Chapter Five: The King’s Mate

Kayden’s Point of View

Since I woke up, my wolf has been restless. He is pacing inside my head, giving me the worst headache ever. I’ve tried to ask him several times what’s wrong, but he only answers with growls.

Super helpful, by the way.

I have to go to that damn pack to fetch my breeder. When you are twenty-eight and haven’t found your mate, you are unlikely to even have one. She might be dead or on the other side of the world. I have considered getting a chosen mate, but I want an heir. That ensures that whoever approaches me won’t do it because she wants power.

For years, I have had she-wolves who have approached me with tricks to get pregnant. They could use several potions to increase their fertility or accelerate their heat. Their end goal is to have access to the crown. Thankfully, I can sense their tricks from a mile away.

I’m not a womanizer, but I have had some flings when my wolf needs to blow off some steam.

“Your Majesty, Beta Anderson has prepared everything for your departure.” One of my warriors said.

“Thank you, Steven,” I answered him.

I wanted to do this as fast as possible. From what I have heard, the Blue Lake Pack’s Alpha is a total douche. He still has slaves, he doesn’t respect his Luna, and he is cruel to his pack members. You would think that as a king, I could do something, and I have wanted to do it for a long time, but the council doesn’t let me. That makes me think that he has some powerful backup. I just wanted to find out how to put an end to him.

I bet the so-called breeder is one of those she-wolves who wish to have power. It’s too bad that I’m going to have her sign a contract, so she doesn’t have a claim on my pup.

He was going to be mine, and mine only. If she wanted to be present in his life, it would have to be as a nanny, but I was sure she would not ask for that.

“Ready, Your Majesty?” Anderson asked as I opened the back door and found him there.

I growled at him, and he chuckled. My pack members don’t usually use my title; some call me Alpha to maintain some respect. My warriors call me Majesty only if they are on duty. Anderson, as my best friend, does it to piss me off.

“Shush it,” I said, and he chuckled again.

He gave me a folder with a picture of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

“Her name is Iris Sommers, born on March 6, so she will turn eighteen in about six months. She is the daughter of the Beta Maxwell Sommers. There is not much information about her; she doesn’t even use social media or have a phone number.”

Looking at her picture, I couldn’t get her out of my mind; she was just seventeen years old. Why on earth would they give such a young woman as a breeder?

“Doesn’t it seem off to you?” I asked Anderson.

He was my Beta for a reason, so I wanted to hear what he had to say. I knew he had different candidates, so it was odd that he had chosen such a young one.

“Yeah, it does. I called her house to talk to her, and she seemed okay with it. I don’t know much either,” he explained.

I growled at the thought that she might be forced to do this. I made a mental note to ask her when I take her out of the pack. If her pack is willing to give her away at such a young age, then they will most likely do it again.

I can’t leave her there.

“There is something else,” Anderson said. “Her mother died when she gave birth to her. Five years later, her dad married a chosen mate. She also has an older sister, who will be the Luna of the pack.” I nodded at this new information. My wolf stirred in my mind, but wouldn’t talk to me.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I asked, but got no response in return.

I opened my computer to finish some work. It was a long journey, so I'd better get comfortable.

***

One day later…

We were finally near the pack. I couldn’t wait till we got there. I had thought of her the whole time. Her beautiful green eyes, caramel skin, and those sleek black curls that frame her face. It was hard for me to control my desire for her, but I had to. I couldn’t lose control, or I could fuck her up. I needed to find information first. If she were forced to be my breeder, I would bring her to my pack so she could be free.

“Alpha, we are entering Blue Lake’s territory,” Anderson informed me.

I looked through the window and felt how my wolf wanted to come to the surface. I had a hard time controlling him, and that had never happened before. He is usually very calm and composed, and only gets this way if danger is in sight.

“Atlas, what the hell is going on with you?” I asked him, but he just grunted in response. It was starting to frustrate me that I couldn’t control my damn wolf.

I was a king, for fuck’s sake.

“Hey, man, what is wrong with you?” Anderson asked.

“Atlas is going crazy, but he won’t tell me why,” I answered him. He looked confused, but before he could ask me more, Matthew, the driver, told us we had arrived at the pack house.

“You should take care of that first,” Anderson said as he gestured to my pants.

Damn, woman. Since I saw her picture, I've been hard. I tried to distract myself with work, but my mind went back to her every single fucking time. Those plump lips. Damn, I was hard as a rock.

I tried to calm myself by taking deep breaths while my Beta presented himself. I exited the car and saw Alpha Cory with his Luna, son, and, I suppose, his mate. I could see the resemblance between her and my breeder. She was probably the sister that Anderson told me about, but Iris was more beautiful.

Before I could see anyone else, the Alpha spoke to me.

Your Majesty, I trust your journey was smooth and without difficulties. Let me guide you to your room, as we will give a feast in honor of your visit.” He said with a smile—a fake smile, I may add—and what did he say? A feast? Who said I was staying? I gave explicit instructions that I wanted to see the breeder and leave.

Moon Goddess, provide me with patience.

“Alpha Cory, who is the Alpha in charge?” I asked dryly.

“That would be me, Your Majesty,” answered his son. “I’m Alpha Alec. We haven’t done the transition ceremony, but I am currently in charge of the pack.” He explained.

“Very well then.” I approached him. “Alpha Alec, I came here just for the breeder; I won’t be staying.”

I could see the shock on everyone’s face.

I guess that their feast is going to waste. I was about to ask him where she was when the soft breeze brought me the most delicious smell. There was a hint of vanilla and berries. My mouth instantly watered, and my gaze flickered towards the direction of that smell. My eyes instantly met the woman who had haunted my thoughts for the past day. As soon as I saw her, my wolf exclaimed something that had me over the moon.

“Mate,” he said excitedly.

“What?” I asked him. I couldn’t believe it.

“She is our mate, Kayden. Go to her now.” Atlas urged.

Finally, I finally found her—my destined mate, and she was gorgeous. I could see in her eyes that she recognized me as her mate, so why was she looking so scared? I wanted to ask her when the woman who was her sister came right next to me.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty, my name is Stephanie. I’m Alpha Alec’s mate. Allow me to introduce you to Iris Sommers, my sister.” She said, but I could see her gaze turn murderous when Iris didn’t move.

That made a growl escape from my mouth. How dare she disrespect my mate in front of me?

“Hello, Iris. My name is King Kayden Harlow.” I could see how her eyes moved, but she was still frozen in place. Why does she look so scared? When I saw that she wasn’t going to answer, I continued. “I would like to speak to you. Could we go somewhere private?” She nodded her head slightly in approval, so I took that as my answer.

I looked at Stephanie to ask her to guide me somewhere private, but I could see how she was fuming with anger as I turned. Atlas started to fight me for control. He wanted her head for glaring at our mate.

“Stephanie, show me to a private place,” I commanded.

I treated everyone fairly, but she was getting on my nerves. She looked at me and plastered a fake smile on her face. She was a professional at trying to kiss my ass, but she was not going to get what she wanted.

“Surely, Your Majesty. Iris, come,” she ordered.

I growled at her before she continued. Her tone toward my mate made it hard to control my wolf. He was ready to rip her apart. That earned me confused looks from everyone.

What the hell is going on here? Isn’t my mate a Beta? She should be respected, but everyone treats her like shit. Something is happening here, and I will find out exactly what the hell it is.