The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

I feel like my heart is in my throat as I knock on her door. It's an eternity before it swings open.

I'm confused for a millisecond, because there is no one at the door. Then, my gaze lowers and I look at George, standing in the doorway with a lollipop in his mouth.

He takes it out with a pop and looks me up and down assessing me.

'You're tall,' he comments.

'You're perceptive,' I retort. 'Can I come in'

He shrugs but steps to one side. He puts the lollipop back in his mouth and swaggers back into the playroom.

Kids.

I take off my shoes and close the front door behind me. It appears no one else heard me knock.

I push open the door of the playroom to find Grace's three younger siblings in there. After scanning the room to ensure Grace isn't in it, I quickly withdraw, not wanting to get pulled into more of their games.

I find her mother in the kitchen. Jeanette jumps up when I walk in.

'Axel, hi!' She gives me a tired smile. 'How are you'

I was expecting worse, a lot worse.

'Um, I'm okay, thanks. How are you How's Grace'

Jeanette's smile drops from her face.

'She's…alright. She's upstairs in her room, I think she was having a nap.'

The horrible feeling of dread sat in my stomach, intensifies at her reply. This doesn't sound good.

'How did she take it' I ask, drawing up a chair and sitting down on it.

Jeanette sits back down and rests her elbows on the table. She puts her head in her hands and sighs heavily.

'Not well. She was all stressed out about you, understandably, and I just went and dropped another bombshell on her. It all spilled out; I couldn't stop it. She cried, swore at me, cursed her father to the fiery pits of hell.' She scoffs. 'Like I haven't done that enough times for the both of us.'

'She was just tired when we were done, so I let her rest.' Jeanette looks up at me and smiles weakly. 'I think she's okay with you, you know She's mad about her father and that I kept it from her, but she understands. Hopefully, her anger will pass in the next few days.'

Relief fills me. I really hope she's okay with me.

We've just said 'I love you' to one another, I'd hate to go back to not saying it. I'd hate her to take it back. I'm praying to the Moon Goddess that she still loves me.

'Do you think I should go up and see her' I ask and Jeanette nods.

'Better now than never, hey Good luck and please, be gentle with her, she's had a rough night.'

I wince. 'Don't I know it.'

I creep past the playroom, not wanting her siblings to hear me and try and get involved. I don't know where Grace's room is, so I have to follow her scent.

It lingers at the end of the hall; I knock softly on the door.

A mumbled 'come in' sounds out and I turn the handle. The first thing I notice; how perfect the room smells. It's filled with Grace's scent, and I make the mental decision to stay in it as long as possible.

Fuck, if we lived together, would our whole house smell this good

I look around the room, taking in the simple design. It's decorated in cream and blues, mostly. There's a desk, overspilling with papers, notebooks and textbooks.

Pictures are stuck on the walls. Endless snaps of Grace with her mother, her siblings and random photos of the scenery.

I smile as I spot one of us, snapped by Rory at Finlay's party. She got it printed.

I turn around to see Grace lying on her double bed. She realizes it's me and quickly sits up, patting down her hair self—consciously.

Her red curls are tied up in a messy bun, loose tendrils frame her beautiful face. Her eyes are puffy like she's been crying, and her face is free of make—up.

She's wearing pajama bottoms and big, fluffy socks, but what makes me grin is the fact she's paired the outfit with a hoodie I let her borrow last week.

She blushes as I grin like a maniac at her.

'You're wearing my hoodie,' I note happily.

She blushes some more and pulls the sleeves down over her hands.

'It smells good,' she mumbles.

I slowly approach the bed. 'Can I sit down' I ask, gesturing to the plush comforter at the end of it.

She nods slowly, watching me with those big blue eyes of hers. I sit down at the edge of the bed and lean my back against one of the posts.

'How are you' I ask gently.

She shrugs and looks out of the window. 'Tired,' she replies simply.

'Your mum told me that you were upset about your dad. I'm so sorry that he left.'

She scoffs. 'You can't even call him my dad. He was a sperm donor,' she replies bitterly. 'I'm glad he's gone; I just wish Mum had told me about who he was and about…what I am.'

'Half—human, half—'

'Werewolf.' Grace finishes the sentence for me.

She looks at me and I can't read her expression. I hate it. I can usually tell what she's thinking, but right now, I have no idea if she wants to hug me or break up with me.

'How are you feeling about us' I ask quietly, my voice cracks a little on the last word, my vulnerability showing through.

Grace leans back against the pillows propped against her headboard. She chews on her bottom lip for a moment before responding.

'You scared the hell out of me last night,' she starts. 'If my mum had told me about my father before last night, I would never have believed her. I would have thought she'd gone mad. But I saw you. I saw Xaden change, his body morphed.'

Her eyes are wide as she talks, relieving the trauma of last night. Trauma that I put her through. Guilt fills me and I look down at my hands.

'I'm so sorry, Grace. I never wanted you to find out that way.'

I can feel her eyes on me, so I look back up. She's looking at me thoughtfully.

'When were you going to tell me'

'Soon. I'd been waiting to tell you that I loved you. I wanted us to be in a good place before I changed your entire opinion of me. I wanted you to see that we could be happy together…'

I trail off, sadness filling me. I'll be honest, so far, this conversation hasn't been the least bit comforting.

Sure, she's responding, which is a good sign. She could have locked the door in my face or driven far away from her. She's willingly communicating, which is a start.

'Rory told me that last night happened because you haven't marked me. Will it be like that every full moon until you do'

I nod stiffly. 'Yes. But I won't mark you without your permission. It's a big deal for you. We will be irreversibly linked, and you will be able to turn into a wolf, like me.'

She swallows visibly, her lips parting in a silent gasp.

'I could turn'

'Yes. My auntie was a human, you know, Myra You met her yesterday. She was human before she met my uncle. He marked her, turning her.'

Grace looks down at her pajamas and starts fiddling with a loose thread.

'She looked so happy.'

'She is happy. She has a beautiful family with her soul mate.'

'Is that why we talked of soul mates on our first date You said your family believes in them. What you actually meant is that your family has them'

I nod my head. 'Yes. I've never lied to you, Grace, I've just had to be careful with what I've said to you.'

Her eyebrows knit together as she thinks. 'Am I definitely your soul mate'

At that, I can't help but smile.

'Yes. Although, my kind shorten the word to mates. You are my mate.'

'And you want to turn me'

I shrug. 'Of course, I would like to eventually. I am in no hurry, Grace. I don't want to rush you or pressure you. I just want to love you.'

'Even if I never let you turn me'

My heart aches as she says the words. I don't know what will happen if she never lets me mark her.

I swallow the lump in my throat and lick my suddenly dry lips. 'I'll take you any way I can.'

Her eyes level with mine. 'Because you love me,' she states bluntly.

'Yes, because I love you.' I hesitate for a second. 'Do you still love me'

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