The forest was sinking into thick darkness. It seemed as if the night itself had conspired with the evil that had just been committed. On the damp ground, under an ancient oak, sat an old man. His breath was heavy, his body weak, and in his eyes shone something more devastating than age — betrayal. Not strangers, not enemies, but his own children had left him here to die, just to seize his wealth.

Betrayal for the Sake of Money

For decades he had built his house, worked the land, saved every coin, believing he was securing the future of his children. But when old age came too close, they saw in him nothing but a burden. They had been waiting for his death, and when it didn’t come quickly enough, they decided to hasten it.

One night, they drove him deep into the woods. No food. No water. No hope. Only cold and silence.

— “Let the beasts finish him,” whispered one daughter, turning away.
— “Nobody will ever know. We’ll just say he wandered off,” added the son as he pressed the gas pedal.

The car disappeared into the night. The old man was left alone, trembling on the cold ground.

Alone with the Wild

At first, he only sat in silence, clutching at the rough bark of the oak. But as darkness thickened, fear began to crush him. Every rustle seemed like a warning, every shadow — a threat. Then it came: the distant howl of wolves.

Branches cracked. Heavy steps drew closer. The old man tried to rise, but his body refused. His eyes widened as a massive wolf stepped onto the path, its fur shimmering in the moonlight, its fangs glistening.

“This is the end,” thought the old man.

He shut his eyes tightly, whispering prayers, waiting for sharp teeth to pierce his flesh.

The Unexpected Miracle

But the attack never came. The wolf didn’t leap. Instead, it stopped right in front of him, watching silently. Its gaze was piercing, but not filled with rage.

Minutes passed. Then more shapes appeared — the rest of the pack. They circled him, yet none of them touched him. Instead, they lay down nearby, surrounding him as if forming a living shield. One wolf dropped a dry branch at his feet. Another pressed closer, sharing its body warmth.

The old man couldn’t believe what was happening. He wept, whispering prayers of gratitude, realizing that wild animals had shown him more compassion than his own blood.

Rescue

The night dragged on. When morning came, a forester patrolling the area stumbled upon the scene. What he saw left him speechless: an old man sitting calmly among wolves. At the sight of the human, the animals rose and quietly stepped aside, leaving the old man behind as though entrusting him to someone who could take him home.

The forester took him to the village, gave him food, water, warmth. And it was from him that the shocking story spread far and wide.

Consequences

Soon, everyone knew the truth. The tale of betrayal and miraculous salvation traveled from house to house, then across the whole country. People were outraged: wild beasts had shown more humanity than his own children.

The son and daughters who had plotted his death for the sake of inheritance did not go unpunished. Their crime was uncovered, and instead of wealth they received disgrace, judgment, and prison.

The old man, though broken by betrayal, continued to live. He no longer trusted his family, but he found new faith — in the strange mercy of the world, which sometimes comes from the most unexpected places.

The Lesson

This story became a reminder: betrayal from loved ones cuts deeper than any wound, but miracles exist — even where no one dares to expect them.

The wolf, long branded a ruthless predator, turned into a savior. And the children, whom he had raised and loved, proved to be far crueler than any beast.