JENNA awoke to the sound of scrabbling at her door, her ears perked to the sound of it and one eye opened. She gazed around the room curiously before lifted her head. She was in a basket near the front door of her house now, so she could get to the door every morning when Balto came to see her.
"Jenna?" Balto's words came to her ears, she looked at a window to see bright sunshine on the other side of the glass pane. She rose quietly to her feet, the sound of her claws scrabbling on the wood floors came to Balto's ears from behind the door. Jenna peeked her head out of the newly installed doggy door, sure enough Balto was on the other side smiling sheepishly at her.
"Good morning Balto." Jenna said with a smile, she stretched for a second and then came outside to sit by her mate. "Bit strange not meeting a crowd of pups now, huh?" she mused.
"Yeah!" Balto smiled, his pearly white teeth gleaming.
"So... What's happening today?" Jenna asked, everyday Balto had some new adventure or news for her. "Chasing some planes?" Balto chuckled at that.
"Nah, but  I do have to leave for the Butch's place today. You know a little trip..." Balto reminded her, Jenna's face fell slightly at that. Balto gone for a week, she sighed looking at the wood on her porch. "You'll be O.K here without  me?" He made it a question.
"Oh, Yes of course." Jenna said, making an effort to smile reassuringly at him. She looked at his golden eyes, he looked despairingly back at her. "Do you want me to go with you?"Balto looked at her questioningly at first but then caught on.
"OH! Yeah sure, If you want to that is?" He looked at her fleetingly, waiting for her response. The whole moment seemed a bit awkward now and they were stumbling over their words. Jenna had to admit, listening to Balto stutter was kinda cute.
"You probably don't want me to come with you, I'll just stay here. You know, in case one of the pups comes up with some troubles... They have to turn to at least one of us." Jenna said, trying her best to sound honest about her excuse.
"Oh... Yes of course. Well then... I'll just... go I guess." Balto said awkwardly turning around to leave.
"Balto wait just a moment." Jenna half-whispered, Balto stopped and turned to face her. She rushed forward and licked his nose in farewell, "I'll be waiting right here for you to get back." They touched noses and smiled, then he left and Jenna sat for a few moments watching him disappear into the horizon, making sure to smile at him whenever he looked back.
    THE next morning Jenna woke up to find that she had fallen asleep on the porch outside, she'd sat looking at the place on the horizon where Balto had left and sometimes at the sky as well nodding curtly and greeting the dogs who happened to pass by. An embarrassing puddle of drool lay near her face and she quickly sat up and scooted away from it; flushing and hoping no one had noticed.
"Hey Jenna." A voice said from behind her, she grumbled and turned to face the person who had greeted her with a grimace spread on her maw.
"Hello, Steele." She spat his name in disgust, "Come to lie and wriggle your way into other people's lives again?"
"Oh come on Jenna, You know me better than that... Before was just-" He paused for a second his eyes on Jenna almost hungrily, it made a chill run up her spine. "Before was just a misunderstanding, I really did think Balto was trying to steal the medicine and-"
"Enough Steele!" Jenna snarled, "No more excuses, why are you here?"
"Why, To see you of course." He grinned at that and kind of chuckled, Jenna didn't catch the joke, "And to wonder where your little wolfdog is."
"He hasn't left me if thats what your getting at." Jenna replied hoping to cut off whatever he was trying to get at.   
    "Thats not what I meant." Steele growled she didn't understand his anger either, not that she ever did understand this beast.
"Well then what did you mean Steele? Not well I'm guessing." Jenna muttered the latter part.
"I told you already Jenna, I wanted to say 'hi' and know where your.... Balto is." Steele sounded like he was choking on the urge to refer to Balto as 'Wolf-Dog' again, and Jenna wondered why he had even bothered trying to refer to him by name. Was he actually trying to get on her good side?
"Balto is on a little trip with Butch, a flying trip. " Jenna decided to give Steele that much.
"How long?"
"A week."
"Oh." Steele appeared a bit surprised at that. "What?" Jenna asked, gazing at his expressions curiously. She was confused as to what he was feeling now.
"I didn't think he would leave you that long."Steele muttered.
"Well a week was the shortest time we could negotiate, and I decided that one of us needed a break after the pups of course..." Jenna explained.
"I see." Steele looked at the floor as if in deep thought, "Well then I guess I'll go then. Good-bye Jenna." And with that he left, leaping off the porch as he went. Jenna stared after him confused, he hadn't once tried to flirt and that was quite odd. Had he given up on trying to beat Balto to her? Or was he simply trying a different approach?
    THE next few days went by without a word from anyone, Jenna had found little ways to entertain herself and was pretty bored at most times. By the third day alone she had gotten VERY restless and decided to go into town on her own, something Balto had tried to discourage her from while he was away. Something about some means dogs had rolled into town and most of the dogs didn't go out much until they leave. But Jenna didn't care anymore about such dangers as a pack of bullies, Heck! She'd fought a bear once! What could a bunch of dogs do?
So like I said she went out, and she noticed Balto had been right. Nome looked like a ghost town during the school year, no dogs were out and only a few humans were about in the shops. She sighed and trotted on towards the color store, but then she remembered that in order to get to that part of town she'd have to go through a lot of dark alleys. So instead she decided to sit on the corner of Main street for a few minutes and trace the routes to the different stores that she liked. Although she wasn't afraid of the dogs, she was afraid of being taken off-guard in a dark alley where she can't see much. After a few moments of thinking of the shops she liked she gave up and let out a sigh. She'd have to face her fears and go down SOME alleys if she wanted to get somewhere. So she turned off of the street she was in and headed towards some random street, wondering where she would turn up.
She soon found herself in a dark alley and with a surge of relief she found that it wasn't as scary as she had imagined. Within moments she was casually strolling around the streets without any worry who she might run into. She had made it to the collar shop in no time and the new merchandise was beautiful, she made note of the ones that Dixie had worn in the past and the ones she most likely would be wearing soon.
"Not too shabby Jenna." A particularly squeaky voice came from behind her. 'speak of the devil...' Jenna thought rolling her eyes and turning to give her friend a polite smile. 
"Hey Dixie, I didn't think you'd be out." Jenna told her trying to keep the conversation light, not too deep into either of their personal lives.
"Oh I come out here everyday, My girl graduated last year. And she just looooves to come here and spend money on whatever collar I want." Dixie bragged, puffing out her fur so it looked like her chest fur was fluffier than ever.
"What brings you here then Jenna? Wheres your Baalto." She pronounced his name odd and it sounded more like she was saying 'Bawl-toe'.
"Oh he's on a trip." Jenna told her simply.
"Oh Jenna I'm sooo sowry!" Dixie gasped.
"What?" Jenna asked raising an eye-brow.
"Didn't he split with you then?" Dixie asked, wonder in her eyes, "You know, Cuz' dogs around town have been saying-"
"Dixie, We're still together." Jenna replied flatly.
"Well I just thought that since you said he was on a trip..." Her voice trailed off. "Well anyway, Steele is back in town." She shook her head in disgust when she said his name.
"I know, Dixie, he came by the other day." Jenna informed her.
"Why Jenna! I didn't know you were like that!" Dixie stared at Jenna wide-eyed, her mouth gaping open.
"What? Like what?" Jenna asked confused.
"I can't believe it. Your not broken up with Balto, But you have the guts to go behind his back with Steele?!" Dixie spat out simply appalled.
"DIXIE!" Jenna screeched, "YOU NEED TO STOP JUMPING TO SUCH CONCLUSIONS!" she looked around bewildered by the even mention that Dixie would think that her and Steele were....!
"Well what am I supposed to think?!" Dixie asked, her eyes still wide.
"Me and Balto are together, Steele is... Oh my god Dixie! He came by the other day to say hello and to know how I was doing!" Jenna drug in slow breaths still surprised that Dixie could even think in THAT direction.
"Well O.K, good to know." Dixie sighed. "But are you sure that Balto is the one? I mean I know you had pups and all, but Steele is still much more of a well... Purebred." It was Jenna's turn to stare at her friend wide-eyed.
"The town is still talking about Balto's heritage?!" She shouted in anger, "When are they just going to have to face that people can fall in love with people no matter what their blood? It's not his fault that his mother happens to be a wolf!"
"But still Jenna!" Dixie almost pleaded, "Your dragging your pure-bred name through the dirt being with a- a mutt!"
"Dixie, this world is just going to have to face the facts that I had pups with a... a mutt and I am NOT ashamed of it." Jenna glared at her friend.
"Fine, Fine. It's none of my business." Dixie sighed, she turned and left with Jenna staring at her with hurt in her eyes.
'Is that really what everyone is thinking? Are all my pups doomed to live a life of shame because of who their father is?' Jenna thought, tears rolling down her face.
 Jenna left the shop in a hurry.
     "Jenna, Jenna..." A strange voice came from behind Jenna, she swiveled awkwardly on her paws to face the familiar dog.
"What Steele?" She asked, a little too rudely. She faced the black and white malamute with a grimace spread across her maw.
"Thought you looked like you needed company, s'all." He smirked casually, apparently back to his old self rather than the surprising gentle-man he had appeared to be yesterday.
"Does it look like I need company?" Jenna spat, she surprised herself at how sharp-spoken she was today.
"Well, your side is quite empty without Balto by it." Steele pointed out, lifting a paw to swipe at the air next to her.
"Just because Balto is gone, doesn't mean I need company." Jenna pointed out as well, lifting her chin and beginning to turn around.
"Just because Balto isn't here, doesn't mean you can't have fun." Steele grumbled to himself. Jenna swirled around in a fury at hearing that.
"You think because Balto isn't here I'm not having fun!" Jenna screeched, "I will have you know Steele, I have been having plenty of fun since Balto left!" It was all a complete lie of course, she'd been sitting around lazily and half-dead since Balto left and Steele picked up a bit on her fib.
"Oh really? Then prove it." Steele's lips turned up into that smirk that Jenna hated so much.
"Why do I have to prove anything to you, Steele?" Jenna snarled, Steele was taken aback by her reply but was enticed by her stubbornness.
"Because you know you want to, c'mon..." He decided to turn to his charms to try to win Jenna over, his pick-up lines and what-not he had left over. "Balto's away, I'm sure your dying to do...something..." He looked down at her with a suggesting grin and Jenna's jaw popped open as she gazed at him unbelieving.
"Steele, I am appalled. Simply appalled at you." Jenna breathed, unable to think of words to say in reply.
"Don't think Jenna, lets just go somewhere and you'll show me how much... fun you've been having." He grinned wider now and looked down at her.
"Eh... no thanks..." Jenna answered awkwardly, turning around once more in utter bewilderment at where the conversation had turned. She knew Steele had always been interested in her, but she never knew how straight forward he could get. Her mouth was still a little ajar when she reached her house, unaware of Steele still trailing after her.
    "Jeeeenna..."  A soft voice whispered in her ear, her eye's opened wide and she found that she had fallen asleep on her porch. She looked around bewildered, she hadn't remembered falling asleep or anything after arriving at her garden gate the afternoon before. What could have possibly happened to make her fall asleep so quickly or what might have she forgotten happened after the time she'd came home?
All she could recall was that terrifying talk with Steele and the silent walk home and then... blank. Blackness.
"Jeeeenna." Came the voice again, she recognized it immediatly to her disdain and growled.
"What, Steele?!" Her lips curled and she snapped her head to the side to stare at Steele, and it wasn't until then that she realized the weight draped awkwardly over her body. She snapped her jaws, her teeth making an intimidating snapping noise.
"You were right, you can have fun when Balto isn't here." Steele laughed and Jenna didn't understand what he meant, or where the joke was in what he had said.
"What are you talking about Steele?" Jenna growled, her voice low.
"You may have been knocked out at the time, but who cares... at least I had a good time." Steele chuckled again, his tongue swiped across Jenna's ear and a chill ran down her spine.
"Get off of me Steele." She snarled firmly, snapping her jaws once more to give a threat to back up the order.
"Why? You didn't seem to mind... last night." Again with his riddles and laughs, It was starting to irritate Jenna.
"Steele, do you have a death wish?" She hissed, trying to wriggle out from beneath his larger and heavier form.
"Would you mind a repeat of last night?" Steele breathed into her ear, standing over her in a position that made Jenna highly self-conscious and on the defense.
"I don't know what your talking about, and at the moment. I don't want to know." Jenna mumbled, finally managing to squirm free of Steele and roll onto her side beside him. She leaped to her feet at her first chance and rounded on him, her tail thrashing out behind her.
"Steele, what exactly happened last night. What did you do?" Her fur bristled with rage as a few ideas burst into mind, all of them disgusting and disgraceful.
"Lets just say, you probably wont be too slim in a few months time." Steele laughed to himself, and this time Jenna got the joke. Her mouthed open in surprise and she howled angrily.
"Steele!! I will kill you, and I'll enjoy doing it!!!" She screamed, summoning all her rage and turning it into power and energy that coursed in her muscles. Jenna leaped at Steele, fangs flashing and claws extended. She felt fur connect with her tongue and she clamped her jaws together against onto flesh, the howls of pain that came from Steele made her happy for some reason.
Jenna's forepaws held onto his side and her hind legs came up and tore at his fur, she could already feel the hot and sticky flow of blood. Her teeth met each other and she realized she'd torn a chunk of flesh from his body, she spat out the fur that was going to make her gag. Now he'd managed to buck her off and was scampering down the steps of her porch in fear. Jenna panted, her muzzle smeared with blood. The porch wet everywhere with the blood that Steele had lost, it pooled and dripped down a little of the door. She would be in trouble soon, but it didn't matter. Jenna was satisfied for now with the damage she'd done to Steele, but what she had done didn't even come close to the damage that he had done to her and further more to hers and Balto's relationship.
'I wont tell him... And when that pup is born I'll hide it.' She decided, 'Or kill it.' she added more fiercely. Imagining giving birth to a Steele look alike, the hatred for it already flashing within her eyes. But for a moment she also considered what Steele might confront Balto with when he returned, he's most likely boast about his triumph. That thought truly scared Jenna, she didn't want to hurt Balto and she wasn't sure how he'd react if she told him. How could she anyway?
Jenna chewed on her lower, blood-soaked, lip for a while. Contemplating what she should do, she could try to kill the pup or pups while they were in her belly... but that would most likely result in her own death. Maybe she'd be lucky and turn out not to have pups? But she had to think that with Steele, that most likely wouldn't be a possibility. He'd said the 'night' which most likely meant the whole night, a sickening thought made her belly flip in disgust and she could feel the retching feeling of oncoming throw-up if she thought more of the subject. The whole thing was sick and wrong, every aspect of it.
So she tried her best to drop the subject, but no matter what she did other things popped into her mind.
How many others must have seen? Rosie must have come home to it as well, or her parents furthermore. She again felt the tightening of her throat, as if she may throw-up.
She couldn't help but dread the rumors that must be going around town, she couldn't show her face anymore in town. She couldn't imagine the disgust that would be displayed on everyone's faces, or the burning shame that could scorch her pelt.
'Balto' She thought, tears rolling down her face. Jenna felt absolutely terrible and she had no idea what to do, she'd cheated without having any control in the matter. There was nothing she could do about her fate, and the frustration and shame tore at her so badly that she found herself sobbing. 
FIVE DAYS LATER.
Today was the day. The day that Balto would come home. Jenna's lip was already bruised and torn from the many times she'd chewed it to pieces, she was pacing her doorstep going over the ways she'd greet him when he returned.
It wasn't long before she could see his cheerful face over the fence, he'd made it over in one easy bound and up the steps easily.
"Hey Jenna." He smiled, touching noses with her warmly. She lifted her chin to look into his happy face, and hers crumbled completely with her shame. Her eyes automatically began to water and overflow and her lower lip trembled, a whimper escape her throat. "Jenna?" Balto said worriedly, "Jen, whats wrong." She shook her head, not wanting to answer.
"I-" she gasped, her heart felt as if it were being torn to bits.
"Jenna?" Balto's voice was frantic, his eyes wide with worry. "Jenna, what's the matter!"
"B-balto...." She gasped out, her body shivering with the force of her sobs. The tears streaming down her red and white face now.
"Jen?" Balto asked, dipping his head to look into her face.
"I-I'm s-s-so... s-s-s-so-r-r-r-ry." She stuttered, trying to control the sobs that shook her entire form.
"For what Jenna?" He asked surprised and confused.
"S-s-st-eele... g-g-ot m-me, p-pr-egnant..." She swallowed, looking into his face. The tears stopped flowing and her breathing caught in her throat as she waited for his response. And she became stock still when she felt him pull away from her, his head jerking not to look at her.
"How?" He asked emotionless, Jenna leaned forward at him. "Balto I am s-so s-sorry... I d-didn't m-mean to, I-"
"HOW?" Balto shouted, his eyes were clenched shut. His eyebrows quivering.
Jenna burst into tears again, her sobs making her hunch forward again. 'Thats it.' Jenna thought, 'He hates me!'
She could feel the burning gaze of Balto boring into her back and she looked up once to see his eyes open and his gaze soft and concerned. He leaned forward and whispered more calmly, "I'm sorry Jenna, I-I shouldn't have shouted... H-how did it happen?" His voice was soothing and reassuring.
"I-I f-fell asleep sometime and h-he-" Her voice caught and she couldn't urge herself to say more, the bile in her throat rose and she thought she was going to throw-up for real there.
"It's O.K." Balto whispered, his tail curling around her and his nose pressing against her cheek comfortingly. He licked her head and whispered to her soothingly. She calmed soon and asked, "What are you going to do?"
"Kill him. And take care of you and what ever pups are on the way." Balto replied, "Although, I'm sure you already took care of the first." He laughed, and she was also able to chuckle.
"Well, let's just say I took a chunk out of him... but you could finish if you'd like." She smiled and Balto laughed.
"Nah, I think you scared him off good then."
"Not as much as I would have liked. " Jenna grumbled, her lips curling into a snarl as she remembered how much hate she felt for Steele.
"So, What will come of these pups?" Balto asked, a little frightened of whether or not Jenna would love them for whom their father was.
"I won't hate them for their real father, but love them for they are a part of me and to hate them would be to hate myself and further more my parent's whom I am a piece of as well." Jenna sighed, that was the conclusion she had decided on. It wouldn't be right to hate pups for who they had the blood of, it wasn't in their control and it would be the same as those who looked down on Balto for being half wolf and half dog. She loved him, so she should love her pups.
"Thats good..." Balto sighed in agreement, she knew he understood where she was coming from and that he respected it. "As far as they will know, your their father." Jenna stated.
"O.K" Balto smiled, liking the idea of being daddy to young pups again.
And so after the few months that followed a single pup was born who looked like her mother but had the black stripes of a malamute. She was named Lilly and just as Jenna had said, she grew up knowing Balto as her father-who made sure to let Steele know that being anywhere near Lilly meant sure death-  and they lived very happily from that point.