The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 1

Book 1 Chapter 41

‘You’re such a dickhead, I splash water at him and he only smirks in response.

I’m just trying to get you wet, he jokes and grabs my hand, pulling me deeper into the sea until my feet no longer touch the seabed and I have to tread water.

“Very funny. I comment at his stupid remark, as I bob up and down with the waves.

We spend an hour or so in the water before coming out and lying out on our towels to dry off.

‘You look great in that bikini by the way, he remarks as we lie next to each other. I’m glad we’re both on our backs, facing the sky, so he can’t see my blush.

Thank you,’ I manage to mumble a response and try to focus on the sun warming my skin instead.

Around four o’clock, I head inside and have a shower to get all of the sea salt out of my hair. I am then faced with the task of finding something to wear for dinner, luckily I have a lot of options. I eventually choose a tight dress and decide to wear heels, because even on platforms, Eli will still be taller than me.

Earlier on, we had agreed to go on a walk before dinner, so we’d leave at six, giving me another hour to do my make-up. I take my time, wanting to look my best for him, it’s crazy how much his opinion means to

1. me.

Just before six, finally satisfied with the way I look, I come down the stairs to find Eli leaning against the wall on his phone. He glances up, does a double-take and nearly drops his phone. He catches it and quickly stuffs it in his pocket, an embarrassed look on his face.

‘Wow, you look incredible, he compliments me, and I look down at my feet, so my hair falls across my face and hides my blush.

‘Thank you, you look very nice’ I reply honestly, he looks completely edible in his white shirt and jeans.

place my hand on his proffered arm as he helps me across the gravel in my heels, and then he drives us back into town. Once parked, we walk in the direction of the pier.

We choose to start our evening on the Ferris wheel, since Eli has been paying for me all day, I convince him to let me pay for our turn and we climb into our seats and lower the bar.

Just as the wheel started to move, the lights in the fair began to flicker on. The sun is beginning to sink down, closer to the horizon, throwing beautiful oranges and pinks across the sky. All the bulbs began to hum with electricity and light up the huge pier. It looks like there are neon fireflies everywhere, the smell of cotton candy and popcorn floats around us and the sound of people chatting and laughing reaches us, even high up on the wheel.

‘Thank you so much for today, this was such a lovely idea, I tell Eli as we reach the top and despite be ing afraid of heights, the view is breath-taking

I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it, I’ve never brought a girl here before you know, he divulges and I can’t hold back my smile, it makes me feel special to know I’m the only one.

‘Well thank you for thinking I am special enough, I say, unable to stop smiling now he’s told me that.

After stepping off the Ferris wheel, we amble through the streets until we find a restaurant we like the look of. It is a simple little Italian restaurant with a warm, welcoming feeling and mouth-watering smells emanating from inside.

We order our food and talk continuously until the bill: I think the wine helped me relax a lot more. We chat about everything, he tells me about his family, his siblings. His brother, Tyler, is two years younger and

Book 1 Chapter 41

happily agreed to be Eli’s Beta. He has been looking after Eli the past few weeks, whilst he wasn’t well be cause he hadn’t found me yet, hence why he was so angry that Eli had kidnapped me. Funnily enough, it was actually Tyler who was the wolf Eli was fighting in the woods with the night he took me.

lask Eli why, if his brother is mateless and a similar age to him, he is not going crazy like Eli did. He told me that everyone reacts differently, and because he is an Alpha, he has stronger feelings and respons es than his brother.

I explain to Eli all about my ‘simple human family, how I’m an only child and very close to my parents. We don’t talk much about the night he took me, I think it is a sensitive subject for both of us and we seem to have an unspoken agreement to drop the subject.

We arrive back at the beach house at about nine, Eli opens a bottle of wine, and we sit down on a bench on the porch. The moon is out in full, casting a white beam across the sea. The only sound is the gentle crashing of the waves only a little way in front of us.

“Have you enjoyed tonight?” I ask him as I lean back on the bench and put my feet up on the coffee ta ble in front of us.

‘I loved it, the best first date I’ve ever had, he replies, and I smile at him.

“Have you had a lot of first dates?’ | ask, not jealous, just curious. He looks down at me and raises an eyebrow, obviously questioning my motive behind that question, I try to look as innocent as possible.

‘Not many, no, he replies ambiguously, and I leave it at that.

‘Did you enjoy it?’ He asks, subtly changing the subject back to me.

‘Yes, I did, it was amazing, I loved learning about your family, I feel like I understand your…position a lot more than I did yesterday, I tell him, and I know my words give him a sense of comfort and peace of mind.

‘I can’t tell you how good that is to hear, meeting your mate should be the best day of your life, but I feel like ours is marred by how we met and my actions, I’ll spend every day of my life making it up to you, his voice is laced with conviction, and I feel touched by his words. Once again I am struck by how strange it is to have known this man for only two days yet have him claim to be with me for the rest of his life.

How is this normal for them?

“You really don’t need to do that, I get it now, you’re forgiven, it’s fine,’ I reassure him, he doesn’t say anything, he just reaches over, wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me in so my face is resting against his warm chest.

This moment, with such a beautiful setting, and acceptance and comfort from such a wonderful