Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 24

As Edward returned from his meeting with the council concerning the Capital 3's project, he received notice that the king wanted to have a word with him. Although not specifying what the talk was about, Edward could discern it wouldn't be far from his loyalty to They have had talks more than once since Mia returned, but Xavier had not summoned him into his study yet. Something about today's talk would be different, Edward could feel it.

him as alpha king.

Since the queen's return, Edward hadn't seen Xavier lose his temper. It surprised Edward when Mia told him Xavier didn't harm her that night but seeing the restraint ring he knew why. His brother hadn't worn the ring since he received it as a gift from their mother. The ring was a protector and a repeller of his rage. Queen Layla knew she would not always be around to pacify him, and this was her alternative.

Due to its magical elements, it took a lot from Xavier to have it on his fingers, yet he hadn't taken it off in over a week. Normally, Xavier would explode on the littlest of things, but the magic in the ring kept him in check. The angrier Xavier got, the more pain he felt because of the ring, and so he had to work on taming his raging side. Edward had, however, taken advantage of that last week when he presented Mia's case and got a positive response from Xavier.

As Edward stepped into the quiet study, he wondered what mischief his brother was up to. A part of him didn't want to know, but he couldn't avoid it now.

Edward knew Xavier's attempt to tame his rage had a lot to do with the awakening of their father, Robb Ainsworth, who was now the alpha of alphas. Although awakened, Robb was still in an oblivious state that took a days to get out of. A few more days and the alpha of alphas will have his full senses. His new role and authority would place him higher than the alpha king himself, and that obviously frightened Xavier.

Robb was never on Xavier's side growing up. He called him privileged and nothing Xavier did really pleased him. He, however, took likeness and approval in his late brother's son, Elliott Ainsworth. Edward had watched his brothers' feelings for his father grow from love and adoration he had as a child to hate and pure resentment as a man.

Even now, Xavier hated him. When Robb went to sleep a few years ago, Xavier wish he'd never wake up.

The study door opened and Xavier adorn in a scarlet robe, walked in. His hands folded behind his back as he walked over to his seat and perched down in it, keeping his focus on Edward.

He noticed the restraint ring was no longer on his finger and he knew Xavier wasn't planning on holding back on him. He swallowed and waited. "Brother, you summoned me."

"I did." he agreed and nodded his head.

"I wonder what it is about?"

"It's about your fondness and friendship with my wife."

"She's not friend, brother, she's family."

The glare Xavier cast him told him he didn't appreciate him being smart. He pinned his lips and listened to what he had to say.

"I dislike it and I do not want it to continue," he spoke, and Edward knew it had to do with all the anger he had bottled up in the past week.

Xavier picked up a letter on his desk, having two royal seals, and he handed it to Edward. "This letter is to be delivered to Alpha Koz. He is on a peace treaty with the kingdom of Klean, our neighbours according to our last reports. You will take the royal escort with you and leave after breakfast."

Taking the royal escort would make the journey longer than it would be if Edward went alone.

"My king, the journey to the neighbouring kingdom would take months if the Royal escort came along. I can get there faster on my own within a month and back in two at most."

"You shall take the royal escort and that shall be all." Xavier ended the discussion, his tone strict before taking his seat.

"You're sending me away," Edward said with a hollowed voice. His gaze dropped to the letter in his hand having to royal seal. "This isn't a message. This is punishment."

He'd only punish him this way if he knew the role he played in the escape of his wife.

Edward's eyes returned to Xavier's, and he saw them blazing with fury and hurt. He knew Xavier knew his part, and this was his way of punishing him.

"I'm sorry, brother, for helping your wife escape. But doing this as a way of punishment..."

"You betrayed your own brother and your king. You chose a woman you didn't know over the brother you knew. Robb Ainsworth is awake, and in days, he will regain his complete senses. The upcoming months are going to be trying and I need loyalty more than ever. I can't trust you around me, not now."

Edward stepped towards the table. "I did what I thought was right. I saw how you treated her."

He rose to his feet abruptly, slamming his hand down on the table, "You forget one thing, she's my wife and I can do whatever I want."

"She might be your wife, but she's also the queen," Edward argued, his voice rising

"I am not listening to this-"

Edward cut him off. "You need to listen, you are king. Our father made your life a living hell and you hate him even to this day. Yet, you've managed to turn out just like him and never see the errors of your ways. You exact punishment above reasoning just like he did. You've punished the queen for weeks for something she had no control over, a choice she was forced to accept. So yes, I helped her escape to replace a better life where she wouldn't cry herself to sleep or have to watch her back every fucking time. And if I can go back, I'll do it all over again!"

"You will stop speaking or I shall have your head!"

Edward became quiet, and his grip tightened around the letter in his hand. "I will deliver this letter to alpha Koz, just like you command, my king. You're my brother and I love you, but the hatred in your heart will make you into the man you hate." Edward bowed his head and walked away.

·

The next morning when Mia and Toni arrived at the dining hall, she saw Xavier already seated, waiting for her, but glancing around, she didn't replace Edward.

Edward couldn't join for breakfast, his commands were for him to leave early. That took having breakfast before leaving out of the equation.

She greeted with a bow of her head, and Xavier promptly responded. Toni pulled out a seat for her, which she sat waiting for Edward's arrival while Toni dismissed herself. "You're here, let's eat," Xavier said, picking up his cutleries.

Her gaze narrowed in confusion. "There's one less person at the table. Are we to start without him?"

"My brother will not be joining us for a while. I sent him on a mission along with the royal escort. He leaves this morning."

How was she just learning it now? When was this decision made and why didn't Edward tell her?

She frowned. "How long will that be?"

"A few months," he replied quickly.

Her stomach tightened.

He was sending everyone away. First, it was Lydia and now Edward. These were the people that meant so much to her, and he was getting rid of them.

Why did she believe him when he said things were going to change? Why did she accept his proposal? She had done everything he instructed, and yet he was still punishing her.

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it? Isolate me from those that once made me feel seen." she ground out. Her grip tightened around the metal cutlery, making them bend in her hands. "There's a punishment for every rebellion, my queen, and this is one of them."

He ate his breakfast in peace while she raged and gritted her teeth.

Mia stood not so far away, watching Edward tighten the buckles of his brown leather ankle boot beside his carriage. The other escorts were already on their horses and waiting for him at this point.

He finished and rose to his feet, wiping at his blue woollen coat before turning around and seeing Mia not so far away.

A smile spread across his face, dimming his blue eyes. "My queen, I see you're well." He walked over to her.

"Yes, Prince Edward. But not happy. The king told me about your assignment."

"Yes, the great message to the kingdom of Klean, but I'll be back." he joked lightly.

"You'll be gone for too long. Who's going to help tame the king in my favour?" she meant that as a joke, but her voice did a horrible job conveying it.

He chuckles, "You are. The king is your husband."

"Be safe, okay?"

He took her gloves covered hands after she offered them to him. "I will, my queen. You too stay safe and please do take care of the king. He's your husband, after all."

Mia pulled him closer and hugged him tightly before releasing him.

Edwards saw Xavier, standing far away, watching them being affectionate with each other. The look on his face was unreadable, but Edward didn't mind it. He dragged his gaze away from his brother to Mia and smiled warmly at her. He stepped away from her, moving over towards his carriage. "Don't forget to write to me, my queen."

"I won't," a tear rolled down her cheeks.

He wished he could wipe it off, but he couldn't and so he bowed and entered into his carriage.