The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 1

Book 1 Chapter 43

‘Great, thank you, I’ll let her know, Eli replies and gets out his phone to text his mum.

I decided I’d stop being so cold and make an effort, so I should go tonight.

With Eli’s help, I choose one of my favorite tops with some leggings as my outfit, luckily the meal is very casual. I do my make-up and just before seven, we get into Eli’s car, and he drives us over to his par ent’s house.

The sun has set by the time we arrive, and the golden glow of the lights inside shines out onto the front garden, making the house look warm and inviting.

Rather a juxtaposition compared to last time.

As Eli reaches for the handle, the door swings open and Kate is standing there with a huge smile on her face.

Help me.

I’m so glad you could make it tonight, it’s lovely to have you here, Kate invades my personal space by wrapping her arm around my shoulders and leading me down the corridor.

‘Thank you for inviting me, it’s very kind of you,’ I reply as she leads me into the kitchen, where a deli cious smell is coming from the pans on the stove.

‘What would you like to drink? Wine? Beer?’ She lets go of me and opens the fridge to show me all the options.

“A glass of wine would be lovely please, white,’ I request, and she eagerly grabs a bottle and pours me a glass.

‘Eli darling, what do you want?’ Kate asks and I glance over my shoulder to see-Eli coming down the hall. He comes up behind me and places a comforting hand on the small of my back. The subtle action in stantly calms me down. 

Just coke for now mum, I’m driving later, he replies, and I glance up as his dad, Sam, walks in.

We greet each other and Kate brings us into the dining room where the table is set for six whilst Sam finishes cooking dinner. Just as we are sitting down, Lucia and Tyler arrive.

‘Sorry we‘re late mum, someone was late picking me up, Lucia kisses her mum’s cheeks and throws a dirty look in Tyler’s direction.

‘I was five minutes late, that hardly counts, Tyler scoffs as he pours himself a drink.

‘Go on, tell everyone why you were late, what were you doing for those five minutes?’ Lucia crosses her arms over her chest and raises an eyebrow at Tyler.

‘I was helping a woman take her bags to the car, I was being a gentleman, Tyler replies, shrugging to try and act nonchalant.

Gentleman? Bullshit, she had huge tits, a low-cut top and two bags, Lucia scoffs and Tyler’s cheeks turn a faint shade of pink.

‘Language Lucia!’ Kate reprimands her but it goes unnoticed.

‘Fuck you she had three bags! I was just trying to help.’ Tyler insists, putting his hands up in defense.

‘Language Tyler! Kate shouts at Tyler, but again, it goes unnoticed.

Book 1 Chapter 43

‘Oh please, I know exactly what you were trying to do, twenty-four years old and still obsessed with boobs like a teenager!

‘Enough! Both of you! We have a guest! Kate yells and the room falls silent, Eli bursts out laughing and his mum shoots him a disapproving glare.

Alena is never going to come back if we keep behaving like this, I promise you Alena, my children are usually better behaved, it’s unfortunate that they never behave around you, I’m sorry, Kate apologizes and gestures at the empty chairs for Lucia and Tyler to sit down, which they do, with sheepish looks on their faces.

‘Oh don’t worry, I don’t mind, I grin, secretly entertained by the arguing siblings, having never had sib lings, this is quite the experience.

‘Now everyone behaves sensibly for fuck’s sake, Kate swears and takes a deep breath.

No one tells her off for swearing.

‘Dinner’s ready! Sam calls as he enters the room carrying a huge serving dish, a groan of relief passes through the room.

The rest of the meal continues in a civilized manner, much to Kate’s relief.

Anyway, we should probably be getting back, thank you for tonight’ Eli stands up from the table and quickly follow his lead.

I’m sorry about that, my family is a bit full-on at times, Eli apologizes when he begins the drive back to Aria’s.

‘Don’t be, it was interesting,’ I reply, and we both burst out laughing.

1 actually had a really good night, very entertaining, I tell him, and he smiles at me, reaching over to squeeze my hand. Instead of taking it back, he rests his hand on my thigh and I appreciate the gesture.

‘Why does your mum have a bite mark on her neck?’ | blurt out the question, finally getting the courage to ask him something I have been wondering about since I saw it. Eli pauses for a moment, as if consider ing whether to answer or not.

‘When we find our mates, we mark them, to let others know that they are taken, that is my mum’s mark, he explains, and I frown.

‘Your dad bit her?’ | ask, curious about how much that hurts, did she lose a lot of blood?

Surely that didn’t taste nice.

‘Yes, all wolves mark their mates, he says simply, and I realize that Aria must have kept hers hidden from me, always having her hair down or wearing high-necked tops.

“But wait, does that mean you have to mark me?’ I question, automatically reaching up and touching my neck, as if to protect myself

‘Yes, but it’s not what you think, it doesn’t hurt, quite the opposite actually, he replies, and he gets this smug look on his face that annoys me.

‘Quite the opposite?

‘Yes, it’ll feel good, very good, he says, with such confidence that I almost believe him.

‘I doubt it, I mumble, crossing my arms across my chest like a moody teenager.

‘You’ll see, he gives me a cheeky smile and I want to scoff at him.

‘Don’t you come anywhere near my neck, I warn him, and he only laughs at me.

Hook 1 Chapter 43

He pulls up in front of their house and I reluctantly step out of the car, not wanting our time together to end just yet. We walk slowly up to the house, and I get the feeling Eli is disinclined to go inside so soon as well. We stop outside the front door, and he turns to face us,

‘You look beautiful tonight, and thank you again for coming, I know my parents really appreciated it, he says, and I feel touched by his words, he always seems to know the right thing to say 

I take a step closer to him, I have to lift my head to look into his eyes as he’s a good foot taller than me. He appears to sense my intentions, because without missing a beat, he leans down until his lips are nearly touching mine. He hesitates for a second, and I know he’s giving me a chance to bow out, but I don’t want to