My Sweet, Tyrant Lycan Mate

Chapter Ten

Turning A New Page

Zack’s POV

Two weeks had passed since the night of the new moon. For the first time in a while, I found myself admitting that I was surprised by how things turned out to be.

After Lily decided to save my life, for whatever reasons she had, something inside of my head switched. A sudden feeling of wanting to start anew washed over me, and I did the unthinkable–I burned down my castle.

It was therapeutic in its twisted way. Seeing the old palace succumb to the flames of my Fire Wolf filled me with something I hadn’t felt before.

Hope? Courage?

Whatever it was, it made me more determined than ever to try and start something new in the world below. Maybe it was time that I tried to catch up with the world.

Or that I made the world catch up with me.

I walked down the path of Blackwell Hills with my hand around Lily’s waist. Behind us, Cerberus trotted along.

It felt nice to have someone who could keep my attention for longer than just a few minutes. Even more so, Lily riled up my desire when no one else could.

The Fire Wolf within me also seemed please with her, too. I guess it was nice to have a mate; although I didn’t envision myself having one.

I squeezed the curve of her waist, relishing in the softness of her skin against mine. Sparks of electricity ran up my arm and this time, it wasn’t painful.

I looked down to see Lily looking up at me with narrowed eyes. She then slapped my hand away from her waist.

I had to suppress the smile that threatened my demeanor. Her boldness was making things fun.

But I had to remind her of who was really in charge, so I glared right back at her. My jaws tightened and I never broke my gaze from her blue eyes.

Lily’s expression changed instantly as she put on a smile and guided my hand back towards her waist. I held in a laugh that almost escaped my lips.

I wasn’t expecting Lily to pass my test. Had she decided to end my life that day, well, she would’ve ended up in the rubble of that castle, too.

I don’t know why she decided to save my life that day. A part of me thought that it was because I saved hers, too.

Regardless, I found myself lowering my guard around her. I never gave out trust to anyone but Lily sure had it. Not all of it but some of it, at least.

When we got to the bottom of the mountain, the wooden gates opened and we were greeted by werewolves. Guessing by what they wore with their nice dress-shirts and slacks, they had to have been the alphas of their respective packs.

They didn’t dare to meet my eyes as they all bowed out of respect.

One of the men, whom I recognized as Alpha Leo, approached me. I only allowed him to do so because he was the one who put together the list of the maids who were given to me.

I would’ve killed him on the spot for sending an assassin but I didn’t because I got Lily out of the bunch–a diamond from the dirt.

“Your Majesty.” Alpha Leo bowed. “We humbly welcome you to the world below; our home. We have a fine selection of homes ready for your choosing. We’re sorry to hear about what happened with your castle.”

Word spread quickly about the flames that seemed to consume the top of the Blackwell Hills. People were equally parts sad for the hundred girls that lost their lives, and equal parts happy when they thought that I was amongst the dead in the flames.

However, I quickly reminded them that I wasn’t easy to kill.

I tightened my hold around Lily’s waist and looked down the hills at the five different houses that were ready for me to choose from. They were all large and grand in their own right–though nothing like a castle.

I expected nothing less from the wealthy Alpha Leo.

As I was about to choose my house, I looked at Lily and followed her gaze. Her eyes seemed to be glued to a villa surrounded by a garden of tulips. A large oak tree sat in the backyard as well as a sizeable swimming pool.

“Is that the house you choose?”

Lily jumped at my voice and looked up at me with a nervous look. She gave me a small smile and nodded her head.

I looked over at Alpha Leo. “We’ll take the villa with the tulips and swimming pool.”

A gasp of disbelief left Lily’s lips as she looked up at me cautiously. When I nodded my head, she knew I wasn’t kidding about my choice.

A smile spread wide across her lips as she broke from my grasp and walked up to Cerberus.

“Come on, boy!” Lily cooed at the monstrous three-headed beast like he was a small dog. “Let’s go check out the new house!”

Cerberus followed along like a little puppy as they ran for the villa. I watched as the two frolicked and played in the spacious backyard. The beast rolled around on the grass as Lily went inside to go explore.

However, as Lily ran off and the distance grew, I found that the Fire Wolf–who had been quiet and relatively peaceful these past two weeks–had begun to stir again. Feelings of anger and restlessness started to pick up as my chest squeezed.

I bawled my hand into a fist as a growl tickled the back of my throat.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, Your Majesty? Know that the Night Walker Pack is at your service.” Alpha Leo’s words intruded my thoughts.

I was grateful for it, however. His intrusion snapped me back to the reality in front of me.

“Gather all of the men from the Night Walker Pack. I assume that you and your men have some sort of training grounds.” I didn’t phrase it as a question.

“Yes, Your Majesty, we do. I repurposed an old soccer field and–”

“I don’t remember asking.” I cut him off.

Alpha Leo nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty. My apologies.”

“Gather all of your men and round them up at the training grounds. I’ll meet you there shortly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Alpha Leo bowed his head once more and scurried away.

The Fire Wolf laughed inside of my head. “You have something fun for us, don’t you?”

I always do.