Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 50

A few Lords arrived at the Asika household and so Mia declined her father's offer to walk her to her carriage. He had a meeting to get to and she could see herself out in one piece. They shared a brief kiss, and he beseeched her to take care of herself. The evening drew near when Mia took her leave. The palace was a little over an hour's ride from here, so she was certain she would get home before dark. The last thing she wanted was to encounter trouble on the road. King Xavier Ainsworth will have a legit reason to have her killed. Mia stepped towards her carriage and almost stepped in when she noticed a pair of glowing yellow eyes at the corner of the compound hanging on the wall of the ceiling.

She did not fear. This was her father's house, which made it hers as well. But she knew better than to let her wolf's side take over so she could replace out who was lurking around. Setting her wolf free would tell whoever was lurking around that Mia Asika was still a beta and not yet a Luna. Xavier wouldn't forgive her if she exposed herself that way. So despite her need, she tamed her wolf and waited to see what the lurking wolf will do.

After half a minute, the wolf released its grip on the ceiling and landed on his paws like a predator. Something about the mischievousness of the wolf seemed familiar to Mia, and she waited as he strolled over to her, not for once breaking eye contact. She knew only one person who had such a smouldering gaze. "Jared?"

Jared was her childhood friend. He was the only son and heir to the Yao household. His mother always disapproved of his friendship with her. Mia had once overheard her speak to him and refer to her as a stained creature. She forbade him from keeping relationships with her, but he didn't listen. He would sneak into their compound and play with her, but a few years ago, that changed. Mia didn't ask why, she knew why. Jared was kind and funny and annoying when he wanted to be. He would have appeared intimidating with his act if the alpha king hadn't already surpassed that level without even trying.

He paused, surprised she knew who he was. "It's you right?" she wanted to ask what he was doing in her father's compound but held that back.

"You were not seriously hoping to scare the queen were you?" a familiar feminine voice asked from behind her. Mia spun around to see Lydia, her former maid, in a white slim armed gown with a brown leather bed in the middle. She held a brown woollen wrapper in her hand and a smile showed in her eyes.

"Lydia!" she gasped, startled at her presence.

Lydia hurried over to her, and they hugged tightly. Mia clung to her, almost not willing to let go. She had missed her so much these last months and whenever she thought she was over her; she ended up missing her the more. It's been many months since she left and Mia still felt her absence.

"After I learnt of your fate, I tried to speak on your behalf to the king, but he never listen. I thought I'd never see you again. You don't know how happy I am to see you."

"I am too, my queen," she replied, beaming. "I decided to stay around the capital after leaving the palace. The compensation I got from the king for my services was generous. With it, I opened a saloon, and that's where I met Jared Yao." There's a clearing of throat and Mia and Lydia turned to see Jared now standing in human form without clothes. His hands were wrapped around the part of him that should be private and he awkwardly stared at the sky.

"I'll need the wrapper now, Lydia," he spoke up, stretching his hand to her. She handed him the wrapper, but her gaze remained on Mia.

"I hope you're well, my queen."

She bobbed her head. "I came to see my father. What are you two doing here?"

"We saw your carriage drive in hours ago and Jared thought it would be fun to sneak through the gate and scare you a few minutes ago," Lydia answered and Mia turned to see Jared with a guilty look on his face.

"That was supposed to be a secret." Jared, who already had the wrapper around his waist, spoke up, and Mia watched him. "You suck at keeping a secret." he frowned at Lydia.

Lydia shrugged, and he rolled his eyes. Mia noticed the tone of the dialogue and their body language while they addressed each other. It was obvious they weren't just friends or acquaintances. There was more, or at least there should be more. "Are you guys together?" Mia blurted out.

"What gave it away?" Jared asked with widened eyes.

"Everything."

Jared pulled Lydia closer by her waist and their bodies pressed together intimately. "You're right, queen Mia. She's my mate."

Lydia looked over the moon with his declaration about who they were to the queen. Mia saw the fondness, and it was undeniable. She turned to Lydia, grinning from cheek to cheek.

"I am happy for you." She glanced up at Jared. "And your mother?"

Mia recalled her disdain for her when they were much younger even though they were just friends. She knew she would feel the same when she replaces out her son had chosen an omega for a mate.

"She wept and got over it," he replied, not really bothered. "Meeting Lydia is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I am grateful for all the circumstances that brought us together. I am grateful to you, your majesty." Jared bowed.

Mia rolled her eyes but felt delighted to see them. Seeing the two of them happy and in love had given birth to hope within her and she would hold on to that.

She arrived safely at the Palace and she hurried inside, keeping her head down and her feet steady. She didn't look forward to any confrontation with anyone and didn't hope to see Xavier. The day had so far been good. She didn't want it ruined for any reason. She climbed the stairs and took the hallway that led towards the door of her room. Her hands clamped on the three books she had taken from her old room and she counted down the last few steps before reaching her door. She was a few steps away when she heard a cry followed by a loud crash on the floor. She stopped in her tracks and turned around, knowing very well where the noise came from.

The Alpha king's room.

Her heart clenched in her chest. She wanted to ignore and take herself into her room, but she knew she would never rest until she figured out what was happening.

There was no longer loud noise rather, she heard silent whimpers and sobs accompanied by sounds of struggle.

With a heavily beating heart, she guided her feet towards the alpha king's door and on getting there; she saw it opened.

She peeped through and saw Xavier pinning a guard against the wall by his neck. His darkened gaze watched as blood gushed out of the guard's mouth while sneering at him. He was squeezing the life out of one guard while another guard lay unconscious on the floor. The guard didn't fight back, only struggle to set himself free, but even his struggle had become a pathetic attempt.

Horrified by the sight, Mia lost all her senses for a minute. Xavier would kill this guard if he kept strangling this neck. He seemed to know this too but didn't care.

She had always known him to be terrifying, but she didn't think it would come this far.

This wasn't the version of him she recognised, this side horrified her. Whatever had happened to him was turning him into a monster.

"Stop!" she exclaimed with a voice of panic from where she stood outside.

At her command, he let go, and the guard crashed to the floor, almost lifeless like the other.

Xavier breathed heavily. His chest rose and fell with every intake of breath. He slammed his leg to the unconscious guard's face and the guard jerked back to consciousness.

"Get out!" he roared like a wounded animal at the poor guards, as they helped each other up and dragged themselves out of the alpha king's presence.

At their departure, Xavier finally turned to acknowledge Mia's presence, who had been standing outside the door for over a minute.

She swallowed as she saw his eyes red and furious, just like she had dreamt. A sneer left his mouth and his teeth clenched and ground together, making her tremble on the inside.

He was in black trousers and naked from his waist up and his toned body intimidated her. She didn't know which was more terrifying between his face or the naked part of his body.

He strolled toward the door and the voices in her head told her to run and save herself, but she didn't move. She couldn't. He got to the door and gripped the knob and with one swift pull; he slammed it to her face, causing a loud bang.