Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 1

**Title: Healing Slowly But Surely By R. Joseph**

**Chapter 1: The Stain**

Leilani.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please!” My father’s voice resonated through the lavishly adorned hall, a forceful command that drew every eye to the front. He stood there, impeccably dressed in a navy blue Armani suit, a wine glass elegantly cradled in his hand, and a smile plastered across his face that seemed to shine as brightly as the chandeliers above.

And then came the devastating announcement.

“Today marks a momentous occasion as I proudly announce the engagement of my favorite person in the entire world. My golden girl, my only daughter, Chalice Blackthorne, to the future Alphas: Kael, Caelum, and Zevran Stormborn!”

In that instant, time froze. My heart felt as if it had ceased to exist, replaced by a deafening silence punctuated only by the ringing in my ears.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause, their excitement palpable in the air. Yet, beneath the surface of that jubilant noise, I could hear the mocking snickers and see the pitying glances cast my way by some of our pack members.

He had just declared Chalice, my twin sister, as his sole daughter. In front of everyone.

It was as if he had taken a knife and plunged it into my heart, revealing to the world just how insignificant I was in his eyes. The humiliation washed over me like a cold wave, a feeling more profound than any physical blow he had ever dealt.

This was not the same as the times he had struck me or when he had sided with Chalice during her wrongdoings. This was something entirely different. This was him, with a triumphant gleam in his eye, reminding me of my place— a place I had been acutely aware of since I was six years old.

At six, I had realized I was the flawed twin, with wild blonde hair and striking purple eyes, while the rest of my family boasted auburn locks and bright blue eyes.

By twelve, I had come to understand the fluttering sensation of a crush, and though I was young and perhaps naive, I couldn’t help but feel a deep affection for our Alpha’s triplet sons.

I adored the way their dark hair sparkled under the sun, how their dimples deepened with every smile they directed towards the world—though never towards me. I sensed their lingering glances, and deep down, I believed they felt something for me too.

Until Chalice stumbled upon my diary, that is. She uncovered my secret crush, and with her insatiable desire to possess everything I held dear, she befriended them.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when they gravitated towards her, just as everyone else did. But the sting of betrayal was sharp, a wound that refused to heal. It hurt more than I cared to admit when their gazes always seemed to seek her out, leaving me in the shadows.

But that was just the beginning.

At sixteen, Chalice shifted for the first time, her transformation marking a rite of passage I would never experience. And by eighteen, my inability to shift had labeled me as defective, weak, a curse upon my family’s pristine reputation.

My father, the power-hungry Beta, loathed me for it.

Was this announcement his twisted way of repaying me? A cruel reminder of the pain he had inflicted upon me time and time again?

Everyone in the pack was well aware of my infatuation with the triplets. My family knew it too. So why was he making such a public spectacle of their engagement to my twin, while completely disregarding my existence?

Why did he harbor such a deep-seated hatred for me?

First came the pain, a searing ache that settled in my chest, followed closely by a burning rage.

The blood rushed in my ears, drowning out the jubilant sounds around me, transforming them into a cacophony of white noise. Tears blurred my vision, but even as my heart ached and my limbs trembled, I stood tall, refusing to let them see me crumble, despite the mocking laughter that echoed around me.

The flashes of cameras from the paparazzi were relentless, capturing every moment of my humiliation.

Just when I thought my world couldn’t get any worse, the triplet Alphas made their grand entrance, strolling into the party with a confidence that radiated from them. They were wrapped around my sister, showering her with gifts, as if the day belonged solely to her, even though it was clearly our birthday.

They treated her like she was a rare jewel, a delicate piece of porcelain, as if she were the very essence of their existence.

Then Kael paused, inhaling deeply, his expression shifting as he caught a scent that altered the atmosphere in the room.

The hall fell silent. An air of tension hung heavy, and I could feel everyone’s eyes widen in anticipation.

Zevran followed suit, taking in a deep breath, and soon Caelum mirrored their actions.

My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage as they moved through the hall like predators on the hunt, sniffing the air, their gazes darting around until they finally landed on me.

And then, in a moment that felt straight out of a nightmare, their eyes turned dark, filled with a primal instinct.

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