My Mate Replaced Me On Marking Ceremony Novels & Stories

he restated. “Neither man is anything to me. My mate is sitting behind the prosecutor, and I have no uncle,” I responded. He looked at me in surprise, “You are trying to suggest that the man who marked you at your ceremony is not your mate?” he asked. “I am not suggesting it, I am stating it as a fact,” I stated.

Rhea laughed. Wait, what? Marking ceremony is one of a kind where the alpha marks his mate in front of his people, laying his claim. Then I remembered his words yesterday when he said he would host a banquet. So this was what he meant. I personally didn't know how to feel about this. I managed to muster a smile as I rose from the bed. The girls were happy, and I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere so I played along. I had my bath, and now they sat me in front of the mirror, working on my hair and makeup.

I’m not doing it willingly. [Why aren’t you replying? It’s our marking ceremony tomorrow. It’ll be held in church. All the werewolves in the pack will attend it. Don’t be late.] On the day of Monica’s funeral, Sophia picked me up as promised. Bodyguards then escorted me as I left the pack I had lived in for more than twenty years. Meanwhile, Randy kept sending me messages. [Where are you, Emma? I’m already at the church entrance.] [Why does it look like a funeral?! This is my marking ceremony, the wedding my mother has been looking forward to!]

The family and mate I had chosen abandoned me when I needed them most. Left alone at the ceremony, even though my heart was exhausted and breaking, I had no choice but to put on a strong front, facing the curious and concerned gazes of the guests. Every second felt like sheer agony, yet George and Frendo still did not return. There was not even a text. They had cut off the link, and I could not reach them. "Why would Alpha Frendo and Beta George leave Lena at such an important moment? Did something serious happen?" "For a werewolf, what could be more important than a Marking Ceremony? I bet Lena must've done something wrong to make Alpha Frendo angry, regretting the mate bond."

Someone said. "You all will be given a mark after submitting the results in two days. I wish y'all good luck with your partners." He concluded by walking away from the class with a text book and the class turned into a talking palace where everyone shared their concern. "I'm so jealous of you Keith." I heard Mark say. "You can just leave all the work to Matthew while you relax." He added in, and Darren, who already got to his seat, laughed.

The marking ceremony took place that afternoon in the sacred clearing, under the full moon that still hung low in the sky. The pack gathered around the stone altar, watching with respect and awe as Asher and Luna stood in the center of the clearing. Luna wore a simple white dress that fell to her knees, and Asher wore his formal black suit with silver embroidery. Elder Thomas stood before them, his white beard flowing down to his chest and his walking stick resting against his knee. “Alpha Asher Blackwood, Luna Monroe,” Elder Thomas said quietly but firmly, his voice carrying to every corner of the clearing. “Are you ready to complete the mate bond?”

When we went back to finish the ceremony, it felt very hollow like something important had already ended, and everything after was just noise, trying to pretend it still mattered. The drums resumed, but it was weaker. The singing followed, but without the same fire and excitement. Even the cheers felt forced. That howl had cut through everything, and it hadn’t left me. When it came time to complete the final step, which was marking my chosen mate, I stepped back because marking my mate was something special and important. I couldn't do it to someone I didn't love and wasn't actually my mate.

He gripped my hand tightly, his eyes full of protectiveness. "Are you okay?" he whispered. "I’m perfect," I answered truthfully. "Let's finish the ceremony." Cade placed the sacred mark on my neck once more, and a warmth instantly flooded my entire body. The guests broke into cheers, celebrating our union as permanent mates. Behind us, Damien let out a piercing wail of agony, but it was quickly drowned out by the crashing waves and the music. I didn't look back. I knew that the story of the past was finally over.

There, the ancient bond marking us as mates glowed brilliantly with a dark golden light, pulsing in time with our heartbeats. “This,” I said calmly, “is the mate who performed the marking ceremony with me, Lucas.” When Derek saw the mark, the expression on his face shifted from shock to ashen disbelief and finally to utter emptiness.

KIARA I took a deep breath as I entered the same venue as last night. This time I felt a thousand times different. There was no excitement, but a deep pain in my chest. My mate was going to mark someone else tonight. That had been another slap in the face, but on the way here, Mom had mentioned how the council seemed to want the marking done today too. Dad and I both hadn't told her about my mate. First of all, I didn’t get the chance as she and Dad had practically jumped each other the moment Mom walked on to pack grounds, and then Raihana had helped me get ready.