The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway

26 

I‘ve always hated the saying ‘be careful what you wish for‘, but it seems rather apt for what is happen ing to me today. 

I‘ve dreamed for years of meeting my mate, being marked and shifting so that I am the same as the rest of my family. 

Finally normal. 

I wanted to prove to everyone at school that I wasn‘t always going to be a weak human. 

But as usual with things like this, when the time comes, your determination falters. 

After my semi nervous breakdown in the clearing, Jayce brought me home and laid me gently on his bed. 

Jayce lies next to me, sleeping soundly with one arm around my waist, a gesture that hasn‘t gone un noticed. I‘m grateful to have him near me, he‘s helped me stay calm so far. 

I slide out of his grip and pad softly across the room to the stairs; I let myself out the back door and step out onto the grass. It tickles my toes and I close my eyes, breathing in the fresh morning air. 

I imagine my parents would have liked to be present for my first shift, and I know Nate will be annoyed that I haven‘t even told him it‘s happening. But I‘d rather be alone, as scary as it sounds, I don‘t know how I‘m going to react and the last thing I want to do is embarrassed myself. I mean I‘ll be naked when I shift back, and I might cry or something. 

| glance over my shoulder at Jayce‘s bedroom and decide that it is better if I do this alone, I‘ll be more comfortable. I quickly grab some shoes and traipse into the forest wearing nothing but one of Jayce‘s large t–shirts. The sun appears as a piercing ray of light on the horizon, and I settle down on the moss–covered ground and wait. 

JOS 

no one else is about and slide the t–shirt off, placing it on the ground next to me. I don‘t

as my fingers begin to shrink, my palm spreading into the shape of a paw. I snap my eyes shut, scared that I‘ll freak myself out. I try to focus on anything else, pretend that nothing is happening, but the sound of bones crunching echoes through the clearing, and I bite down hard on my tongue to keep in

roll down my face at the sharp pains

cautiously peak an eye open and jump as I look down at my

the weirdest feeling.

• Twince as I stand up and shake myself off. When I look around, everything comes into focus, and I de cide that a run might be a good idea. I take off through the trees, feeling like I finally fit in with my family, fi nally understand what they‘ve experienced. It‘s exhilarating and I can‘t contain my joy at having my dream since I was a kid fulfilled. 

shirt and head back to his house. As I near it, his wolf charges past me, skidding

I flinch, taking a step back. He no tices

wanted to be there Myra, are you okay?‘ He asks and I

fur, ‘You look beautiful by the way,

he orders, and I resist rolling my eyes at his bossiness. I shift with

He asks

actually, I tell him, and his eyes darken,

he replies, I squeal as he puts his arm under my legs and scoops me up,

you doing?’ I ask, eyeing the devious

out of his arms, but he holds me in a vice like grip and takes me to his study,

I question, my mouth dropping open in shock as he rips

for me trying to protect it earlier.

my naked body. My hands twitch at my sides, eager to cover myself, but I know that will just annoy him more, and I can see in his eyes

he orders, I meet his eyes for a moment, seeing that he is deadly serious. He raises an eyebrow, silently questioning me to see if I‘ll do as he commands. I chew nervously on – my bottom lip and turn