Chapter 2: Hero of the Past

With the time and the year passing, Steele and Elizabeth's six puppies were growing up into playful and pretty young huskies. As they were two months old, all of them were up for the adoption and the result was - all six of them were being adopted! Furthermore, with them being adopted and living quite close to them, there was no doubt that they'd be always in touch with them.

Speaking of Steele's pups with Shira... Taiga, Rodney, Sarah and Tayer all managed to find the true loves of their lives and ended up becoming mates with their beloved friends Koda, Kiana, Phoenix and Galena, each of them having a handful of puppies to handle with everyday. When their puppies were up for the adoption, at least one, or two as it was the case with Sarah's puppies, ended up not being adopted at all.

To make sure he was keeping up with his word, Steele was waiting long enough for his pups and grandpuppies to be old enough to find out about the truth of himself. Getting ready for everything or nothing, he went ahead the entire routine describing his past and his crimes and how he was first mates with Shira, then with Lizzy. In the end, even if it did leave some shocking consequences, all went well.

"I never thought that our dad would have been a twisted, arrogant mutt. But I guess he wanted all the best to protect us." Annabeth, the oldest of Steele and Elizabeth's pups, now wearing the green collar around her neck, was now clearing throughout her head, trying not to imagine the crimes her father had committed. She was doing her best, along with her siblings.

"Oh well, now he's the entirely different dad, the one we know and love." Amanda, the middle daughter of the litter, wearing a dark red bandanna around her neck, commented this situation. As much as she was adored by her father the most, she was paying back the affection to him, making sure she'd be his lovable baby.

"No offense, Amanda, but hearing dad's story... he reminds me on your friend Brick." Titanium, the oldest male in the litter, added his opinion. That made Amanda frown in frustration, hearing the bad things being said to her boyfriend. He was not perfect, Brick that is, but he couldn't have been like their father long time ago. Or maybe she was trying to deny it so hard that it was not going to work. She just said: "Oh, in case you're wondering where am I going, I'll say hello to Brick from you." And she headed off, leaving her siblings puzzled.

Few days passed, and the word of Amanda being in the relationship with Brick came to her parents, with both of them already knowing that dog. They did not like him for his demeanor, always followed by the trio of his goons, doing trouble to the others. Somehow, Amanda was blind to all of these. This left Steele and Lizzy to discuss about Amanda the next time they were going to see.

And just that day, as Steele and Elizabeth were on the porch of her house, they were awaiting for Amanda to show up. They knew that every few days Amanda'd come to see her parents and so on. It just happened that this day was the day when she was visiting, with her coming from one end of the street, looking somewhat happy, judging by the smile on her face.

"Hey mom, hey dad!" Amanda greeted both her parents cheerfully, yet all she received was a pretty weak nuzzling from her mother and the disappointed look of her father. She was feeling like as if there was something going to happen real tense. What if they were going to talk about her boyfriend?

"Amanda, I think we should talk." Steele started this conversation, trying to remain himself this entire time. Yelling at his most beloved pup was the last thing in his life he'd ever do. Elizabeth was feeling the same, with her starting: "It is about your boyfriend, Brick his name, am I right?"

Amanda frowned upon that question, yet she didn't want to lose her temper in front of them, by saying: "Yes, mom, Brick is his name. Just don't tell me that there's anything bad in him!" She knew that Brick wasn't perfect boyfriend, yet she kept denying his bad behavior, something that couldn't have been hidden from the others around.

"I'm afraid it is like so." Steele commented, feeling slightly uneasy that this argument would escalate badly at any point possible. But if he wanted all the best for his daughter, he had to make some of the uneasy choices ahead. "Your mother and I do not appreciate to see you with a mean dog like him. Have you seen what he has been doing with his goons?!"

It kinda made Amanda think about it, but feeling that as long as she was under Brick's wings, there was nothing to regret about. Backing off the words coming from her father, she just said to his face: "Oh yeah? You don't like him just because he reminds you on yourself long before you met your mom?! Isn't that right?!"

There words were enough to make Steele go silent. Indeed, he was feeling quite hurt that his own most beloved daughter spat these words in his face, making him remember his dark past. Elizabeth was also shocked by her daughter's response, but before she could give any other words, Amanda was backing away from them, causing Lizzy to say: "Amanda! We're not done here! Come back!"

"You can't tell me with whom I can be and not! Leave ME ALONE!" She said these hurtful words, with the last two being exclaimed. Even Steele yelled to her to get back, as if the discussion was still on, but she was gone. Frowning in frustration to see the immature behavior of her daughter, Lizzy turned to Steele, whose shocked face oozed the pain given by Amanda's words. She leaned against her mate's chest, whispering softly: "She's going to learn, Steely. Don't worry, she'll back up these words..." Even if hurt, he was strongly believing that Lizzy's words were true.

Back at Amanda, who was now heading towards her boyfriend Brick, always being surrounded by three of his friends, if these could have been seen as his friends, because all they were doing was doing what he was pleasing and Brick was giving little to no care for them. Now that he had Amanda around, he'd always let her show her some fun, which was basically making fun of the certain dogs, eventually going overhead.

"Oh Amanda! It's a delightful surprise to see you!" That voice was familiar enough to her to gain her attention. Sly, arrogant and dastardly, it belonged to none other else than Brick, who was with his goons at the moment. "I wasn't expecting you to show up this early, you know."

Trying not to think on her parents while she was heading off from them, she just said: "My parents think I should not be with you, but I think they're a bit too much on prejudices at the moment." Not noticing the look on Brick's face, who was deeming a bit offended to think about her parents, she tried to calm herself down. Brick just suggested her: "Don't be nervous, we're about to have some fun."

"And what kind of fun is that? Don't you think we've had enough "fun" regarding the dogs?" Amanda asked him, feeling like that Brick was not only perfect boyfriend, but seemed like a rather questionable when it came to "His fun". Before Brick was able to answer her, one of his goons laughed crazily, saying: "We'll have some fun with that "goldie" dog!"

"Goldie dog?" Amanda asked once again, wondering to whom they were referring at. There were few golden-furred dogs in this town, the oldest one being Thunder. If having "fun" with was a good idea, it was not. What if it was Phoenix? Wasn't going to be too pathetic to make fun someone for the different ear color? Or what if it was going to be his son Tungsten? Not the puppy... just not the puppy...

"If you think we're gonna have fun with goldie's grandson puppy, whose father has odd ears, it's not him!" Brick said quite fiercely, which actually made her exhale in relief, not wanting to see little Tungsten being made fun of. But the next thing Brick said was: "Instead, we'll have fun with that goldie dog who still behaves like a puppy! Maybe his girlfriend is going to laugh at him when he starts crying like a puppy!"

"Nova?!" Amanda suddenly remembered Nova, the oldest pup of Nunivat and Thunder, who despite being the oldest, was still behaving like a little puppy. He was currently dating a cream golden husky named Cortina, who had managed to deal with the fact that Nova was like that. Realizing how badly it'd hurt the poor dog-puppy, she just confidently said: "Brick, I am not going to have your "Fun" at Nova nor I'll let you do it at him!"

"What?!" Brick hissed disposably, hearing that his own girlfriend was standing up to him. Absolutely being shocked by the fact that she wasn't going to allow him to make fun of the dog-puppy like Nova was, his goons were already by his side, facing Amanda. It was him who said: "Who do you think you are to stand up to your boyfriend like ME?!"

Trying to stay as courageous as possible, she was strong enough to spit some more words in his face: "And who do you think you ARE to make fun of a special dog like Nova IS?! Have you no shame or respect for him?! You know what, my parents were actually right about you! And guess what?! WE ARE THROUGH!"

These words were the trigger to Brick's menace to surface at last, being backed off by his own girlfriend. With his goons stepping in front, all he could say was: "Boys, how about you get her for me and set us a date for tonight, okay?" His goons were nodding like the empty-headed mutts, and were heading towards her.

"Back OFF!" Amanda barked at them, but them being dangerously close, she had no other choice but to run for it. Turning sharply for one hundred eighty degrees, Amanda was sprinting towards her safety, but somehow one of Brick's goons was fast enough to block her way to her parents' house, forcing her to take the alternate route. Eventually, as these were faster than Amanda, she ended up being in the alley, surrounded. At the same time, Brick and his goons were at the end of the alley.

"Now, now, Amanda." Brick was talking as he was slowly and steadily approaching her, not even trying to hide that he was up to something not good, especially by his grin. "Let us all forget all this. Let us go back where we started - you and I, along with my buddies, go have fun with that dog puppy and you come on a date with me, it is going to be a night to a... remember!"

"I HAVE TOLD YOU TO BACK OFF FROM ME!" Amanda angrily yelled, with her spitting big time on Brick, with the spit hitting him in the eye so he was backing off a quite, being held back by his goons. Furthermore, despite her slowly starting to tear up, said: "I should have listened to my mom and dad! If they were there, you'd regret this!"

"But your mutts of the parents aren't here, so we shall do this quickly. Get her!" Brick ordered them, being at the verge of rage. She broke up with him and he was not going to let this happen unpunished. As they were really dangerously close to her, with Amanda having nowhere to run, it seemed like all the hope was gone...

Or was it...?

As they were three meters away from her, suddenly the black figure leaped and landed between her and them, catching all of them by surprise. Amanda couldn't see who that was because the dog's face was turned on Brick and his goons. Brick could have seen that the dog was black, with gray underbelly and had dual eye color. It was Nero, son of Yukon.

"Who do you think you are, pipsqueak?!" Brick angrily snarled at the unexpected guess, wondering from where could he have showed up. The words, as if they had no effects on Nero whatsoever, made him growl stronger and angrier, followed by his: "She told you to back off from her! THEN WHY DON'T YOU DO WHAT SHE SAYS!?"

Now that there was someone else standing up to him in the name of Amanda, who was puzzled, yet relieved to have an ally on her side, it made her ex-boyfriend even angrier than before. No longer being able to tolerate this, Brick was saying: "If you get out of my way, I am going to fold you both for dinner to the wolves out there!"

Not even these words meant anything to Nero, but Amanda was frightened. What she didn't know that the wolves out there, out of the town, were Nero's family, so he had nothing to fear about. Instead, looking briefly at Amanda, he turned at Brick and said: "Go ahead, TRY ME IF YOU DARE!"

Enough said, Brick nodded with his head to attack Amanda's guardian and despite him being one against three of them, he was fighting the goons off pretty well. Seeing the incompetence of his goons, that made Brick strike back by hitting Nero with his paw hard in the head, causing the poor young black husky to pass out and roll down in the snow. Amanda was now alone again, at the verge of tears.

"Now who is going to protect you? I shall deal with you persona... AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Just as he was going to deal with Amanda in a very cruel and cold way, he was hit in the head by the another leaping canine, another black one, but that one being Malamute and much stronger than Nero. Rolling on his back, next to unconscious Nero and frightened Amanda, Brick looked above himself and much to his horror - the dog he was seeing was none other else than Amanda's father Steele.

"Who do you think YOU ARE TO HURT MY DAUGHTER?!" Steele furiously spat in Brick's face, with his furious yelling being there as well. Brick had no chance to say anything as he received somewhat like two or three strong slaps in his face. As he was going to deal with the fourth one, he just turned around and the look on his face was like as if he had done a big mistake, regretting that bitterly.

Releasing Brick, who was now beyond terrified upon that face-to-face contact with Amanda's father beyond any boundaries, he realized that as long as he was there, he was going to be busted pretty badly. He saw Steele heading towards his mate Elizabeth, whose face was revealing the utter shock and the tears streaming down rapidly. Nodding to his goons to get out of there, they ran as fast as they could, leaving the other four dogs there, without realizing that someone else was watching them.

"Lizzy! Elizabeth! ELIZABETH, LOOK AT ME!" Steele tried to console with his mate, but with her cries and fear overpowering her senses, he had to shake her few time to make sure she would eventually calm down and thankfully, that came to me. Still, with the tears streaming down her face and shock on her, she was still genuinely terrified and Steele knew why - he unleashed his inner monster he wanted to banish ever since his redemption. He was not going to let it out anytime ever. "I'm sorry! I swear, I didn't want to get you upset!"

Seeing how honest he was trying to be, genuinely regretting how he lost his temper while trying to protect their daughter, Lizzy believed him and buried her head in his chest to wipe the tears off her face, trying to recover from all this. With Steele cradling her by her side for a minute, having his leg around her shoulders, Amanda was watching her parents from distance, remorsefully, yet couldn't leave her protector here...

"Mom... dad... I..." Amanda tried to speak with them, but the guilt conserved from before, how she disobeyed her parents and let Brick influence her badly, was crushing her just like that. Still, the looks of the faces of her parents weren't giving away any menace so she was courageous enough to speak out: "I'm so sorry! I should have listened to you after you told me to ditch him! I shouldn't have yelled at you, dad!"

Seeing the mistakes of her decisions, it made her father feel much better, as if there was the another burden on his chest, ready to be taken off. Holding Lizzy by his side, he beckoned Amanda with his paw to come, with her slowly heading to them. In the matter of the sole seconds, she was being held in the tight embrace by both Steele and Lizzy.

"Amanda, I forgive you... It's just how terrified I felt when you compared him and me..." These words were the pain for him to speak out, doing his best to ditch away his dark past and to enjoy his new life with his new mate and their pups together. With Lizzy embracing her daughter to assure her it was all fine, she noticed, through Amanda's shoulder, that there was someone in the alley, being unconscious. Shaking in case of worst, Lizzy asked her daughter: "Amanda... don't tell me that... that is Titanium!"

Looking back at her savior, being still knocked out unconscious, Amanda let go off the embrace and said nervously: "It isn't Titanium, mom. It is..." But before she was able to finish, Steele rushed to Nero and checking out to make sure it was someone he was being good with, it was obvious that Steele was quite frightened by that sight.

Backing off towards the end of the alley, Steele immediately spat out the words: "It's Nero, Yukon's son! Amanda, Lizzy, stay with Nero! I'm going to find his father and the vet, and if possible, he's going to make it! I shall be BACK AS SOON AS I CAN!" These last few words were said loudly as Steele was already running towards the vet clinic or Yukon first.

In the matter of the minutes, Steele managed to return not only with Saba and Josh, but their owner, John, the vet of Nome, was accompanying them. Since the vet clinic was first on his way, Steele decided to alert Yukon after the vet was going to find out where the unfortunate injured son of his was. With John picking Nero up from the ground and heading to the vet clinic, being followed by his pretty worried dogs Saba and Josh, Steele rushed to Yukon's place.

Later on...

Now that the company was in the vet clinic, consisted of Steele, Elizabeth, Balto, Jenna, Josh, Saba, Yukon, Yin, Yang, Shira, Kiana, Neve, Amber and Amanda, it could have been said that each of them was pretty worried, with Yukon and Yin being the most worried, Yin being at the brink of crying, only to be comforted by her brother Yang, who was equally upset.

Thankfully, with Nero's owner being let known, they were able to hear the discussion between the two humans in the main room and the news were quite delightful. There was nothing nice about the injuries and wounds, but as long as they were in light measures, less to worry about. John was heard saying: "The impact in head and slight concussion was seen on your dog. Bruises imminent. All in all, two days he's spending here."

"Alright, but I am quite concerned about the attack." Nero's owner commented, not being quite happy that he had to head to vet clinic. Thankfully, with the prices being tolerable, it was all done and his owner left the clinic immediately. Thus, with the doors opened to the patients' room, dogs were heading inside one by one.

Surprisingly, out of them all first, Amanda was the one who was right by Nero's bed. Resting in the wooden basket on the white pillow, he was looking like as if he had fallen asleep, with the bandage covering the upper right part of his head, where Brick hit the young dog in head, protecting her, not knowing he played once with her, as a puppy.

"Oh dear, oh dear..." Yin was heard repeating that line over and over, holding herself from crying. Even Yukon felt genuinely upset to see his only son injured, considering the fact that it had been months since he was attacked by the wild wolf in the forest. "He's going to be okay, isn't he? Josh?"

While at first Josh was seen to be genuinely concerned, his concerned mood was slowly changing to optimistic. While his face wasn't showing it, it was enough from him to say: "Yes, he needs some rest... for now." This made Nero's sisters and his niece Neve, daughter of Kiana and Rodney who was not adopted, but was living with her father, to exhale in relief. Just like Kiana, Neve was bearing that same silver fur.

Then, the another dog arrived in the room - Rodney. While he was looking himself quite fine, he was kinda breathing big time, as if there was some kind of challenge for him to be done. But in fact, he said: "Amanda, you won't have to worry for that Brick and his goons anymore, I have dealt with them." While no one was accepting easily the idea of Rodney using the force to teach her ex-boyfriend and his goons a lesson, at least his step-sister was going to be safe.

Despite Kiana and Neve not being tolerant to the family violence, neither of them could deny that Rodney retaliating at these delinquent dogs for attacking her brother and his step-sister was actually the right thing to do. Hugging her mate and father respectively, Rodney held both Kiana and Neve in a tight embrace, assuring them that he was no longer going to rely on violence unless no other choice was to be given.

"I just hope that, after all these changes these years, Rodney won't turn violent again." Shira whispered to her mate's ear, with Yang whispering back: "As long as it isn't encouraged, then you won't have to worry." It was obvious that Shira didn't want any of her pups to fall under the negative influence ever again.

"Dad... there's something I have been wondering about." Amanda was finally being heard speaking, trying to remain as polite as possible by not interrupting anyone. "This Nero... I keep having images in my head... that I have met him before... but I don't remember where and when." This just sparkled Yukon's interest.

But Steele remembered that day... when all six of his pups were just one month old, being assisted by Yukon's triplets, Rodney and eventually Shira... how Amanda was riding Nero's paw out of fun. With these flashbacks flashing in his head, it was on Steele to say: "Amanda. Do you remember when you were one month old puppy? How Titanium teased you about you being in love with the young dog you were playing with? It's him - Nero's the one with whom you were playing."

These words caused the others to gasp in an utter surprise - Nero not only played with Amanda as one month old puppy, but it was him who saved her from her ex-boyfriend, or at least tried to. Wrapping her paws carefully around Nero's neck, Amanda embraced him carefully, whispering in his ear: "Nero... not only that you were my puppyhood friend, but now you're... a hero to me!"

This was heard by everyone in the room, with Amanda still holding Nero in an embrace. Even if Steele and Yukon were the toughest dogs there, being barely tolerant to emotions, both the malamute and the wolfdog were so delighted by it that they were at the brink of crying, but crying out of joy, not sadness.

"Alright, I must let you know that some space Nero is going to need." Saba informed each of them. which meant that they were required to leave. Though, not everyone was going to leave. Some of them, Amanda, Balto and Rodney decided to stay in there, which was acceptable to both Josh and Saba. Before leaving, Amber placed her paw on Nero's back, whispering: "Get well soon, little brother." With the lick in cheek, Amber left the clinic.

With little Neve greeting away her uncle, she stopped by to bid her father farewell, saying: "I hope you get home soon, dad." Because Neve was living with her father, she was obviously close to him, yet she didn't mind having her mother to look after and Kiana was going to look after Neve this afternoon for sure. With Jenna standing on the door, she said: "We know that he's going to make it, he always does it. You know that well, Balto." and then she left, with Balto agreeing undoubtedly. Thus, including Josh and Saba, the three dogs were with Nero inside.

"I don't know how long we'll have to wait until Nero wakes up, but I'm sure he will soon." Balto spoke, placing his paw around his grandson, being quite concerned by this attack. Still, it was quite unbelievable that this young husky, despite being quite vulnerable, was also incredibly tough, ever since after being attacked by the wolf months ago.

Suddenly, some soft gasping was heard and even if it wasn't much audible, it was enough for the ones present in the room to search for it. The first one who managed to find the source of gasping was none other else than Rodney, saying: "Look! He's waking up! Incredible!" He wasn't lying, because upon seeing Nero, he was gasping for air and even was opening his eyes slowly.

Amanda, Rodney and Balto, with Saba and Josh being in the another room and thus being unable to see what was happening, were doing their best to hold off from embracing at first so Nero could come to his senses. Indeed, with him coming to his senses, he noticed that he was in the rather familiar place, but was a bit clueless when he realized he was there. But feeling the bandage on his head and spotting his grandfather there, concerned, he was getting it.

"Grandpa Balto... where... how did I get here?!" Nero asked that away immediately, feeling a bit overconcerned that he was in vet clinic again. But feeling that his injuries were barely hurting him, he knew that he was not going to stay here for a long while. It was on Balto to speak to his grandson: "Steele was the one who alerted the vet to get you."

Surprised by that, it made him ask quickly: "But what about... oh, nevermind." He was going to say Rodney, but now that he was there, he might have guessed where he could have been. Then, finally spotting Amanda next to her stepbrother. Not being able to recall her name, he tried his best at his politeness by saying: "You... I have protected you from these dogs... I don't know if I know you, but you look familiar to me..."

Hearing the word familiar, Amanda was hoping that he was going to be able to know her better. Still, she wasn't offended that he had no clue what her name so she just said: "Amanda, my name is Amanda. If I look familiar, you gotta remember that when I was one month old puppy, I was playing with you!"

With these words said, Nero looked down, as if there was the part of his memory that was trying to prove that fact. Indeed, after searching in his mind, he was able to recall it - it was really her! He just could not believe that the puppy he was playing with was the one he was trying to save! He felt odd... in a rather good way, with him saying: "My words can't describe how amazed I feel now!" That was just followed by Amanda's giggling.

"I think it's time on me and Nero to tell you what happened earlier ago." Rodney finally spoke, eager to reveal how this all came to be. With Amanda and Balto listening carefully, Rodney started saying: "Nero and I were talking to each other, having a nice afternoon. I have spotted you, Amanda, running, and before I could think what was happening, we have spotted you being chased by your boyfriend."

"Now ex-boyfriend!" Amanda hissed angrily, but without any bad intentions towards her stepbrother. The sole thought of her ex-boyfriend was disgusting her beyond any possible limits. Seeing she had interrupted him, Amanda beckoned with her paw and said: "My apologies, carry on."

"All is well, no worries." Rodney shrugged it off, not minding to be interrupted as he knew how disgusted Amanda was feeling: "I was going to hop in the rescue, but Nero told me to get dad as soon as possible while he decided to deal with them. Nero was already knocked unconscious by Brick before we came, but after dad dealt with him, I have decided to finish the job. He's never going to bother you anymore!"

While Amanda was known to be against violence, but being a victim of the deranged ex-boyfriend of hers, there was no doubt that she was in favor of him teaching them a proper less. Turning towards him, Amanda wrapped her legs around Rodney and whispered: "Oh, thank you so much, Rodney! You really helped me a lot."

Smiling like a manly dog, Rodney patted his stepsister by her back, whispering: "It is all I can do for my dear stepsister like you are, Amanda." With her releasing him from embrace, Rodney looked at Nero, saying: "Nero, I may come around later because I need to take care of Neve. See you soon!"

"Take care of your daughter, Rodney, see ya!" Nero greeted him off, with him realizing that his uncle and aunt were the ones who were going to make him a company. However, with Rodney, leaving, Nero noticed that Amanda didn't move a centimeter from her spot, with Rodney noticing that at the doors.

"Amanda, you coming?" He asked her. Knowing that he was her stepbrother, he could let her do the things on her own, considering the fact that he had no control over her whatsoever. But Amanda shook with her head, still not moving. Turning her face to him, she told Rodney: "Rodney, tell dad that I shall be spending here most of time till Nero recovers, yeah?"

Now both brothers-in-law were surprised by Amanda's choice, with Rodney shrugging with his shoulders off, saying: "As you wish." However, as he was leaving, There was a smile spreading across his right cheek as soon as he was outside, feeling like something good was going to happen soon. Now Amanda and Nero were together alone, including Saba and Josh, of course.

With Amanda being by Nero's side, she spotted how much space was in the basket so she decided to snuggle inside, by his side, placing her paw around his shoulders. Before Nero was able to say anything, being utterly surprised, Amanda softly whispered: "Nero... I may be nuts saying this... but I think that I... like you."

That was what she was thinking, being nuts. Nero, smiling that off, let out a few chuckles before being able to speak again. Instead of making fun of her for her choice, he let her know the following: "Why are you saying that? It is your choice, isn't it?" That response was triggering enough for her to tickle him by his neck, revealing that he was not minding him at all.