Wolf in the Woods

My name is Jacob, but I am known as the wolf. The story goes that I hunted down a little girl in a red hooded cloak that was headed to her grandmother’s house. Let me clarify, I did not hunt that girl. And I wasn’t always a wolf. Old grandma dearest turned me into a wolf years before I ever saw Red. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. So, I want to get the story straight. 

When I was a young man, I worked on my father’s farm on the outskirts of the woods. One day, while I was out tending to the sheep, I saw a beautiful maiden playfully running through the trees. Her ebony hair danced in the wind and her ruby red lips parted to let out the most mesmerized sound of laughter. It was those emerald eyes that stole my heart in that instant. 

I walked down to the woods’ edge in a daze. I had to talk to her, to know who she was. As I got closer to the woods, I could still hear her laughter, but the beautiful maiden was nowhere in sight. I searched those woods high and low trying to find the sound of her laughter, but to no avail. 

I returned home in time for the evening meal. I could not get the beautiful woman out of my mind. My father noticed that something had my mind elsewhere and began to ask me, “My son, what is distracting you from this bountiful meal before us?”

“I am sorry, Father. I saw a beautiful maiden in the woods earlier, but as I pursued her, she disappeared amongst the trees. I tried to follow the sound of her laughter but could not find her. I fear, Father, she disappeared with my heart.” I could not bear the thought of never seeing her again, never speaking to her or knowing at least her name. 

“Ah, my son you have seen a wood imp. Crafty creatures they are. Be wary, they are as devious as they are beautiful.” 

“I doubt I will ever see her again, Father,” I could not seem to look up from the plate of food before me. My appetite was gone. All I could think of was the woman in the woods. “I think I will head to bed, Father.  Good night.” 

“Good night, Son.” I could see that he was disapproving of my early retirement, but I just wanted to go to bed and dream of her. And dream of her I did. I dreamt she was beckoning me back into the woods. I gave chase but could not catch up to her. All of a sudden, the woods became dark. She was gone and I could hear the sounds of wolves. Then I awoke, sweat dripping from my forehead. 

I continued to tend to my father’s sheep, periodically looking toward the woods in hopes the maiden would return. It was weeks before I saw her again. This time she stood at the woods’ edge smiling and watching me. This time I used my wits and instead of giving chase, I called out to her. “Why Miss, may I know the name of such a beauty as your own?”

She giggled playfully, “Mara, my fine sir. My name is Mara Red Le’Bois. And yours, kind sir?”

“Miss Le’Bois, your name is as beautiful as you are. I am Jacob Wolf. My father says you are a wood imp.” I flushed slightly in embarrassment. 

“Your father is a wise man. Wood imp I am, but do not be frightened. I mean you no harm.” 

She came back every day after our first conversation. Each day coming closer and closer to our family farm. Soon we would take strolls together along the woods’ edge and engage in all sorts of conversations. The more I got to know Miss Le’Bois the more I let my guard down. That was my first mistake. 

As the year came to an end, I had planned to pledge my love to Miss Le’bois. She had a very different plan for me. I awoke that fateful morning energized and excited, ready for the day ahead. As I came down the stairs to the small kitchen for a cup of morning tea, I noticed a lovely young woman accompanied by an older gentleman sitting at the table with my father. 

“Good morning, Jacob. Come sit. We have something to discuss. This is Miss Anna Renald and her father Benjamin Renald. They have a proposal for us.”

“Good day to you Mr. Renald and Miss Renald. What can we do for you?” I knew who the Renald’s were. They were our landlords. I knew that we had not made quite enough on our wool this year to pay the full amount on the farm. I could only pray that this was a social visit, and no one would bring us bad news. 

“I am here to offer my daughter’s hand in marriage. She is of age now and I feel that a betrothal between our families will be beneficial for both parties. What do you say lad?” That truly was the last thing I had thought would be the reason for their visit. 

“I…” I had no words. I did not wish to marry Miss Renald, but I knew if I declined the offer, we were sure to lose our home and land. “I… may I have a word with my father in private for a moment?” 

“Of course, my lad. Anna come, let these fine gentlemen speak privately.”

“Yes, Father,” her voice was soft spoken and almost hard to hear. 

After I was sure they were out of earshot I confronted my father, “What do you say to this?”

He looked down at the floor with a look of shame on his face, “I fear if you do not marry Miss Renald, we will lose our farm. We are behind on our payments more than you think. If you choose to marry the young lady, we will be given the land and a small sum as her dowry. This is a good match for you, Son.” 

“I love another, but I will not let you lose your farm, Father. Even if it means losing my heart.” I did not know how I would tell my beloved Miss Le’Bois, but I would tell her at our daily meeting. 

I stepped out the front door, “Mr. Renald, I will accept your daughter’s hand in marriage, but my father is to own this land outright. No more royalties on the property. Is that a deal?” I could see that Miss Le’Bois was already waiting for me at the woods edge. She stood watching as I made my arrangement with Mr. Renald. 

When I was finally free to meet her at the edge of the woods she spoke first, “So you chose another over me?” 

“It is not what you think, my love. I have planned to ask you for your hand this very day, but fate says otherwise. I am sorry my love. Please understand, my father would lose his farm, his home, if I had turned the offer down. I could not bear to leave my father with nothing.” I felt so ashamed of my decision, but my father needed me. 

“I am not your love! For if you truly loved me as you say, you would have chosen me. Your father would have been well taken care of. Human men are so weak of mind. Only caring about material things.” Her words hurt more than anything. 

“I was trying to take care of my father. It was my love for my family that I made this decision not that of selfishness or greed. You judge me too harshly.”

“And what of the child I carry? Is that not your family?” Her eyes held contempt and hatred. 

“The child? What are you telling me?” I was dumbfounded. I had not expected this. Was this one of those tricks my father had warned me about at the very beginning of this courtship? Oh, of all the rotten luck!

“I am with child. Your child. It is of no matter to you. You are betrothed to another. Mark my words, you will feel my wrath on the next full moon, never to know the comfort of human life again!” She disappeared into the forest as her threat soaked into my mind. 

I went back to my father and told him of the conversation with Miss Le’Bois. He shook his head trying to get a grasp of the situation I had found myself in. “Oh Jacob, what a mess. The next full moon is only weeks away. If she holds true to her threat and you disappear, not only will I be mourning the disappearance of my only son, but I will lose this land. The Renald’s will think you skipped out on the arrangement we have made.” 

“Then I will just have to marry the Renald girl immediately. Just promise me you will make it look like I was murdered or dragged off into the woods so that you do not have to reap what I have sewn. I will not have you bare my cross.” As long as the Renald’s think their daughter is a widow then maybe they would spare my father. 

I went to the Renald Homestead within the week and got their permission to marry Anna immediately. The awkwardness of our nuptials was almost unbearable. As promised the deed to the land was signed over to my father. I kept my eye on the moon, waiting to know what was to become of me. 

On the day of the full moon, I saw her at the woods’ edge, but she was not alone. It was as if my nightmare had become a reality. She was surrounded by wolves. My only thought was that I would surely be fed to the wolves. When she disappeared back into the woods along with her company of wolves, I was a little perplexed. When nothing had happened by the time I joined my new wife in bed, I thought that her threat was just idle. 

Wishful thinking. When the moon met its peak I awoke with a start. The pain that shot through every bone in my body caused ungodly screams to emerge from my being. Anna awoke to my screams and my father burst through the door of our room as my body began to twist and distort. My father grabbed Anna and they moved into the doorway, watching in horror as I turned from human to beast. The imp had kept her promise, I would never enjoy the comforts of humanity again. She had turned me into one of her pets, a wolf. 

As I escaped through the window, I heard my father tell Anna, “My dear, we cannot speak this to anyone as they will put both of us in the insane asylum. This will be our secret.” 

“But what will we say my husband is? My father will surely ask questions.” She was a smart one at least. I prayed for both her and my father’s sake that she could keep their secret. 

“We will tell everyone he was dragged off into the woods by wolves trying to defend the sheep. It is a believable story that no one will question.” Anna just nodded in agreement and began to sob in my father’s arms. The poor girl. 

She found me in the woods, the devious imp. “This form fits you better Jacob Wolf. Your curse is to watch your family from a distance. Watch our child and grandchildren grow without ever being acknowledged. You will live as a wolf for all eternity.” She walked away laughing and admiring her victory. 

I watched my father and Anna from the darkness of the woods’ edge. When I would retreat back into the woods I would then see as the imp grew bigger with child. Years passed and I watched all those I loved forgot about me while the child, a girl, grow without ever realizing I was there. 

Soon she was a beautiful young lady and nothing like her mother. She was wed in a beautiful field within the woods to a charming young man. I watched as their love blossomed and my only grandchild was born.

They moved out of the woods to the village that had once been my home. They raised my granddaughter to be a kind and just young lady. My daughter’s husband became the village baker and when the child was old enough to venture into the woods on her own, they would send her with a basket of fresh baked goods for her grandmother. 

That is when I would follow her to make sure she made it safely through the woods. I had soon come to realize the girl could hear my human voice when I would speak to her. That is when I came up with my plan and my revenge. 

Yes, I ate the wicked wood imp that turned me this way, but I never harmed Red. I loved her. She was my granddaughter. I could never do anything that would cause her any kind of pain, other than to eat ol’ granny dearest.