The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

I pull on my hoodie, grab my backpack and jog down the stairs. I come into the kitchen to get some breakfast and find my parents practically eating each other's faces off.

'What the fuck,' I curse as I spot them.

They pull away and my mum gives me a sheepish look, whilst Dad smirks.

'Sorry, Axel,' Mum apologizes. 'But no swearing!'

I roll my eyes and she hands me an apple. I shove it into my bag.

'I'm off, see you later,' I call over my shoulder.

I snatch my keys from the side and dash out to my car. I'm going to be late already and it's the first day back from summer break.

Great.

My parents are as loved up as the day they met, or so I'm told. They both had to wait for twenty—eight years to meet each other. I hope I don't have to wait that long.

I'm seventeen, eighteen in four months, which means I've already had nearly two years of being able to find her. Most shifters meet their mates within the first five years after turning sixteen.

Xaden, my best mate and cousin, is waiting next to my parking spot. I pull and cut the engine.

'Morning, bro,' he greets me.

I give him a half—hug and slap him on the back.

His parents are Lexi and Rixon, his dad is my mum's brother. We've always been close, especially since we were only born four months apart.

'Damn, there are some fine new girls joining the school,' Xaden comments appreciatively.

I roll my eyes.

I went through the whole obsessed with girls thing last year. This year, I'm so over it and I'm ready to meet my mate.

Xaden Not so much.

His only goal is to get into a girl's underwear. I have no idea where the player gene came from, cause his parents are as loved up as mine.

Mind you, I'm an only child, which means I get all the attention (which I hate sometimes). Xaden is the oldest of four, which means he doesn't get as much attention off of his parents.

If you ask me, he sleeps with lots of girls to try and feel wanted for once. But he's too scared to let any of them get close to him.

It's your classic man—whore complex.

But he's my best friend, so I stand by him despite his promiscuous ways.

'Who's she She's fit as fuck,' Xaden's running commentary of the new students breaks through my thoughts.

I follow his gaze and shrug. Okay, this time, I might actually have to agree with him.

The girl is beautiful.

Definitely a newbie, and a human. You can tell straight away because she's much shorter than the rest of us, she's only about 53.

She's adorable. Her long red hair is tied up high on her head, the strands almost touch her perfect ass.

She's wearing a short, pleated skirt and a jumper. She's both hot and cute at the same time.

'She would be a challenge, I'm sure of it.'

Xaden's words make me snap out of it and I shove him.

'The fuck, man' He asks angrily.

'Don't talk about her like that,' I tell him.

I don't know where this anger has come from, but I know that girl is way too good for him. I don't want him going anywhere near her.

He holds his hands up in defense.

'I get it, alright You called dibs.'

I open my mouth to tell him that I haven't called dibs, but then I close it. I like the sound of that, and I want Xaden away from her.

During form time, Xaden decides to list the new girls he's seen so far. He's counted four already, so that's him busy for at least a month.

I don't understand it. The girls he sleeps with must talk to each other, so why don't they warn each other to stay away from him

I think they each think that they can change him. They romanticize his behavior and want to be the one who finally makes Xaden Moretti settle down.

Annoyingly, his dickhead behavior of pursuing them until he gets sex, and then cutting them off, means that a lot of them come running to me for advice. Or comfort.

I didn't mind at first. I used to get Xaden's leftovers, or better yet, my own first's. I'm not exactly unattractive and Xaden and I are the strongest in school.