The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 4

India's POV.

'Remember that, if it is a six—mark question, you are going to earn a mark for spelling, punctuation and grammar,' I remind the class.

I turn away from the board and back to my desk.

The door swings open and ricochets off the wall, disturbing the pupils working. All our eyes turn to the doorway, where the Alpha's son stands.

He's thirteen, with blonde hair swept across his face and mischievous green eyes. Even at his young age, I can see how beautiful he is going to be. He is going to break hearts when he's older. Maybe, he already has.

If being a thirteen—year—old boy isn't enough of a handful, being the Alpha's son makes him ten times worse. The boy has more confidence than everyone in the school combined, and a distorted view of thinking he's invincible because Dad will get him out of any trouble he gets into.

The Alpha's son deems school unimportant; his future job is lined up and ready for him, all he has to do is get through high school. You don't need qualifications to be an Alpha, so why bother That's his opinion, and he makes his disdain for science quite clear.

He swaggers over to his desk and slams his bag down on it. Wearing a non—regulation hoodie, missing his tie and having his shirt untucked, he's breaking three school dress codes.

I take a deep breath and force a smile.

'Thank you for joining us, Mr. Lockwood,' I address him and walk over to his desk.

He sits down and smirks at me.

'Hoodie off, tie on, tuck in your shirt and if you get your head down and actually do the work this lesson, I will ignore the fact you were ten minutes late,' I tell Jake and place a textbook down in front of him.

I hear him scoff as I walk away. I suddenly turn on my heel, in time to see his middle finger raised at my back. His eyes widen and he quickly puts down his hand, I smirk.

'After—school detention is what's waiting for you if you keep this up.'

I smile smugly and get him the same worksheets the other pupils are working on.

The next twenty minutes of the lesson are blissfully easy, the worksheets keep the pupils busy, and I wander around the room, answering any questions. When Jake finishes his work, he fidgets. I get the extension sheets and put them in front of him.

Usually, my classes are a lot more interactive, but I need to find out what their prior knowledge is on this topic. This is my first—year teaching at this school, and we are only two weeks in.

As I explain a question to one of the other pupils, my back is to Jake. I jump as a pencil flies past my shoulder and lands on the floor near the bin. I turn around and he's smirking at me.

'Don't start,' I warn him, and he grins, knowing I won't sanction him because my back was turned. I can't prove it was him.

I turn back to the pupil and continue explaining. I peek a quick glance over my shoulder and see Jake with a pencil raised in the air.

'If that leaves your hand, you leave this classroom,' I snap and he sighs, putting the pencil back down.

I'm relieved when the lesson ends without any more issues from Jake.

That evening, I pour myself a large glass of wine and sit down on my sofa with my laptop.

I break off from looking at the screen and survey the room around me. Unpacked boxes are strewn around the room, the floor is in great need of a hoover and littered with debris, the paint is peeling on the walls.

I accepted the job as a science teacher at Lockwood Academy a couple of months ago, eager to move out of the city I had grown up in.

I love my parents, don't get me wrong, but living with your parents at twenty—four is a struggle. They still treat me like I'm a teenager.

Axel and Grace Archer are as loved up as they have been my whole life. All I ever hear is, 'I bet you can't wait to have what your parents do' or 'I hope your mate treats you as good as your dad treats your mum'.

It's amazing that my parents are still so madly in love after years of being together, but that's what the mate bond does to you. It doesn't fade over time.

I just only wish that I will find my mate soon. My grandparents, Nate and Callie, didn't find each other until they were twenty—eight. My parents met in the sixth form. I'm six years over the age they met, still mateless and alone.

Two weeks ago, school started back after summer, and I have been settling in since. I have a new apartment that I really need to clean and make my own. I've been so busy with schoolwork that I haven't been bothered to work more when I get home.

This weekend, I resolve to go out and buy some supplies and do this place up.

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I groan and place my head on my desk.

Is it Friday yet

I hate Wednesdays, they drag so much. They particularly suck because I have Jake Lockwood last period. He's always more riled up in the last lesson, it's so hard to get him to focus.

As usual, Jake turns up 10 minutes after the late bell has rung.

I catch him up on the work we're doing and start explaining the topic I've detailed on the board. Jake talks continuously with his friend, and I give them both warnings.

I let the class start writing down the paragraph on the board and I circulate through the desks, checking their work.

A large snap makes everyone jump and I turn to see Jake has broken the ruler I gave him, in half.

'Jake, that was my ruler. I hope you're going to buy me a new one,' I say disapprovingly, but joking. He scoffs at me.

I turn my attention back to the other pupils, only to jump again when a loud bang echoes around the room. I glance over to see that Jake has thrown his book at the door.

'That's it. You were late, you've had a verbal and written warning, you've broken a ruler and now, you've thrown your book. You've got a break time detention tomorrow,' I scold him, and he glares at me.

'You can't do that! My father won't let you!' He protests and I walk over to him.

'Do not raise your voice at me, get on with your work,' I tell him and pick up his book from the floor. I place it back in front of him.

'I'm not doing your stupid work. Give me a detention, see if I care,' he sneers and crosses his arms over his chest.

'Bitch,' I hear him mumble under his breath and I see red.

'That's an after—school detention, now.'

I march over to the phone and dial pastoral.

'Hi, could someone come and collect Jake Lockwood from Lab 2 please Thank you,' I request and hang up.

Jake scowls and slings his bag over his shoulder.

'Whatever, I'm leaving anyway,' he mutters and skulks out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Well, that went well.

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'Honestly, you're going to die when you meet him, he's delicious.' Miss Aitken, the art teacher, fans herself with her hand dramatically.

'Stop it, Alana, you're fifteen years older than him,' Mr. Johnson, the Spanish teacher, reprimands her and she sticks her tongue out at him.

'Age is just a number sweetie.' She batters her lashes at him and laughs loudly. 'I'm joking, obviously, but a girl can look! Plus, he happens to be the best Alpha we've ever had.'

I sit back and listen to them talk about their Alpha Lockwood. His family has run this pack for the last six generations, that is why the school is named after them. I haven't met the Alpha yet, he was away when I was interviewed, I met the Beta instead. The Beta was a little older than me at twenty—eight, and very nice.

'Are you going to be okay tomorrow, India' Alana's voice draws my attention back to her.

'I'll be fine, I've got some fun activities for the rest to do,' I reply absentmindedly.

I wonder what their Alpha is like. My old Alpha is called Alpha Damien, he's a good man who looks after his pack.

I know that the Alpha of this pack is much younger than Alpha Damien. I don't know when I'll get to meet him, but I'm looking forward to it.

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