Months later,  Balto walked to the old boat. "Borris?"

  "Balto?"

  "I'm back! I'm me again!" Balto howled happily. Borris came into view.

  "I'm glad, Balto." borris smiled, weakly. "But Jenna is with Steele. Thye are just dating but..."

  "I told her to," Balto sighed.

   "You did what?" Borris demanded.

  "It was for her," Balto said. "I love her Borris. I had to save her somehow."

  "Balto-" Borris sighed.

  "I have to get her back," Balto said. "Steele could turn on her." Balto ran back into town.

  "Do you know where Jenna is?" he asked Dixie.

  "Um.. yeah, she's-" Dixie stopped and glared at him. "Are you going to kill her?"

  "NO!" Balto hissed, frustrated. "I wasn't me!"

  "Tell it to Jenna." Dixie turned away and kicked snow in his face. Balto growled, angrily.

  "Jenna," he whispered. He saw Dusty walking across the street.

  "Dusty!" He ran to her. She was Kodi's best friend, surely she'd know. "Where's Jenna."

  "Look who's back," Dusty growled.

   "Dusty, I wasn't me," Balto said. "Help me."

  "Help you?" Dusty cried. "No! Did you help Aleu or Jenna? No, you broke their hearts!"

  "Dusty!" Kodi ran to her.

  "Kodiak!" Balto wagged his tail. kodi would know!

  "Dusty," Kodi continued. "Let's get you away from the wolfdog! Half crazy half empty hearted." Kodi began to walk away with Dusty. "Did he hurt you?"

  "No." Dusty looked at the snow. "But he wants to hurt your mother."

 "I don't!" Balto cried. "Listen-"

  "Pappa!" Aleu ran to him and nuzzled him. "Are you back?"

   "I'm back. I'm me," Balto whispered.

  "Kodi, Dusty, stop!" Aleu said. "If I can forgive him, surely you can."

  "Yeah right!" Kodi snapped. "In his dreams."

  "Kodi," Aleu growled. "He lost it. I think it was Steele but Mom won't hear any of it. She claims that Steele has changed blah, blah, blah. I mean, a new born pup would know better!"

  "I agree." Dusty walked up to Balto and Aleu. "It was Steele's doing. How couldn't it be? I'm sorry Balto." Balto nodded in response.

 "Dusty!" Kodi hissed.

  "Get over here right now Kodiak!" Dusty hollared. Kodi walked to Dusty and glared at Balto.

 "He has to earn my trust," he growled.

  "I wouldn't xpect anymore from you," Balto replied.

  "I would," Dusty grumbled.

   "That's because you're my mate, Dusty," Kodi told her.

  Dusty shiftd. "Yeah well."

  "And you're expecting pups," Kodi said. "Which makes you grumpy."

 "I AM NOT GRUMPY!!!" Dusty screamed in Kodiak's ear.

 Kodi flinched. "Okay, okay. I never said that."

  "Yes you did," giggled Aleu.

  "Then let's pretend," Kodi hissed. "Well, dad, I'm sorry. Maybe you're right. Let's get mom."

  "I need to do this," Balto said. "Where is she?"

  "The boiler room," Kodi replied. Balto nodded and ran to the boiler room.

  "Jenna?"

  "Balto?" Jenna appeared.

  "Hey," he said. "I'm back."

 Jenna narrowed her eyes. "Too late."

  "I'm sorry," Balto said.

  "Too late, Balto." Jenna began to walk around him and she took off running.

  "Jenna!" He ran after her, heart punding.

  Balto had her cornered in an alley when she snapped, "What?"

  "I'm sorry. Maybe I can take you to the ice caps?" Balto suggested.

  "I'm with Steele," Jenna growled.

  "Not as a date!" Balto told her. "Just as friends. I'm me. Dusty, Kodiak, and aleu trust me."

  "Really?" Jenna raised her eyesbrows. "Okay then. When the moon rises. NOT a date!" Balto nodded.

  Balto shrunk back. "I'm sorry, Jenna. It wasn't meant to happen."

  Jenna, taken aback, just slowly walked away, after whispering, "I'm sorry, too."

 To be continued.... Can Balto pull it off before it's too late?