Jadze: The Blessed Curse

by Juuchan17 (based on the fanfictions of Rotramel the Writer)

ACT III – MATURITY

(Author's Note: There are some quotes taken from a few of RTW's fics, so I shall give credit where it is due. Also, this is only the first chapter of ACT III, and I might post them like this because each chapter is getting really intense and LONG.)

Chapter XI

Everything was darkness yet again. Was it the real world or was this just a fantasy? – there was no way to know for sure; she couldn’t see a single thing around her, not even her own body. The only sounds audible within the black night were rapidly-panted breaths and the thumping of a heartbeat. But she knew she was not alone . . . no, there was another presence that caused her bones to nearly shudder with mortifying fear at the chilled wind of doom that whipped invisibly around her.

Shade . . . The name of the dark lupine immediately came to mind. She didn’t need to see him to know he was watching her, mocking her, waiting to end her life for good once again. However, unlike her reaction to the vision of a few mornings ago, the quarter-wolf seemed no longer afraid for facing him – her belief was far stronger than he, she knew that well in this world. “I know you are here . . . Show yourself!”

With a series of low chuckling, the once and still burnt-black wolf showed himself to her, shedding an ominous scarlet light around himself. The red-orange glow was like smoldering ashes in a weakening bonfire; however, it was his invisible aura of evil that proved he was not as frail as he appeared. His scent was worse than before, but somehow she managed to avoid feeling sick to her stomach – although she could still feel the smell lingering around her nostrils, trying to taunt her limitations. She remembered when he imitated those that she loved and cared about so dearly – her rodent spirit guide Muru, her first love Alai, and even as the white wolf Aniu herself – but she was sure that the presence would not present such a petty trick this time. She could see through his deceptive tactics easily now, even though it had been a while since he last tried it.

“Well, well . . . we meet again, Aleu . . .”

She gulped nervously at the calmed yet malicious tone of the demon lord, but lowered her ears and clawed into the unseen darkened floor. “You . . . you don’t scare me so easily anymore, Shade . . . Aniu is still on my side . . .”

“Ha!” The maggot-infested skin and what was left of the once-ebony fur of the wolf shook as he laughed. “I’m afraid you jest, O Chosen One . . . Aniu is weak, and soon . . . oh yes, very soon, she and the rest of her Clan shall fall, burning in the depths of Hell for all Eternity . . .” A devious cackle howled from his lifted muzzle. He seemed confident and satisfied with what he saw from the female’s reaction to his words.

“No . . .” The quarter-wolf growled under her breath at the thought of what he had planned. It was strange for him to remind her of the title she was given the first time she had encountered him within the cave, but to remind her of that eternal furnace known as Hell, she shook away the thought immediately. I’ve fought him in that horrible place once, and there’s no way I would ever want to return there! “No! There is no way that the Talbourne will fall to you, Shade!” She lowered her front legs and body in defense, prepared to spring forward and attack him. “I may no longer be the Alpha, but I shall not let you destroy Aniu’s mighty Clan!”

A thick, dark mist surrounded Shade, causing him to disappear from in front of her; still, she could sense him behind her, hearing his low tone echoing into her ears as she clenched her eyes shut.

“It is too late, Aleu . . . My plan has already begun . . . There is nothing you can do to stop me this time, especially since I know your weakness . . .”

“Weakness?” She scoffed, despite her bristled fur giving away how fearful she really was at the moment. She knew from rough experiences that Shade had the power to hurt and destroy her, especially since they were face-to-face like this once again. He could affect her condition away from this place, and even though she had learned many tactics to defend herself, the quarter-wolf could not bring herself to do so. It was almost as if she knew it was not necessary at this time. “I’m stronger than you think I am, Shade! You may have defeated me last time, but I shall not be taken down so easily now!” She growled back at him, but the words he said next only made her scream afterwards, not being able to control her emotions in front of him any longer.

“Oh, but I will destroy you, Aleu . . . I know Aniu can’t save you again when I do . . . I’ll send you and all of your precious family straight to Hell . . .”

Aleu awoke with a scream, lifting her head from the ground to catch her breath. Her body was still in violent shudders, almost as if the dark presence remained faintly around her. She didn’t vomit this time – at least not yet – but once Aleu settled down, the now awake form of Shadow had already noticed how tense his mate was beside him.

“Aleu? Are you okay?” Shadow asked her quietly, so as not to wake their sleeping two-month-old daughter near them. Little Jadze was softly smiling in her sleep as she lay near the much larger forms of her brothers and sister, completely unfazed by the terror that Aleu had witnessed. He leaned his nose towards hers, sensing the tension in her eyes.

“Oh, I’m fine,” the gray-brown female reassured him, returning the nuzzle sweetly. “It . . . it was just a dream, that’s all.”

The red wolf only lifted an eyebrow, not believing her for a moment. “Come on, Aleu. I know you mean well, but you don’t have to hide the truth from me – it was a nightmare, wasn’t it?”

Aleu let out a deep sigh, lowering her head onto her front legs in defeat. “It was. I encountered Shade again.”

Shadow’s ears pricked up suddenly at the sound of the demon lord’s name. “But . . . but I thought . . .”

Aleu already knew what he was thinking, quickly interrupting his sentence. “I know, Saba and Aniu took care of him when she was brought back to life several months ago, but somehow . . . somehow he’s come back . . .” Aleu was almost in tears as memories of the encounter with the putrid-smelling lupine.

“Well, we can still stop him,” Shadow licked the salty tears from her cheeks, hoping to lift her spirits. “Now that we know, we can take care of him for good this time, Aleu. I promise.”

She sniffled, looking at her mate with her wide almond eyes still drenched wet with tears. “I . . . I don’t think it’s that simple, Shadow.” His sky-blue eyes were quite serene and filled with hope, but still it wasn’t enough to soothe the anxiety from what she learned as she slept. “He . . . he already knows about me not being able to come back to life . . . and he’s after not just Aniu and the Talbourne, but also our family – my family.” Her body shook at the thought of Shade’s words to her again. “Just because we were able to defeat him whenever he attacked our people doesn’t mean that we’ll be so lucky this time.” Her voice was obviously panicky – he had never seen Aleu act like this before. “Shade will do whatever it takes to destroy us all, but even with my act of bravery in front of him, he said that Aniu was weak and completely intimidated me. Trust me, Shadow – he’s not one to take so lightly.”

“I know,” The scarlet lupine sighed, comforting her once more. Aleu had already told him about her previous vision of Shade’s wave of destruction, and he had knew what damage he was capable of. “I’ve lost you more than once to him, but this time around, I’ll risk my own life to fight him in your place.” Shadow was confident about what he told her, but a trace of worry remained in those blue eyes of his. “I promise, Shade will not harm you as long as I have breath in me. I love you too much to lose you, Aleu.”

“Oh, Shadow,” Aleu leaned up against him, her tears vanished along with her doubts. She was not in the mood to argue against being protected, but the former Alpha admired his loyalty and trust to their family as she began to feel comfortably drowsy by his side. “I love you too . . .” Her voice softened as her eyes fluttered back into sleep.

Clearly, nothing should go wrong now . . . Aniu is protecting our family and our Clan, and Shade’s plan will not come to pass . . . Things will work out in Aniu’s will . . .

The pain was worse today than before, Jenna noted to herself as she rose to her feet, beginning to start her morning the way that she always did before. Her belly had grown larger over the days, easily revealing her secret to the world – she was pregnant with pup . . . and they seemed due any day now.

She sighed at the thought of how she had come to be this way, remembering her days in the wilderness when she was exiled from Nome for the attempted murder of her former boyfriend and Keeper of the Law’s son, Jason.

I was so upset about losing Everest again after he and Saba defied their punishment . . . I couldn’t believe that Drake would allow to kill him like that . . . but when I learned that he was alive and well, it was already too late . . .  

I had done something horrible . . . I nearly killed the poor kid, thinking that I should follow that voice lingering in my head and seek revenge for what Drake took from me . . . Because of my actions, I was put on trial and exiled forever, never to see my beloved again . . .

With Balto no longer by my side, who else could I turn to for help? I wasn’t about to risk losing my life in order to return to him . . . and the law was final, after all . . . I know it hurt Drake to order such a sentence, but what was done was done . . . there was nothing any of us could do to deny the evidence of my actions . . .  

But . . . but if it wasn’t for him, I would have been a goner, Jenna spoke to herself, nearly smiling at the memory of the dark gray and brown lupine with black markings that she had befriended while trying to catch a meal for herself. His kindness and skills as a wolf helped her improve on how to survive in the wild, and sooner or later, nature began to take its course . . .

I knew it was wrong – my heart still belonged and longed for Balto, but with my banishment from Nome, I knew that there was no way that our love could survive. Not even you could defy the highest laws of the town to bring me back, so I had to start life . . . and love anew . . . Her eyes gazed sadly at her bulging belly, gently feeling the fetal movements of her soon-to-be born pups inside her.

Oh, Dolo . . . I’m bearing your pups and I doubt you’ll ever be able to see them . . . You are a part of the wild forever – you’d never be accepted here in Nome . . . Tears dripped down from her nearly-closed eyes as she remembered that moment of passion, that night that she had let go of her past with Balto and grown to accept a new life. It was wonderful to think that she had fallen for another wolf despite her breeding, but the heartbreak of learning that Drake had been killed and thanks to her son Blaize, now the new Keeper of the Law, she was pardoned by Gemini, Drake’s widow, and able to return back to Nome. They fought worse than she could have ever remembered, and Jenna had defended her new mate. I love you both . . . both you and Balto . . . I didn’t know what to do, but it was you who saved my bandanna and told me that I belonged back with him . . . She closed her eyes again, smiling at the moment. You loved me so much that you were willing to let me go . . .

But I just hope that Balto can accept them and be a father-figure to our pups in your absence . . . 

She had stayed hidden within the house for weeks, trying to wait until after the pups were born before telling him of the truth, but oh, how Jenna yearned for Balto! I can’t keep this secret from him anymore, the husky decided that morning. I have to tell him today . . . and pray that things will work out . . .  

If he loves me enough, things will work out . . . I’m sure Aniu will make sure that everything will work out for us . . .

Suddenly, Jenna’s ears pricked up at the sound of her hybrid mate’s barking, signaling that he was there to check on her. She managed to smile slightly as she made her way to the doggie door that led to the backyard of the house. Ever since I’ve gotten back, he’s always been trying to check on me . . . making sure that I don’t ever leave him again . . . A soft chuckle slipped from her lips as she managed to stick her head out her door, seeing the wolf-dog in her amber sights. It’s not like I can leave freely right now . . . with pups in me that aren’t even Balto’s – oh, I couldn’t bear to show that to everyone! That would only lead to a complete scandal! She knew how her former friends in town would just spread the news like an uncontrollable wildfire, and Jenna feared that that would be the worst way for him to learn about her secret.

He was there, standing happily with a wagging tail and a look of love. “Oh, good morning, Jen,” Balto ran closer to where she remained. “I haven’t seen you out for many days.” He paused for a slight chuckle as his cheeks grew red. “I’ve . . . I’ve really missed seeing you.”

“I know, Balto. I . . . well, I haven’t been feeling well, that’s all,” Jenna tried to explain herself, remaining inside sans her head. “I . . . I didn’t want you to catch it either, so . . .”

“Oh, it’ll take more than a little sickness to stop me, my love,” he leaned over to nuzzle her, but Jenna’s face began to fall, her eyes squinting in pain as a gasp came out of her mouth.

“Oh!” Jenna shied back into the interior of the house, knowing what this feeling was. “Aaaagh!” Her breathing sped up rapidly as she fell onto the floor with her belly heaving.

“Jenna? Jen?” Balto, worried for his mate’s sake, leapt through the doggie door without hesitation or thought at what he was about to witness. “Are you al—” All of his words and thoughts vanished as he stopped and saw the unthinkable.

Jenna was laid out on the floor with her belly swollen to the brim. She was breathing rather steady now, but it was still heavy as her tail gently swished from side to side, but not too close to where new life was to begin. She gasped when she realized that Balto was there, but there was nothing left to explain now. Tears fell from her eyes, but she knew not even that, nor apologetic words or a fair explanation, could settle what was about to happen.

“Jen . . .” Balto slightly shook his head with disbelief. “Jenna, what the . . . what is this?”

About a three or four hour run away from Nome, a wolf’s cry could be heard. It was a signal, a howl of praise to start a new day. A brown-gray wolf emerged from a cavern near a flowing river, preparing to fetch some breakfast within the forest for his pack-mates. His expression was sad when his black-streaked muzzle lifted up towards the brightening morning sky, as if he were longing for something.

Jenna . . . A soft whine slipped from his mouth as he murmured the word in his mind.

“Are you still thinking about that she-dog, Dolo?” Another male voice caught him off-guard, making his back-fur bristle with surprise. He turned to see a tannish-gold lupine standing by the entrance.

“Oh, it’s just you, Connal,” Dolo’s ears lowered with relief. “Shouldn’t you be with Jade? She’s near expecting now, right?”

The proud soon-to-be father beamed embarrassingly, but was able to nod his head.  “Yeah, she is . . . but isn’t she close to birthing herself?” Connal had been trusted by the brown-gray with keeping his secret – he knew how close the husky and the wolf had grown once Dolo asked to care for her away from the main cave of the Lorelei Clan, his home. While Dolo had been tending to teaching and training Jenna, Connal had accepted the position of Alpha of the Lorelei Clan and instinctively prepared to keep his position by consummating with Jade, his white mate with fine peppered markings on her coat.

Dolo’s ears drooped along with his muzzle. “Yes, she is. I wish I could be with her now, especially with our pups on the way, but . . .”

“But she has him, you know,” Connal reminded his friend. “Balto’s her mate, not you, and there’s nothing you can do to change that, Dolo.”

“I know, I know,” the brown-gray began to pace about, almost agitated by the thought. “It was I who thought she should return to him, but deep down, I really wanted her to stay with me.” A soft whine sounded through his lips, one of sadness and regret. “Perhaps this is just Aniu’s will.”

“Yes, she does work in mysterious ways, my friend,” the tan-gold male rubbed against the other in a sign of friendship. “but that’s not the only thing. The world that she’s from . . . well, you know how they don’t take kindly to wolves, especially pure-born ones. It is dangerous – like an instant suicide to go to her now, Dolo.”

Of course, Dolo knew that – every wolf knew that human hunters could easily kill a wolf with their guns, or worse . . . they could possibly wipe out an entire Clan or their race altogether. That’s why it was considered natural to avoid any trace of human, whether it was a place or even a tamed human pet. Of course, some rules were meant to be broken eventually.

“Yes, but they are still of my blood,” the wolf grew defensive towards his friend and Alpha. “Any father would do whatever it takes to be with their offspring and protect them – you should know that better than I.” Dolo, as well as the rest of the Lorelei Clan, knew the tale of Connal and Jade’s last litter quite well, in which their sole pup, Crystal, was found on another Clan’s territory and killed. In retaliation, the Lorelei Clan avenged their daughter’s death by spilling the blood of all from that had been of that Clan’s name.

Connal’s head fell at the memory, but he understood Dolo’s message. “Well, if you feel meant to do this . . .” He raised his head, peering into his friend’s almond eyes of gold with obvious worry. “Be careful, my friend.  As one who has been in Balto’s presence before, I sense a strength of undying devotion towards his mate, and I know that he will not let up with a fight.” The two licked each other on the neck, again another sign of friendship. “May Aniu protect and guide you, Dolo.”

“And you as well,” Dolo nodded his black-marked muzzle, parting with his Alpha’s. “If I am not meant to return, wish Jade well for me.” With a final gaze at the near-golden male and the lush surroundings of his home, Dolo turned away with his eyes on the life of his birth and began his long journey towards Nome, where he knew someone needed him more.

I’m coming for you, Jenna . . . you and our pups . . . We’ll be a big family, like we were supposed to be . . .

It was hours later before Jenna and Balto saw each other again. Thankfully, Rosy and her family had heard Balto’s barking that morning and swiftly took their beloved husky to Doc’s to safely give birth. Balto, on the other hand, mainly cursed at himself for believing that his life was going to be the same once he and Jenna got back together.

Damn it, Balto! He stamped his paw fiercely into the mushy snow as he paced back and forth near the doctor’s office. I knew that they must have had something going on when I found her with that wolf! A growl slipped through his fangs while he thought of that brown-gray lupine. She made me believe that she and him hadn’t done anything, but . . . Jenna lied to me . . . to me - the father of mostly all of her children!  

I trusted her . . . I thought she would still remain faithful, even out there, but . . . A tear fell from his eyes as Balto stood over a small puddle, causing the drip to form ripples against the melted snow-water and distort his reflection. I mean, I never forgot about her when she left . . . and this is what she does to our vow, our fidelity, our love for each other? More tears dripped from his now-saddened red and gold eyes, turning his reflection into a kaleidoscopic pattern of color and shape in the tiny pool.

I don’t know what to do anymore . . . I really don’t . . . but in my heart, I still love her . . . I can’t believe she would lie to me . . .

“Dad?” A young voice came from behind the wolf-dog. It was a female’s worried tone, his red and white daughter’s, Sheae’s. “Dad, are you okay? Blaize said I would probably find you around here.” She carefully approached her father’s side, revealing herself into the light in front of the clinic. She was like most of her older siblings that had inherited their mother’s colors – mostly a medium-red shade but marked with white around her muzzle, chest, belly and paws. Her eyes were strangely reddish-brown and surrounded in gold, obviously more in tune to her father’s.

“Oh, I’m fine, Sheae,” Balto sighed, taking a quick glance at his daughter. You look so much like her, . . . almost like Jenna . . . “I’m okay. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“But I saw you pacing around, Dad,” Sheae reminded him. “You didn’t seem okay about what was going on with Mom—” She caught herself, gasping when the word came out. “Sorry . . .” Her ears fell low to her neck as she rubbed against her father in comfort. “You seem so upset, and we– er, I mean, I’m just so worried about you . . . Are . . . are you and Mom going to leave each other again?” She had remembered the recent incidents with her mother’s exile from town, and like all pups were, Sheae was afraid of history repeating itself.

Balto couldn’t really get himself to give her a straight answer. A part of him wanted to say “Yes,” but another part of him said “No” – what could he do at a critical time such as this?

However, Sheae continued to talk to him, sensing that he was at a loss of words. “I know you’ll probably tell me that I don’t understand exactly how you feel, but just hear me out, okay?” Balto turned to her direction, still with a silent look of disappointment and inner rage on his face. “When Mom was gone out there, I betcha she wished that she could have had you to turn to . . . just like how you clung close to Likea and I whenever we saw you.” She grew silent and sighed, realizing that he really needed some time by himself to ponder on these words that she had said. “Anyway, I’m going to go check up on Likea, okay? I’m sure you’ll know the right thing to do about this, Dad.” After a parting nuzzle, Sheae scampered off towards the barn where her brother was probably resting.

If Dad chooses to leave Mom, I . . . I don’t know if I’d ever want to live in a world without them together again . . . She thought with slight tears in her eyes as she ran faster away from the confused sight of her father.

But what else is there for me to do at a time like this?

Suddenly, the front door of the clinic opened. It was Doc, the old man who not only cared for people, but for the town’s beloved canines as well. His face was welcoming and bright, but this did not affect Balto’s current composure.

“Come on in, Balto,” the man gestured the half-wolf with a hand motion to come closer. “Jenna’s ready and waiting to see you now. I’m sure she’d love to have some company, especially after this.”

Yeah, right . . . like she would want me near her after learning this, Balto let out a sigh. He knew what Doc did not – Jenna probably didn’t want to see him, nor did he her . . . not after what was revealed in the morning. However, he did still love her with all of his heart, despite this sudden event, but he hoped he would never see that wolf ever again.

He followed the human inside, hoping that perhaps something would make everything right again, but just the thought of who the pups’ sire was just made his back bristle angrily. Even if they are his pups by blood, I’ll never accept them as mine in his place . . . they’ll have his blood running through them, and I love Jen more than anything . . .  

If I ever see that wolf Dolo again . . . I’ll kill him . . . I swear I will . . .

As he walked through the waiting room, Balto saw the form of the auburn-haired child that had called Jenna her pet. The girl sat with her parents, anticipating the arrival of their dog’s mate. She was almost a teenager by now, but Rosy still loved the wolf-dog that had saved her life all those years ago.

“Balto!” Rosy halted him, giving the hybrid a warm embrace around his scruffy neck. “Oh, Balto . . . Jenna had more puppies!”

Yeah, but they’re not mine . . . He didn’t respond to her words aloud, but a disgruntled noise slipped from his lips. However, he smiled to hide his true emotions of the truth that she would never be able to realize.

“Hmm, it’s strange how she disappeared some months ago and then just reappeared all of a sudden,” Rosy thought aloud, murmuring to the wolf-dog. “I guess she must have had some fling in the forest, huh, Balto?”

Wow, she figured out more than I thought she would about this, Balto was impressed by the girl’s conclusion, mainly because mostly all of the humans in Nome never really paid attention to the business of the dogs. However, he knew that some humans – mainly the younger ones like Kelly, Saba’s owner ever since she was adopted so long ago – wondered what their beloved canines were up to and were left worried sick about them. Of course, Balto knew of Saba’s major mistake of returning home for a last look at her owner after her revival . . . If it wasn’t for Aniu’s blessed grace and Balto to the rescue, she would have died from the gunshot wound to her shoulder. There are just some things that humans would never understand about what we dogs do . . . Too bad it’ll break her heart that Jenna’s pups are actually sired by a purebred wolf, not a half-wolf hero . . . He let out a sigh just remembering it once again, but it wasn’t like the girl would really know the truth anyway.

“Well, I’m sure they’ll be just like your other pups, boy,” Rosy released her grasp of him, figuring that the doctor was waiting for Balto to make his way to the room that held the new mother.

“Come, come now,” Doc clicked his tongue, calling Balto over into the office. “Jenna’s right in here.” Following the command, Balto left the girl’s side and made his way to whatever surprise awaited him past the doorway.

Inside the room was Jenna, resting on a blanket-covered table in front of him. The doctor placed a stepstool at the table, allowing Balto to reach the top of the wooden table – which he did so – and confront his mate on this sudden turn of events. His eyes scoped the tiny whimpering pups at her belly – five of them – and suddenly, his eyelids began to lower. Balto couldn’t help it – he was completely smitten for pups, his one weakness in life. However, this was different – they were red or brownish-red like her or her mother, ebony and white like her father . . . but there was one pup that was nearly identical to the grayish-brown wolf that had impregnated the one he loved. Just the sight of that single pup made him snap out of his love for pups and remember how outraged he was at what Jenna had hidden from him.

“Jenna?” Doc had left the two of them alone for a while, allowing them to bond with the puppies in private. He whined quietly, nudging against her sleeping neck gently so as not to frighten her once she aroused. “Jen, wake up.”

“Mmm . . .” The new mother drowsily lifted her eyelids, but turned her attention to the other presence that hovered over her. Realizing who it was, her amber eyes began to swell with tears as she gasped. “Oh . . . Balto, I’m . . . I’m so sorry . . .”

He wanted to believe her, he really did. “Jenna, what you’ve done . . . it is something unforgiveable . . .” Balto felt tears drip from his eyes as well as he spoke quietly to her, hiding the anger that burned in his heart; however, he couldn’t stop himself from raising his tone. “You . . . you lied to me when I found you with him . . .”

“I’m sorry, really I am,” Jenna tried to reach her nose towards the hybrid’s but he moved it away, causing her to break down even more. “I didn’t want to hide anything . . . I wanted . . . I was hoping to tell you the truth after the pups were born . . .”

“Well, that explains the hiding from me,” Balto huffed, turning away from her and sitting on the table. “Did you tell any of our children about this?”

She shook her head. “No – I didn’t even tell Sheae and Likea about it. I never told a single soul,” She lowered her ears in shame. “It was torture to endure this secret alone . . . and not tell you the truth . . .”

“Well, I might have been more understanding if you told me the truth sooner,” Balto still wasn’t convinced that he could forgive Jenna. He let out a sigh. “You remember the past few years, we’ve been through many battles that have put our fidelity on the line.”

He could name several different events that they had been through, each was within the past few years. The first time was Balto’s “supposed” fling with Trinea, who was soon revealed to be nothing more than a she-dog that only wanted him and didn’t care about ruining his relationship with Jenna. Drake and the laws of Nome gave Jenna the power to separate from Balto as she raised her third litter at the time, Blaize and Jadze – both who were only week-old pups then; not being able to see his latest litter was hard for Balto to comprehend, and he even risked possible death just to be in Jenna’s presence once again. Thankfully while Jenna found the proof she needed to believe that Balto had not lied to her, Balto had run far and wide to find the sole witness of that fateful night that never happened. Things returned nearly back to normal for over a year, and despite the family tragedies and problems that would await them, they both promised that they would tell the truth from now on.

But it was Balto’s friendly days with Angel, a female who seemed to be more of a perfect match for him than Jenna, that nearly ended it all. Jenna was away on a vacation to her hometown for a week, leaving more than enough time for anything to happen to Balto and his new “girlfriend,” but one night in the boiler room made him realize that this had gone too far. Even when he confessed his mistake to his mate when she returned, her family turned their backs on him and even Jenna found another male to keep company with as Balto tore himself up inside. Eventually, he couldn’t help but to worry for Jenna’s safety when he learned that she had been shot by a strange man, but things worked out as Jenna was saved and her companion sacrificed himself for them, caring more about her well-being than anything.

But this . . . this time, he was the victim, and Jenna was the unfaithful party. Balto remembered how it felt to hear such harsh and cruel words from those that he once loved . . . his parents-in-law, his own daughter, even his canine friends punished him during those hard times. He could hear those threats and phrases that made him want to die back then still ringing in his ears . . .

“ . . . You ever, ever come back to my daughter again, I’ll find you . . . and that’ll be the last time anyone sees you . . .” Flash, Jenna’s father . . . not a dog that one would want to get fired up. He was a Malamute, black and white like Steele. but usually more sociable and easier to get along with than Balto’s former rival. Max, however, was much like Jenna in looks, but was a bit larger due to her sled-dog lineage – she was her mother after all, but she didn’t appreciate the fact that Balto would even think about breaking her daughter’s heart the way he did back then.

“. . . I’d have thought you would’ve learned that lesson with Trinea, but no, . . . I guess you didn’t . . .” Drake, the former Keeper of the Law had told him that when he first learned that Jenna had been seeing someone else. The husky was a good friend and a trustworthy canine that had been considered as a part of his own family. To think that he’s no longer with us, Balto thought of his friend with a hint of sadness. Sure, I was angry that he had to separate Jenna from me, but I would never . . . never do anything to harm his family like what Jenna supposedly did to his son . . . On a fateful night after Jenna’s banishment from Nome, Drake had blamed him for something that he didn’t do. Despite Balto denying that he had anything to do with what Drake was implying, the two of them fought viciously; Duke heard the noise of barks and growls and instinctively shot the husky, killing him instantly. It was only out of protection that Balto had kept what really happened to Drake a secret, but only he and Drake’s widow knew the real truth while the rest of town was told that he was a casualty while investigating a dangerous case one night. Still, Balto couldn’t believe that Drake, a dog that he shared a similar appearance to and a close bond of friendship with, was dead.

“. . . Mom told us not to talk to strange dogs . . . I don’t know who you think you are, but my dad is dead . . .” That was Sheae – he knew that that this current situation was hurting her more than any of his other pups, probably because of her sensitive emotions when it came to family. That situation with Angel, that hurt her more than anything, Balto thought. I understand Sheae’s worry about me and why she’s so concerned . . . He knew that all children had a born ability to easily sense when their parents were having problems or if something was wrong, but she was his youngest daughter after all. Sheae loved both of her parents, but the thought that he would break her mother’s heart like that was something she couldn’t understand . . . now with this situation going on, Balto wasn’t sure what his little girl would think of doing.

“ How about you leave, now . . . I don’t even know who you are . . .” But it was her words . . . Jenna’s words . . . that were the most painful of all to hear. He loved her, started a family with her, and wanted nothing more than to live out the rest of his days with her by his side. But still after all we had been through, she ended up taking me back . . . he reminded himself. He didn’t want to cause the one he loved any pain, not like how she had done to him when it was the other way around.

I don’t understand this . . . what can I do? 

“I . . . I just don’t know how to handle this, Jenna,” he told her after sitting down. His tone was quieter now, but it didn’t change how he felt about the situation. “When you were the victim, everyone hated me for what I did to you . . . even you did, but still . . .” He sighed again, completely frustrated. “Still, you took me back . . . even after I told the truth of what happened between me and Angel, you still ended up eventually taking me back after causing you so much pain . . . but this . . . this . . .” His ears flattened against his neck as he tried to stop himself from getting barking mad at the one he loved. “We promised to tell the truth to each other, even in the bad times! How the hell could you even do this?”

“Balto,” Jenna murmured, surprisingly silencing her mate before he could finish his sentence. “I know . . . I know you’re upset, but back then, I really thought that I had no choice but to start over.” Her ears fell as well as she groomed the five pups that nursed on her belly. “I told him . . . I told him several times that you were my mate already and that I would soon return to you once I figured a way to do so without getting killed, but after seeing the only other dog that could help me survive nearly get killed by a bear, . . . I mean, what else could I do?” Tears streaked down her cheeks once again, her speech began to blubber. “I stayed with Dolo because I still loved you, Balto . . . I didn’t want anything to happen to you because of me returning to Nome, so that’s why . . . that’s why I . . .”

Balto knew the rest of what she was going to say. “I know, you told me that back then when I found you, remember?” He sighed deeply at the repetition of what he was hearing. “But still, you didn’t have to . . . you know . . .” His rugged muzzle pointed directly to the whimpering litter beside her.

Jenna quickly figured out what he meant and tried her hardest not to blush as she lowered her nose in disappointment. “I know, but . . . but it’s not like I didn’t feel any regret when it happened.” She closed her eyes, picturing that night after the bear attack when she and Dolo slept together in the cave . . .

* * * * *

She had just returned back from hunting by herself, carrying a couple of small rabbits in her mouth. It had taken her days to finally learn that killing prey was the only way to survive in the wild, but she had been born into a life of humans supplying her every need – her hesitation was natural because she wasn’t born into the wild at all. Her red-orange bandanna, her only link to her past life in Nome, continued to look wet, tattered and quite dirty around her neck as she dropped the kill from her mouth and quickly scampered to the brown-gray wolf that lay near the back of the cool cavern.

“Oh, Dolo . . . Are you feeling any better?” He had been injured from the morning’s sudden attack by a large bear, but thankfully he was still alive. “I caught some dinner for us. Hopefully it’ll be enough to recover your strength.”

The wolf carefully lifted himself up and smiled. “And you too – you hurt yourself as well.” He easily reminded her of her own injuries – her back was now covered in dried blood from the wound she had received, as well as on her foreleg, causing her to still limp lightly. “You’ll make your wounds worse if you keep moving so much.”

“Oh, this? This is nothing,” She carefully placed her nose against his, inhaling his musky scent into her nostrils. “But you’re my number one priority right now, Dolo. Your leg is hurt and I have to make sure that you get well.” She let out a soft chuckle. “Besides, I can take care of myself now, . . . thanks to you.”

“You were such a wonderful student, after all,” Dolo returned the gesture, kissing her on the nose. “And such a beautiful one at that.”

Jenna began to lay down beside him, chuckling in embarrassment. “Dolo, stop . . . you’re embarrassing me!” He continued to tickle her with the wetness of his nose, kissing all over her neck and face. “What about your leg? You need to rest and regain your strength!”

At those words, Dolo stopped, not realizing at first that he had managed to tackle her to the ground in a playful manner. A smile began to form on his lips as he rested his nose on top of hers. “But you’re the only remedy I need, Jenna,” he whispered into her ear sweetly before taking a moment to gently nibble them with his mouth. “I love you . . .”

Somehow, the husky didn’t bother to struggle from his grasp. If this had happened days ago, the reaction would have been the opposite, just as she had been some time ago when Dolo first admitted he loved her; now Jenna was a new creature, one that realized that in order to survive she had to start over, and once she did so, there was no turning back.

“I . . . I love you too, Dolo . . .” The words slipped from her lips softly, but it was loud enough for him to hear. A part of her regretted those words, for she knew deep down in her heart that they were meant for Balto alone, not Dolo; however, another side of her really did love the wolf and cared for him. He had done so much just for her since the two weeks after she had left Balto behind, so much that she had to repay him for saving her life somehow. She did love him, honestly she did . . . and she was willing to do whatever it took to show it to Dolo . . . no matter what consequences it led to.

I’m doing this for Balto’s sake . . . Jenna reminded herself as she felt Dolo’s warmth on top of her. Her face grew flushed, but she knew that what was about to happen was the only way. I can’t return to my old life anymore . . . and I can’t go back to him only to die trying . . . She remembered what the white she-wolf of the Lorelei Clan had told her when she first encountered them all those weeks ago. Jade was right – I guess I was meant to be here, meant to find Dolo and be with him since I can’t be with Balto because of my banishment . . . Tears dripped from her eyes, not because of what Dolo was up to, but because of her many memories with the half-wolf hybrid that she had committed so much of her life to.

Maybe . . . maybe this is all just Aniu’s will . . .

Strangely, neither the husky or the wolf got the chance to eat their supper, for they didn’t sleep a wink that night.

* * * * *

“Really?” Balto snapped Jenna from her sudden reverie. “Are you completely serious? What, you weren’t able to tell him to stop?”

Jenna was completely embarrassed, unable to hide her blushing face from Balto’s gaze. “I . . . I . . .” she stammered.

Each second of Jenna’s hesitation only made Balto’s anger increase. “Oh, I see . . . You were enjoying being with him . . . and at the same time, you were forgetting all about our family . . . our happiness . . . me . . .” He began to stand to his feet, prepared to leap from the table.

“Balto . . .” the husky tried to sit up, despite the whimpering of her five pups squirming around her paws. “Please stop . . .”

“No need to get up, Jenna,” Balto ignored her pleas, turning to her with a look of both sadness and anger. “You’ve already made your choice . . . loud and clear.” He turned away and returned to the ground, heading slowly to the doorway back into the waiting room.

“No, Balto . . . I still love you!” the husky continued to sit up, still with tears falling from her eyes. “They may be Dolo’s pups, but I love only you! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Don’t look back, Balto . . . I know you care for her, but you can’t look back now . . . not after what she’s done to you, boy . . . Gosh, it hurt him to walk away from the one that his heart loved most, but Balto knew it was the only way.

“Balto!” Jenna stood up with barking cries, ignoring the noises of her hungry newborns below her. “Balto, please forgive me! Please!”

Balto paused at the door, taking a deep breath. The anguishing cries of sorrow from the husky were almost too much for him to bear, but he felt like he had to say something to her, but what could he possibly say?

“Sorry, Jen . . .” He caught himself, correcting his words. “I’m mean, Jenna . . . I thought you really loved me and cared about the family that we made together . . . but after everything I’ve seen and been told today, I . . .” Balto was almost in the amidst of tears by now, every word he spoke made his heart ache more and more. “I just don’t know who you are anymore . . . You’re better off forgetting anything that we ever had . . .”

“No . . .” Jenna murmured as with tear-stained eyes, she watched her beloved hero walk through the door, not stopping to look back at her.

“Whatever I possibly meant to you,” Balto left her some parting words, speaking in a dull, loveless tone. “it just wasn’t enough for you to remember while we were apart, while you were in the wild.” He sighed deeply, still refusing to look back at her. “Well, you’ve got what you wanted – this time, we’re finally through . . .”

“No . . . Balto!!” Jenna barked loudly as Balto disappeared from her sight, not bothering to turn back for a final glimpse. “Balto!”

Once out of the room, Balto bolted for the door that led to the snowy streets where he could be alone once again. Tears streaked from his shut eyes as others saw him run; even the humans were curious about why Balto, the town hero, was running away so suddenly.

“Hey, what’s wrong with Balto, Mom?” Rosy asked her mother as they saw the hybrid dash out the door without even acknowledging them. “Something must be wrong. Maybe if I follow him . . .” She stood up, beginning to follow behind him, but a hand on the shoulder stopped her.

“Let him go, darling,” the sweet voice of her mother explained. “I think this is something that he has to deal with alone.”

TO BE CONTINUED . . .