Chapter 3

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?