Chapter 3

"I called the sanctuary. They don't want him," Linda sighs, starting the meeting.

Zack and Demetri groan, along with Grace and Jonathan, also vet assistances. Jonathan plumages his head on the table and dangles his limbs. Together, along with our secretary, we are known as Team 2.

"I also called the sanctuary two cities over. They also refused," Linda looks down and the sixty-three-year-old secretary speaks up.

"So, we have no choice but to keep him?" Eleanor adjusts her glasses that have a chain that lies around her neck.

"Yes," Linda nods and sits down.

"It will only be for a week because with the rate he is currently recovering, he will heal pretty quickly," Demetri informs.

I nod in understanding and look at Jonathan who is currently still shaking his body like a frustrated toddler. Grace is clicking her pen on the table.

Everyone sighs and turns on their thinking face. Not long after much thinking, the owner of the animal hospital storms into the meeting room.

"I will not keep a wolf along with the others," he rages with a calm voice. He is a rather old man, a few years over retirement, and was likely eavesdropping.

"We could always move him," Grace suggests.

"Yeah, like back where he belongs," Jonathan agrees with her in a different sense.

"No," I state.

"Absolutely not," Demetri throws as well.

"Why?" Eleanor joins, which is rare. She always thinks her opinions don't count, because she's not a vet, but she's the tie-breaker.

Zack just shrugs without care.

"Okay then, Eiliah, you take him. No room for discussion," the owner, known as Elfwind, speaks up and disappears as fast as he appeared.

"What the..." Jonathan trails off.

"Bullshit," Zack agrees.

"Mind your French, Zackie-boy," Eleanor warns him with a sweet tone.

"First of all, he'll eat my cat. And another thing, he will probably be finished healing by the time we build something for him outside my house. He's massive and wild, I can't just let him live in my small place, which is occupied by Python. I'm just worried Python will pick a fight he can't win," I speak my thoughts. The wolf's still wild, even with the calm and playful manner he has.

"She has a point," Grace has a pained expression, clearly unsure of Elfwind's statement. Elfwind always says what he likes, only thinking about the consequences on his part.

"We'll use the travelling cage and let him use it for the week. It may be small, being travel size and all, but he is smaller than a bear, and it will only be for a week. How about that?" Demetri looks at me and Linda's face lights up.

"Then it's settled, I agree. I just have to think about the short week and not the small cage, but the hospital must sponsor the food," I try throwing a genuine smile.

"That asshole is at it again," Zack huffs and this time Eleanor flicks him on the forehead while walking out. He sinks to the floor, Eleanor's age not restraining her strength.

I smile at them while everyone scurries out of the room, except for Demetri.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" he asks me and I look up at him, standing up.

"What choice do I have? It's not like I'm complaining, I'll do anything I need to do to help him," I give him a look laced with sympathy.

Demetri nods his head and follows everyone out the door. I sigh to myself in the empty room.

Who knew my day would end with a wolf by my side?

"Welcome to my home!" I introduce my cabin to the wolf.

Demetri shakes his head at my excitement. He walks around the cage looking through the bars, but the wolf is looking at me, following my gaze.

"I'll have to name you, don't I?" I give a questioning look to him and it almost looks like he gives one back.

I let out a soft laugh and Demetri pops his head out from behind the back and looks at me with concern.

I wave him off and try to push him into one of the cars.

"I'm all great, thanks. I won't die, don't worry," Demetri scoffs at me and I just smile, giving him the signal to leave. He huffs and waves as he drives off.

"Say hi to Python for me," he winks at his joke.

"He hates you!" I shout to get my words to Demetri. The group of cars drive off into the distance and disappear through the buildings that are still somewhat visible.

"It's just you and me, huh? And Python," I smile at the wolf and start hearing Python meowing for attention. I walk up the porch and open the front door for my cat, without a second chance, he darts out and towards the wolf.

I run after him to make sure he isn't putting himself in a threatening position. To my relief, he is only prancing around the cage, but for some reason, the wolf doesn't care.

I dash back into the cabin, grab my laptop and bolt outside.

"This is gonna take a while, okay?" I inform the two animal men, one hopping around the other.

The wolf cocks his head to the side and I offer another smile. I flip my laptop open and open the search engine for names.

"Should we go human or dog?" I think out loud. The wolf sneezes and I flinch back, not expecting the sudden outburst. He starts whimpering again and I reach my hand out to reassure him.

I pull my hand back to search, but the wolf starts back up again.

"Give me a moment, alright?" I shoo him off and he plops down with his head down.

"Angus, Apollo, Archie, Ash, Axel, Baxter, Bingo, Bruce, Bruno, Champ, Charlie, Chester, Chip, Coco, Dexter, Duke, Eddie, Felix, Frankie, Freddy, George, Griffin, Hunter, Kane, King, Lenny, Logan, Marty, Max, Milo, Nelson, Noah, Ollie, Oscar, Ozzy, Peanut, Pepper, Prince, Rambo, Rocco, Romeo, Sam, Scooby, Scout, Simba, Snoopy, Spencer, Spike, Spot, Tucker, Walter, Woody," I skip over the names as quickly as I can. I know for a fact I won't use common names, whether the wolf likes it or not.

With that, I go to another website.

"Buddy, Rocky, Toby, Cody, Cooper, Bear, Rusty, Bentley, Louie, Sparky, Maximus. No, that's not it," I sigh, "Maybe I have to be more specific."

I search for half an hour before I start reading the names slower to see how the wolf reacts.

"Dragon. Emerson. Drew. Jayson. Raphael. Briar. Astro. Eclipse. Moon," he perks an ear, but it isn't good enough for me, "Not doing it for you either?" I heave another sigh as I click on another website.

"Phantom. Bambam," I giggle, but continue, "Coffee. Kujo. Vincent. Ooh, Knight. No?" I get no response.

"Oh, look at this list, there has to be something somewhere in here. Albus. Amadeus. Galileo. Mushu!" I burst out laughing at one of my favourite characters. The wolf huffs, so I continue.

"Sherlock. Wonton. Picasso. Bilbo. Gandalf. Merlin. Gatsby. Poe. Watson. Alfredo. Cat. Einstein. Toothless!" I continue with my frantic state as I see another favourite character. The wolf just huffs again and I roll my eyes.

"Midnight?" I shake my head as I never receive a response.

"What about some funky names? Maybe I'll put my own twist in between," I speak out loud and Python is looking for attention, scratching my arms.

"Bolt. Wolf. Rhino. Alpha," he lifts his head, now I at least have his attention.

"Blaze. Saber. Rex. Raven. Gunner. Shadow. Mocha. Kong. Ammo. Butch. Coyote. Deadpool. Dynamo. Snowball. Tiger. Oh, Cobra, then you and Python can be matching," I laugh to myself, but the wolf doesn't look impressed. Python as well.

"Oh come on. Please get me something to work with," my throat is becoming dry saying all the names.

"So far the only response I got out of you was Alpha. What has that got to do with anything? 'Cause you don't understand English," it feels like I'm going to cry. This wolf is not satisfied with anything.

Does he already have a name?

Well, he is very tame around me, which is unusual for a normal wild wolf.

"Maybe I should wait and see if a name snaps at me. Okay, here we go again," this time I skim through millions of names, not reading them out loud. Maybe I'll stumble upon a name and I will know it's the one.

When the sun starts setting, I still got nothing.

A thought pops in my head and I search for moon names since wolves are connected to the moon.

With that, I speed read through another million names, but this time I feel like I'm getting closer to a name. I save a few names to read out loud for later.

Finally, I have a few names that seem like the wolf would like them.

"Astennu. Rakesh. Io. Badru. Aibek. Aku. Koray. Hang," he gives me his full attention with a small howl and I reread a few names back.

"Aku? No."

I didn't expect him to go so ballistic on the next name. 

"Koray-"