wolf in a fight,” Niju replied with pride.

           At that moment Eagle walked onto the boat with Jenna, both shocked at what they had heard.

“Steel will not like this he hates wolves. If you Steel he will attack you, he has friends who will support him,” Jenna said nervously.

“That dog wouldn’t stand a chance against three wolves,” Eagle chipped in. “Nor would any dog.”

“Be careful none the less,” Cathan replied. “Anything could happen.”

        A couple of days later Balto, Cathan and Niju at the side of the race track, watching as the winners were announced. Iron’s team had come fourth, beaten to the top stop by Steel’s team. Iron was in the twilight of his career and was due to retire at the end of the season.  As Iron passed by them Cathan stepped forward.

“We need to talk to you in private,”

“I was under the impression we were not speaking,” Iron replied turning around.

“A rumour once did the rounds regarding you and a wolf, I know the truth, so unless you want everyone to……” Cathan snapped.

       The colour drained from Iron’s face as his eyes fell on Niju’s, his eyes widening in shock at the clear similarities. Without a word he followed Balto, Niju and Cathan to an alley that ran behind the hospital where Nada stood waiting. Instantly the Iron’s remaining colour drained from his face, while Niju took after Iron, Nada took after Radka.

“Hello Father, I am your daughter Nada you have met my brother Niju,” Nada said stepping forward.

“Radka that little…” Iron snarled.

“Yes our Mother, never dreamed you would have wolf pups did you?” Niju asked glaring at his father.

“No I did not, I never wish to see you again.”

“You disregard us easily.”

“You are a liability, a scandal waiting to happen.”

“What will Steel think when he finds out?” Nada asked glaring at Iron.

“He will not find out!”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that Iron, I would say Steel deserved to know,” Balto said, speaking for the first time.

“You will not tell him you filthy half breed,” Iron snarled lunging at Balto.

      Seconds later Iron found himself pinned to the floor with a furious Nada and Niju looking down at him, their amber eyes glowing with rage. Calmly Niju yawed, showing of his white, pointed teeth.

“NEVER TOUCH BALTO AGAIN,” Niju snarled. “He is worth a hundred of you, he is family.”

“No he is not!” Iron gasped.

“Oh he is, his brother is my mate, his sister is in my pack. We know what damage you inflicted on him when he was younger, consider yourself we have not done the same to   you,” Nada snapped.[3].

       Iron’s eyes widened at their words, the confident looks in the wolves eyes and air of danger around Niju surprised him. Struggling to his paws Iron backed out of the ally, only facing forwards once he was clear. In front of him he saw Steel lounging on a barrel, seeing his father Steel calmly walked over. Just as the pair greeted each other Niju appeared, instantly Steel’s eyes widened as he instantly saw the resemblance.

“Hello brother,” Niju said calmly.

“You dare wolf even suggest such a thing?” Steel snarled in rage.

“Well half brother technically, didn’t Daddy ever tell you he had a relationship with a wolf?”

“LIES! All filthy lies spread by a filthy wolf,” Steel spat.

“Really?” Niju asked lifting an eyebrow. “Ask him yourself.”

         Turning to face his father Steel looked at him directly as Balto and the others appeared out of the ally. Looking at his son Iron sighed heavily, resentment and embarrassment in his eyes.

“In my youth I made the mistake of dating a she wolf while staying at a check point. Our musher was seriously ill and I was under a lot of stress causing me not think clearly. I regret my actions now.”

“I cannot imagine why you would ……but given the circumstances understandable,” Steel replied with mild understanding.

“A prime example of what I have always told you about wolves Steel, they are not to be trusted.”

“Get out of here wolf,” Steel snarled glaring at Niju.

  “You are both cruel and arrogant dogs with no code of honour, certain wolf packs would treat you just as you treat us,” Nada shouted running over.

“Who gave you permission to speak?”

“I am you sister.”

“You are both half breed dirt who are a disgrace and do not belong here.”

         Seeing the tension brimming between the dogs and wolves Nava walked slowly towards them, placing himself between Steel and Nada.

“They have claim to this town by their dog blood, you forget that one of mixed blood saved the place you call home. Accept the fact they are part of your family, let this be an opportunity to put aside past prejudices.”

“Do not dare speak to us old wolf,” Steel snarled.

    In a flash of utter anger at being addressed by Nava, Steel lunged at Nava sending him tumbling to the floor. Seeing his uncle’s pain cold rage ripped through Niju’s blood, in a swift movement he attacked Steel. The sounds of the fight brought the town dogs running, some immediately jumping to Steel’s aid. Eagle, Balto and Nada instantly joined the fight. Standing on the sidelines Iron and Cathan watched with horror as their children fought. Fear ran though the watching dogs, most had never seen wolves fight but all were aware of how strong Steel was, with many remembering seeing parallels with the time Iron attacked Balto as a pup. In that fight Steel had tried to defend his then friend but had suffered a beating, it was after that fight the friendship between the pair had ended.[4] Now history had come full circle as Balto fought against Steel in town.

      With a gap of pain Steel floor, his body covered in cuts that bleed onto the snow. The dogs gasped as Niju placed a paw on the throat of the defeated husky; the dogs that had joined Steel stood shaking in fear having been beaten by the wolves. The watchers held their breath as the scene unfolded, each aware of what could happen.

  “You should not have attacked my Uncle; in pack circles I would have the right to kill you for attacking a pack leader.” Nijiu hissed. “We are very alike brother, we both ignored Balto’s advice but only I had the wisdom to see the foolishness in my actions.”

“You and that wolf dog are worthless scum, we are nothing alike,” Steel hissed.

“Balto is worth ten of you, to think you and he used to be friends. I learned the hard way where my arrogance, blindness and cruelty got me. We are alike brother more than you realise, but compared to me you are weak and unwilling to change.”

“I have no need to change you wolf scum. Now let me up before, I am at the top of the social ladder; this is social suicide if you have any hope of living here.”

“Mistake number three Steel, I don’t care what “society” thinks in the slightest. I am a wolf wild and free, I have no intention of living in this town.”

   Looking up Niju saw the worried faces of the watchers, fear showing on those of Iron, Cathan and Balto, all wondering what Niju would do not. Smirking Niju raised his head and howled.

“ALL OF YOU HEAR THIS. I AM NIJU HALF BROTHER OF STEEL THROUGH THE SLED DOG IRON. YOU ALL SEE HOW SIMILAR WE LOOOK, ON MY OATH I SWEAR THIS FACT AS TRUE!”

    The watchers gasped with utter shock, their eyes immediately turning to face Iron, unable to believe what they had heard.

“The wolf is telling the truth,” Iron sighted his eyes glowing with rage.

        Instantly babble broke out among the dogs while Steel looked up at Niju aghast, the husky had been expecting his half brother to use his position for some form of physical attack. The fact he had misjudged the situation entirely was a huge shock, that and the fact he had not been able to read Niju’s emotions. For the first time in years Steel felt afraid of another creature, he had not been beaten in a fight since he was a pup. Gazing at his brother properly for the first time, Steel saw a confident, strong, loyal wolf with a ruthless edge and an air of danger.

  “I am going to let you up Steel, I did not want to fight but you forced my paws,” Niju said stepping off the husky.

       Leaving the circle Steel avoided his brother’s eye, walking calmly over to his father and his friends. The dogs greeted him with wagging tails while Iron looked over his injuries. Standing in the circle Balto, Nada, Eagle and Niju looked around at the dogs who had cheered them on during the fight. Star, Nikki, Kaltag, Kodi and many others believed Steel had been served his just deserts.

      The circle of dogs broke up as human’s shouts drifted through the night, the last thing any of them wanted was for their owners to know the full details. In a flash the wolves bounded away down the side streets melting into the night. Leaving town