C9 We Can't Be Mates

King Zions P.O.V.

As I wake up, I link one of the maids for something to eat. After being told it'll be up soon, I decided to get up to shower and get some work done before my beta started complaining about my lack of efficiency regarding boring paperwork. I look at my watch I laid on my nightstand, and I'm shocked to realize it's afternoon. I can't believe Orian let me sleep so long, but I did have a late night.

I make my way to my bathroom and take a long hot shower that loosens my tight muscles. After I'm done with my shower, I head to my closet to get dressed with my towel wrapped around my waist. I hear the door open and can hear my mistress Ashleys' wolf purr at the sight of my nearly naked body.

I turn to tell her I don't have time to deal with her, only to find her walking up to me while sliding her dress off so that she is naked as well. Before I know it, she's on her knees before me, preparing to please me with her body. She is a very capable wolf, strong and smart. Though I know she is hell-bent on becoming my queen. I"ve told her many times that the position of queen belongs to my mate and only my mate. If I ever find her.

As I'm about to receive pleasure from Ashley, Evan, one of the guards on patrol, mind links me to let me know there is a situation and I am needed when they arrive back at the castle. I dismiss Ashley from my chambers and continue to get dressed. I walk into my closet, finding some clothes. I put on the black slacks, my combat boots, and a plain white T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up and then made my way down to the dungeons, where I told them to meet me when they said it involved a witch.

On my way down to the dungeon, I'm joined by the kingdom's top doctor, Dr.Jameson. He bows and greets me with a warm smile.

"Hello there Doc. What brings you down to the dungeons? I ask.

"Hello, Sir," He responds. "I was asked to meet Beta Orian down here."

"I see, let's get going then," I say as we continue walking down into the dungeon.

As we get to the last step leading to the dungeon, I smell the most delectable scent of fresh lemon citrus and water lilies. My wolf Ryker starts to go crazy, jumping around in my mind, and I can't seem to get him under control.

"It's mate!" He repeats over and over again.

"Okay, just calm down, Ryker!" I demanded, but he is the Alpha kings wolf. He won't give in to my demands that easily.

I walk up to the cell surrounded by my men. As they notice me approaching, they bow respectfully and make way for me to see what's happening. Suddenly, I find the one that amazing scent is coming from, laying on the cot in the cell, covered in cuts, bruises, and blood that's not all hers. At the sight of her Ryker losses it, Howling loudly in my mind.

"What the Fuck happened to her?" I demand as I grab my beta by the shirt collar, shoving him up against the cell wall. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see everyone staring at me with wide eyes in disbelief.

"Rogues, sir, we barely got to her in time." He answers in a rough voice. I let him go when I realize he was starting to have trouble breathing.

"I want answers now!" I demand, looking over my men. I then turn to the doctor. "Do your thing Doc." Ne nods and walks over to her to begin the exam.

"Advert your eyes unless you would like to lose them!" I say as the doctor starts to cut away the shirt she has on to get to all her wounds. My men all look up to the ceiling. Except for my beta, Orian, who's staring me square in the eyes. He has an idea of what's happening but won't say anything in front of the men.

"Why did you bring her to the dungeon? What happened?" I asked as I walk over to the other side of the cot they laid her on.

"We encountered two females on our territory about 30 feet past our border. When we stopped them, we realized it was a 17-year-old and a young pup. She couldn't be more than six years old. The older one said they were running away from a rogue that tried killing the pup, But her sister was still fighting off the rogue. She begged us to let her help her sister, the men and I went instead. When we got to them, she had already taken out seven of the eight rogues herself. Unfortunately, we didn't make it in time, and Evan got to them only to find the last rogue rapped her. He killed the last one as the girl past out, so we brought them back to the castle." He said nervously, as I stared down at this beautiful female before me. My blood boiling at the thought of a filthy rogue putting his hands on what's mine, making me wish he was alive, so that I could rip him apart myself.

"Why did you bring her to the dungeons?" I asked, trying hard to suppress a growl at the fact that my mate was placed in a cell down here.

"She's a witch, my King." He responded while avoiding eye contact with me.

"What the hell? We are mated to a witch??" I scream in my head in absolute disbelief. Orian senses my inner dilemma and dismisses the men so we can have privacy.

"Sir, there's something else." He says after giving me a few minutes of silence.

"What is it?" I snap. Taking in all of this information is taking its toll on me, and I'm not sure I can handle anything else concerning my supposed mate.

"Her sister and the young pup are both wolfs. Her sister is also my mate." He states, and I'm honestly happy for some good news.

"I'm happy for you, man," I say as I pat him on his shoulder. "I know how much you have wanted to find your mate." As we talk more about his newly found mate, we hear the doctor gasp, and we turn our attention back to my supposed mate.

"She is our mate!" Ryker snaps.

"We'll discuss that later!" I snap back at my wolf.

What I see when I return my attention back to the female in front of us makes my blood boil yet again, and I try to resist gritting my teeth together. I hand the doctor my shirt and tell him to fix her up and put my shirt on her before walking out of the dungeon.