Chapter Two: The Lies

Thalira's POV 

Pain was the first thing I felt when my consciousness returned.

I winced and slowly peeled my eyes open. My eyes were blurry as I looked at the plain white ceiling. I shut my eyes for a minute and opened them again; my vision became clearer.

I winced breathlessly, the left side of my face was burning painfully as if something vicious was clawing its way through it.

A broken scream clawed its way through my throat as I tried to move.

"Easy! Easy...." A voice whispered frantically, "She's awake, call the doctor."

Footsteps rushed around me, and voices became muffled as I tried to figure out where I was.

The sharp scent of medicine filled my nose as panic surged through me like a heatwave.

My face.

My face!

I slowly lifted my trembling hand towards my cheek but it was grabbed before I could.

I couldn't turn properly to see who it was. My head felt heavy. A bandage wrapped around the left side of my face, stretching painfully across my skin.

"What happened to me?" I whispered, my voice shaking.

No one answered. The thought of what I thought happened scared me more than death itself.

"Lora?" My voice cracked. "Lora!"

The room became dead silent. Cold washed over me as I blinked rapidly.

The doctor stepped into view, and my stomach tightened as I met his eyes.

"Miss Whitmore, " the doctor called, a soft smile on his face. "How are you feeling?"

I swallowed and tried to raise my fingers, but I couldn't. It was as though I was caged down and my whole body felt immobile.

"It's fine." The doctor said and collected a file from the nurse behind him, "You've been unconscious for a week now."

His gaze swept through the file carefully then back to my face, "You went through a shock which led to you fainting." He added.

Have I spent seven days in the hospital?

My breathing became uneven, my hands shaking uncontrollably. "No......" I whispered weakly.

Fragments of memories crashed into me violently, my heart pounding loudly against my chest.

"No, no, no...... my face......" Panic rose in my throat, "Lora...... where is Lora......" 

"Your family is waiting outside the room and will come in shortly," He responded and handed the file back to the nurse. 

I shut my eyes briefly before glancing at the nurse, then swiftly, my gaze returned to the doctor.

"What happened to my face?" I asked calmly, almost as if I was still hoping that she didn't go through with it.

The doctor glanced briefly at the nurse standing beside him before looking back at me.

"You suffered a severe chemical burn," He said quietly. "We managed to stop most of the damage before it spread further or ate too deeply."

Chemical burn.

My stomach twisted violently as a strangled sound escaped my lips and tears gathered in my eyes.

"No......" I whispered.

The doctor stepped back and forced out a smile. "Try not to get worked up and stress the wound as it's still fresh," He said, "I'll bring the Alpha in soon."

Tears slid down my cheek as I watched the doctor walk out of the room, and a choking sound escaped my lips.

Lora...... Lora did this to me.

Shortly after, the door was pushed open and Father walked in first.

His expression tightened when his eyes landed on me, the corner of his lips turned in a deep frown.

"You're awake." He said as he walked inside the house.

Mother followed behind, Lora and Lyander followed closely behind her.

"Thalira," She gasped, tears rolling down the corner of her eyes as she rushed towards the bedside, "look how weak you look."

"Has there ever been a time when she's not weak?" Father said and sighed, "She doesn't even have a Wolf."

"Father," Lora cried, shaking his head. She rushed towards the bedside and fell on her knees, her hands clasped on her knees.

"I'm sorry, Thalira." She cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. Fake tears. "I didn't know the bottle contained acid. I thought it was some sort of prank solution from the storage room and was just playing around with it."

I sucked on my tongue, forcing myself to hold back the words fighting to let loose.

"Your sister is sorry, Thalira." Mother said, shaking her head. "It's quite unfortunate that this happened, but she's sorry."

Sorry? Mistake? Playing?

I scoffed. She lied to everyone that it was a mistake? Was that what she said to Giovanni too? 

Why isn't he here?

"Did she say it was a mistake?" I asked, shaking my head. "She poured acid on my face and called it a mistake?"

"My face will never remain the same again," I added, "no one would ever look at me the same way again."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly turned my face towards Mom.

"I don't even have a mate yet." I cried, "and you're telling me that it was a mistake? Who plays with acid?"

I slowly pushed myself off the bed, my gaze clashed with Lora's. I could see the soft smile playing at the corner of her lips. The knowing look on her face as she watched me suffer.

"Lora drugged my drink and poured acid on my face just so I wouldn't perform at the annual Red Moon Rite! She did this to me!" I cried, shaking my head. "She did this!"

Lora gasped, covering her mouth with her palms, and shook her head vigorously. 

"Why would Lora purposely hurt you?" Lyander scoffed, "Don't be delusional, Thalira, she apologized."

"She drugged me!" I screamed.

Mother flinched, her hand squeezed my hand softly, her eyes looking everywhere but my bandaged face.

Father's expression hardened, "Enough," He said sharply. His mouth thinned as he glanced at me and shook his head.

My chest tightened as I glanced at him.

Enough? Really?

"You think I would lie about this?" I whispered.

"No one said that, Thalira." Mother said carefully. "But your sister has been crying for days over what happened."

I stared at her in disbelief. My heart pounding in my ears.

Crying?

She destroyed my face!

She spoiled my life and somehow somehow she's the victim?