The old house at Wolf Trap had a new, massive presence. Will Graham wasn't entirely sure what he'd brought home from the shelter. It looked like a wolf, moved with the eerie, fluid grace of a wolf, and was the size of a small bear where a Great Dane would look modest beside it. But it wasn't wild. It was just… weird.

From the start, the creature was an anomaly. Will had grown accustomed to the side-eye, a glint of unnerving intelligence in its golden gaze that felt less like a dog's loyalty and more like a constant, silent assessment. Sometimes, he’d catch a huffing, chuffing sound from its throat, a noise that carried the distinct, unsettling cadence of an animal laughing. Its most profound effect, however, was on his sleep. The sleepwalking that had plagued him for years had simply stopped. The first time he’d felt the stirrings of it, a restless twitch in his legs, a crushing weight had settled over his entire body. The wolf had simply laid itself on top of him, pinning him to the mattress with a gentle, immovable pressure until the urge passed. It was a living, breathing weighted blanket with teeth.

Its intelligence was borderline preternatural. It never barked at traffic or squirrels, but on the rare occasion his other dogs would get into a yapping fit, a single, low woof from the wolf would silence them instantly. Will was convinced it was telling them to shut up.

But the most bizarre incident involved Hannibal Lecter. The wolf, who usually acknowledged Will's presence with a sort of regal indifference, had trotted to the door with the pack when Hannibal arrived. It didn't jump or whine. It sat, poised and still, its tail giving a single, deliberate sweep, waiting. It was the first time it had ever done that for anyone. Will watched, baffled, as Hannibal, ever the charmer, reached down to offer a pat.

The movement was a blur. One second the wolf was accepting the gesture, the next it had lunged, a snarling, snapping vortex of fur and fury aimed directly at Hannibal's throat. Will heard the sickeningly loud snap of its jaws closing on empty air as Hannibal jerked back with a speed Will didn't know the man possessed. As Hannibal straightened his jacket, his composure a fragile mask, the wolf let out that same chuffing sound, a clear, mocking laugh that echoed in the sudden silence.

Now, after Hannibal had made a swift and uncharacteristically flustered exit, Will looked at the beast currently lying by the fireplace, looking immensely pleased with itself. It turned its head and met his gaze, its tongue lolling out in what could only be described as a toothy, self-satisfied grin.

""I owe you a extra-large steak for that. but what did he do to deserve that?"