Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 16

running.

Mia stumbled back from the hallway and took to her heels, running as fast as her legs trapped in the heavy shoes could take her. She took a different turn from the one she came through, which would lead her to another side of the Palace, but she didn't care and kept She couldn't believe the words she had heard and at the same time, she could. The Alpha King had never wanted her and had threatened her life more times than she could count. He wanted her gone because he had someone he hoped to make queen someday. Someone he desired, someone beautiful, someone he loved.

She had told herself he was noble for keeping away and never trying to get intimate with her, but what she just heard told her he had other motives. Not consummating their union meant they hadn't completed their wedding ritual and were not unified as one. That meant they weren't husband and wife and she wasn't the queen. If he planned to get rid of her, this was one way to go.

She had done her best to be good, brave, and strong in the past month. She did everything he commanded and never strayed because she hoped that'll keep her safe. Now, she knew safety was farther away than she thought.

This wasn't heartbreak, this was anger. Anger built on pain and anguish, anger. She couldn't do anything about it, not as long as she was in this kingdom.

She ran through the hallway, only stopping when she collided against a body. She fell off her feet, but the hand caught her by the waist and stopped her from falling. Her lashes fluttered, and she saw Edward and he held a genuine look of concern on his face. He's been one amongst the few that had given her the look tonight and meant it.

"Are you okay, my queen?" he asked, setting her down carefully before releasing his hold around her.

Her eyes were wet and puffy, but she nodded. A pained smile appeared on Edward's face as he stared at her, and she bit her lips and tried to keep her gaze down. She had hoped to run off to a quiet place until she felt better, but that's out of the question now that she was with Edward.

"You're not okay. You've been crying. What did the alpha king do this time?" Edward asked straight forward, already knowing who could make her cry.

She shook her head, "He didn't hurt me, I swear." she told him. At least he didn't hurt her physically. "He has a mistress everyone seems to know about except me."

Edward sighed in regret, rubbing his palm over his face. "You saw Zara?"

More tears well up in her eyes, and she bit her lips harder, nodding.

"I thought he had treated me the way he did these past weeks of being married to him because I wasn't the one he wanted to marry and because I wasn't fair or beautiful. But I saw the way he looked at her, the way he held her. I know now I did nothing. He just loved someone else, and I wished I had known all those past weeks I blamed myself." What made the tears flow wasn't about him having the mistress, but about his plans to get rid of her, but she couldn't say it. "I'm sorry," Edward says, remorseful.

She didn't need apology or consoling, not anymore. "Help me."

"What do you need?"

She sniffed and wiped her teary eyes. "I need you to help me run away... from this kingdom."

Edward took a few steps back from her, his eyes registering danger. "I can't do that and you shouldn't be considering that either."

"I have no other choice. The king hates me and doesn't want to be with me because I'm not the woman he loves and he wouldn't stop until I am dead."

"You don't know that. Xavier is a lot of things, but-"

"He's not a killer?" she asked. "We both know the answer to that. Zara told me about how much they loved each other and I saw it myself, the way he was with her. It was love. The Alpha king might be cold towards me, but he's tender and is affectionate towards his lover in such a way he would never be with me. He's hoping to make her his queen, the woman he holds and shows off to the world. I do not know how he plans to achieve that and I don't want to know. But I know he's planning to get rid of me, and that's why I need your help."

"What you're asking for is treason, my queen, and I am the King's brother."

She dropped to her knees, and she took his hand into her cold ones, her eyes holding onto his in desperation. "I'm begging you to help me, my prince. You have a good heart and you shouldn't shut it off on me."

He withdrew his hand from her. "I'm sorry. I can't help you do this crazy thing. Please stand up." he took her by the shoulder and helped her onto her feet.

She whimpered and wiped the tears on her face off. Her heart shrunk away as she lost the last straw of hope she had.

Mia returned to her chambers, giving Lydia instructions to tell the alpha king that a sudden yet wrecking headache had taken hold of her. And so she had returned to her chambers to get rest, despite the banquet being on.

She had a wrecking headache but more than anything; she didn't want to see the king or be in his presence, not after everything she had discovered and witnessed tonight. With his hands and mind focused on Zara, she doubts he would pay her absence much attention.

She walked over to her drawer, unlocked it and picked out the map of the kingdom of Reading; the place she had hoped to travel to before her whole life turned.

Edward, hoping to protect her from harm, had declined her request, but she wasn't ready to give up yet and was certain she'd replace her way on her own or die trying.

A knock came to her door and Edward's voice came through the next second, "My queen, if you're in there, open up."

With her heart beating unsteadily, she walked to the door and opened it, letting him in.

She shut the door and turned to him, her brows pulling together suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Your plan is crazy and reckless and if it fails, you will get persecuted or worse, killed by the Alpha King."

She swallowed and nodded. "Yes, I know all that, but I'd rather die trying to escape than die doing nothing."

He ran his hand through his short black hair. "You're just as stubborn as my brother says you are, but I will help you run away to replace enlightenment."

Her eyes widen in disbelief and she swelled with joy as once again hope filled her heart. "What made you change your mind?"

He turned away from her, "Xavier doesn't know how good he has it and perhaps your leaving would make him realise it."

She didn't really care about his reason. Her excitement was all over the fact that he had accepted to help her.

He turned back to her. "What are your plans?"

She moved to the drawer where the map was, picked it up, and brought it to Edward.

"In a few days, there will be a ship leaving for the southern kingdom. I hope to be on that ship. I need your help with getting out of the Palace and going to the seaport. Once there, I can replace my own way. I will head for Reading once I reach the Southern shores." "And Reading, what do they have that makes you want to leave everything behind?" he asked inquisitively, gaping at her.

His question brought a smile to her face, and she wasted no time to answer. "Enlightenment and freedom." then she glanced at him. "I had always wanted to go far. Beauty brought respect in this kingdom, and I have none. I mean, look at me."

He opened his mouth to say something but shut it up, and she continued speaking.

"I fell in love with books at a very tender age because it took me away from reality and when I turned fourteen, I realised I wanted more than the kingdom was given and so I longed to venture far. According to the books, Reading has the largest library in the world and I wanted to see It. And if it's as amazing as the stories, I'd want to live there for..."

She stopped speaking when she noticed Edward's eyes on her, watching her with pure admiration.

"What?" her gaze narrowed at him.

"If only my brother knew how lucky he is to have you as a bride."

Her cheeks heated at his awestricken compliment and her heart fluttered, but she didn't dwell on it. "He doesn't and if my plans work out, he never will."