HARLEY
I looked down at the man, taking in his handsome features. He had dark brown hair, squared jawline and his eyes were a piercing red.As I studied the man's face, I noticed a gash across his cheek, dried blood caked around it. His arms and legs were covered in bruises and scratches, and I could see the marks of claw lashes and fang bites along his back.How was he still alive from all this marks on his body?I was shocked by the state of him, and I wondered what had happened to him. I helped him onto the shore, and I sat him down on the rocks.He was still breathing, thank havens! but he was unconscious.I didn't know what to do, so I just sat there, staring at him. After thinking for a while, I lifted the man into my arms, carrying him as gently as I could. As I made my way back to the house, I heard rustling in the bushes behind me. I turned, trying to see what it was, but there was nothing there. I shook it off, maybe I was the one imagining things, and continued to carry the man to my house. I was almost to the back door when I heard a shrill voice."What are you doing?" I turned to see my stepsister, Juliet, standing there, her eyes wide.I was so startled to see Juliet there, and my heart started racing even faster. She noticed the man I was carrying, and she looked confused."Who is that?" she asked, her voice shrill. I hesitated, not sure what to say. "He's just a friend," I blurted out.Juliet looked skeptical, but she didn't say anything else. I carried the man into the garage, laying him down on the floor."What's going on?" Juliet asked, following me into the garage. "Is he hurt?"“Why do you care?” I asked flushed. Anger in my voice.“Because I’m planning to tell dad.” Juliet crossed her hands and I stopped what I was doing after hearing her. I turn to my back."Please, Juliet, don't tell anyone about this," I begged. "I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll do all your chores today, just please don't tell our parents." I knew it was a lot to ask, but I didn't know what else to do.Juliet's face softened, and she sighed. "Fine," she said, but her eyes narrowed. "But only if you do everything I say, no questions asked. And I want to know why you have this man here. Why is he even unconscious and his body torn?”“He’s drunk.” I blankly say, raising a cloth to cover the man body properly.“And why is he here?” She raised her eye at me. I hesitated, not sure how to respond. I knew I couldn't tell her the truth, but I wasn't sure what to say instead."He's... he's an old friend," I stammered. "I haven't seen him in a long time, and he needed a place to stay. That's all."I could tell that Juliet didn't believe me, but she didn't push it. "Well, you'd better do my chores, then," she said. "And you'd better do them well."As Juliet turned to leave, the man began to stir. He groaned, and then let out a low growl. The tools in the garage began to rattle, and the whole building shook.I clapped my hands over my ears, as did Juliet.The growling got louder and louder, until suddenly it stopped, and the man fell back asleep. Juliet and I just stared at each other in disbelief.What was going on?“Make sure to keep this beast on leash or else I’ll tell father, forget about the deal.”After Juliet left. I stood there, frozen in shock.What was I going to do?I couldn't just leave the man here, but I didn't know what to do with him.Finally, I came to my senses and went to get some cloth and water. I cleaned the man's wounds as best I could, wincing as I saw the severity of his injuries. There were deep cuts all over his body, and his skin was mottled with bruises. I couldn't imagine what had happened to him.As I was cleaning a particularly nasty wound on the man's arm, he suddenly grabbed my hand, startling me.Ohh my goodness. He’s awakes again!His eyes were open, and they were a deep, dark red. I froze, not sure what to do. I was terrified, but I couldn't move. "Do you know who you are? Like your name?” I asked, my voice shaking. The man just looked at me, his expression unreadable. I didn't know what to make of him.He seemed almost... otherworldly.Finally, he spoke, his voice deep and raspy. "I am called Shane," he said. "And I am...wait! Who are you? Where am I?”He squeezed my arm in his."My name is Harley," I replied, my voice still trembling. "And this is my home." I didn't know what else to say - I was still trying to process what was happening.He continued to stare at me, his grip on my arm tightening. I started to panic, and I tried to pull away from him. He yanked me back, and I felt a sharp pain in my arm. I cried out, and then I turned and ran, racing back to my room and slamming the door behind me.After my encounter with the strange man, I was too shaken to think straight. I went through the motions of doing my chores, my mind racing.Once I was finished, I went to my room and lay down on my bed, too scared to even turn off the light. I couldn't stop thinking about the man - what he was, where he had come from, and what he wanted from me.I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts from my mind, but I could not escape the fear that was gripping me.I’m soo stupid! Why did I bring him home? I should have just left him to drown.Is this the gift from the goddess?SHANEI could hear her heart racing, could feel her fear coursing through her veins. I wanted to soothe her, to tell her she had nothing to fear from me, but I knew that wouldn't be enough. I had already hurt her - not physically, but emotionally. I had hurt her, and now she was terrified of me. I could not blame her. I had to find a way to show her that I meant her no harm, but I did not know how. I did not know how to make things right.I stood up, feeling the energy of the full moon coursing through my body. I remembered the night it all began, the night I lost my throne. I remembered the betrayal, the pain, and the rage that had consumed me. I remembered the blood that had coated my body, and the darkness that had filled my soul.I walked down the long hallway, my bare feet feeling the cold stone floor. The curtains billowed in the wind, and the moonlight poured in through the windows, illuminating my scarred and blood-stained body.As I reached the end of the hallway, a figur
HARLEYI wake up, a sudden jolt of fear running through my body. The image of the man from last night is seared into my mind, and I can't shake the feeling of dread that has settled over me. I'm scared to leave my room, but I know I have to get up and face the day. As I sit up, I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I know I have to face Juliet, and I'm terrified of what she'll say.As I open the door, I'm met with Juliet's furious glare. She's glaring at me, her face red with anger."What were you doing in the basement?" she demands, her voice icy. "You know you're not allowed down there. I told you to stay out."I try to speak, but the words get caught in my throat. I don't know what to say. I know I'm in trouble, and I'm afraid of what she'll do. "I'm sorry," I finally manage to say, my voice trembling. "I didn't mean to go down there. It was an accident."But Juliet isn't having it. "An accident?" she scoffs."Who was that man?" Juliet asks, her eyes narrowing. "And why did
HARLEY As he approaches me, I find myself backing up against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm going to pass out."You have no reason to be afraid," the man says, his voice soft and soothing. "You're the one who helped me. You're the reason I'm still alive.""What are you talking about?" I ask, my voice shaking. "I didn't help you. I don't even know you.""It's normal to help someone who is in need," I say, my voice trembling. "I would do it for anyone. I don't know why you're here, but please, don't hurt anyone. They're my family."The man just laughs, a cold, cruel laugh that sends a shiver down my spine. "You're a fool if you think they care about you," he says. "They're only interested in what you can do for them.""That's not true," I say, my voice rising in protest. "My family loves me. I know they do."The man's expression changes, and he looks at me with a strange intensity. "You may not realize it, but your heart knows the tru
HARLEY"I know that's not an excuse," he continues. "I hurt you, and I hate myself for that. But I want to make it up to you. I want to do whatever it takes to earn your trust again. I'll do anything, I swear."I look at him, my heart torn. I want to believe him, but I'm not sure I can. "I don't know if I can forgive you," I say, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't know if I can trust you again.""Just give me a chance," he says, his eyes pleading.Just then, the bell rings, startling me out of my thoughts. I look at the clock and realize that I'm going to be late for my next class. I gather up my books and rush out the door, leaving him standing there, a look of disappointment on his face.As I rush to class, I can't stop thinking about what he said. I'm still not sure if I can trust him, but I know I can't stop thinking about him. I'm not sure what to do, but I know that things can't go on like this. Something has to change.I take my seat in the back of the classroom, my head sp
HARLEY"What are you reading?" she asks, glancing at the cover of my book. "Oh, a werewolf romance," she says with a grin. "Are you a fan of the genre?"I feel my cheeks redden. "Well, I'm not really sure," I say, laughing a little. "I've never read anything like this before. I just picked it up because the cover looked interesting.""You should read it," Lauren says. "The story is really well-written, and the characters are complex and interesting. It's not just some cheesy romance novel.""The author really knows how to create suspense," Lauren continues. "I've been on the edge of my seat the whole time, wondering what's going to happen next. The main character, Lily, is so brave and determined, and the Alpha is so mysterious and intriguing. I just can't put the book down."As we chat, I start to relax. I'm surprised to find that Lauren and I have a lot in common. We both love reading, and we're both fascinated by fantasy worlds.Just then, the bell rings, signaling the end of the
HARLEYI nod, my eyes wide. "Yes, it's true," I say. "Jessica was being bullied by some other students, and I went to help her. That's why I was late. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to break the rules."Mr. Lee sighs. "I understand. Bullying is a very serious issue, and I commend you for stepping in to help. I'm proud of you, Harley. You did the right thing." He turns to Mrs. Taylor. "I'll think of another punishment for Harley. One that's more fitting with what she did.""For now, Miss Harley, go join the rest of the class," he says. "And no running ahead - you're still being punished, after all."I nod and head back to the gym, my heart feeling a little lighter. I know I still have to be punished, but at least I don't have to run fifty laps.As I enter the gym, I see the rest of my classmates running laps, and I join in, trying to keep up. It's hard, but I push myself to keep going. I'm determined to make things right.I'm running around the gym, trying to keep up with the others, when
SHANEI, sit on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands. My wolf, Caspian, is howling in my head, his voice full of fury. "You fool!" he says. "You've ruined everything! You can't just go around telling humans they're your mate!" I wince as his words hit me like a punch to the gut. He's right. I've made a terrible mistake. And now I have no idea what to do.“This is all because we’re weak now.” I frowned remembering how I fought with Roy and how I was bitterly beaten. "I think we’re weak because of the curse," Caspian says, his voice low and rumbling. "We're weak because of the curse placed on us by the witches. The only way to break the curse is to find our true mate. And I think this human, this Harley, is our mate." I feel a surge of disbelief, mixed with a flicker of hope. "A human? As my mate? That's ridiculous. How could a human ever be a mate for an alpha like me?""No more!" Caspian growls. "You're not powerful anymore. You can't keep going on like this. We need a mate, a
SHANEJasper sped off with me in his car. It turned out that humans have a lot of machinery that they use to get to places as fast as possible.“Now, Roy is ruling your territory?” Jasper looks to me.” The blood moon pack is under the power of Roy. I thought he was your best friend, how did he turn out to be your foe so quickly?”“I don’t know.” I sigh. “I can’t figure out what went wrong but I’m sure this has to do with something from the past.”“I’m scared of how things have gone by.” Jasper ran his hands through his hair. “But I’m happy to finally see you again. It’s been long.”“Yeah.” I can’t remember when last I saw Jasper and his remaining brothers. I wonder how Conor and Kade would be doing. Soon we arrived at a tall building. The surrounding was noisy and the breeze felt like sneezing one could catch a cold because of the dust in the air. “We’re here.” Jasper snorts and I raise my head. “Here we’ll find Conor. He’s a teacher in the school here.”“Conor is a teacher?” I was