Chapter Five: The Mysterious Man

                   Thalira 

I didn't remember leaving the bonfire.

One minute everyone was clapping for Lora and Giovanni like they were some perfectly made lovers blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

Next, I was locked inside my room, trying not to scream into my pillow.

It hurts. Everything hurts.

I sat curled on the floor beside my bed, my hands trembling, my makeup long ruined and my golden shawl discarded somewhere near the door.

No one came after me when I left— not my mother, not even father.

They were all enjoying the ceremony, at least, one daughter saved the household.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I wiped harshly at my tears.

My phone buzzed suddenly beside me, but I ignored it.

What else could it be? News about Giovanni choosing Lora over me would have spread throughout the city's social networks by now.

I stretched my hand towards the phone and grabbed it.

My brows furrowed as I stared at the message glowing across my phone screen.

*Dear Miss Thalira Whitmore, you have been selected with 19 others for the city excursion. Attendance is mandatory*

I stared at it for a long moment before flinging the phone across the bed.

The trip.

I had applied for it when I believed Giovanni and I would spend the excursion together like some happy couple.

Pathetic.

I dragged both hands through my hair and let out a broken laugh.

Haa.....Fuck.

*****

"Don't go anywhere alone when you get to the city center." Father's harsh gaze swept across my face as he spoke. "Always stay with the others."

I nodded absentmindedly, already eager to escape his stares.

"Don't worry Dad, I'll look after Thalira." Lora grinned as she skipped to my side and linked her arms through mine. 

"We're going to have so much fun together."

My body stiffened immediately.

The sweet deceptive smile on her face only made my stomach twist harder. Because I knew exactly what kind of person Lora Whitmore truly was.

As the car pulled out of the driveway, I turned my face to the window.

I felt suffocated sitting in the same car with her.

"Thalira," Lora called suddenly and I slowly turned to look at her.

She tilted her head slightly, her green eyes glimmering with excitement.

 "How do you like your new face?"

Sick. That was the only thing echoing in my head as I stared at her. She was sick. A mentally deranged bitch!

I pressed my lips against each other and glanced away. "You won this time," I muttered under my breath.

The first day's activity was to go to the museum.

When the car stopped at the city museum, everyone was already there.

Lora jumped out of the car and rushed towards Giovanni who chuckled softly and opened his arms. 

I rolled my eyes and glanced away.

"Since we're all here, should we get this excursion started?" The guide asked and everyone shouted in excitement. Everyone but me.

From the ancient war armory to the statue of Thunderfang's first Alpha, the tour dragged on endlessly. 

I barely listened to anything the guide said.

Most of the students moved excitedly from one exhibit to the other, taking pictures with their mates and laughing loudly while I stayed behind the group, careful not to draw attention to myself. Or I tried to.

No matter what I do, the whispers never stop.

My fingers trembled slightly as I dragged the black shawl over my face as we entered the final hall.

"This section is dedicated to the ruling bloodline of the North." The guide announced proudly. 

The room instantly became quiet.

Alpha King Kael Draven.

Where other Alphas were sculpted with noble expressions and ceremonial robes that highlighted their positions, the Alpha King looked terrifying.

The sculptor had curved him sitting on a crown with one hand resting lazily against the armrest. A crown rested on his head and a sword beside him.

I swallowed hard as I gazed up at his eyes that felt too alive.

What does it feel like to be that powerful?

"Alpha King Kael Draven became the ruler of the North after the Golden war with the Southern territory." The guide explained carefully, "He's regarded as the most powerful and strongest Alpha in modern history."

"I heard he rejected over fifty marriages so far after the death of his mates." One of the girls whispered and Giovanni scoffed.

"Why would a man like him settle down?"

*****

I barely made it through dinner as Giovanni and Lora couldn't keep their hands off each other.

"Let's take a group picture!" Lora announced suddenly, pulling out her digital camera with excitement, "It's our first excursion after all."

I swallowed as I watched them gather immediately, my heart thudding against my chest.

Lora turned to me and smiled sweetly.

"Thalira, take the picture." Lora said, holding the camera towards me, "You can't join us anyway."

A few students exchanged awkward glances and nodded.

"No offense please, but the picture will be ruined." One of the girls said while the others laughed.

I exhaled slowly through my nose and nodded without saying a word. 

It was just one picture and I'd call it a night.

Giovanni wrapped his hand around Lora's waist while she leaned into him happily. It was like a bridal pose.

--------------

I sat at the hotel's bar later that night, a mocktail resting in my hand as I stared at nothing in particular.

Soft music echoed through the lounge while everyone laughed.

I gulped down the mocktail and wiped my lips with the back of my hand. 

I should've ordered something stronger.

A sudden chill crawled slowly across the skin of my neck, the cool air around me shifted slightly as someone stopped beside my seat.

"Is this seat taken?" 

I shook my head frantically as I looked up.

The man standing beside me was dressed entirely in black, a long coat draped over his broad frame while a black covering covered the upper half of his face.

He looked intimidating.

I swallowed hard as he pulled the chair beside me and sat down calmly.

For a moment I couldn't stop staring at him, then he turned slightly.

Sea-blue eyes paired with mine. Cold and incredibly beautiful.

"Do you have something to say?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

I blinked quickly and shook my head.

"N..no"

Embarrassment crawled up my neck immediately, my fingers dug into my palm.

I turned to the waiter and swallowed awkwardly. "A shot of whiskey, please." 

The waiter nodded before hurrying away.

 I gulped down the whiskey nervously the moment it arrived nearly coughing from the harsh burn on my throat. 

I slowly adjusted the shawl as the man watched me.

"Don't mind me," I muttered quietly, staring down at my drink, "just act as if I'm invisible, I'm already used to it anyway."

"Would you mind accompanying me for the night?"

My head snapped up immediately, and my gaze met his through the mask. 

"Huh?"

His gaze remained fixed on me through the dark mask.

"You look stressed." He said calmly, glancing briefly at the watch around his wrist. "And unfortunately, so am I."

"I don't smell another male on you." He added, "So I assume you're free to make your own decisions."

Heat crawled slowly up my neck. Every reasonable thought in my head screaming for me to run far away from the man sitting beside me.

I didn't know his name or where he was from.

He didn't bother asking me for my name either.

But for the first time in so long, someone looked directly at me instead of my scar.

I swallowed hard as he stretched his hand towards me. My gaze dropped briefly to his hand then back to his eyes and I slowly placed my hand on his.

*****

Morning sunlight filtered through the massive suite windows when I opened my eyes.

For a few seconds, I remained still under the warm duvet. Then the memories filtered in.

The way he touched me was like there was nothing wrong with my face.

The way he whispered into my ears.

He had made love to me in ways I never imagined.

I've always had the idea that sex was overrated, but the way he handled me..... I wasn't sure intimacy could get any better.

A strange warmth spread through my chest as I slowly turned towards the empty side of the bed.

Gone.

I pushed myself upright, glancing around the room anxiously.

"Hello?" I called as I slowly climbed down from the bed, naked.

I pushed the bathroom door open and glanced around, it was empty.

I turned back to the bed and my heartbeat slowed slightly as my gaze landed on a neatly folded piece of paper resting on the bedside table.

Frowning, I reached for it and quickly unfolded it.

My blood turned cold as I stared at the content.

"The next time we meet, you'll die."

My fingers shook as I dropped the paper on the floor. My heart beating loudly.

What kind of man did I sleep with?