Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 32

She finished reading and glanced up at Xavier who had done little to get out of his pissed off state.

"Your father wants to visit the Capital 3, and he wants me to come along with him." She rolled the letter in her hand and it returned to the way it first was, but for the broken seal. "Yes, I read that." he told her, his voice still upset.

He took her hand, and they silently got into the carriage, which drove them home. Once at the Palace, Xavier offered Mia his hand, and she took it. He helped her out and together they made their way out of the carriage. They were at the last step to the entrance when Mia broke the silence that had dominated for over an hour.

She slowly withdrew her hand from his protective hold. "I would like to accept the invitation and go with your father to see the sites of the Capital 3." she informed him of her decision.

His head snaps to her, her answer was the last thing he wanted to hear. It, however, didn't surprise him. She had done a mildly decent job of being an obedient wife to him. Her impudence sometimes impressed him and sometimes angered the f**k out of him.

He glared at her. "You will do no such thing. That's an order." He said and walked into the palace. He didn't turn back to her, or make sure she followed behind as he walked away. He felt too infuriated, too wounded to.

Mia's ear rang at his words, and she followed him. He moved at a quicker pace and she couldn't catch up with him until they entered further into the Palace.

She raced forward and stood before him. He dragged a restrained breath and pressed his lips together.

"Your father, the alpha of alphas, wants me with him tomorrow."

Between his father and his wife, he didn't know who angered him more. His father, without a doubt, would be the answer, but she was taking after him. No wonder the two got along so well.

Since Robb's arrival at the Palace over a week ago, Xavier had tried to be ahead with everything. He had spies scattered all over the capital, feeding him information about the alpha of alphas. He wanted to know his moves and plans. Being taken off guard would be his fault, and he didn't want that.

Robb's new abode was at the home of the fathers. He had built the mansion for his father, Kade Ainsworth, after he became alpha king. He could have stayed at the Palace, but he chose not to. Xavier was delighted that he stayed away. He didn't want to share a roof. His distance gave him privacy and control over his home and Palace.

It was one good thing he did, the only good thing Xavier remembered.

Somehow Mia's wisdom and good name had made her gain favour before Robb. Xavier noticed how impressed his father looked at his wife and her knowledge of things. A part of him wished he was like that with him when he was younger, even if it was just for a few minutes. Robb never believed he was worth it, not even to this day.

"He doesn't want you with him. The only reason he's inviting you is to spite me." he snarled at her.

Her teeth clenched, "There are tons of reasons he would invite me, but since you don't see that, I won't bother myself."

Underneath her tone, he heard a little pain and he would have backed off her if this was something else.

"If it wasn't to spite me, Robb would have sent a permission letter to me."

"He doesn't need to. I am the queen as far as the saying goes, and your father probably believes I don't have an over-controlling freak for a husband." She snapped at him.

"Mind your words with me, woman, I'd like to think you're on my side even though it's for show." he seethes at her. He was a few minutes from grabbing her and shaking her vigorously. A few of her nuts were lost, he was certain. Perhaps a hard shake would restore it. "Did it ever occur to you that your father might not hate you as much as you think? That maybe he also has good intentions towards you."

This had to be the craziest thing he ever heard. His father had tormented him ever since he was a child and only stopped when he rebelled. Everyone knew he hated him.

Turned out she wasn't as smart as he thought. "You were born nineteen summers ago. You're young and you have little knowledge of this world. I've known him for longer. Robb is a corny man, and this is his ploy to replace me unworthy. Together, it might be harder for him to crack you, but alone, you'd be vulnerable to him."

"I am smarter than you think."

"You're the smartest maiden I know in the entire kingdom." He agreed, and this was the greatest compliment he ever paid her.

"Still, Robb would rip you into shreds and read you like a book." he took her by the shoulders but his touch wasn't hard. "you have to decline his invitation."

For a moment, she saw desperation in his eyes, and she wanted to give in, but she couldn't. "I want to go."

He released his hands from her shoulders and stepped back. "And I forbid you."

"You cannot forbid me. I am the queen and Our Father has invited me out. What do you think he would say when he replaces out you commanded me to remain in the Palace against my wish? He would have another reason to consider you unworthy of the throne. If you let me leave, however, you'd be conveying to him you're not afraid of him and also that you trust your wife and queen."

"This could also be an excuse for you to be around my father and tell him things you shouldn't. For all I know, it might just be your way of taking advantage of the situation."

She took no offense at his words. He had a point. "I guess you'd just have to trust me and have faith."