Steele was quivering with impatience. Just few moments and I will be a father!

He waited long enough. I must see them right now! He rushed in and saw his mate taking care of five little pups. She was exhausted and weak, but happy. She smiled. “Steele, they look like you…”

Steele smiled, too: “Thanks, Eirin…”

Eirin… she told him it’s the name similar to the one of the land of her master ancestors.*

She was the first dog he met after leaving Nome. She was so understanding and nice to him. And he felt something like never before… he liked her more than himself. And that feeling is called love.

He guessed she was a husky and she couldn’t be much younger than him. He went with her to the small hamlet, where she lived. It was between Nome and White Mountain, just eight cabins, and it was so small it even hadn’t a name. It was just place for resting for all who travelled to Nome.

Her master recognized a good sledge dog in Steele and gave him one of the most precious things: a place to call home.

And that was about three months ago. Now Steele saw his own sons and daughters.

His smile was wider and wider, until…

“What?” He gasped. One of the pups looked like Balto. Of course, it was black and white, but it resembles Balto anyway. Eyes, ears, markings…

Eirin noticed something was wrong. She looked at the puppy and whispered: “Steele, I have something to tell you…”

“Well, I am listening…” he scowled. This could mean just two things…

“I am a part wolf.” whispered she.

Steele’s expresion changed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” shouted he. His love was the same as Balto. Wolfdog. When she told him, he saw all these wolfish things... But how it was possible he didn’t realize sooner? But truth was she looked as a normal husky.

“I… I didn’t know you-…” she cried. Then the puppy crawled towards Steele. Steele reversed, like his son was something disgusting.

“Keep him away from me…” he growled.

Eirin was terrified. He wasn’t Steele she used to know. She couldn’t imagine her Steele could hate their son. “But Steele…”

He snapped at the puppy and left his mate crying.

Weeks passed. All pups were taken away by the new owners, but the one which looked like wolf wasn’t. Her master gave it name Ross. Although Steele lived with them, he ignored Ross as he could. Eirin couldn’t forgive  Steele, but her love was stronger than Steele’s hate.

But she had to cope with one question which Ross asked her every day: “Mum… why dad hates me?” She couldn’t tell him. Instead of it she claimed Steele loves him and so on, but she felt terrible. She was lying to her own son and Ross knew that.

But…

Since the Hamlet was station for mushers, mushers were common here. But this one wasn’t. Mainly because of fact the leader of his team was the hero of Nome serum run. Balto.

Balto wasn’t here before so he managed to escape from the attention of others and was inspecting the whole hamlet. As he was going around one house he heard bits of conversation.

“But…”

“Eirin… I love you, but… look at him! Everybody think you cheated me with a wolf!”

“But I hadn’t.” this voice was desperate and Balto was sure it was female.

“But look at him! He looks like that scum!” This voice was familiar…

“So, he looks like Balto… and?”

Balto raised his eyebrows. There was something interesting going on. 

“Don’t you get it? I-“

Balto would like to hear the end of this conversation, but he was disturbed.

“It’s pretty rude to do things like that.”

Balto yelped silently and saw young dog which – and that was interesting – looked nearly same as him. “Oh, sorry, I was going around and…”

“Yes, and you didn’t intend to hear this conversation… or quarell.”

“Good. I will go now… pleased to meet you,” Balto smiled and was about to go away.

“So go home and-“

Young one dropped his eyes and whispered. “I can’t… my dad hates me.”

Balto realized he must be the object of the dialogue he heard few whiles before.

“Oh come on… he can’t hate you.”

“Of course he can! But… I don’t know why. Maybe it is because I look like this.” He whispered.

Balto was full of sympathy. He had been pushed away and had been treated like he had had a plague, until the Serum run.

“Trust me; it’s not about how you look like.”

“But it is…” Ross hadn’t anybody to talk with, so he told Balto almost everything, except the names of his parents.

“… But I think my dad is really strong and good inside. I wish I would the same-“

“Enough, Eirin…!” Door opened. Steele came out, but he turned to stone when he saw Balto talking with his son.

“Steele?”

“Dad?”

“Balto?”

“Balto?”

“You?”

Steele growled, so did Balto. Ross realized the one called Balto is his father’s enemy.

“What are you doing here, wolfdog? You ruined my life in Nome and now you are here?”

“Steele, look, I-“

“How you dare to come here?” Steele’s hatred towards Balto was greater than to his son.

“Dad… leave him be!” Ross barked.

“You, brat, shut up! You don’t know what’s going on!”

Ross shrugged. “Sorry, dad…” whispered he.

Balto was angry. He understood why Steele hated him, but it appeared Steele hated even his son, who didn’t anything bad. “Steele… he is your son!” growled Balto.

“He is same as you, same pathetic thing!” Steele yelled. Ross whinned and sobbed: “Dad…”

“Steele, go away… I don’t want to fight.”

“No… you! Dissapear, or else… and you, brat… you can go with him! You are not my son, but maybe he has some use for you. Get out of my sight! Both of you!”

Ross sobbed.

“Steele! He is your son! You can’t treat him like-“

And that was too much. Steele knocked Balto down, pinned him to the ground and growled: “Wolf won’t tell me what I can or can’t!” He was about to rip Balto’s throat but then he stopped. Ross hugged his leg and cried: “Dad… please, don’t-!”

Steele threw Ross away, ignoring him completely. “Now… we will finish it!”

“No…” Balto yelled, knocked Steele down and pinned him. Now, their positions were switched. “Steele! Stop being idiot! You can hate me, but there is no excuse for that you are doing to your son! Be stronger than you are and show me I am wrong when I say you didn’t change. Your son still calls you a dad, although you hurt him all the time! He loves you. And know what? He said he wanted to be like you. ” he shouted. Then he lowered his head and whispered. “I didn’t tell him who you really are, so don’t mess it…” Balto ran away, realizing his musher needed him.

‘…he wanted to be like you… don’t mess it…’

Steele stood up, and came to Ross, who shrank in fear, expecting something painful. Steele looked at him. ‘Oh my… now it will be-’ Ross closed his eyes sobbing.

“Ross, come. We are going home.” Steele whispered. It was the first time he called him Ross.

“W-what?” Ross couldn’t believe to his ears.

“We are going home.” Steele smiled slightly. “Mom’s waiting… and I have to tell you something, I guess.”

-------------

Two days later, Balto was returning to Nome. His musher stopped in the hamlet again, but just for a while. When was Balto leaving he saw three dogs having a good time. One was Steele, the second was his son and the third… Balto didn’t know her, but he knew she had to be Steele’s mate... Balto smiled. 'Maybe Steele isn't that bad at all...'

The end

*Of course, they were from Ireland (Éire)…