When a young veterinarian discovers that werewolves exist, she is thrust into a world she doesn’t belong in…or so she thought. Anna Hunt had a relatively normal life, great friends, and a rewarding job, but when an injured wolf comes stumbling into her office, that all changes. Little does she know that her connection to these beasts runs far deeper than most.
Age Rating: 18+
Note: this story is the author’s original version and does not have sound.
Wolf Whisperer by Saige Cressant is now available to read on the Galatea app! Read the first two chapters below, or download Galatea for the full experience.
Read the full uncensored books on the Galatea iOS app!
1
When a young veterinarian discovers that werewolves exist, she is thrust into a world she doesn’t belong in…or so she thought. Anna Hunt had a relatively normal life, great friends, and a rewarding job, but when an injured wolf comes stumbling into her office, that all changes. Little does she know that her connection to these beasts runs far deeper than most.
Age Rating: 18+
Original Author: Saige Cressant
Note: this story is the author's original version and does not have sound.
Thunder rumbled loudly above, while the occasional strike of lightning seared the cloudy night sky. This powerful force of nature had every creature cowering in their homes.
All but one.
A lone wolf ran; his paws pelted the muddy forest floor as his agile mind sought a way out. He weaved hastily through the dense foliage, now reminded of the unrelenting fact he was nearing defeat.
The muffled shouts of the hunters came ever closer. Though his heartbeat remained steady, his mind was wearing. He grew tired of running, of fleeing these predators.
His focus wavered for a moment at most, just long enough for him to not notice that the forest ended and emerged onto the highway.
He had also failed to see the truck parked on the roadside waiting until it was almost too late.
With little time to act, the wolf tried darting in another direction, but lost his footing and tumbled violently to a stop.
He lay on the ground, his sheer white coat tarnished with mud, barely beginning to depict his ordeal thus far. The lights came closer, blinding him as his panicked heart beat wildly.
With an aching pain in his front paw and exhaustion welling up through his body, the wolf admitted defeat.
A pursuer shouted to a dark figure beside the truck, but his fatigued mind couldn’t make heads or tales of it.
The gunshot rang through the quiet night, and he welcomed the darkness as it grew ever closer. Drawing one final breath, he savoured his last taste of freedom.
Anna woke with a jolt. The sound of the gunshot reverberated through her with such intensity; it was as if it were real. It was only a dream.
It was only a dream she chanted in an attempt to calm her racing heart. Flicking on the bedside lamp, she scanned her small apartment anxiously for reassurance.
Its soft glow barely touched the entire room, but thankfully everything was as it should be.
A cluster of familiar photos lined the dresser in the far corner, the smiling faces of her mother and friends helped calm her.
Taking deep breaths, Anna brought her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly and resting her head on top. She’d had this re-occurring dream every night lately, and it was taking a toll on her.
“You’re gonna make it, the night can only last for so long”,rang her phone at full volume.
“ Lift up your eyes and see that the sun is rising”, it continued as she watched it vibrate brutishly, debating whether to ignore it or not. Reluctantly picking it up she answered. “Hello.”
“Morning, Anna,” came the familiar voice of George through the phone.
George was a local wildlife ranger and a good friend. He had been the first person to befriend her when she’d moved here, his easy-going attitude and friendly demeanour was a welcome change.
“Sorry to have woken you so early, but we have a situation down here at Percy’s, and he wants you to come in asap.”
Anna shot out of bed and towards the dresser.
“What kind of situation?” She asked, rummaging through her clothes until she found a pair of old jeans and a grey hoody.
Putting the phone on speaker, Anna threw it onto the bed and raced to get changed while he explained.
“We caught a wolf in the local area, and it’s not in good shape. I’ll explain the rest when you get here. How long do you think you’ll be?” He pressed.
Her heart dropped; her stomach churned.
“I’ll be there in five minutes tops.”
Twirling her mess of black curls expertly into a loose bun, she caught a glimpse of her reflection.
The dim light accentuated her pale complexion and the dark rings that underlined her amber coloured eyes, but there was no time for make-up.
Slipping into her favourite black converse, she took two stairs at a time, dashing outside into the early morning. Thankfully the storm had subsided, and now it was only showering lightly.
Climbing into her truck, Anna silently prayed that it would start the first time around. With fingers crossed, she switched the ignition, and the engine roared to life -thank you.
Pulling onto the road, she drove through the deserted streets of the town. It wasn’t far to the animal clinic, but as she parked, Anna realised she’d made it there in record time.
Jumping out of the truck, she entered the clinic through the front to find George waiting in reception. He was wrapped in a large towel, drenched from head to toe.
His uniform clung to him for dear life, and as he tried to towel dry his wet hair, it stuck out in all directions. She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her; he looked ridiculous.
George was in his late fifties, but you wouldn’t know it at first glance because his active lifestyle kept him in top shape.
The only indications of his age were the scattered greys in his hair and the small wrinkles around his eyes.
“Oh hey Anna,” he greeted warmly.
“Sorry about the early morning wake up call. I wasn’t going to disturb you, but Percy insisted.”
“It’s fine, George. I was awake, anyway. What’s the situation?”
Before he could answer, they heard loud crashes and cussing coming from the next room.
“Damn it,” grunted Percy as they entered the emergency room.
“Stupid mutt bit me.”
Anna tried to stifle her grin at her boss’ prickly nature. Percy wasn’t the most gentle or patient man, and she often wondered why he became a vet.
He was very skilled at his job, but his brutal exterior tended to scare people and the occasional animal.
“How in god’s name did that idiot Toby mess up the tranquilliser dosage?” He raved.
“Don’t be too harsh on him Percy, the boys only in training,” noted George.
Percy just grunted in response.
“Do you mind telling me why I’m here?” Anna interrupted.
“Take a look for yourself,” Percy said, stepping aside he gave her a full view.
Laying eyes on the beast, Anna felt her breaths shorten and her heart race. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Locked in a small metal cage was a wolf identical to the one from her dream.
Despite the mud, its pure white coat was illuminated by the bright fluorescent lights. Her mind was reeling. How was this even possible?
“Beautiful creature isn’t it?” Commented George.
“Indeed,” she breathed.
Wolves had always fascinated her; she admired their powerful sense of loyalty and family mentality.
“Yes, but we’ve got a job to do,” snapped Percy.
He was particularly cranky this morning; being woken at three in the morning can do that to a man.
“Right,” She said, focusing.
“What do you need me to do?”
“From what I can tell, we have an adolescent male that’s suffering from starvation, mild ligament damage and possibly a gunshot wound but I cannot get close enough without him snapping at me. I need you to work your magic and put him to sleep,” he instructed bluntly.
Placing a ready syringe in her hand, he gestured towards the wolf. As if aware of the situation the wolf’s body went rigid, his hackles went up and ears back.
As he bared his teeth, a deep threatening growl ripped through his throat.
“Could you both please wait in the other room? The less threatened he feels, the easier this will be,” she explained.
While the others evacuated the emergency room, she took a deep breath slowing her heart rate and calming her aura.
Anna had found this technique highly useful not only for the animals but also herself.
When she approached the cage, his growls intensified, but she showed no fear, he was merely trying to intimidate her.
Keeping her gaze low, Anna avoided eye contact because if he felt like she was challenging him, there would be no chance of getting close.
Now right up against the cage, she couldn’t believe the size of him. Despite his dangerously slim waist and muscle, his frame was significantly larger than most wolves she’d ever seen.
“I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe here,” Anna reassured him quietly.
When his growls started to subside, Anna chanced a glance at him through her lashes and found that he was watching her with a suspicious glare.
Squeezing her hand through the bars, she carefully injected the anaesthetic. When he made no move to stop or attack her, she let herself relax a little.
It only took a couple of minutes for the drug to take effect, and as the wolf lay down lethargically, Anna noticed a shimmer of silver buried in his chest hair.
Double-checking he was out cold she opened the cage to investigate. Running her fingers down his chest, they came across something hard and cold.
Pulling it from his fur, she found a silver pendant attached to a long chain around his neck.
Carefully pulling it over his head, she noticed on closer inspection that the necklace was round and roughly the size of a quarter.
One side was a crescent moon shape made of solid silver, the other an intricate filigree designed to house five small diamonds; it held a unique beauty. Why would he have something like this?
“Is it done?” Percy called impatiently.
“Yeah…”
Anna fumbled to conceal the necklace as Percy burst into the room ready for action; managing to slip it into her pocket at the last second.
Bringing the truck around to the roller door, Anna backed it inside the clinic; the fully caged tray was the only place big enough to hold the wolf comfortably.
She helped George transfer him to the truck while Percy sterilised the equipment. Climbing inside the tray, she wrapped the wolf in several warm blankets before taking a seat beside him.
“So, how did you find this guy?” She asked, stroking the sleeping beast while she still had the chance.
“Well…” George started.
Grabbing a chair, he sat across from her and continued. “Jeff, from over at the Chandler farm, rang me about a wolf sighting on the property. He’d been lurking around the poultry pen, and Jeff fired some warning shots when he got too close. It turns out he hit this guy; the old blind bat wasn’t wearing his glasses.”
“From what we can tell he hasn’t eaten in weeks, I’m not surprised he was after an easy meal.”
“Well, as soon as we got there, he took off towards the woodlands. Toby and I pursued him until we hit the highway. Poor thing must have panicked because when we caught up, he was lying crumpled in the mud beside the road.
“Hmm…” She hummed in acknowledgement.
Anna’s mind had drifted back to the nightmare. If she changed the hunters to park rangers the story played out the same, the only difference being that the wolf didn’t die.
How could it have been real though, it was just a dream? George’s heavy sigh brought her back to reality.
“So, what are we going to do with this guy? We can’t release him, and there’s not room here for him.”
“I can ask my old colleagues at the zoo in Billings if they’ll take him,” Anna offered.
Checking the time her phone read ten past six.
“I should probably call them now actually. Why don’t you guys go home and get some rest? I’ll stay and keep an eye on him.”
“Sounds good to me,” Percy grumbled, grabbing his keys.
“I’ll be back at ten.”
“See you, Anna,” George smiled as he followed Percy out.
Stroking the sleeping wolf one last time she climbed out and secured the cages lock.
Heading into the reception area, Anna slumped into the awaiting office chair and dialled the familiar number. As it rang, she felt a surge of panic, what if she couldn’t convince them to help?
“Zoo Montana, this is Craig,” answered the cheery voice of her oldest friend.
“What’s up, Craig? Its Anna Hunt.”
“Hmm… That’s weird,” he paused in thought for a moment.
“I used to know an Anna, but she is dead to me.”
“Ha, ha, hilarious Craig. Still dramatic as ever,” she jeered.
“Dramatic! I am never,” he gasped indignantly before bursting into fits of laughter.
Cracking a smile at his antics, she felt a pang of sadness in her chest; she missed him.
They had been best friends throughout high school and college, but when she moved away a year and a half ago, they’d drifted apart.
Partly because she was busy with work but mostly because he reminded her of the reason she left.
“If you’re quite done, I have a favour to ask.”
His laughter died instantly.
“If it’s a dead body, count me out.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, if I’d killed someone it would be you,” she mocked.
“You are probably right. What can I do for you, then?”
“There is an injured wolf here, and I was hoping the zoo had room for him until he recuperates?”
“It should be fine. Just hold on a second, and I’ll check with Neville.”
Waiting anxiously, Anna hummed along to the hold music until he picked up the receiver again.
“He’s okay with it but…”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she praised.
“Ah, there is a slight catch, though. We’re a little short-staffed at the moment, so you’ll be responsible for its care,” Craig informed her.
“Oh… I guess I’m coming to visit then.”
Read the full uncensored books on the Galatea iOS app!
2
As Anna sped down the I-90 towards Billings, she felt the anxiety creeping in. It has been almost a year and a half since she had picked up and left for a fresh start.
Her departure had been abrupt and slightly unpleasant, and she hadn’t exactly planned on returning so soon or ever, but the universe seemed to have a different plan.
Taking the next exit, she followed the familiar twists and turns of the road towards the zoo. As Anna pulled into the access gate of Zoo Montana, she could see her old friend, Craig, waiting.
Putting the car into park, she barely made it out of the vehicle before being crushed by a hug. The familiar gesture seemed to wash away all her earlier anxieties.
“It’s great to see you too, Craig, but I can’t breathe,” she rasped.
“Oh, sorry.”
Letting her go, he stepped back to take her in, and she did the same. Craig had grown since she’d left; he was a solid six-foot now, and his sandy blonde hair had been cropped short but stylish.
“You look tired,” he commented.
“I thought you being away from him… I mean here would do you good.”
Anna felt a twinge of pain tug at her chest. He looked like him.
“Does he know I’m here?” She asked, panicking inside at the thought.
“Yeah, he wanted to welcome you back, but Neville has got him dealing with the Kodiaks.”
Thank god.
Anna knew she’d have to face him eventually, but the longer she could avoid it, the better. Sensing her discomfort, Craig was quick to change the subject.
“Why don’t we find your friend a home.”
Giving him a thankful smile, they jumped back into the truck and made their way through the access gate and into the zoo.
“So, what’s this guy’s story?” Craig asked in an attempt to create small talk.
“A local shot at him for trying to eat his chickens; the poor thing was suffering from starvation. There didn’t appear to be any serious damage, so he’s pretty lucky.”
“I’ll say. He’s being looked after by Montana’s finest animal whisperer,” Craig teased.
“Don’t call me that! Just because I get along with animals better than people, it doesn’t make me an animal whisperer,” she pointed out defensively.
“Whatever you say,” he chuckled.
“Pull up here. We’re putting him in the nursery.”
Unlocking the office section, it was pretty empty. A few glass baby bottles lined the shelves, a fridge and microwave sat in the corner.
It looked as though the nursery hadn’t been used for a while, a light coating of dust covered the benches, but cleaning would have to wait, she needed to get their guest settled first.
Opening up the enclosure, Anna followed Craig through to inspect the wolf’s temporary home. The compound was smaller than the others in the park, but it would suit one occupant just nicely.
The grass was short and almost dead, which made it easier to check the fence line for any holes or escapable points.
Finding nothing, Anna cleared away the fallen branches of the surrounding trees while Craig filled the pond with fresh water.
Satisfied with their work, she unlatched the truck allowing the wolf into the holding bay.
“So, have you thought of a name yet?” Craig asked as they coaxed the wolf the rest of the way into the enclosure.
“Yeah, it’s Azuri.”
“Ooo sounds exotic. I like it,” jeered Craig.
“It means sky blue; like his eyes,” she explained, rolling her eyes at his childishness.
Although born with blue eyes, pure-blooded wolves don’t retain that colour. As they mature, their eyes change to hues of gold, brown or grey.
“I think someone is in love…”
“Oh shut up, Craig before I feed you to the wolf,” she retorted.
His mortified face made her laugh, and Anna couldn’t help but succumb to the feeling of normalcy he brought. He had been her one and only true friend over the years, and she had neglected him all because of his idiotic brother. Another bout of guilt tugged at her heart. “Craig, I’m sorry.”
“What for?” His eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.
“For being a bad friend. I shouldn’t have pushed you away after…”
As she struggled to finish her apology, Craig simply nodded. He was the only person who understood and respected her decision to leave. He was a true friend.
“You wanna make it up to me?”
Catching his gaze, Anna saw the glint of mischief in his pale blue eyes. Craig had gotten them into some crazy situations during their friendship.
She distinctly remembered the time they came close to being arrested for public indecency.
Somehow he’d managed to convince a very drunk Anna to go skinny dipping in the local fountain; they were luckily let off with a warning thanks to her innocent charm.
“What are you thinking?”
“Well, if I recall correctly it’s my turn to pick the bar and your turn to shout.”
“I think your memory is a little fuzzy, but if that’s what it’s going to take, then I’m in.”
The buzzing coming from her pocket put their conversation on hold. Pulling out her phone to check the caller ID, she sighed.
“Your mum?”
“Yeah, she must be calling about the message I left this morning.”
Anna debated whether to ignore her but thought better of it. “Hello.”
“Anna, honey. How are you?” Her familiar warm voice drifted through the speaker.
“I’m doing great mum, just a little busy with work at the moment.”
“Well, I’ll make this quick then. Can you please come around after work? I have something important to discuss with you.”
“Sure, I’ll be there in an hour or two.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
Hanging up, Craig raised his brow in curiosity.
“We’re going to have to take a rain check on those drinks. Mum has something important she wants to discuss.”
Visiting her mother today was not part of the plan, but when does anything in her life lately go right.
“Oh, that sounds ominous.”
“A little but I’m sure it’s nothing,” she said trying to reassure herself.
“Ah, huh. Are you alright to finish up here? I have a shift at the gift store.”
“Yeah sure, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called as he jogged off.
Heading back into the office, Anna stood by the window, observing Azuri as he paced the enclosure several times.
His behaviour wasn’t all that strange; he was simply getting acquainted with his new environment. It probably wasn’t the most comfortable place, but he’d get used to it soon.
Busying herself, Anna wiped down the office benches and turned on the fridge before heading towards the supplies building.
Walking through the zoo, Anna observed the patrons as they chatted animatedly about each exhibit and which animals were their favourite.
Their smiles reminded her why she’d started working here in the first place, her passion for animals and the joy they bring made it the perfect job.
She had been training to become a zoologist but put everything on hold when she found out her boyfriend was cheating.
He had made working here unbearable, so she’d packed up and moved away for a fresh start. Anna never thought she’d wind up back here even if it were only temporary.
Stepping into the supply building, Anna was greeted by a young brunette who looked like she should still be in school.
“Hi, can I help you?” She asked.
“Yeah, I need to pick up some food and supplements for an emaciated wolf.”
“Oh, you must be Anna. Craig said you’d probably come around,” the girl smiled enthusiastically.
“That’s me,” she replied, giving her an awkward wave.
“Well, I’m Meg. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“So, what can I get for you?”
“The fridge in the nursery is only small, so I’ll just take enough supplies for a couple of days if you could please grab me five pounds of meat, something high in fat and protein, a broad-spectrum vitamin, as well as Omega three and six supplements. Whatever you’ve got in stock should be fine, thank you.”
“Sure thing, I’ll be back in a second.”
As she disappeared to prepare the order, Anna waited patiently, letting her mind drift to her mother. What was she so eager to discuss with her?
Her mother’s house was the same as when Anna had left. The small two-story homes off-white paint job and red roofing seemed to be timeless.
Knocking lightly, she waited, but when there was no answer, Anna grabbed the spare key from her bag and let herself in.
Throwing her keys onto the bench by the door, she flicked on the light as she walked into the lounge room. The couch and TV sat precisely where they were the day she had left.
Looking around at the scattering of family photos, Anna couldn’t help but remember so many happy moments. One photo, however, caught her attention.
Walking over, she picked up the framed image; it was taken at the annual Montana Fair just before she had moved.
It had been a happier time, and as they smiled at the camera, their fair skin glowed against the bright lights of the carnival around them.
Anna and her mother were almost identical, both with ebony black hair that fell just below their shoulder blades in a natural curl. The only real difference between the two was their eyes.
Her mother had a greyish blue colour while Anna had a distinctive light brown ’the colour of brandy′ her mother had always said.
It was the only inheritance she had from her estranged father; something for which she was thankful. The mere thought of him seemed to sour the happy memories.
“Mum,” she sang out, venturing further into the house.
Anna almost passed the kitchen when she spotted her mother sitting on the patio watching the sunset; a glass of red in hand.
Her mother was so deep in thought that she hadn’t noticed Anna until she slid open the back door. Placing her glass on the table, she leapt from her chair and pulled Anna into her warm embrace.
“It’s so good to see you, sweetheart. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you to mum,” she confessed.
“I’m sorry it has been so long.”
“It’s okay. You needed some time away to find yourself, I understand.”
Pulling her impossibly closer, Anna revelled in her mother’s comfort. She didn’t realise how much she’d missed this until now. Giving her one final squeeze, Anna reluctantly let her go.
“So, honey, how long are you here for?”
“My boss gave me three weeks off, but I’ll need to be at the zoo most of the time.”
Percy hadn’t been thrilled about it, at first he’d flat out refused to let her go but when she’d threatened to quit he’d compromised.
She had plenty of leave saved up, and Lucy was well and truly capable of covering her patients.
“That’s great! Your old room is still set up and…”
“I have a room booked over at the Comfort Inn.”
“Nonsense. You are staying here,” her mother stated with a finality that Anna knew better than to contest.
“Gosh, I’m so excited you are here! Your father will be so surprised when he arrives.”
Anna’s heart dropped.
“My father?”
“Yes, that’s actually what I wanted to discuss with you. Artemis is flying down to visit in two weeks, and he’s dying to meet you.”
“Yeah well, I would rather die than meet him,” she muttered angrily.
“Anna,” her mother scolded, hearing her comment.
“He left us over twenty years ago without so much as a goodbye. Why bother coming back?”
“Because I asked him to,” she sighed in frustration.
“I have put the past behind me and would like to start again with him. Your father is the only man I ever truly loved, and it would mean the world to me if you gave him a chance.”
“No,” Anna protested stubbornly.
“I’m not letting that disappointing excuse of a man into my life and neither should you.”
“Anna, please. One meeting with him is all I ask. He is your father.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” she sighed tiredly.
The disappointed look that passed her mother’s features tugged at Anna’s heartstrings, but this was something she believed in strongly. Her mother may have forgiven him, but she couldn’t.
“Look it has been a long day, and I’m exhausted, we can talk about this later?”
“Sure. How about we order in and catch up like old times?” Her mother smiled weakly.
“I’d love that.”
Read the full uncensored books on the Galatea iOS app!
