All Chapters of Betrayal at the Marking Ceremony: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

After the date of my departure was confirmed, I stood in the empty ceremonial hall, feeling nothing but a deep sadness.All the guests had left, yet George and Frendo still had not returned.For the first time, I truly felt how alone I was.Actually, my biological parents found me three years ago.However, because I could not bear to leave the Sliver Lake Pack, could not bear to leave Frendo and George, I refused their offer to bring me home.I had firmly told my biological parents that I was not lonely in the Sliver Lake Pack.I had Frendo and George, who had grown up with me.When my mother learned I refused to come home, she cried and said, "Lena, I know you can't bear to leave them. It's okay, we'll wait for you. We'll love you forever. No matter if you choose to stay there or come back home, we will respect your choice. We just hope you'll always be happy. Our home will always be open for you."Hearing her choked-up voice made my eyes brim with tears too.Going back to my

Chapter 2

When my parents learned that I was coming home, they sounded genuinely surprised and delighted.Because I had been so firm in my refusal before, they asked me again over the phone, "Lena, have you really made up your mind?"The ceremony hall was empty. I was the only one left.I wiped away my tears as I looked out at the darkening sky."Yes," I said, "I still need three more days to take care of some final matters here.""Alright. Your brothers have been so good to you. Make sure you say goodbye properly. And remember, your father and I love you. We will always be your strongest support."After ending the call, my eyes turned red again.George and Frendo had once said the same thing to me too.Back then, when I was adopted by George's mother, I had hidden behind her, trembling, as I stared at the two unfamiliar boys.George and Frendo exchanged a glance, then stretched out their hands toward me at the same time. "Don't be afraid, Lena. From now on, we're your family. We'll be

Chapter 3

George and Frendo shielded Lily defensively as if afraid I might say something that would hurt her.I looked at Lily's smug expression. It was exactly the same as it had been a year ago.She had actually lived with us once before. Back then, she said she was all alone and begged us to let her stay.Feeling sorry for her, I agreed.After she moved in, though, her behavior worsened. She not only stole my belongings but also secretly wore my clothes.One night, she even pretended to be drunk and stumbled into Frendo's room, throwing herself into his arms.I had been furious for the first time, pulling her away from Frendo.It was me who got shoved to the ground by Frendo.He had yelled at me, "How can your thoughts be so dirty? Lily has no family. She just sees George and me as her big brothers! You've had George and me loving you since you were a child, and she hasn't! She's suffered so much growing up! You and Lily have lived through similar things, and you're older than her. Wh

Chapter 4

Before leaving the Sliver Lake Pack, there was only one person I wanted to see.After saying goodbye to her, I would be able to leave without any regrets."Mom, I'm leaving the pack. I'm sorry I couldn't become George's mate."At the mountaintop cemetery, I brushed the dust off the tombstone and placed a bouquet of tulips on my adoptive mother Selena's grave. Tulips were, after all, her favorite.Every year on this day, I would visit Selena, the woman who had been both George's and my mother.Unfortunately, this year, I was the only one who came.Before setting out, I had seen Lily's latest Instagram post.It was taken at a fancy restaurant. Though only the dishes were shown, I could tell from the details that sitting across from Lily were George and Frendo.They were celebrating Lily's return to the Sliver Lake Pack.Thinking of that, I pressed my lips together, then turned to head back down the mountain path."Sweetheart, happy nineteenth birthday."I received blessings fr

Chapter 5

I was sweating from the pain, on the verge of fainting.When I looked at them, my eyes were filled only with despair.In their hearts, my entire mangled leg was not even worth as much as a patch of scraped, bleeding skin on Lily. Even the werewolf guards cared more about me than they did."Alpha Frendo! We managed to borrow a potion from another tribe! Hurry, let's get Lena treated!" The guards came running, drenched in sweat, handing over another vial of the silver-reversal potion."Lena, I..." George took the potion and looked at me with guilt.I turned my face away, ignoring his attempt at an apology.His slap shattered whatever bond of family we once had. I owed him nothing anymore.When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Frendo standing by my hospital bed, his brows tightly furrowed.He did not even ask about my condition.The first thing he said was a cold accusation, "Lily has a scar on her leg now. If you hadn't pushed her, none of this would have happened. If you're

Chapter 6

George snatched the invitation and glanced at it with a surprised expression. "Them sharing the same name is probably just a coincidence. The Black family's youngest daughter has been studying abroad all this time. Her birthday isn't the same as Lena's either. It can't possibly be her."Besides, the Sliver Lake Pack has made quite a name for itself. If Lena's real parents were still alive, they would've come to reclaim her the moment they found out."Frendo nodded and mustered a small smile.He agreed with George's reasoning, but for some reason, an uneasy feeling lingered deep in his heart.Meanwhile, at the Stormheim Pack, I was living a brand-new life with my real family.Staring at the dining table piled high with precious herbs and all kinds of food, I felt rather overwhelmed. "Dad, this is way too much...""It's not too much at all! Your leg's still injured, we have to make sure you heal properly!"Just then, my mom walked out holding a cake. "Lena, your birthday is coming

Chapter 7

Of course, I did not wear that puffy pink dress to my banquet.Mom spent hours with me, helping me pick out the gown that suited me best. She even adorned my neck and wrists with heirloom jewelry from the Black family.Satisfied with the final look, she took my hand and led me to where Dad and Layne, already dressed in their formalwear, were waiting.The moment they saw me, both of them froze, speechless by how I looked."Oh, sweetheart. You'll be the only moon shining at tonight's banquet," praised Dad warmly, his voice filled with pride.Layne, snapping out of his daze, then grumbled about his best friend's sense of fashion.Before the banquet officially began, I also met my brother's legendary 'pink-loving' friend, Ryan.The very first time he laid eyes on me, the young and handsome werewolf seemed like he had been struck by lightning, standing there utterly frozen."I… I'm sorry... When your brother, that big lug, told me you were bullied, he got so worked up that his eyes

Chapter 8

In just a blink, my parents, closely watching my emotions, led me to the host's seat.Frendo looked utterly stunned, his face even paler than paper."That girl… she looks just like Lena! Could it be...""No way! She's the Black family's youngest daughter!"George shook his head furiously, as if trying to convince himself."Lena only has me! I'm Lena's only family!"When the banquet officially began, surrounded by my proud parents and brother, I stepped up onto the high platform.My father, beaming with pride, began introducing my name and identity."She's not!""I don't agree!"Before he could finish, George and Frendo shouted out from below, their voices echoing through the hall.Every gaze turned toward them.My parents' expressions immediately darkened.Although I had not spoken much about my past grievances, my attentive parents easily uncovered everything that had happened to me at the Sliver Lake Pack, including what led to my foot injury.They had held back their a

Chapter 9

Ryan suddenly stood up, raised his hand high, and charged onto the stage to confront Frendo. "A true mate would never care about a single scar, a wound, or a past that was never your fault to begin with. So, I'm willing."When he turned to look at me, he blushed slightly and lowered his hand awkwardly. "Of course... only if Lena is willing."I thought…If only this had been his pickup line earlier, it would have been perfect.In that instant, many of the single male wolves in the audience also stood up one after another, declaring that they were willing too.Layne, still shielding me protectively, could not help but raise his hand and give his best friend a big, proud bump.He strode over to stand before the completely defeated Frendo, wearing an expression more smug than I had ever seen."My sister has always been the princess of the Black family. She doesn't need the so-called love of some tiny pack. And you? My sister doesn't pick up trash."He scooped me up into his arms, r

Chapter 10

Inside the crystal ball Layne had thrown at George and Frendo were all the pieces of evidence exposing Lily's lies.Surrounded by a swirl of purple mist, the images clearly showed Lily faking Wolfsbane poisoning, setting up the silver mine trap to drag me in, and even provoking me while she was clad in seductive pajamas.It was only then that George and Frendo finally realized that the one who had been jealous all along was not me.It was Lily."That wasn't me! It was Lena! Lena's jealous of how much you loved me! She made up these images to trick you into pitying her!" Lily screamed desperately."You're still trying to frame her?!" Frendo looked at Lily's shrieking face and only felt disgust rising in him. "If she didn't want to come back, if she didn't want me or George anymore, what would she even be jealous of?"Because of this cruel woman, he had lost the mate he had loved and protected since childhood.George, acting decisively, banished Lily from the Sliver Lake Pack.Af

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