The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

Finlay, Luke and Nick join us outside, pulling up garden chairs. They're all shifters that are part of our pack and our friendship group. They're the ones we sit with each day at lunch and Grace gets on with them.

Speaking of my shy, human mate, she is certainly more confident when she has been drinking.

She has finished two drinks and is on her second vodka—lemonade. She joins in with the conversation, her eyes bright and her smile wide. It's great to see her so happy and relaxed.

A couple of girls from our year come over and join the group. I tense up as Harriet joins us, we had a thing last year. Well, not really a thing. We slept together. Twice. That's it.

She looks over at me and I pointedly place my hand on Grace's thigh. She gives me an almost imperceptible nod and looks away.

The good thing about Harriet She's chilled. If you're with someone else, she backs off.

'Seeing as there's now ten of us, how about we play some drinking games' Finlay suggest and everyone nods and cheers in agreement.

'Okay, what do we want to play' Luke asks. 'Never have I ever'

Everyone seems to be happy with that, so we fill up our drinks and get comfortable. I keep my hand on Grace's thigh, and she subtly places her hand over mine, squeezing it.

'Rory, you go first,' Luke says, winking at her.

She scowls back at him. They hooked up at a party last year, only kissing, and she still complains about how much she regrets it. Luke never lets her forget it.

'Fine. Never have I ever…got drunk and kissed an asshole at a party. Oh, wait, you're supposed to say things you haven't done, aren't you' She gives Luke a pointed look whilst people call out 'ooh's and 'burn'.

A couple of people drink myself included. Grace raises an eyebrow in a silent question.

'Xaden,' I tell her, and she bursts out laughing. 'It was a dare, we were drunk.'

'Alright, Xaden, your turn.'

Harriet snorts. 'There's nothing he hasn't done.'

Xaden shrugs, not offended by the jab.

'Um, never have I ever…had sex in my parent's bed,' he says and then his eyes widen. 'Fuck, I remembered, I have done it!'

'Ew, man, that's fucked up,' Finlay comments. 'Why'd you do that'

Xaden shrugs. 'We'd had a fight the night before and they'd pissed me off, the best way to get revenge.'

'You're weird,' Nick says and then looks around. 'Guess it's me next. Uh, never have I ever had a threesome.'

Xaden is the only one who drinks.

Luke is next. 'Never have I ever had sex.'

Everyone drinks except Luke, Rory and Grace. Believe it or not, for all his bravado and cockiness, Luke is saving himself for his mate. I respect that and I wish I had been more mature like him.

'Okay, new rule,' Finlay announces before Harriet can have her turn. 'For those of you innocent angels who are going to get away with not drinking; everyone has to drink every time that Grace blushes.'

My lips part in surprise and all eyes turn to Grace. Her face heats up straight away and she glares at Finlay.

'Finn! Why are you attacking me like that' She protests but laughs at the end.

He shrugs. 'Sorry, Strawberries, but we need you to drink.'

A low growl leaves my throat and I quickly muffle it with a cough. Grace gives me a funny look and I glare at Finlay.

'Only I get to call her that, asshole,' I warn him, and he puts his hands up in surrender.

Everyone takes a sip because my baby is the color of a strawberry. Harriet has her go, saying she has never kissed someone of the same sex.

Xaden and I have to drink, obviously, after that fateful dare. To my surprise, Grace drinks, too. I give her a quizzical look and she shrugs.

'Friend, dare. Much like you and Xaden,' she explains, smirking at me.

I like confident Grace; I like her a lot.

We play a couple of more rounds and then we have to break off to refill our drinks.

I grab another beer for Xaden and me, whilst Rory makes drinks for herself and Grace. I watch her pouring the alcohol into the cups.

'Watch it, Ror,' I tell her. 'Stop trying to get my girl drunk.'

Grace grins from beside her. 'Your girl' She asks.

The smile drops from my face as panic fills me. Shit. I said that out loud.

I clear my throat awkwardly. 'Well, uh, you know what I mean—'

Grace cuts me off with a kiss on my cheek.

'I like it,' she says over the music, leaning on her tiptoes to reach my ear.

We go back outside and this time, I pull Grace onto my lap, wanting to keep in contact.

She doesn't complain and snuggles into my side.

The angle makes her dress ride up a bit and I place my hand on her thigh possessively. She shivers and I notice goose—bumps appear on her legs.

'Are you cold' I ask her, instinctively leaning forward to grab my hoodie from the back of the chair.