The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Callie's POV.

His brows furrow and he holds me a little closer.

'What's wrong' He asks, sounding worried.

I want to reassure him, but I can't. My throat feels like it's tightening up and my breathing has suddenly become shallow.

I've never had to do this before. I've never had to say the horrible words out loud.

Momentarily, I close my eyes and take a fortifying breath. When I open them again, I'm focused.

'There's a reason that my brothers are so protective of me,' I tell him quietly.

I try to maintain eye contact, but I can't. Instead, I focus my gaze on a single freckle, right on his left collarbone.

'As you know, we're rogues, but we haven't always been. Ten years ago, we were part of a pack.' I swallow hard. My mouth has gone dry and tastes like acid. 'The Alpha of that pack, had a son…'

Nate's hand squeezes my hip, as a warning, as a gesture of comfort, I don't know.

'He took an interest in me,' I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. 'An interest that I didn't reciprocate. He didn't like that.'

'Callie…' Nate warns. 'Is this going to make me kill him Do I have to kill this man'

He knows already. He knows where this is going, and I don't blame him for wanting to avenge me. I wanted to kill him, too.

'He's dead,' I tell him quickly. 'I'll explain it all, but just know, he's dead.'

Nate lets out a breath of relief. I sneak a glance at him, and his jaw is clenched. He gives me a nod to continue.

'Ever since I turned sixteen, he bothered me. He would ask me out endlessly, follow me around at school and at home. He would try and kiss me at parties, getting me drinks to make me drink. Luckily, Rixon and Ben were always there, showing me the tricks people use to get someone vulnerable.

'He never got near me. I always turned him down, I never accepted any of his gifts or advances. I thought he would get over the crush, there were so many other women in the pack. After a while, it did get slightly better. Just before I turned eighteen, he started dating other people.'

Nate listens silently to me, waiting patiently whenever I stop to catch my breath or gather my thoughts.

'I didn't realize that the reason he was dating those other girls, was to tick them off his list. When he was done, I was the last one left that he hadn't managed to have. It drove him crazy that I would say no to a future Alpha.'

Nate's fingers dig into my side. It's subconscious, I think, he doesn't intend to hurt me. I barely notice the pain, my body too focused on the emotional pain I'm feeling right now.

'One night, Ben was out and Rixon had the late shift training the guards,' I force myself to get the words out.

Just once.

Just once, I have to tell him and then I can never talk about it again.

'The Alpha's son, he came round and he—' my voice breaks, and Nate holds me close.

He strokes my hair and squeezes me.

'You don't have to tell me,' he mumbles. 'It's okay.'

I pull back and shake my head.

'No, I do. I want to tell you and then never mention it again. I want this to be it, I want it to be over with.'

Nate must hear the resolve in my voice, because he nods and waits for me to carry on.

'He forced himself on me. He ripped my clothes and pinned me to the floor. He wasn't able to…get inside me…before Rixon came home. He stopped him; my brother saved me.'

I didn't realize how tense Nate's body was, until he sags with relief. Little does he know, that's only the first part.

'Rixon took the son to the Alpha and demanded he kick him out of the pack. Do you know what the Alpha did instead He took his son's side and kicked us out. My brothers and I were exiled and given 24 hours to leave.

A growl leaves Nate's chest and my eyes blur with tears. I try to hold them back.

'The next day, we packed everything up. Rixon and Ben took all of our things over to the new house we'd rented. I stayed behind to pack up the final boxes. They were only gone twenty minutes.'

Nate's hands dig into my sides again as he realizes that the worst is yet to come.

'The Alpha's son came back. He was so much rougher this time. He was fuming that he'd been caught and that his father had been involved. Even though his father hadn't kicked him out, he knew what his son had done.

'He got what he wanted this time. He –' my voice breaks, and tears leak down my face. Nate wipes them away as they fall, whispering assurances. 'He took what he wanted. Rixon came home and he pulled him off me, but he was too late.'

My body is shaking now, and I feel as though I'm both freezing and sticky with sweat at the same time. It's a horrible feeling.

Nate presses me against him, and I lay my face against his chest, listening to his thumping heartbeat.

'Rixon killed him. He beat him senselessly until he was dead. That's what earned him his brand. My brother killed my attacker and I'll never be able to thank him enough for that. He saved me twice.'

I pull back and wipe my eyes. Growls are rolling out of Nate's mouth. His body is shaking as much as mine. Only his is with anger.

'That day we first met, when we rescued Lexi from Alpha Seok. He was the Alpha who branded Rixon.'

Realization comes over Nate's face.

'His son attacked you'

I don't think he intends his voice to come out as aggressive as it does. I know it is anger at the son, not at me.

I nod, unable to find the words anymore.

'They deserve to be dead,' my mate says through gritted teeth. 'But I wish I'd been the one to end their pathetic lives.'

He buries his face in my hair and inhales deeply, calming himself with my scent.

'I'm so sorry I wasn't there, I should have found you sooner, I could have protected you,' his voice sounds broken with thick emotion as he apologizes needlessly.

I hold him tightly, squeezing my eyes shut and holding him like he's my lifeline.

I guess he is.

'Don't apologize,' I mumble. 'It's in the past, but I needed you to know.'

'Fuck,' he mutters into my hair. He's still shaking against me, and I know he is trying to calm himself down. 'I want to rip him to fucking shreds.'

Nate's voice is guttural and doesn't sound like the Nate I know. It hurts me that telling him this has made him so upset.

'I'm okay, don't worry,' I whisper to him. 'I've got you, now.'

He squeezes me until I worry that I can't breathe.

'Thank you for telling me, baby. I can't imagine how hard that was for you, so thank you.'

How is he so amazing

'I was so worried about how you'd react,' I confess to him.

Nate pulls back, wanting to meet my eyes. 'Why were you worried'

'I was scared you wouldn't look at me the same way, that you'd pity me or think I'm broken or something. I don't know.'

Nate lifts my chin and makes me look at him.

'Don't ever think that I won't want you, Callie. You are the strongest person I know, you're incredible.'

Tears pool in my eyes and I grab his t—shirt. I pull Nate down and our lips meet.

I pour all of my affection into the kiss, letting him know just how much he means to me.

Nate runs his hands up and down my back soothingly, kissing me back with equal enthusiasm.

When we finally pull away, we're both panting. We rest our foreheads against each other and remain completely intertwined.

I can't believe how well that went. His reaction was perfect.

'Nate Archer, you are so amazing,' I tell him, making him chuckle.'

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆✥⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆