The Girl He Marked

Chapter 18

Callie's POV.

Nate stands behind me and rubs my swollen stomach.

'How is our little miracle doing in there' He asks and then pecks my cheek.

'They are kicking like mad; I don't know what's gotten into them today.'

'Maybe they're excited about the scan'

Today, Nate and I are at the clinic. We're going to find out the gender of the baby.

I'm thinking a boy and Nate is thinking a girl.

In all honesty, like most parents, we just want healthy.

The nurse comes in and I lie back on the lovely bed, exposing my stomach in anticipation of the cold

gel.

The nurse moves the ultrasound wand around a little, until he finds the best position. The fluttering

heartbeat fills our ears, making Nate and I grin like idiots.

'Okay, there they are. Good, strong heartbeat. Now, do we want to know the sex today'

Nate and I eagerly nod our heads.

'Yes!'

'Well, I'm pleased to tell you that you are having a boy.'

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'So, that's it We've actually managed to agree on a name' I talk to Nate on the phone.

I leave the shop and cross the road.

In the last seven months, Lexi has gotten so big that she's almost bursting and I'm mid—way through

my pregnancy.

Rixon is now much more accepting of Nate, he's bordering on being nice to him. I think it's the happy

hormones from being a father soon. Plus, he hasn't really got a choice, what with us being full mated

and expecting.

Ben has moved out of the big house that he was living in by himself. He's got an apartment in the

center of town and is loving all of the 'talent' he's finding at the local bars. I'm told that 'talent' is another

word for attractive women.

Honestly, I am praying for the day that boy meets his mate.

I'm working part—time in a bakery. Nate keeps trying to make me take maternity leave, but I enjoy

being on my feet.

Today has been particularly stressful though, and I've been feeling light—headed all afternoon. I called

Nate to ask him to come and pick me up, I don't feel safe driving.

With the phone wedged between my ear and my shoulder, I unlock my car and reach for my handbag.

'Yes, we actually agree on a name for once. We're calling him Axel.'

I'm unable to stop myself from smiling.

Axel Archer.

I can't wait to meet you.

I straighten up and grip the car as I experience another head—rush. I really need to eat some sugar.

'Hang up the phone.' A cold voice sounds behind me.

I freeze as I feel the hard barrel of a gun pressed against my lower back.

'Callie Who was that' Nate's worried voice comes down the phone.

'I said, hang up the fucking phone.'

The voice is harsher this time.

'Nate…' I say his name, my voice panicked. I quickly hang up the phone and the man behind me

snatches it from my hand.

'Walk towards the trees, appear calm and you won't get hurt. Do not scream for help, I will shoot.'

I swallow hard and shakily take a couple of steps. The man stays right behind me, his gun wedged

under the back of my ribs.

I look around but the street is empty. There is no one here to help me.

I pray that Nate gets here quickly. He's only a ten—minute drive away. I just have to distract the man

for ten minutes.

Stumbling a little, I step into the forest. He pushes me a couple of meters in, so that no one can see us

from the road.

He shoves me forwards and I catch myself before I fall. I turn around to face him, finally seeing his

appearance.

The man is in his mid—thirtiesearly—forties. He is wearing all black clothing and a hood, with the hood

up. His camo trousers are filled with pockets, which no doubt, are filled with weapons. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

He's a hunter.

'I've been watching you for the last two weeks, trying to work out if you are a shifter or not,' he muses

out loud.

The gun is aimed right at my chest, he's only a meter away.

'You haven't visited the pack territory at all. You don't live on it. Yet, your boyfriend goes there daily. I

wanted to kill him first, but I figured, the girlfriend and unborn baby is a much sweeter way of punishing

him.'

His words make me so angry.

'Punishing him for what He hasn't done anything!' I protest.

The hunter glares. 'Punishing him for existing. His kind is an abomination. I need to know if you are,

too. If you are a shifter, I will kill you and allow him to weep over your body. If not, you can go, but

obviously, I will need to end that half—breed life inside you.'

Tears pool in my eyes and spill down my face.

'What is wrong with you Have you no mercy This baby has done nothing to you,' I cry.

He sneers. 'It will grow up to be like one of them. They are not natural; they should never have been

put on this earth. Now, hold out your hand.'

He pulls a knife from his pocket, and I anxiously glance around.

Nate, where are you

He grabs my hand when I make no move to hold it up. He presses the blade to my flesh, making me

wince when he cuts into it.

He stares intently at the cut, waiting for it to heal.

My heart sinks as the wound instantly starts healing, the skin cells replicating and repairing themselves

before our eyes.

He slowly looks up at me and grins.

'Busted,' he whispers.

I yank my hand from his grip and take off running. My heart is pounding in my ears, but the gunshot

sound is unmissable.

I flinch and wait to feel pain, but there is none. I spin around and see the hunter and Nate fighting.

Nate.

I run back towards them. Nate is fighting to get the gun out of the hunter's hands.

Nate manages to knock the gun—free; it lands in the leaf litter on the ground. The hunter kicks Nate in

the chest, making him stumble backward.

He dives to the ground for a gun, but Nate grabs him and pulls him to his feet. They fight each other,

punching and grunting.

I reach them and grab the gun from the floor. Making sure the safety is off, I take a deep breath and

aim.

The two of them keep moving about, making it hard to get a clean shot. I wait patiently, trying to keep

my erratic heart rate low, so that I can shoot more accurately.

Nate punches the hunter, and he stumbles backward.

I don't hesitate.

I pull the trigger and the bullet cuts through the air. It goes straight through the hunter's neck, sending

blood everywhere. It lands at my feet, and I drop the gun in shock.

Nate comes running over to me.

'Callie Cal Are you okay Are you hurt at all How is the baby' His words come out in a rush as I collapse

into his arms.

I cry hysterically as he holds me.

'Baby, fine,' I manage to gasp.

Nate holds me tighter, and we sink to the ground together.

He cuddles me until I calm down. After a few minutes, my sobs fade, and I manage to get my breathing

under control.

Nate calls Alpha Damien, arranging for some pack members to come and dispose of the body.

He gently helps me to my feet, and he checks my body, seemingly satisfied when he finds no harm

done.

Nate ushers me over to his car, abandoned half on the pavement, half on the road. Once inside, he

gives me a kiss on my cheek.

'You're safe now, baby,' he says softly. 'Let's go home.'

The next part of the story will be about Nate and Callie's son, Axel.

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Part Two