Chapter 2: the darkness are back

Kodi and Dusty returned from their morning walk. The female husky took a look at her mate, she was really happy to have spent a quiet morning with Kodi, she really needed to distract herself from her worries, now she felt much better and even more confident to reveal the secret that she kept so much hidden.

Dusty: "It was a really relaxing morning, Kodi. I really needed it"

Kodi: "no problem Dusty, I'm happy to know that you feel better now"

Dusty: "actually...there's something I should tell you"

Kodi: "Sure Dusty, tell me what you want..."

Dusty: "well...I was wondering if..."

Dusty was interrupted by Kirby, their teammate came to ask if they wanted to go have fun on the beach. Obviously Kodi accepted and Dusty joined them too, she sighed making a slight moan for the missed opportunity.

Arrived at the completely snowy beach they met Kodi's mother, Jenna was taking a walk alone before returning home to her owner.

Kodi: "Hi mom!"

Jenna: "hi dear, are you here with your friends to relax a bit on the beach?"

Kodi: "yeah, isn't dad with you?"

Jenna: "unfortunately not, he went to Nenana with Duke, he will be back late"

Dusty: "Jenna, can we talk for a moment in private?"

Dusty asked feeling a little more flustered than before. Jenna nodded and they went to talk on the wreck while Kodi stayed on the beach with Kirby and Ralph.

After a while Dusty paced back and forth over the beached wreck, sighing as she gazed at the horizon, watching Kodi play tag with his friends.

Jenna: "calm down, darling. There's no point in fussing. I'm sure everything will be fine."

The beautiful red-coated female husky, Jenna, smiled at her, trying to calm her down, but it didn't help. Dusty kept pacing, the poor husky frowning in concern.

Dusty: "I don't know Jenna...I'm not sure if he's going to accept it...I'm so scared..."

Then, Jenna made up her mind to bring her son in to talk to Dusty alone so that she could settle the matter once and for all.

Jenna "I'll bring him up here and leave you alone to talk. Meanwhile I'll make sure the others stay off the boat"

Jenna smiled giving her a reassuring lick on the forehead as Dusty bent down to rub her mother-in-law's face in thanks.

Dusty: "Thanks Jenna... see you later..."

Dusty waited for a few minutes, she had eyes closed as she waited for her mate to arrive. About two minutes later, Kodi sprinted over the wreck to catch up with his mate, looking a little anxious.

Kodi: "Dusty, is everything okay? My mom said you urgently needed to talk to me!"

Kodi stammered, her expression a mixture of concern and mild fear. Dusty patted him lightly on the shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down.

Dusty: "I'm fine... it's just that... I wanted to discuss something with you, Kodiak..."

The male husky closely watched at her movements swallowing nervously after he heard his full name, his heart leaping as he waited for some bad news.

Kodi: "If I did something to make you angry, I'm sorry! I will not do that anymore"

Dusty: "No no, Kodi, you didn't do anything wrong..."

Dusty murmured in a reassuring tone placing a paw over his, her eyes looked at him deeply, she noticed his bright amber irises covered in a little concern.

Dusty: "...I...wanted to know if..."

Kodi: "come on Dusty, just say it...honey, you're scaring me..."

Kodi felt the anxiety in the air, the tension getting a little thicker as he waited for her to speak.

She fiddled with the pin on her collar, her chest starting to heave a little as she started to whisper a little.

However, the husky stopped immediately, she feeling trapped by her emotions. She wanted to let her know but it was really hard for her to pick the right words. She had been practicing all morning in her mind, but now that it was time…she was having a hard time, it felt like she had glue in her mouth.

Dusty: "...We...have been together for almost a year, Kodi...and...I wanted to know if...if..."

Dusty's voice was getting lost she gulped and inhaled deeply, feeling her throat dry. But she eventually gathered the courage she needed to tell the truth

Dusty: "I wanted to know if...do you feel ready to have puppies?"

She closed her eyes, then after a few minutes she looked at her beloved.

His face was shocked, his brown eyes looked at her in wonder.

Kodi: "...p-puppies?!...D-Dusty are you pregnant?"

He barely whispered, his voice still and trembling.

Dusty: "Yes we are about to be parents...a week ago our owner took us to the vet and I found out that I am pregnant. It's a big step and could change our lives, but...if you are not ready for this, I understand..."

Kodi felt speechless, obviously taken aback by great surprise, as he was looking at Dusty's face. He hadn't changed his expression in over three minutes and she was starting to get scared.

Dusty: "...So, what do you think?"

For what seemed like an eternity, Dusty sat across from her mate, locked in a staring contest as her heart pounded in her chest. Suddenly, Kodi hugged her, cuddling happily. Dusty looked down and saw its bushy tail wagging about a million miles per second.

Kodi: "oh Dusty...that's wonderful!...honestly I was starting to think about it..."

Kodi gave her a warm kiss, laughing softly along with her.

Kodi: "I love you...And I'm definitely ready to be a dad"

He laughed again, his eyes shining with happiness as Dusty let out a big sigh of relief, and her tail started to wag too.

Jenna, who meanwhile had been watching them on the beach, couldn't hold back her emotion and a tear rolled down her face as she smiled big. After Aleu and Xaver had their first litter she was so happy to have become a grandmother and was soon to have more grandchildren.

When night came everyone had to go back to the post office to rest and prepare for the new working day. Dusty was sleeping peacefully next to her love, Kodi who in the meantime was looking at her with a sweet smile: he was certainly delighted that he would soon become a father, and obviously he was more than ready to take on this responsibility and promised himself that nothing bad would happen to his Dusty and his future puppies. He rested his head on the floor and closed his eyes immediately sliding into sleep.

Meanwhile Steele the big Alaskan malamute was running away from the laughter of other dogs. He was once a very well known and feared dog by all, but now he has become the laughing stock of all the dogs in Nome.

The big dog had recently suffered yet another humiliation, this time by the group of dogs that were part of his old racing sled team, throwing snow at and insulting him, but the worst thing they dared to do was just howl at the sky vulgarity referring to his deceased mate. Steele took refuge outside the city. His pride was wounded, he felt a strong anger inside him and wanted to make them pay, but in that moment he felt fragile and desperate as the laughter and insults echoed in his mind.

Steele: "I can't take it anymore!"

screamed the malamute sobbing dropping on the soft blanket of snow. After a few moments he felt a strange presence approaching in front of him. He looked up and saw in front of him a she-wolf with a lean and slender build, and her coat was blood-red with some strange black features that were very unusual for a terrestrial wolf and two luminescent green eyes that instilled terror.

Steele: "Who are you?!"

Steele asked getting up growling menacing, despite the dog's aggressive reaction the she-wolf didn't seem intimidated, in fact, she even started advancing with a grin.

Vladia: "If you really want to know, I'm Vladia. I've seen how those dogs treating you."

Steele: It's none of your business! Now it is better for you to stay away from me, or I will tear you to shreds!"

The she-wolf laughed hearing Steele's threats, when she was done she put her intense gaze on him again as she bared her long ivory fangs.

Vladia: "crimson path!"

To Steele's surprise the she-wolf transformed into a blood-red trail directed to him, eventually she returned to her normal she-wolf form when she was close enough to the husky she pinned him down by aiming her long claws at his throat.

Vladia: "You shouldn't go against a vampire she-wolf. I could immediately sink my fangs into your neck and suck your blood to the last drop in your body."

Vladia warned Stelle, who in the meantime was amazed by how such a thin female wolf had knocked him down despite his large and massive build.

Steele: "w-what do you want from me?"

Vladia: "I need someone to get me food right now from that village and you already know what I'm talking about"

Steele: "and if I help you, what can I get?!"

The dog asked getting up on his paws not very happy to have been knocked down so easily.

Vladia: "obviously the satisfaction of having taken revenge. You will be able to see everyone who has humiliated and taunted you all this time finally get what they deserve. Death!"

Steele began to reflect thinking that maybe that she-wolf was right and that deep down she still had a score to settle with a certain young adult husky.

Vladia approached him and showed him beams of negative light that came out of her chest forming a sphere surrounded by a dark aura. That sphere of life belonged to the legendary destroyer of worlds and for some strange reason Vladia had managed to take possession of it.

Vladia: "With this sphere of life you will get great powers. You will once again be the most feared dog in this whole city and anyone who dares to challenge you will be mercilessly annihilated. All you have to do is absorb the sphere into yourself."

Steele didn't even stay to think about it and even though he had a little effort he managed to absorb the Dark Blade's sphere and immediately he felt the strength and power grow inside him, it was a great feeling for him.

Vladia: "now you are ready, go and find me some prey!"

The dog nodded and ran quickly towards the village using his new ability to hide and move within the shadows.

Meanwhile Kaltag, a sled dog who had recently teased Steele was heading home grinning still thinking about how funny it was to humiliate his former sled partner. Unexpectedly he had the sensation of being watched. The dog turned around but saw no one behind him, the road was completely deserted, even if dimly lit by some lit oil lanterns it was visible enough to understand that there was no one behind him. Kaltag was about to retrace his steps but as he looked around he saw Steele appear right in front of him emerging from the ground. His eyes meanwhile turned red as blood as he locked eyes with the victim showing him his long, sharp fangs.

Kaltag: "S-Steele?!..."

The dog gasped completely wrapped in terror as he slowly backed away with his tail between his hind legs, while Steele walked towards him with a sadistic smile.

Steele: "Nothing personal Kaltag…"

Finally Steele bit into the poor dog's neck, sinking his sharp teeth into his flesh. Kaltag could do nothing but squirm and yelp in hopes that someone would come to his aid. His whimpers attracted the attention of some humans and Steele was forced to take refuge into the shadows with his prey between his teeth.

An old man heard yelping outside his home. But when he came out he saw nothing, only a large pool of blood and a few tufts of blonde fur belonging to Kaltag.

to be continued...