VOICES:

-Buck: Mark Harmon

-Mindy: Jennifer Love- Hewitt

-Balto: Kevin Bacon

-Mya: Hillary Swank

-Atka: Jennifer Morrison

-Yukon: Toby Maguire

-Aniu: Glenn Close

-Inari: Natalie Portman

-Talus: Patrick Stewart

-Dakota: Zac Efron

-Sitka: Ashley Tisdale

-Anyu: Claire Danes

            “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Anywhere I want to” I grinned, pretending to push past Mindy.

She laughed and bounded to catch up to me, playfully bumping into me. I grinned again and thought about how far I’d come since I’d arrived. Before now, I couldn’t remember smiling once and there wasn’t a dog in town that liked me. Now I was respected, had the most beautiful dog in town as my mate, and was as happy as I had been since… before.

            As Mindy and I walked into town, side by side, other dogs greeted us. I smiled back now that I was used to it. As I walked down the street, I caught the eyes of the Sheriff’s dog, Klondike. The dogs he was talking to stopped, eyes nervously flickering back and forth between us. I gave the grey husky a curt nod and he returned it. Then I went on my way.

            “That was mature of you” Mindy smiled. “You would have eaten him a few weeks ago”

“I would have eaten you too” I grinned.

She playfully shoved me again but before I could push her back, Jenna came running up to us, a huge smile across her face.

                        “You’ll never guess what just happened!” she said breathlessly.

“You had more pups”

My brother’s mate gave me a half smile.

                        “No… but Atka and Yukoncame back last night!”

My smile faded. My throat tightened up, but I tried to keep my face emotionless.

“Oh” I said quietly.

                        “Well what are you waiting for?!” Jenna asked cheerfully.

“Um… I should just let them sleep a little if they just got here… and don’t tell them I’m here either”

Jenna glanced back at me curiously.

                        “Okay, but if you change your mind, we’ll be on Balto’s boat”

I nodded grimly and watched Jenna run off happily to tell everyone else. Once her sister was out of site, Mindy turned to me.

            “Why don’t you want to see them? Wouldn’t they be happy?”

“No…” I sighed, closing my eyes. “Why would they?”

Mindy nuzzled me.

            “I’m sure they didn’t see it that way… I bet they’ll be really happy to see you!”

I sighed and opened my eyes.

“I don’t want to take any chances”

Mindy nodded supportively.

“Maybe we should just head home”

She nodded again and I followed her back to her owner’s house. Since I had built up a better reputation, Mindy’s owners didn’t mind letting me stay in their back shed. It actually wasn’t too bad.

            “Buck?!”

Familiar voice jerking me out of my thoughts, I turned around. I didn’t believe it! Yukon, eyes wide in wonder, seemed like he couldn’t move. I couldn’t move myself. I didn’t have to… Yukon started to walk towards me, still in shock. I forced my eyes on the snowy ground and I could feel myself lowering to the ground.

            “You’re supposed to be…”

His voice trailed off. I didn’t look up. I kept my eyes trained on Yukon’s feet.

            “Why didn’t you come back?” he asked softly.

“I don’t deserve it” I heard myself almost growl.

Yukon was quiet.

            “Why on earth would you think-?”

“I couldn’t even protect my own family! I shouldn’t have survived… if everyone else hadn’t put so much effort into keeping me alive, I doubt I would be” I spat bitterly.

Yukon didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure what kind of look was on his face but I didn’t want to see it. Yukon lay down too, forcing me to make eye contact.

            “We’re your family” he said softly. “We never thought any of that about you”

“I let Kaya… and… my pups…” I couldn’t even bring myself to finish.

Yukon raised an eyebrow.

            “Kaya isn’t dead. Neither are Dakota, Sitkaor Dakota… well I’m not sure about them, but Kaya was fine when we left”

Now I was really stunned.

“But… I talked to… that can’t be…” I stammered. I thought about telling them about the wolverines, but decided against it. No one would believe me…

Yukon’s eyes turned to Mindy, who was still faithfully watching nearby.

            “Who are you?” he asked politely.

“That’s Mindy” I supplied. “She’s uh… my mate”

Yukon didn’t seem surprised at all.

            “Oh. Well um… when should we go back?”

“To where?” I asked dumbly, knowing the answer.

            “To the pack?”

“Never” I said softly.

Then, before he could say anything, I turned and walked away. Mindy hurried after me, but didn’t say anything. I was about to turn to her when I caught site of Mya and her family returning from where ever they’d come from. Mya’s eyes met mine and she deliberately stuck her nose and tail in the air. That was it. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’d had it!

“Stay here for a second” I told Mindy quietly, voice quavering with rage.

I stormed after Mya and Triton stopped, noticing me trying to catch up. Mya furrowed her brow when she saw me.

“Can I talk to you? In private?”

She looked back at Triton and shrugged.

            “I’ll be right back” she said matter- a- factly.

I led her into an alley and whipped around so we were eye to eye.

“Do you have a problem with me or do you act like this to everyone?!”

Mya stepped back.

            “I don’t know-.”

“If another stupid thing comes outta your mouth, I’ll shut it for you. I’m your Uncle. Got it. It’s not going to change just because you want it to! I’m part wolf and you are too. Just because we choose to live in different places makes us mortal enemies?!”

Mya blinked; either because she was trying to hold back tears or because this was the first time someone had talked to her like this.

“Now I want you to seriously tell me why you hate me”

            “You’re always skulking around like you killed someone or something! For all I know you probably did!”

“You wanna know what happened?” I said quietly, not blinking. “You really wanna know?”

Mya looked at me apprehensively.

“Do you know how most wolves fight? To kill. And the worst one around tried to kill me. You wanna know what happened? He invaded my territory. Took over my family. Made me think they were dead and made me think I should be too. You wanna know what that feels like? I bet you don’t because it’s the worst feeling anyone could have. It changes you forever. You never want to go back again because you know everyone else will probably feel the same way!”

Mya, stunned and shocked, didn’t say anything.

            “I didn’t think-.”

“You never do. At least as long as I’ve known you haven’t”

Mya looked a little hurt, but I was starting to care less and less.

“And the worst part is you don’t even seem to care. Your brother was killed and I can only imagine what Yukon and Atka went through!”

Mya’s eyes drifted to the ground in shame. Finally run out of anger, I turned to go.

            “Wait!”

“Talk to your brother and sister. I don’t care anymore”

            Back at the shed, I mulled things over. So many different thoughts swirled around in my head… I couldn’t focus on any of them. Mya hated me. Yukon and Atka had come back. Kaya and my pups were alive. My