TL;DR - I pet a wolf. Like right after meeting it. As in it had never seen me before. No, it was not a typically friendly wolf.

I was in Arizona, spending time with my grandfather for Thanksgiving a few years back, when he had to be rushed to a hospital in Phoenix. He was having severe pain and it was quickly diagnosed that he had appendicitis. We all rushed down there, my dad rented a motel for the remaining nights we were supposed to be in Arizona, and kept eyes on Papa. My mother's best friend lives in Phoenix as well so she was on the phone with her, keeping her updated about what was going on while letting her calm my mother down.

The next day, during tests (and after removing my grandfather's appendix), they found colon cancer (he had battled cancer before). My Nana came to inform us in the waiting room and then told us she was going to spend time with my grandfather, but that we should come back around dinner time and we would go out. My cousins were there too and we were all leaving the next day (with the exception of one of my aunts), so it was our family holiday closer - even if grandpa couldn't join us.

With nothing to do, my mom arranged with her best friend for us to come over. Her best friend's son and future daughter-in-law were there, but it was no big deal. With everything going on, we were more than welcome. The entire time, I was withdrawn. Family joked family. Spirits were light and no one really was thinking about my grandfather...except me.

It was while I was withdrawn, sitting in the middle of my mom's best friend's backyard, when I felt a wet nose against my hand. I looked up at a dog and smiled, putting my hand out for the dog to smell. The dog smelled it and then rubbed against it, going as far as to give me kisses while I began to pet it. This was when my mom said aloud: "Be careful, Jess. That's the wolf." I vaguely remembered my mom telling me her friend got a wolf, but didn't think she was serious.

At that point, my mom's best friend began to explain how they found Keira (the wolf's name) was an actual wolf. When they bought her, they thought she was part wolf, but four vets (including one who deals solely with wildlife) said otherwise. The county had also investigated the matter and she was registered with Arizona as a wolf. My mom's friend discussed the precautions they had to take and that they had never seen Keira be so friendly. It had taken her future daughter-in-law months before the wolf warmed up to her. By this time, Keira was letting me pet the underside of her neck and even hug her slightly. She was very affectionate and seemed to become more relaxed with me the more I pet her.

My father had to mess it up by trying to get some wolf love. Keira then got upset and ran off. She growled at all of us after that and my mother's best friend asked us if we wanted to go inside. I didn't want to, but joined the rest of the group as expected of me.

Apparently, it's rumored/legend that wolves have connections with human feelings. My mom believes the wolf could sense that I was down and wanted to help. I believe I was sitting in the grass, not even noticing her, and not making noise, therefore she felt safe around me. Either could be true.

No one believes me until my mom or dad backs it up. Even then, when my mom's best friend comes to town, she backs it up further and even remarks on how strange it was for Keira to treat me as if she'd known me for months, when it had only been minutes or hours.

Sadly, her ex took the wolf in the divorce. It upset her terribly. My mom's best friend loved her wolf. She may have pictures. I would have to ask. Then it would be a story I could back up with pictures instead of calling witnesses :)

Edit: Here is Kira (apparently, I misspelled her name - it's pronounced key-ruh). http://i.imgur.com/ubYAl.jpg

Edited again: My mother's best friend (let's refer to her as Aunt Petunia) says Kira is a Mexican Grey Wolf.