Toby headed for Luna's home. He was bouncing with excitement, wanting to tell her of the amazing offer Balto had made. When he arrived, he heard Luna and her mother talking through the door. Not wanting to interrupt, he sat outside and waited. And while he was sitting there, he couldn't really help overhearing what was being said.

"I still don't believe it!" Luna was saying. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to tell you because…well, because I wanted to forget it myself." Luna's mother sighed. "I shouldn't have come back to Nome. I should have known Steele would follow me."

"So why did you come back?" Luna asked.

"Because of your father."

"Oh, I see." Luna sounded close to tears. "And I guess he's also the reason you didn't tell me that the dog who almost destroyed Nome is my grandfather!"

Toby's eyes widened. What?

"I know how you feel," Luna's mother said. "After all, he's my father too."

Toby's mind ran off in confusion. This can't be real…this can't be real. This just can't be real! he thought over and over again.

"I know it's not a pleasant thought," Luna's mother continued. "You have a proud heritage too, though."

"Yeah, I know!" snapped Luna. "I've got one grandpa who saved the town, and another who almost destroyed it!"

Once again, Toby tried to pretend he hadn't heard the conversation. He still played with Luna, but now every time he looked at her all he could think of was how much she looked like Steele, though most of it was in his mind. The only part of her that really resembled Steele was her eyes. Luna was distracted too, often lost in her own thoughts, but it was inevitable: She noticed that something was wrong. "What's the matter with you?" she asked Toby one day.

"What?"

"You're looking at me funny," she said. "And you were showing your teeth."

"Oh." Toby stared very quickly at the ground.

"Toby, what's eating you?"

"Nothing."

"Toby, you tell me this instant what the problem is!"

"Well," Toby began, "you remember after Steele kidnapped you, your mom took you off to talk with you?"

An odd look crossed Luna's face. "I've been trying not to."

"Well, I had a really great talk with Balto afterward, and he said he'd help me with my half-brother, Pete. I was excited and I wanted to tell you and…accidentally heard what you and your mom were talking about it."

Luna looked worried. "You did?"

"Yeah. I really didn't mean to, honest. It just…"

"Happened, yeah." Luna sighed.

Toby knew he should probably stop, but the words kept coming. "It just freaks me out, talking to someone whose grandpa has been Nome's most wanted since the serum run."

"Yeah? Well, try actually being that someone!" Luna retorted. "Not to mention talking to someone who eavesdropped when you and your mom were discussing family issues!"

"Luna, I told you it was an accident!"

"Yeah, sure!" She nearly exploded. She took a few deep breaths and started to cry. "I'm sorry, Toby. I shouldn't be so angry at you. It's just…well, I don't really know who I am anymore."

Toby nodded. He wasn't used to seeing Luna cry. "Maybe I should go," he suggested.

Luna turned to go back home. "Yeah, I'm sorry. See you, Toby."

They saw very little of each other in the following days. And when they did cross paths, they tried not to look at or talk to each other. One day, Rex decided to have a talk with Toby. "Son?" he said as Toby sat sulking out in the yard one morning.

"What, dad?"

"I've noticed you stopped playing with your friend Luna."

Toby shrugged. "Yeah? What of it?"

Rex sighed. "Well, I decided to talk to her parents to see what was wrong, and apparently it's a problem on both ends."

Toby nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Son, it's no more right for you to ignore her because of her lineage than it is for Pete to tease you about yours."

"I know." Toby shivered. "It just creeps me out, that's all."

"Well, there's more to the story than you realize. That's why I brought someone to talk to you."

Toby turned around, expecting to see Luna or her mother, but instead saw a strange husky coming around the shed. "Hi, Toby," the strange dog said. "I'm Copper, Luna's dad."

Toby nodded and looked at the ground. Great, he thought. A talk with the girl's dad. This always means trouble.

"I guess you've already heard about Steele being Luna=s grandfather," Copper went on. "And I'm sure you realize that it's not her fault."

Toby nodded. "Did you know who her mom was before this whole thing?"

Rex balked. "Toby! That's a very rude."

"No, I understand," Copper interrupted. "And yes, Toby, I knew. I knew about her before she ever came to Nome. The plain fact is I knew―or had guessed―before she figured out my secret."

"Your secret?" asked Toby, pricking up his ears.

Copper chuckled. "Well, it's not a secret, per se; it's just that nobody makes such a fuss about it like they used to." He put a paw down in front of him and lifted it, revealing a larger-than-normal pawprint.

Toby stared at the pawprint. "You're part-wolf?" he asked.

Copper nodded. "You already know about Taya's father. So I'd like you to meet mine." A gray-brown wolfdog stepped out from behind the shed. "I believe you two know each other."

"Wait a minute," said Toby slowly, staring at Balto in disbelief. "You mean that you're Luna's other grandpa?"

Balto grinned. "I know it's kind of strange. It made me feel like Lord Montague until I got used to it."

"Who?"

"Oh, someone in a story the humans tell. Never mind." Balto shook his head as if he couldn't believe he was actually talking about the whole thing. "I never imagined my grandkids would have any connection with Steele, but a lot of other dogs still judge me for my parents, so I've got no place judging anyone else for theirs." He looked Toby in the eye. "Taya's a good dog, you know. You'd never have guessed that she was Steele's daughter if she hadn't told you."

Toby's head was spinning. "Let me get this straight. You're Copper's dad, and Steele is Luna's mom's dad?"

Copper nodded. "That's right."

Toby sat down, trying to stop the world from spinning. "So what does that make Luna?"

Copper's face took on a serious expression. "Very confused," he answered. "Toby, I know it may not seem so, but you're in a very important position right now. Beyond us, you and your father are the only ones who know our secret. We didn't want it to get out at all for fear that Taya would be chased out of town. But now we have to trust you, because you're the only one of Luna's friends who knows."

Toby could hardly believe what he was hearing. Luna had how many friends, and he was the only one who knew of her relation to Steele? It suddenly felt like the entire weight of the world was resting on his back. "So what am I supposed to do?" he asked.

"For starters it would mean a lot to me and my dad if you wouldn't let this mess up your friendship with Luna. And please don't let it get around. Try not to even think about it when you and Luna are playing. Just think of her like you did before this whole mess started, if you can. Believe me, it's no easier for her than it is for you, and she'll need a good friend while she's getting used to this."

Toby nodded. "Okay," he said. He stood up. "In fact, I think I'll go see if she wants to play right now." And he took off.

"Well, I'm glad that's over with," said Copper.

"You and me both," Balto replied.