A few words from Tony, who started this all with his monumental saga:

[Sometimes as readers we stumble upon a story that we really like and enjoy... but that we as the readers have a different vision for. This has happened to me. I read Juuchan 17's Confession series and in my mind came up with the idea to write "Balto: A Forbidden Love". I was always grateful to her for letting me change her idea around, and I always told myself that if an opportunity came to do that for someone else I would take it. ...and here it has. Taka_PL came to me and asked me for permission to use my characters and storyline in a Fanfic of his own. I agreed and he started work on the story before you now. I can tell you that when he asked I never thought that it would turn out as good as it has. Taka, you have impressed me, both with your storytelling and vision. My best wishes go out to you and your work as it continues and I will definitely be awaiting your next installment in this new series. You have truly crafted a work of art here and I am glad to have been an inspiration to you. ...enjoy!

- RTW]

Balto’s Boy

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. - Leo Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina”

I. Hero of the Pack

Saying that situation looked dire, wasn’t actually truth. It would suggest that one of sides – wolfpack of bear was winning or at least going well in that battle. But actually all involved creatures were silently cursing the moment when Fort tripped and fell on that ledge. Even grizzly, just awaken from his seasonal slumber was not exactly furious but heavily scared and wishing to somehow escape from trap. After all confrontation with twelve wolves wasn’t a safe thing to do. Being honest – it meant death.

But wait a second – why the hell wolfpack attacked lone bear near his lair? Why the heck, in the middle of December grizzly was awake and ready to face numerous foes? All it happened by an accident. Beech Pack was just passing by on the Southern Path, trying to get down to Buck Valley before blizzard started. It was extreme misfortune that sleeping bear at that moment awoke to correct his slumber position. When giant creature sensed wolves scent, he made his second mistake – he exited his safe lair and came to centre of ledge. And that moment malicious Fortuna chose to make a surprise to Fort.

Pack was slowly stepping on narrow path down, seeing almost nothing, due to heavy snow falling and blowing with growing wind. They could had been already lost, but that time Glemt was on lead. That strange, odd element in pack sometimes proved to be much more useful than pure-blood wolves. Silverfurred husky – maybe not pure-breed, but mix of few spitz kinds – was leading his step family firmly and fast. In spite of blizzard, blowing in his muzzle, he managed to see at least outline of path edge. Glemt, at first sight different from his companions – with shorter and longer constitution, doglike shaped paws and muzzle – at that moment was integral part of team. His step-family was trusting him with every step, taking in unknown. It wasn’t dog’s fault that Fort tripped. Alpha of pack just slid on frozen stones and fell down to the ledge, three metres below them.

And that was the point – he hit snow in the middle of ledge. In that second grizzly was sniffing the air and standing… behind confused wolf. Greyfurred alpha was trapped – on left he had a dead-end: shallow cave and bear’s lair. The exit from ledge – place from where he could climb up back to path – was about five metres right from him. But between him and way out there was a surprised grizzly. Before unfortunate canine was about two hundred metres of almost vertical cliff. Behind him was just three metres of solid rock wall. But there was no base for wolf’s paws. Climbing was impossible.

“Werk!” cursed Tro, seeing her mate trapped.

To reach safe haven in cave, bear had to pass next to wolf on narrow ledge. To escape from platform Fort had to pass next to the grizzly. There was no room for negotiations – none of two trapped creature could entrust other. One of them had to die.

“Hold on!” called Tro. “We are coming down.”

“No, wait!” replied alpha, overscreaming the growing blizzard. “It’s too…”

“What we are doing now, bro?” asked greyish female to husky. She, as the daughter of Forer – previous leader - and chosen as a new chief, should make a decision. But in fact old-leader’s adopted son was almost as important in pack as pair of alphas. It was normal that charge of pack was… well… in charge.

“Go down!” commanded dog, letting rest of pack pass him by. “Go on entrance to that ledge… and keep bear engaged for a while. Just give me a minute…”

“For what!?” yelled Elske, beautiful brownfurred she-wolf, just coming to Tro and Glemt. “Don’t do that, whatever it…”

“It’s your brother down there.” Noticed alpha.

“Glemt, don’t do anything stupid…” sobbed wolfess.

“Just go!” hastened them dog. “Trust me, it will work.” He looked in her eyes, but just for a second, not to show his own fear. Elske’s eyes were deep blue, now narrowed due to freezing wind, but dog noticed anyway a spark of love and concern in her stare. “I love you…” he whispered. That words drowned in storm, but she read those from his muzzle. “I’ll be safe.”

“Come on, girl!” called Tro, nudging friend’s side. “We have a bear to fight.”

So both wolvesses followed the rest of pack. Tro gave just few words of orders to prepare companions for attack. They all were struggling to save their alpha. Tro was standing for her mate, Elske, for her brother. Losing of Fort was not an option.

“Losing of yourself is not an option too.” Murmured Glemt, searching for ideal position. “Sis and Elske would be a bit upset if I miss.”

Pack engaged grizzly. They just ran to entrance to ledge – narrow path down that lead to rock platform. Surprised bear failed to get there on time – he hadn’t spotted enemies from coming to his ground. If he had defend himself on the most narrow place of ledge he would had been laughing of whole pack. But he let them go close – so he had to fight.

Actually odds of grizzly were minimal. Giant creature could easily kill single wolf. In normal conditions he would deal even with six, maybe eight of smaller predators. But he had eleven against himself. Maybe attackers were in hard situation, because narrow platform allowed only three to fight in the same time. But one of four possible waves of wolves – sooner or later – would get grizzly down. However bear decided to sold his fur dearly.

Tro was crying. Partially due to blizzard, blowing into her face, but also thinking what would happened in next moments. It was almost sure they are able to kill grizzly, but the cost was terrifying. Most likely such a fight would take few lives. Bear was despaired and ready to stand until his last breath. Alpha didn’t know who she was going to lose from her pack, but some casualties were unavoidable. “Such a stupid way!” she sobbed in mind. “And it’s because of Fort!” She didn’t blame her mate for that situation – it was just an accident. But it happened that pack was paying blood tribute for alpha. “And it would be our fault – death of any of them!” In some corner of mind she hoped that she would be a victim of that fight too. “I would pay for our incompetence as a leaders.” She thought, sharing her responsibility with Fort. But even for shortest moment she didn’t think about leaving wolf to die. It wasn’t even about emotions – she loved her mate deeply, but it wasn’t a point. The point was the Law – if member of pack is in danger, packmates had to stand for him or her, doesn’t matter what it takes. If he or she is killed, packmates have to revenge him or her, doesn’t matter what is the cost.

“I hope You will find something fast, Glemt.” Thought Tro, looking up on her step-brother. Dog just froze on the edge of cliff, waiting for opportunity. Wolfess quickly discovered what he was about to perform. “Do not die in progress, bro.” She whispered in mind. “I can’t lose you both!”

“Get ready!” she ordered to pack’s beta, older, darkfurred male, called Annen. Wolf nodded his head, but asked.

“Could you stay in second line?” in his voice a pleading was heard, but with small dose of hope.

“No, I go with you and Venn in first wave.”

“Affirmative, chief.” Agreed Venn, young fast wolf of her pack. So avid to fight…

“…and die!” thought despaired Tro. “Glemt, whatever you are doing, do it quickly!”

*

Husky was observing that scene from path above. He was just crouching in snow, while his silver fur turned out to be almost invisible in blizzard. Glemt took a look on pack, engaging bear and Fort, hardly standing on his paws, growling on enemy. If grizzly decided to deal with lone wolf behind him, alpha would had been already dead. Fortunately giant creature knew that the real threat for him was an attack from the front.

“Keep him busy!” begged Glemt in mind. He was calculating his jump on enemy’s back. He had just one shot and in case of miss he was going to fall to death. If he hit, he still had a great chance to fall with bear, however at least that way he could fulfil his task. “But I will hit!” repeated dog, trying to convince himself.

Tro, Annen and Venn attacked. Well, they actually just sprang ahead, testing bear’s defence. But grizzly instantly waved with clawed paw and whole three attackers jumped back. Alpha was nearest the edge and if enemy pushed her even with part of his might, she would had been flying down to her death two hundred metres below. Fortunately, bear missed.

“Calm down!” ordered Glemt to himself. “You have just one try… You must push him away… and quickly jump back on ledge. You can’t blow this up!” But whole his body was urging him to go. Every strike of pack was endangering his sister and friends. “Just one second…