Chapter Three: The Rite

Thalira's POV:

It's been seven days since I got back from the Pack's clinic.

The mirror stayed covered for those three days.

I noticed it immediately the moment I got back from the hospital. White cloth draped over the vanity beside my bed, hiding my reflection completely.

As if not seeing my reflection would somehow make this easier. I wasn't brave enough to check my phone camera either.

No one spoke about my face anymore.

After that day in the hospital, the entire incident became something everyone carefully avoided.

Not Mother, not Father, not even Lyander.

Lora on the other hand seemed to enjoy every second of it. 

Whenever no one was looking, she would smirk at me mockingly or stick her tongue out like we were children again.

The maids looked at me differently now, pitifully. And somehow, that hurt more than disgust.

I didn't want to be pitied. I didn't want to suddenly be treated like an incomplete member of the Pack just because of my disfigured face, it was enough that I had no Wolf.

A shaky breath escaped me as I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers twisting nervously against the fabric of my oversized sweater.

Outside the window, I could hear distant laughter from Pack members training in the courtyard below.

Life continued for them, but somehow, mine seemed to have paused.

Two weeks after the worst day of my life, Giovanni hadn't visited.

I pondered on what could have been the problem, tried to make excuses for him but none of them seemed to stick.

Why didn't he visit?

My fingers slowly reached for my phone resting on the bedside table. The screen lit up instantly, dozens of messages flooding in but none of them were from him.

I dropped the phone back on the table and shut my eyes briefly.

"Don't overthink it, Thalira," I whispered to myself.

He was probably busy helping with the Red Moon Rite preparation.

That must have been it.

****

A knock sounded on my door, Lyander's voice calling out for me.

"Someone is here for you." He said.

I jumped up from my bed, my heart thudding heavily against my chest.

Giovanni.

It had to be him.

A strange relief rushed through me so quickly it almost hurt.

Finally, he came 

I ran towards the door, pulled the door open, and rushed out of the room.

In the living room, he sat on a couch, his head bowed slightly as he tapped on his phone screen.

"Thalira," Mom called, "look who came over for dinner."

Giovanni slowly lifted his head. For one brief second something flickered across his face. Shock. Then pity that he quickly masked with a smile.

And somehow, that hurts more than if he had stared openly.

He slipped his phone back into his pants pocket and smiled as he slowly rose from his seat.

"Thalira," He started, "I'm sorry I didn't check up on you in the hospital."

Lora wrapped her hand across his shoulder, grinning. "Giovanni has been helping with the rite preparations coupled with his football practice." She said and shook her head, "I'm sure you won't hold it against him, right?"

The side of her lips pulled up in a tight smile as she watched me.

I knew she wanted to put me in a tight spot but I wouldn't let her.

I shook my head and smiled. "I understand how busy he is." I smiled.

I walked towards him before I could stop myself and slipped my hand into his.

For a second, relief loosened the tightness in my chest and I briefly shut my eyes.

Maybe things haven't completely changed.

Maybe he could still look at me the same way because he chose me. Not her.

One of the maids slipped out of the dining room, announcing that dinner was ready.

I held Giovanni tightly, dragging him along with me.

"Let's go and eat," I whispered, pulling him away from Lora.

She must have succeeded in destroying my face, but I wouldn't let him take my only remaining happiness away from me.

Giovanni sat beside me, directly opposite Lora. As we ate silently, I kept pondering what she might be planning to do next.

She took a slow sip of her wine while watching me over the rim of her glass.

"I heard that your school would be going on an excursion to the city center after the Red Moon Rite, is that correct?" Father asked Giovanni, to which he nodded.

"Yes, Alpha. We had to fix it after the Red Moon Rite and before the Alpha King's visit." He explained.

Father's expression shifted almost immediately at the mention of the Alpha King's visit. It wasn't a secret that Alpha Whitmore doesn't like the Alpha King of the North.

Halfway through the dinner, I reached for the glass too quickly, and the bandage around my cheek shifted slightly.

Giovanni's eyes flickered instinctively towards it before he looked away almost immediately, as if he regretted seeing it.

My lips thinned as I watched him smile and make small talk with Lora and Lyander throughout the dinner, my heart squeezed painfully.

After dinner, Giovanni rose from his seat and bowed, "I'll be taking my leave now," He said, nodding at the Alpha and Luna, then back at me. "I have something to tell you."

My heart skipped when Giovanni said he had something to tell me. I rubbed my palm against my chest, trying to calm myself down as we walked past the door.

As we rounded the fountain, and towards the packhouse gate, he stopped abruptly, his back turned on me.

"You're no longer hot, Thalira." He muttered slowly, I almost didn't hear him.

"Wh...... What?" I stuttered, my eyes widening.

"I wanted you as my mate because you were the prettiest in the pack," He continued and slowly turned to face me.

His hands were clasped behind him, his right foot tapping on the floor slowly.

"You're now ugly," He added and shook his head, taking a step back. "Since we're not fated, let's end whatever it is we have here."

"What? What!" 

Giovanni stepped back, as if staying close or looking at me for a long time disgusted him.

"You don't have a Wolf. Scarred face." He smiled coldly and shook his head. "Why would I choose you now?"