The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Xaden's POV.

I don't stop smiling for the next few days. Things are going great with Noelle; she even agrees to another date after school on Wednesday.

Instead of dropping her home school, I take her back to my house. My parents have taken Malika and Talon swimming, meaning it will only be my sixteen—year—old sister in the house.

'Malika probably has her mate over, so they'll stay in her room the whole time,' I tell Noelle as I let her into the house.

As expected, all you can hear is giggling as we pass Malika's room. I lead Noelle to my bedroom and suddenly feel self—conscious.

I'm glad I tidied a bit this weekend, the room is usually a dump. I grab a couple of t—shirts off the floor and throw them in the laundry basket. Noelle slowly walks around the room, looking at my photos and trophies.

I sit down on my bed and turn on the TV, flicking through channels until I find something to leave on in the background.

Noelle comes over and hesitates, obviously reluctant to sit on the bed with me.

'How many girls have you uh…slept with in this bed Is it safe to sit down' She says only half—joking.

I wince and my heart fills with regret again. I wish I could go back in time and tell old me what an asshole he was being.

'When I told my mum about you, she went out and brought new sheets. She said she understood how you'd feel and that you'd probably be more comfortable staying over in 'untainted' bed sheets,' I explain to her.

She smiles and sits down next to me. 'I think I'm gonna like your mum.'

'I'm sorry, Noelle,' I apologize quietly as I crack my knuckles.

She sighs heavily and lays down on the bed.

'I know you are, and you are making up for it, so thank you.' She gives me a brief smile and then changes the subject. 'Where do you want to eat tonight'

'Axel and Grace are always raving about this food van in the park, but it's gonna be cold later and it's not very romantic.'

Noelle shrugs. 'I don't mind. What kind of food is there'

'They say that the burritos are the best,' I reply, and Noelle looks interested.

'I like burritos.'

'Okay, so we'll go to the burrito van,' I tell her with a laugh. 'What else Should we get milkshakes'

She nods eagerly. 'Sounds good to me. Are there any movies on at the cinema'

We have a look on my phone and choose a couple that looks good. After checking the screening times, we pick one at just before seven.

We hang out in my room for a bit, watching TV and talking. I offer for us to leave before my family gets back, but Noelle shyly declines, saying that she would like to meet my parents.

They get home at about half five. The noise generated by my two youngest siblings alerts us of the fact they're home.

Noelle follows me downstairs, looking nervous. I take her hand and she gives me a grateful smile.

'Mum, Dad, I'd like you to meet my mate,' I tell them as we enter the kitchen. 'This is Noelle.'

Malika and Talon look up from where they're sat eating their snacks at the kitchen table. Dad is in the kitchen prepping dinner, whilst Mum is faffing about with their school bags and swim kit.

'Noelle, honey! It's so nice to meet you,' my Mum gushes.

She pulls Noelle into a hug, who promptly hugs her back.

'This is my mate, Rixon,' Mum introduces Dad to Noelle.

He gives Noelle and brief hug and then introduces my siblings, Talon and Malika.

Noelle seems a little overwhelmed, but happy that they're so welcoming.

'We're going out to see a movie,' I tell my parents. 'We'll get dinner so don't worry about saving any. I'll be home by ten, is that okay'

Mum's eyes soften. 'Of course, sweetheart. Have a great time.'

I drive Noelle and I into town and find somewhere to park my car on the high street. I take Noelle's hand, proudly walking with her down the street, towards the park.

'What do you think of my family, then They're a bit intense.'

Noelle chuckles. 'No, I loved them. They were so welcoming, your mum especially.'

'Yeah, she's been dying for me to meet my mate. I think she was almost as excited as me.'

Noelle blushes and looks away. I squeeze her hand and we cross over the road to enter the park.

'When my parents first met, my dad was a branded rogue. He'd been kicked out of his pack for defending his sister, my auntie. My grandparents didn't approve of them being together at all and they tried to keep them apart,' I tell Noelle my parent's history as she listens, her eyes wide with curiosity.

'I think that's why my mum will make every effort to be so welcoming to you and has done the same to my sister's mate. She never wants anyone to go through what she did, having to choose between her parents and her mate.'

Noelle nods. 'I can't imagine what that must have been like. I take it your grandparents get on with your dad now'

'Yeah. When Mum got pregnant with me, actually, they changed their minds. Mum was attacked by this psycho Alpha, she nearly died. It changed their perspective on things, and they realized how prejudiced they were being.'

'Wow, attacked Gosh, your parents' lives sound so adventurous compared to ours. That's crazy.'

'I know. I'm glad we don't have to go through what they did,' I reply.

We reach the food vendor and I treat us both to burritos. Noelle accepts, on the condition that she gets to pay for the movie tickets.

Eating our burritos, we stroll around the lake in the park, even though it is cold. We're both wrapped up, so it's not too bad.

Afterward, we walk on to the cinema and watch the movie.

When we come out, I'm not quite ready for the evening to be over. It's only 9 PM and I still have an hour before I told my parents that we'd be home.

The wind has dropped, removing the chill factor, so the night air isn't that cold. I suggest we go for a walk—through town and Noelle happily agrees. I don't think she wants the evening to be over yet, either.

'Can I ask you something' Noelle says as we stroll along the sidewalk, holding hands.

'Anything.'

'I promise this isn't me trying to cause an argument or look for more reasons to get mad at you, I just want to know,' she says nervously. 'Why did you sleep around so much Why did you lose your virginity in the first place I know, I lost mine, too and I'll tell you why if you want.'

I blow out an exhale and run my hand through my hair.

Shit.

I didn't expect an evening walk after a date to get deep, but she has the right to know why I fucked up so badly.

'I don't even really know, for sure,' I tell her. 'But I'll try and explain the best that I can.'

I take a full breath and decide to start from the beginning.

'I lost my virginity at fourteen. It was a house party, and we were dared to play seven minutes in heaven. The girl and I were both a little tipsy, but nothing that would constitute assault, don't worry. She'd already had sex before and told me I'd enjoy it. I guess I was just a stupid fourteen—year—old boy who thought it would make him cool if he had sex.

'Anyway, the next morning, I regretted it because it meant I hadn't waited for my mate. The guilt was horrible, and I didn't want to feel like that, so I remember thinking, how is having sex twice any different from once When I slept with someone else, I won't lie, it was pretty good. I realized how good sex could be and I didn't feel guilty during it, only after.'

I anxiously glance over at Noelle to see how she's taking all of this. I'm trying to be 100% honest with her, even if she doesn't like what I'm saying. Her expression is unreadable, but she nods at me to continue.

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