

Balto and Jenna said they didn’t know, Steele told them to keep watch for her while he went to find one.

He whispered to Niska, "Ill be back for you, I promise." Steele ran into town.

"Can you believe that someone loves Steele? Even after all he’s done?" Jenna said to Balto.

"Everyone deserves a second chance." Balto replied. But this was not Steele’s second chance, but his third. Steele was going to make things right this time.

Steele ran back with a sled that he dragged. He found it outside. A musher must have went in a building and left it unguarded, Steele needed it, so he took it.

Steele gently put Niska on the sled.

"Where are you going?" Balto asked.

"Back to her town, there’s a veterinarian there. He can help." Steele said as he tried the best he could to harness himself. He missed a few holes to clip in, and some buttons. But he only needed to make sure he could drag it.

"You’re a lucky dog Steele. Not everyone gets another chance." Balto said as he struggled to get up.

Steele heard this and ignored it, but he acted like he didn’t hear it.

Steele ran as fast as he could. He was not about to let Niska go again, the way he did before. He ran until his chest burned and his heart felt like it was going to burst. But he didn’t stop, not for a moment. Her life meant more to him than his own. He ran, for what felt like an eternity, until he saw small cabins and ran even faster as he came closer to town. Steele took her to the veterinarians front door to the building. Steele barked until someone opened the door. A man in white came outside and looked at the sled.

"Oh, dear." He said. "This doesn’t look good. Thank goodness you came here, any longer and this could have ended badly." He said as he patted Steele on the head.

Steele watched the man gently carry Niska into the building. The man turned around and smiled at Steele and said, "Don’t worry, she’ll be fine."

as he walked in other people in white surrounded Niska and took her away until he couldn’t see her any more.

Steele waited outside for hours. The sun started to set. Steele’s ears stood straight as he heard footsteps on the hard wood floor. The same man came out and told him she was going to fine, but she needed rest. He spoke to Steele as if he knew he was here for her. When the man went back in, Steele thought to himself,

‘I cant stay here. How could I look at her knowing that I did this to her?’

======================

Steele got up and began to walk back to Nome. On his way he saw a window that looked into Niska’s room. Steele had to tell her goodbye before he left. He loosened the hinges to the window and was able to push it open. Niska was asleep, he walked up to her and whispered in her ear,

"Im so sorry it had to end this way. Im so sorry I did this to you. But no matter what, ill always love you." Steele gave her a kiss and left the way he came.

That walk back to Nome was the most horrible thing Steele ever had to endure. He was forced to relive what happened in his mind. The walk felt longer than the others. He came to Nome and went to the boat that Balto lived on. There was one last thing he had to do.

His claws scratched against the wood as he walked. Balto jumped out in front of Steele with his teeth baring.

"What have you come here for? To finish what you started?" Balto growled at him.

Steele sighed and said, "No, but to end what I started."

Balto relaxed, but was still was ready to see what would happen.

"Balto, I want to......ummm....apologize for what I did before, and in the past. I understand if you don’t accept." Steele said looking at him

at first Balto thought it was a trick, to let his guard down. But there was something that convinced him otherwise. Steele’s eyes were full of sorrow and hurt, he has never known Steele to apologize for anything. Balto sat down and said,

"Alright, I believe you." Steele laid down and sighed.

"Who was that young husky, and how did you know her?" Balto asked.

Steele looked at him, "She was my love. My only love....Niska."

=====================

Steele told his story to Balto. Balto felt sorry for him, something he thought he would never feel for Steele.

"I can never look at her again, not after what I did to her."

Balto heard water drops hit against the wood. Steele was crying, but Balto acted like he didn’t see it.

"Not many people get as many chances like you did." Balto said.

"Not many people screwed up the way I did, either." Steele added.

Balto stood up.

"But she still loves you, she will forgive you."

Balto had a point. If she would follow him all the way here and nuzzle him after what he did, there was a chance.

"It maybe a long shot, but if there’s a chance to claim my love once more, then ill take it!" Steele shouted.

Steele went outside and was ready to run back to that town.

"Steele, wait!" Balto shouted. Steele stopped. "A woman’s heart can only take so much. Love her, don’t repeat your past."

The wind blew, and the ground grew colder.

Steele stood there for a while, staring into the distance.

"Balto.....thank you, for listening, and understanding." Steele never looked at him, but Balto knew he meant it.

Steele ran from there, he couldn’t wait to see his Niska again. He reached the town that he missed for so long. He never stopped till he reached Niska’s house. Steele looked at it and gathered himself to walk up to her door. He took a deep breath and was about to walk up the doorstep until a man walked out of the house and locked the door. Steele has never seen this man before. Steele thought to himself.

‘That wasn’t Samuel. Who was that, and why is he in Niska’s house?’

His thoughts were interrupted by another dogs voice.

"Hey Steele!" The dog shouted.

He walked up to Steele. "You looking for Niska?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, she’s not here." The dog said.

Steele’s heart stopped, he felt dead inside.

"What happened to her!? Where did she go!?" Steele asked the dog frantically.

"I don’t know, nobody knows. Her master was scared for her life after someone really hurt her. She had a big gash on the side of her shoulder. Who would do that to such a nice girl?" Steele was ashamed of himself.

"Anyway, they just up and left without telling anybody. I saw you drag her on that sled when you found her the way she was. It’s a shame to, you two were so happy with each other. Then you left, we all guessed you went to go find the mutt who did that to her."

Every relationship had its dark sides. This was the rotten core of all of them. He was the monster who hurt Niska. He never said anything else to the dog.

"You know, I really hate to be the one who has to tell you this." The dog patted him on the shoulder.

"Anyways, welcome back, Steele." The dog walked away.

Steele didn’t know what to do. He was so close to having her back, and she was out of his grasp. Steele went under a house and silently cried.

===================

Steele wallowed in his despair for almost ten minutes, he opened one eye and saw a familiar paw.

‘No, it couldn’t have been. She was gone.’

He looked up and saw her, Niska. She looked down at him, smiling. Steele jolted up and looked at her.

"Niska? Is this you? Is it really you?" He nuzzled her and she nuzzled him back.

She was warm, her fur was soft. It was her. Steele began to tear up.

"I thought you left. I thought......" He couldn’t speak. He was to overjoyed with happiness.

"If you ever need to find me, ill be here waiting for you. And you came back. I promised you I would be here for you when you needed me."

His tears ran like the river in the valley, and so did hers.

"I thought you left, I was scared that I would never see you again." He whispered to her.

"My master did want to leave, but I wanted to stay, and hoped you would return. I ran so he wouldn’t find me and make me leave without being with you. After a while he gave up and left because he already sold the house." She kissed him after she told her story to her.

"I heard what you said to me that day." Niska said.

"I meant every word." Steele said kissing her back.

Steele had one other question he had to ask her.

"Are we still.....mates? He said.

"Yes...I would want nothing more." Niska replied.

They both walked down the street, together. As they were walking, a young male dog came up to Steele.

"Your not so strong to be the alpha male!" He laughed. "I challenge you, for title of alpha male!"

Everyone knew Steele could easily defeat that dog. Steele himself was ready to fight. A thought occurred to him.

‘This title was what started the whole thing. It will just cycle all over again.’

Steele walked up to the dog, and told him,

"Then I relinquish my title as alpha, and bestow it