Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 26

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Seeing that her time had been well spent at the courthouse, she made her move to leave. She approached the exit door, but stopped when she saw Zara Michel perched at the door. She shouldn't feel surprised by her presence. Every maiden in Wahala was invited to partake the meeting, and that included her. Her sight, however, stirred up a negative feeling in Mia.

Zara stood with arms crossed in a red fray gown that made her skin radiate and held onto her middle firmly. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail with its tips braided. She looked elegant even though she placed little effort into her looks. Mia could see why the alpha King was taken with her. On the outside, she was beautiful and on the inside; she was just like him, a monster.

"Congratulations on your first act as Queen," Zara said, stepping boldly towards her.

Now, unlike the first and last time Mia saw her, she knew who she was. This prepared her for whatever games Zara hoped to play.

She had felt intimidated and insecure after Lydia told her who she was at the banquet, but she didn't feel that now. Zara and the alpha king wanted her dead and made plans towards their goal. That made her an enemy, not a friend. She had to still deal with the alpha king because he was still her husband and had much authority over her. She was also in an agreement with him, but not Zara.

"This is not my first act as queen, Zara. I've offered guidance and counsel to the king frequently. You just didn't know because it wasn't your business." she shot back with a corny tone.

Zara's eyes became cold and her teeth clench at Mia's words. She had struck a nerve just as she wanted, and it felt good.

Zara steps towards her, covering up dangerous personal space. "Do not flatter yourself. The king might be yours in title, but we know whose arms he sleeps better in."

"You should be careful who you challenge." Mia stepped forward, leaving less than an inch between them. She was shorter than Zara, but she wasn't ready to back out of the challenge. "You might have the king wrapped around your fingers, but I'm still queen. I can have you thrown in jail just because it's raining. Do not cross me." she barked back at Zara, and this made the mistress step back. She saw the fear that registered in her eyes at her threat, and she smiled.

Zara backed away, knowing the Queen had outmatched her. With one last glance, she left the court.

Mia had never felt good about being queen, but knowing she could use her authority as queen to put people like Zara in their places, even if it was for a little while, felt great.

Mia was reading the Chronicles of the traveller when her door flew open and she jump on her seat. Her eyes travelled to the door, and she saw the alpha king. He had his hand on the side of the door and his body rested against it.

She hadn't seen him all day; he wasn't at breakfast this morning and they hadn't seen each other since then.

She did not care, her being rejoiced at his absence. The less she saw him, the better it felt for her, but he was here now.

She wanted to tell herself he missed her, and that was why he came, but she knew better. No one has gold and miss bronze. She didn't want to sell herself short either; she was gold in a lot of ways, but gold for her might not be for him and it wasn't.

His lover probably told him about their confrontation earlier, and he was now here to seek vengeance for her. Knowing him, he'd yell at her, and if things escalated, he'd reach for her neck. He hadn't exploded on her since her return because of the restraint ring, and she didn't know if today was the day.

"Mia." he stepped into the room, not bothering to shut the door behind him.

"My King," she sprung to her feet and braced herself for the worse.

He strolled closer, his eyes briefly holding her gaze before drifting down her neck and chest where the swell of her b****t was. She felt nervous.

"I heard you're doing wonderful at the court with the maidens of the kingdom." If she didn't know better, she'd say he sounded impressed.

"I just did what I thought was right. It's one of my duties as queen."

"You're a smart young girl. I feel so many people haven't noticed that for so long, myself included." he kept drawing closer until they were mere feet apart. Now, she could feel the heat coming off his body and the stench of alcohol on him weakened her senses. Her palms grew sweaty, and she rubbed them over her robe. Her heartbeat doubled with every second that passed, and she shivered inwardly. She did not know why she had become so responsive to him, despite him being cold and shit. Edward told her to take care of the king in his absence. It meant his brother saw something she didn't, something many others didn't. Still, she didn't like her reactions around him. He wasn't the type of man she wanted to feel this way with. He was the opposite.

"Smart doesn't get anyone too far in this kingdom. Looks do," she said the last part to herself.

"You're here," he took another step closer and their bodies touched.

Her breathing grew laboured. "I'm a replacement." She reminded him with a sharp exhale.

It seemed as though he had forgotten.

"A very good one at that." his hand trailed over her silk robe, from her stomach up to her b****t, then her chest and then up her neck.

She shivered in his response, her body coming to life at his touch and her eyes almost fluttered. Then she remembered Zara, his mistress, and the moment becomes a bitter one. She also remembered him sending Edward off yesterday just to teach her a lesson, and she almost hated herself for reacting to his touch.

With careful measures, she stepped away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. He didn't expect her withdrawal, as if the show of intimacy he'd put up with was common between them.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, staring up at him.

"I came to be with my wife and queen?" he answered. "That's one duty of a husband, according to our agreement."

It felt strange being called wife by him. She had never felt like a wife. She felt like someone he came to only when he needed something. Or more like a transactional person than she was his wife. Someone who only does things when they were asked to and whose opinion hardly mattered.

She didn't know what he was up to with this, but she didn't like it.

"We don't have to put up a show when no one's around, my king. So why are you really here?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"Yes, especially since your mistress confronted me at the maiden's court today."

His eyes widen, surprised at her revelation and then flickered with minor emotions. Turned out he didn't know she even came for the meeting. That meant his mistress, unlike her, had a mind of her own and do as she pleased.

"Zara came to the maiden's court?"

Him not looking half as upset with it as he would if the case was reversed made her boil.

He had a mistress at arm's reach and a queen at home. She had none and didn't think that was fair. And if she got one, she'd be banished from the kingdom with no mercy shown.

"I understand that society had treated you two with cruelty, and gave you two a cold shoulder. But, I had no part in it. I want to be left alone from it, not dragged into it. Tell your mistress I won't stand in your way and hers and tell her to stay away from my path. I don't know your hell, but I have mine."