The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

I can feel myself already getting calmer by being near her. Her scent alone is satiating my wolf.

I look up at her, watching her chest rise and fall with each labored breath. Her fingers are white with the tight grip they have on the hay bales behind her.

'Grace, I need you to remain calm,' Rory calmly orders from behind me. 'If you run, it will make him want to chase you. So please, stay put.'

Grace looks between me and Rory, her eyes wide and frantic.

'Why is a wolf chasing me' She asks, her voice a breathless whisper.

'That wolf…is Axel,' Rory answers. I can hear the hesitation in her voice. 'He is a werewolf.'

Grace lets out a small, humorless laugh. I think she might be getting hysterical.

I'm doing everything I can to hold my wolf back. I'm trying to keep him focused on the fact that our mate is here, in front of us, unharmed.

'I know it sounds crazy, but that is Axel, and he isn't going to hurt you.'

Grace's brows knit together, and her mouth opens and closes a few times, nothing coming out.

She looks down at me, staring into my eyes. In my wolf form, my eyes are the only human thing that remains.

She gasps loudly as realization dawns on her. She can tell it is me from my eyes.

'Axel' She whispers.

I nod my big head and take a step towards her. I nudge her leg with my nose. She squeaks in surprise and steps to the side, away from me.

That panics my wolf. He worries that she is trying to escape. I shift back into my human form and grab her.

I wrap my arms around her waist and press her to my body in a bone—crushing grip. Pinned between me and the bales, trapped in my arms, she has nowhere to go.

'Rory!' Grace cries, trying to wriggle out of my grip.

I growl loudly and she stills instantly, her body freezing. I bury my face in her neck and inhale deeply, trying to calm myself with her scent.

'Don't fight him, Grace,' Rory warns her. 'You'll make it worse. Don't move, just let him hold you.'

Grace nods frantically. 'But I can't breathe!' She gasps.

Rory is suddenly behind me; I can feel her near.

'Axel,' she says softly. 'You're hurting your mate. You need to let go a little.'

I growl at her, not liking that idea one bit. She is my mate; I am not letting her go.

'Just loosen your grip, you are hurting her. Do you hear me You are hurting your mate.'

Guilt floods through me. I loosen my grip on Grace, but don't let go. She takes a deep breath and relaxes a little in my arms.

'Thank you,' Grace whispers to Rory.

The three of us stay like that for a moment. No one says a word. I listen to Grace's heartbeat thumping steadily in my ear.

'Ror What's going on' Xaden's voice calls out.

I growl and hold Grace tighter again, nuzzling my face into her neck. She tenses up against my touch.

'Don't scare him,' Rory hisses. 'Find some clothes for us, Xaden. I'm fucking freezing.'

Rory turns her attention back to us again.

'I promise you that we will explain everything. We will answer every question you have. But right now, we need to be very careful. It's a full moon and Axel doesn't have control of his body, his wolf does,' Rory explains slowly.

'His wolf' Grace whispers.

'Yes, it's part of him and usually, it's under control. Not tonight. His wolf wants to mark you, which would turn you into one of us, which I don't think you're ready for yet.'

Grace shakes her head vehemently, her body quaking at the idea.

'So, you need to stay still. If Axel thinks you're trying to leave or we're trying to take you away from him, he will mark you. Stay still and let him hold you. It might be better if you touch him.'

'Touch him' Grace's voice sounds small and scared.

I nuzzle my face into her neck again and she lets out a quiet giggle.

'That tickles,' she murmurs.

I do it again.

'Yes, your touch calms him. Just hug him back and it should help.'

Hesitantly, Grace releases her grip on the hay bales and wraps her arms around my body. I relax into her touch and sigh contently.