The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 4

India's POV.

Fast forward a week and things have become even better with Jake. He isn't a star student in my lessons, but he isn't getting himself kicked out, either.

He doesn't try and throw things or swear at me. He sits sullenly and does the work. I treat him like I would any other student and don't embarrass him by letting the world know I'm fucking his dad.

Family wise, things are mostly good. But I'm a bit worried about my twin cousins; Phoebe and Paige. They are Auntie Noelle and Uncle Xaden's daughters.

They've been arguing a lot recently. Phoebe recently split from an Alpha who kind of controlled everything she did. I know she's been in bad headspace about it. I really need to call her.

Things are perfect at home. Sebastian encouraged me to add my own touches to the house and gave me free rein to redecorate our bedroom. I went a bit nuts and he drew the line after I put the fifth throw pillow.

Rian finds our silly bickering about throw pillows hilarious. I can't wait until he finds his mate and he suddenly understands exactly what I'm talking about.

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Rian's POV.

'I'll call you later on, okay I'm driving,' I reply loudly enough that my phone can pick up my reply. It's sat in the hands—free holder.

'Okay, darling. Just remember you're coming round for dinner tomorrow, you promised.'

I roll my eyes and shift gears. 'Yeah, Mum, I remember.'

'Good. Speak to you later, Ri.'

'Bye, Mum.'

I end the call and turn my full attention back to the road. I curse under my breath and slam my foot down on my brake as a blue Corsa comes flying around the corner.

There's the horrible sound of metal crunching against metal. The front of my car slams into hers and I screech to a stop. I'm jolted backward in my chair, the seatbelt winding me.

As the seconds pass, my brain catches up to the fender—bender I've just had. I manage to get my mind in gear again. I turn off the car's engine and unbuckle my seatbelt.

I open my door and step out, tentatively feeling my body. No damage, I'm okay, just a bit shaken.

The blue Corsa is crumpled at the front, but the damage looks superficial. I rush over to the driver's side of the blue car and knock on the window.

A beautiful woman is behind the wheel, her hands shaking on her lap. I open the car door and she flinches.

'Miss Are you alright' I ask gently.

She looks up at me with wide green eyes and nods.

'Yes. Yes, I'm okay. Gosh, I'm so sorry. Are you alright' She asks hurriedly and gets out of the car.

I scan my eyes over her body, trying to ignore her luscious curves and focus on looking at her body in a purely medical mindset. She doesn't appear injured, thank Goddess.

'I'm fine. Are you sure that you're not hurt'

She shakes her head. 'Yes. I'm sorry, my tire burst back there, and I lost control of my car.'

I'm trying to concentrate on what she is saying, but it is hard to focus right now. My entire body is drawn to hers. My hands are in fists at my sides to stop myself from reaching out to touch her.

My heart is beating a mile a minute in my chest, and it is nothing to do with the adrenaline from the car crash.

It is everything to do with the fact that the black—haired beauty who has hit my car…is my mate.

She stops talking and stares at me. At first, she looks wary and vaguely concerned by my staring. A breeze hits me and travels downwind to her. She catches my scent, and her reaction is instantaneous.

Her eyes widen and her pupils dilate. She straightens her shoulders, tensing up, and her full lips part in surprise.

'What's your name' I ask her, still studying her face.

She's so beautiful.

'Adriana,' she replies softly. 'What's yours'

'Rian.'

There's this short moment of silence, where we just stare into each other's eyes.

Her car makes a hissing noise, making us both jump.

'I guess I should call for services,' she says, gesturing at her steaming car.

'Let me,' I tell her.

I retrieve my phone from my car and unlock it. I pull up the number of my breakdown and car insurance company and give them a call. I briefly explained what happened and where we are.

It's late on a Sunday afternoon and oddly, they're having a busy day. Seeing as we're not in any danger and the cars are only superficially damaged, it will be two hours before they can get out to us.

I tell Adriana and she grimaces. We discuss the idea of getting picked up by family members, but we're both reluctant to leave our cars. Two hours isn't that long to wait.

She turns to the cars and gestures at them.

'We should try and move them off the road. We're blocking it,' she says.

We both get back into our vehicles and attempt to start our engines. I'm relieved when mine turns on without a hitch. Adriana's does, too. I reverse backward and pull over on the grass verge bordering the road.

Adriana pulls up behind me. I cut the engine and climb out. I walk over to where the debris is and pick up the large pieces that might damage someone else's car if they drive past.

It's unlikely, though. I use this road as a shortcut home from work, I rarely see other cars on it. Adriana helps me and we put the pieces in my trunk for me to dispose of later.

'So, I guess we have some time to get to know each other, then,' she comments warmly. 'Do you want to sit in my car'

I accept her offer and get into the passenger seat. The vehicle smells of sweet citruses, like blood oranges. It smells just like her. I'm addicted to her scent already.

We sit in her car and talk for almost an hour. I tell her about my life, my job, my family. I find out that she is a lawyer that lives in a city about an hour away from here. She was visiting a client and was on her way home.

She has two brothers and two sisters. Her family still lives on the same pack territory that she grew up on. She is the youngest of her siblings and the last to find her mate.

I'm relieved to find out that she is a shifter. I've heard all about the lengths my dad, Axel, had to go to, to woo my mum, Grace. She knew nothing of our kind, and he had to be careful around her.

Luckily, I won't have to keep any secrets from Adriana.

I consider calling my parents and telling them about the accident and finding my mate, but my mum will probably make me put Adriana on the phone. She's already been so overly excited since India found her mate; I don't want to set her off again.

Adriana checks her watch and then looks coyly at me.

'We still have over an hour. Do you want to get to know each other a little better in the back of my car'

The sultry tone of her voice paired with her sexy smirk and lust—filled eyes sends me crazy. My cock is instantly hard in my jeans.

'Are you sure' I ask her.

She rolls her eyes and grins at me.

'Of course. You're my mate. Do you have any idea how long I've waited to meet you' She retorts emphatically. 'Twelve years. Since I turned sixteen.'

She leans forward over the console. Her eyes drop to my lips and then back up to my eyes again.

'Twelve years is a long time, Rian.'

I smirk back at her. 'Yes, it is.'

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