The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Xaden's POV.

'Anyway, I kind of spiraled. I kept telling myself that five was no different from two. Then, ten was no different from five. I'd already fucked up by losing my virginity, so how could sleeping with other people be any different I know, it's stupid logic.'

I stop walking and turn to face Noelle, she mirrors my actions, facing me. I run my hand down my face and try to find the right words.

'As the oldest in my family, I've always been expected to set an example. My mum found condoms in my room when I was fifteen and she was so disappointed in me, I can't explain how shit I felt. Things weren't the same between us, so I slept around even more, because I enjoyed feeling wanted. I didn't feel wanted at home.

'I told myself that I'd fucked up too much to deserve a mate and that, even if I did meet her, she'd never forgiven me for what I'd done and would reject me. I snowballed, basically.

'I don't know whether this makes it worse or better, but the girls never meant anything to me. I rarely slept with the same girl twice and I never went on dates or that kind of stuff. It was nothing in my mind.'

Noelle looks thoughtful for a moment.

'I guess I'm relieved that they didn't mean anything to you, but it does make you look like an asshole for never caring about someone you were intimate with.'

I nod quickly. 'Totally agree with you, I was an asshole.'

'So, what changed your mind again'

I smile at that question, and we start walking forwards again.

'Rory had been getting on at me for ages, just like my mum, telling me that I would regret everything when I met my mate. Then, Axel met Grace and I saw how things changed for him. They all agreed that, if I changed my ways and behaved from now on, it would help towards proving myself to my mate when I finally met her.'

Noelle gives me a small smile. 'Well, I'm glad you decided to stop.'

'Does that answer your question' I ask hopefully.

I really don't want to talk about my mistakes anymore. I hope this gives her some closure on the topic and we can move on from this.

'Yes, it does.'

'Now…do you wanna tell me your story' I coax her.

Noelle grimaces and holds my hand a little tighter.

'Okay, but please, as I tell you this, remember that everything is different now,' she says and she sounds nervous, which makes me worried.

'Okay…' I reply uncertainly.

Noelle swallows and then begins.

'When I was thirteen, I fell in love with the Alpha's son in my old pack. I know it sounds silly, saying I was in love at thirteen, but I really was. We become inseparable and the 'power' couple at our school,' she tells me.

I grit my teeth, not enjoying hearing her tell me about being in love with another guy.

'When I turned fifteen, we slept together for the first time. It was our two—year anniversary; we were in love and convinced that we were mates. Our parents thought we were going to be mates, too. Everyone in the pack did.

'On my sixteenth birthday, I felt no sparks with him. I was heartbroken, but we waited a few months for his birthday. He found his mate that day, and it wasn't me.'

Her voice is even as she explains. She stops walking and pulls on my wrist to get me to look at her.

'I don't love him anymore, please know that Xaden,' she says urgently. 'After he found his mate, we stopped talking. I was hurt and I begged my parents for us to move, I couldn't be around them every day, seeing how happy they were.'

She takes a deep breath, and her dark eyes meet mine.

'By the time my parents had found new jobs and bought a house here, I had moved on from him, but we were happy to move, nonetheless. I am completely over him; I was able to say goodbye before I left and leave without regrets. I don't even think about him anymore, it's only you.'

Relief floods through me. I needed that reassurance.

Just to check, I ask her. 'You're sure'

'You know that I can't lie to you.' She looks me straight in the eye. 'I don't care about him anymore.'

'Good,' I reply with a sigh of relief.

Noelle looks up at me with a thoughtful expression. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and I wait for her to say her thoughts aloud.

'Seeing as we've put everything out there, told each other our pasts and regrets, do you think that…maybe…we could start over You've tried so hard to show me that I can trust you and you know that I've moved on from my past. Could we just be us now'

A grin stretches across my face. 'Just us Mates with no past'

She nods. 'No past, no drama.'

'Does this mean I can kiss you now

Noelle grins back at me. 'Yes.'

She must lift up onto her tiptoes, because I don't have to bend down as far as I usually do for our lips to meet. My hands instinctively go to her waist, both to support her and keep her exactly where I want her.

Our lips touch hesitantly at first, but soon, we sink into each other. Our bodies meld together, and she softens in my arms. I hold her tighter, loving the feel of her heaving chest against mine.

I swipe my tongue across the seam of her lips, and she hesitantly opens up to me. The kiss deepens and my desire for her becomes impossible to ignore. With a low growl at the back of my throat, I kiss her more fervently.

Noelle isn't alarmed or put off by my outburst, she kisses me back with equal enthusiasm, matching my tongue with her own. To anyone passing by, we look like horny teenagers making out in the middle of the pavement, but I really don't care.

My mate has just agreed to let bygones be bygones and start fresh. We can finally act like a normal shifter couple.

When we finally pull back for air, both of us are panting and our lips are swollen. Noelle gives me a shy smile.

Instead of taking her hand, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and keep her close to my side. We walk back to my car, and I drive her home. Although I'm disappointed the date was over, it ended so well that I'm just happy we went on it.

I kiss Noelle goodnight and thank her for a great date. I'm whistling with happiness when I get back home, making both of my parents smile knowingly.

They force me to sit down and tell them about my date. I pull a face but don't mind it too much, I like talking about my mate.

'Invite Noelle round for dinner on Friday,' Mum calls out as I head upstairs for bed.

I text Noelle, asking if she wants to. Her reply is almost instant.

Yes!!

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School is great for the rest of the week. Noelle and I start acting like a proper couple. She holds my hands in the halls, sits on my lap at break and chats away with me at lunch.

Friday, we go to the diner for lunch. Finn, Nick and Luke come too, not wanting Rory to be left fifth—wheeling.

We all agree that we need a house party soon. It's Axel's birthday in a month, so we start planning a party. It means that Rory can bring her mate and we can finally meet him.

After school, Noelle insists on walking back to her house and I return home. I'm confused to see my auntie's and uncle's car on the drive.

When I get in, my Auntie Myra and Uncle Jayce are in the kitchen with my parents. They're not my auntie and uncle by blood, but I've called them that since I was a kid. My dad, Rixon and my uncle, Jayce have been friends for years.

'Hey guys,' I greet them. 'What are you doing here'

Myra pouts. 'Is that any way to greet family Give me a hug you,' she says warmly.

I hug my auntie and shake hands with Jayce. Naevia, my cousin and their daughter, comes out from the bathroom, grinning when she sees me.

'Hey, cuz! I heard you met your mate'

'Yeah, her name's Noelle.'

'Congrats!' Naevia says and pulls me into a hug.

Naevia is four years older than me and found her mate a year ago.

'So, what's everyone doing here' I ask again.

'I invited them over for a family dinner,' Mum replies with a shrug.

I give her a 'you're joking' look.

'But Noelle is coming over tonight'

'And The family wanted to meet her,' Mum retorts.

'That's not fair on her! It's an ambush,' I protest, and everyone laughs.

'We'll be nice to her, Xaden, don't worry,' Naevia says, nudging me playfully.

I pull out my phone and text Noelle to warn her.

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