Chapter 33
Joe's POV
I stormed out of that classroom like a damn volcano ready to blow. My knuckles were white on the steering wheel the whole drive back to the palace, and I'm not even sure how I didn't crash. My mind was stuck on repeat. Mark's smug little face, that arrogant smirk, and the way he acted like Lily was just some prize he won at the county fair.
To him, she was a game.
But to me?
She was everything.
Everything my wolf howled for. The one girl who could make my heartbeat slam like a war drum. The one person who used to smile at me like I mattered, before I ruined it.
And the worst part? She wouldn't even believe me now, even if I told her the truth.
And I did. I told her the truth
FLASHBACK: EARLIER THAT DAY
After school, I spotted her in the parking lot, thank the Moon. She looked like she was waiting for someone. Probably Mark. My stomach twisted.
I didn't think,didn't plan. I just walked straight up to her and gently grabbed her arm.
"Hey," I said, my voice low.
She turned, saw me, and immediately rolled her eyes. "Oh, great. What do you want?"
"Lily, wait." I stepped in front of her. "Please. I need to talk to you."
She crossed her arms, tapping her foot. "Okay. I'm listening. Make it quick. Mark's picking me up any minute."
The urge to punch a wall returned. "Right. Of course he is."
She raised a brow. "Is this about him?"
"Yes. And you need to hear me out," I said, more desperate now. "Mark's not who you think he is. He's cheating on you."
She blinked. Then snorted. "Wow, Joe. That's low, even for you. What's next, you gonna say he kicks puppies too?"
"I'm serious, Lily," I said, stepping closer. "I just saw him. Shirtless. With some random girl. In Mrs. Mallory's classroom. She walked out all sweaty, her hair was scattered and her clothes were half undone. You know that means right?."
She tilted her head. "So, you're spying on him now?"
"What? No! I left my bag in the classroom. I went back to get it and…boom…caught him red-handed."
She shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "So let me get this straight. You accidentally caught Mark cheating, just when you decided to care again?"
"Yes! I mean no, I didn't decide to care, I never stopped!" I was flustered now. "I'm not making this up. I wouldn't lie to you."
She looked at me for a second, like she was actually considering it. But then her eyes hardened.
"Yeah? And why should I believe you?"
"Because I'm telling you the truth!"
"You mean like the truth when I caught you with that girl in the locker room? Or the truth when you said I was dead to you'?. That truth?" Her voice rose, her words sharp. "Come on, Joe. If this is some sad little attempt to get in my head…"
"It's not!" I cut in, panicking. "I'm not trying to win you back, Lily. I'm trying to protect you. Mark is lying to you. He is using you."
She yanked her arm free from my grip. "Well, maybe I like being used. At least he doesn't act like I'm some burden."
"That's not fair," I said, quietly.
"You want fair? Here's fair, you walked away, Joe. You don't get to come back just because you feel like playing hero today."
She turned to leave, tossing one final grenade over her shoulder.
"And just so you know, Mark would never cheat on me. He's not you. So maybe you should stop acting like my personal stalker and go mind your own damn business"
That hit like a damn truck.
She walked off, her hair swinging, like I hadn't just tried to save her.
(BACK IN THE PRESENT)
I slammed open the doors to the palace so hard the hinges groaned. Ivan was standing on the upper balcony like some medieval vampire, sipping wine like it was blood.
He raised one brow when he saw me.
"You're late, Joseph" he said, swirling the glass. "Your lesson's about to begin."
I dropped my bag on the nearest table with a loud thud. "Yeah? Well, I'm not doing the fucking lesson today."
Ivan's brow twitched. "You don't get to decide when royalty begins or ends, Joe."
I walked straight up to him. "If I could pass a law to end these stupid lessons, I would."
His lips curled into a smirk. "You can, actually. You're king now. Technically, you could fire me on the spot."
I blinked. "Wait. Seriously?"
He nodded. "Yep. Though I'd kindly pack my things and leave with a very dramatic exit, if you ever did."
That made me pause.
"You mean I can actually make laws? Like… right now?"
Ivan set his glass down, suddenly more serious. "Yes. But laws have weight. Once spoken, they ripple. People remember. So, choose wisely."
I stared at him, my mind still spinning from Lily, from Mark, from the helpless rage boiling inside me.
Fine.
If I couldn't make Lily believe me, I could at least stop her from getting hurt again.
"Effective immediately," I said, "Mark and Lily are banned from being seen together in public."
Ivan blinked. "What?"
I stood taller. "You heard me. It's a rule now."
Ivan turned toward me fully, stunned. "You're using your first royal decree… to break up two high school sweethearts?"
"They're not sweethearts," I snapped. "He's a manipulative jerk, and she doesn't see it."
Ivan exhaled sharply. "Joe… this is your first act as king. People are going to ask questions."
"Let them ask, I don't care," I said. "In fact, I'll go further. If he violates it, I'll personally kick him off the school's football team. Hell, I'll banish him from this pack if I have to."
Ivan stared at me like I'd grown two heads. "You're really serious about this."
"As a heart attack."
He crossed his arms. "All this… over a girl?"
I met his gaze. "Not just any girl."
There was a pause. For once, Ivan didn't have a clever comeback.
Finally, he picked up his glass again, swirling the liquid thoughtfully.
"Be careful, Your Majesty," he said quietly. "Obsession has a funny way of turning kings into fools. Or worse… tyrants."
I didn't reply.
Because I didn't care.
I'd made my move.
And now the whole pack would feel it.
As I turned to leave, Ivan called after me.
"Just remember," he said, " As a king, you can make rules to control the outside world… but not someone's heart. Especially the people you rule"
His words echoed in the marble hallway as I walked away.
Maybe he was right. Maybe I couldn't force Lily to believe me.
But I could damn sure keep her safe, even if it meant breaking every rule in the book.
Even if it meant becoming the villain in her eyes.
Because villains still protect what's theirs.
And Lily?
Lily would always be mine.