show some of your true emotions, not like me. If something happens to my family, it just tears me up inside. However, I understand how much Aleu means to you – it’s just like how Jenna means so much to me.”

 

Shadow smiled. “Yeah, but you know how it is as a wolf out here in the wild. Most wolves aren’t as lucky as Aleu, myself, or even as your other daughter, Saba. Humans have this fear of our species, and hunters are relentless in trying to destroy our way of life. Wolves will unfortunately have to give up their lives for their causes, for their Alphas, for what they feel is meant to happen.” His head dropped towards the ground, his expression was now one of sorrow. “We’ve lost many friends, relatives . . .” Tears dripped down from his eyes.

 

“You’re just afraid for Little Jadze, aren’t you?” Balto concluded.

 

Shadow nodded. “I am. I want to protect her, but I know that she has her own free will once she starts to walk and all. I just . . . I just don’t want her to get hurt . . . I don’t want to lose her. Not like your daughter and granddaughter were at their young age.”

 

“I understand,” Balto sighed himself. He realized that this was going to be a common source of conversation from now on. “but it’s just the risk that we all have to take. Take Aleu, for example. I was afraid of her knowing about her wolf heritage at a young age, but it seems that Aniu had other plans for her once she was ready.” He looked at his sleeping daughter and granddaughter with a smile. “I never would have predicted that years later she would have led the largest wolf pack in all of Alaska and had such courage and strength.”

 

“Well, she does get that from you,” Shadow noted with a chuckle. “As well as her stubbornness and headstrong attitude.”

 

Maybe that’s why you two became mates – you’re both so much alike and you probably don’t realize it, Balto commented to himself, but on the outside, he only grinned. “Perhaps you should go rest now. You need to enjoy the rest before Little Jadze starts walking all over you.” Balto let out a chuckle at the thought.

 

Shadow dipped his head with a soft smile. “You’re right, Balto. Thanks.” He stood up to enter back into the room but turned back to the hybrid. “What about you and Jenna? Are you heading back home now?”

 

“Well, we’ll probably stay until the afternoon at the latest,” Balto replied. “Jenna’s resting in Melody’s den right now, so when she wakes up, it depends. I think Saba wants Aleu to be present for the memorial for the others, so I guess after that we’ll start on our way back to Nome.”

 

“You still have two young pups in Nome, right?” Shadow asked.

 

“They’re not really pups anymore, actually,” Balto let out a light chuckle at the thought of the gray male Likea and his red sister Sheae, his most-recent litter. He usually liked to consider his children as pups, even if they were old enough to take care of themselves at a couple of years old, but the half-wolf was smitten for puppies and young maturing canines. “Jen still watches over them, but they’re old enough to fend for themselves. Besides, the humans of Nome feed them, so if we’re gone for too long, I trust that they’ll be fine. My other children can watch them whenever they aren’t too busy with their own lives.”

 

He sighed after that – Kodi had Dusty and his litter of six with her, but they seemed far too busy with their duty of pulling sleds nowadays,; Blaize had recently found a mate of his own, a golden-haired female husky named Astarre, as well as being elected as the new Keeper of the Law for the town of Nome,; and all the rest of his children were either out exploring their wolf heritage in the wilderness or unfortunately dead. They’re all I have left now, he thought sadly. I have to enjoy them while I’m still able to. I’m getting older . . . and I don’t know how much longer Aniu plans for me to live . . .

 

“That is true,” the red wolf responded. “I guess they’re more used to the tame world right now, huh?”

 

Balto nodded. “They prefer the comforts of home right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one . . . or both of them chose to follow the wolf lifestyle by now.” He knew that Shadow had seen them only once before while Aleu was still Alpha, but they had grown over the many months since then. “Both Dash and Melody were like that before they chose to join the Clan . . . It seems like my children somehow have this binding connection to the Talbourne.” And to my mother as well, he added in his mind as he sighed aloud. This must be what she wants for the future of her Clan – her bloodline continued through my children and grandchildren in the Talbourne.

 

“Well, I’m going to rest now – I don’t want you to worry anymore,” Shadow smiled, relieving his father-in-law. “I suggest that you should get some rest too. It’s been a long night, and both of you have a long journey home.”

 

Balto let out a yawn, as did Shadow, and they parted ways.

 

The red wolf looked at the sleeping forms of his mate and daughter as he quietly approached them with a slight grin. They are both beautiful, Shadow commented as he laid himself down beside Aleu. I love them so much . . . He yawned again, lowered his head, and went to sleep.

 

 

 

He was in an unfamiliar place . . . a cavern? It was dark and dank, causing Shadow to shudder slightly because of the cold, chilled air around him. He was moving further inside, but why – he didn’t know. He couldn’t make his legs stop at all, almost as if he was being controlled, taking him closer to the darkness.

 

What is this place? Shadow wondered, looking around for something or someone that was even recognizable to him. Where am I exactly? Where’s Aleu and my daughter? Where is anything?

 

“Shadow?” A feminine voice called out to him.

 

His ears pricked up. Shadow knew that voice as clear as day . . . but it was impossible!No . . . no, it couldn’t be her – she’s dead . . . I saw her die . . .

 

“Shadow, it’s me,” the voice approached him, stepping out of the shadows. She revealed herself as a gray she-wolf, one with beautiful eyes of gold and gray-blue. “Don’t be afraid. It’s just me . . .”

 

“J . . . Jadze?” Shadow finally was able to murmur out the she-wolf’s name, still in disbelief by what his eyes were seeing. “How are you . . . Why are you . . .”

 

“Shadow, I know how you feel about your daughter’s name . . . you know, she is named after me,” She spoke to him, smiling warmly as a comforting blue aura surrounded the outline of her fur. “You’re afraid to let her bear that name, and Aniu senses that it troubles you.”

 

The red wolf’s ears fell in shame. “I am afraid. I just don’t want her to die so young like you did . . . or like Balto’s other daughter.” Shadow lowered himself to the ground, using his front paws to cover his eyes. “I’ve been remembering what happened to you when you . . . you . . .” He began to weep a bit, both out of sadness of the memory and of the fact that Jadze was even in his presence at all.

 

“Oh, Shadow . . . don’t worry about me – I’m fine now,” Jadze comforted him, licking his cheek. “Besides, I feel that it’s an honor for her to have such a fine name. It’s the name of a couple of true heroines that gave their lives for what they loved the most.”

 

“I know, but . . .” Shadow began to speak through his tears, but Jadze interrupted him.

 

“Shadow, life is about taking risks and living to the fullest. My life, although short, was filled with risks and I managed to discover what I was meant to do.” Shadow lifted his head at this, curious to know what she meant. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll be here. I always wanted to lead when I was alive, and now I can lead and guide you.”

 

Shadow was able to smile, despite a little sniffle. “Thanks. I just hope I won’t fail her, that’s all.”

 

“Remember what you told me when I was dying?” Jadze reminded him. “Fathers love their children so much that they are afraid to let go. Being a parent is never easy – I could tell from what I’ve observed from other parents since I’ve been here – but that’s all a part of life. Right now, your daughter will need your guidance and protection, but remember that you won’t be able to protect her forever.”

 

“Even my other children have their own lives to live,” Shadow told her. “But ever since your death, I’ve been afraid to let them out of my sights.” He sighed, realizing that Jadze’s words to him were right. “Maybe I should let them grow from experience. What will happen must be meant to happen, right?”

 

Jadze nodded. “I know it’s scary to think of what could happen to them, but they have a duty to uphold to their Clan.” She paused with her eyes closed, remembering her last days on Earth. “I knew I wanted to be a sentry because I felt that my heart belonged to the Talbourne Clan, and I knew that protecting Aleu was more important than anything else. I understood the risks of this job, but I had thought at the time that my father didn’t understand how this made me feel.”

 

“Timbre definitely knew the risks – he’s been a sentry many times himself. He just didn’t want anything to happen to you, but of course that wasn’t meant to be,” Shadow told his niece. Of course, he chose not to mention the fact that he was almost lost during the clash with the Uniea Clan, probably because she had already witnessed it from the afterlife. “I myself have been shot down during my duty . . . several times actually, so I know how rough it can be.”

 

The gray she-wolf chuckled. “Oh, you’re always so serious, Shadow. Lighten up for once, okay? Take time to spend some quality time with your

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