All Chapters of MARKED BY DECEPTION : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

76 Chapters

Chapter 1: POWER

☆☆LILA ☆☆ I enter the boardroom for the first time since my father’s funeral. This place used to feel like home, every time I brought him food, everytime I came to see him. The memories rush on me. But I won’t cry. Not now. His seat at the head of the table remains empty. Most of the board members greet me. Some offer polite nods, others looked at me with sympathy in their eyes. But the atmosphere was thick with tension. Jackson, the chairperson speaks first. “Let’s observe a moment of silence in honor of Leo Moretti.” We bow our heads. A minute passes. The silence is heavier than any words. Jackson straightens, clearing his throat before speaking. “We wanted to inform you before the official statement goes out.” He pauses and look at me. “The investigation into your father’s death has been officially closed. The suspect, Rowan Blackwood, was not found guilty. There will be no further action.” “What?” I stood up immediately, my chair screeching back. “Miss Moretti—”

Chapter 2: Legacies

☆☆LILA☆☆ He hands me a small evidence bag. Inside is a chain, my father's chain. “It was found in your father’s car. I thought you might want it.” “ oh “ I said, my shoulders dropping. A wave of disappointment washed over me. I had been hoping for something more. Something that could change everything. I clutched the chain tightly, as if I were holding a piece of him. For a moment, something strange flickered through me. Then I remembered the detective was still standing there. “Thank you,” I said softly. “It means a lot.” He nodded. “I figured it might.” “I thought it got lost with his ring,” I murmured, looking at the chain. “His ring?” His brow furrowed in confusion. “Yeah... My father always wore his wedding ring. Even after my mother died.” “Oh. It must havee fallen off, I guess.” “Yeah. It must have…” I hesitated, before asking, “Detective, if it’s not too much to ask... are you sure Rowan is innocent? It’s only been a month. More evidence could come up an

Chapter 3: Old friends and Foes

☆☆LILA☆☆ "Theodore-fucking-Marcellus " Everyone turned to me, every pair of eyes found mine like they were all waiting waiting for my reaction. Of course they'd choose him Out of everyone they could have chosen for the position they choose him. This explains why Zio did not want to tell me Jackson was the first to recover. He cleared his throat loudly and smiled to Theo “Let’s give a warm welcome to Theodore Marcellus our new Executive Chairman.” There it was. Everyone was clapping. But I just stood there unmoving Theo stepped forward, in his tailored navy suit, confidence radiating off him. “Thank you,” he began, “It’s an honour to be trusted with this position. Leo Moretti was a visionary. I intend to carry that vision forward with integrity, and decipline taking The Moretti Empire towards greater heights.” My father’s name in his mouth made me want to scream. “I’m grateful to the board for this opportunity,” he continued. “And I look forward to earning your trust.”

Chapter 4: Apperances

☆☆LILA☆☆ “Lila,” Zio’s voice broke through the silence of the study, low but firm. “Sit down.” I did, reluctantly. It was weird for Zio to address me in his study, but I knew why. My fingers fiddled with the hem of my sleeve like I was a child again, waiting to be scolded. He sighed tiredly, then looked at me, he looked so tired he did not look like the man who used to sneak me pastries when Dad wasn’t looking. That felt like a lifetime ago. “You can’t keep doing this,” he said quietly. “The clubs. Drinking and partying recklessly.” I swallowed, my jaw tight. “I’m sorry.” “I know you are.” His eyes softened. “God, Lila. I miss him too. But grief doesn’t give you the right to burn down everything he built.” I flinched at that. He noticed, and immediately his voice softened again. “I don’t mean to sound cruel. I’m worried about you. You know how they see you. I don't want you to be affected by them ” “ The board doesn’t matter.” “They do now,” he said, sitting forward. “

Chapter 5: True colours

☆☆LILA☆☆ I woke up with a pounding headache, my whole body was aching me. I tried to sit up, but my hands were tied behind me. Panic surged in my chest as I looked at my surroundings. I pulled the ropes, but they were too tight. My legs, at least, were free. I looked around me, I was in a room, there was only a single narrow bed around the corner and a water dispenser My hand starts trembling as the reality of my situation slammed into me. It was getting hard to breathe. My back pressed against the wall. I tried to lose my hand again, but was all in vain My mind raced. The drink. That girl. But I didn't take the drink from he-- The door clicked open. I closed my eyes immediately and let my body go limp, pretending to be unconsciousness, heavy footsteps moved closer to me "What kind of drug did you put in her drink, Emma? She is still unconscious, " he said with his thick Italian accent A soft footstep followed "That's weird, she should have woken up by now", that voi

Chapter 6: The weight of the truth

☆☆LILA☆☆ He kept snapping his fangs at the wolf until the animal gave a furious snarl and ran into the trees. I stood frozen, my whole body trembling. He turned to me , his eyes had turned gold. The air left me in a ragged rush. “W-What are you?” I forced the words out. He stepped toward me slowly, palms open. “Lila, please—” “Stay away!” I gasped and took a step back. “Don’t come near me.” Before he could move, I turned and ran. His footsteps were behind me. “I’m not going to hurt you, Lila. Just please wait and listen.” Liar. A big liar. The wolves wanted me dead for reasons I couldn’t begin to understand. His hand closed on my arm, hard. He pulled me back. I screamed and thrashed. “Let me go! Let me go, you monster!” “Lila, please listen to me ” he begged. For a second I stopped. But I couldn’t forget what I had just witnessed. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes. “You’re like them.” My voice broke. “You’re a monster.” Pain flickered across his face. “I w

Chapter 7: The Layers of power

☆☆LILA☆☆The next morning, I adjusted my top carefully, trying to calm my nerves even though my stomach felt like it was being twisted into knots. I look around the room for any sign of Zio before seeing Nanny Rosa coming out of the kitchen with her apron on.“Where is Zio ?” I asked her as I adjusted the sleeves of my blouse. She paused for a minute. “He hasn’t come home yet,” she said finally, her voice laced with concern but she didn’t look at me, and that alone told me enough. Before I could ask her questions a knock sounded. She opened the door to find Theo waiting at the door “Ready?” His tone was flat, unreadable, but something about it said I didn’t have a choice.The ride to the pack house was longer than anything. I kept imagining what the place would look like, would it be like the one in the movies surrounded with stone walls, wolfish carvings, flickering torches at every corner, maybe something ancient, I don't know what to expect, I don't even know what to make of th

Chapter 8: The Things left Unsaid

☆☆LILA☆☆ I followed Theo through a narrow walkway as we left the main building. I wasn't really sure where we were going but Theo said we were going to meet a sage, it didn't take long for us to reach the backyard. A garden spread out around a small building, it was filled with wildflowers in colors so vivid they looked painted. Their scent filled the air, sweet. When Theo pushed open the small wooden door, I expected another plain chamber. But the moment I stepped in, it was like walking into another place entirely. The scent of flowers struck me first,it was stronger here than outside, as though the garden itself was inside the room. Candles glowed softly along the walls. Every shelf sagged with scrolls bound in leather. My eyes couldn’t stop wandering over the shelves and carved wooden talismans. Strange symbols were etched into the walls and the faint glow of candles which made the room feel more alive. I froze in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. I was so

Chapter 9: The Prophecy

☆☆LILA☆☆ “Lila,” he began, his voice low. “There’s something you need to know. Something about you… about us.” “Okay. I’m listening,” I said, though my heart was shaking. “We can’t talk about it here. Let me take you back to your place so we can talk there.” I was about to argue when I noticed everyone was looking at us. --- The moment we stepped inside, I turned to Theo. “Enough secrets. Tell me the truth, Theo.” His eyes darkened, but instead of brushing me off, he nodded and pulled me to the sofa. “Fine. You need to know.” I sat down, my pulse racing. “The night you were supposed to turn, like all normal werewolves ” he began slowly, “the burn scar on your hand appeared instead. Your father panicked; he couldn't bear to see you in pain. He brought you to the Sage to find answers that night. But the moment she touched your arm she saw something.” I looked down at the scar still etched into my arm. When I asked my father about it he told me my arm got burnt when I w

Chapter 10: THE LAYERS OF LIES

☆☆LILA☆☆I sat at the dining table, picking at my breakfast while Nanny Rosa occupied herself at the stove. The door creaked open. Zio entered, his eyes lowered, his shoulders heavy. I pushed back my chair, hoping to slip away before his voice stopped me. “I should have told you sooner,” he said quietly. He drew in a slow breath, then stepped closer. “I kept it from you because I wanted to protect you. Your father… he wanted you to live freely, without the burden of this world. But I failed you. I failed him.” My throat burned, but no words came out. I just stared, lips parting slightly. Zio raised his hands as if to touch me, then dropped them. His voice broke low.“I swore to your father I’d raise you as my own. That I’d keep you safe. If keeping secrets damned me in your eyes, then damn me twice. I can live with your anger but I can’t live with losing you, piccola.” Questions swirled in my head, but none came out. “I will never stop protecting you,” he went on. “Even if it m

1 2 3 4 5 6

...

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP