Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 53

Mia stepped into the dining hall to have her breakfast after being summoned by Xavier.

It's been a week since they had the talk and Xavier already came out of his shell. They had worked through a few things and reached a mutual understanding. Their agreement will continue and run its cause and they would maintain a healthy relationship until the end. Xavier promised to keep his hands to himself and with Mia's advice, he invited a listener in the Capital to be his counsellor.

Listeners in the kingdom had one job, to listen to personal confessions and offer suitable solutions. They related to Lords, noble-born, alphas and royals on a personal level. They were lower than the ranks of priests and shamans but played important roles in maintaining balance in the kingdom. Every region had at least two listeners and the Capital alone had six.

Xavier had never given thoughts to listeners while growing up, he never saw the point. He believed talking to them won't change anything and so he always declined every chance he got.

At Mia's suggestion, however, he chose Akor, an older listener and made him swear an oath of secrecy to him, even though secrecy was a listener's first code. Despite all this, opening up to him about the past wasn't easy or nice, but in the last week he'd seen him twice and their session got better each time.

He was working towards being the better man, and as much as that line was cringeworthy, he wanted to do it.

For himself.

He also wanted to do it for his queen. She didn't deserve to be married to a broken man. If fixing himself would make her happy, he was going to do it.

Seeing Mia's face every morning made him look forward to the day ahead.

Today, however, became an exception.

Xavier spat out the steak in his mouth at the sight of Mia. He wrapped his hands around the cup on the table and took a drink of its content while eyeing her from head to toe.

She had a burgundy robe on, and its colour did nothing to highlight her curly red hair. The hair also was packed into a loose bun that made her look like one who ran out from a fight. Whoever made it was either really clumsy or secretly hated the queen. She paid him no mind and sat at the dining table. The servant stood around quickly, stepping forward to serve her food.

"Good morning, my king."

He scowls. "It's not a good morning, and it's Xavier. You're doing such a terrible job at remembering that just as whoever picked out that gown for you did."

Her brows pulled together, displaying her confusion. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

He set the cup down almost with a bang. "I'm going to say nothing because any other word might cause me to not only catch but chop off the hands of those responsible for your clothes and the monstrosity on your head."

"What's wrong with my hair?" the frown on her face deepened.

He grunts, "Nothing. I'd like the name of your dressmaker and maid?"

"Why? So you can have their hands chopped off?"

His head snapped up to her, his gaze narrowed. "Yes, specifically that."

"You wouldn't"

"Their name, Mia."

The way his voice sounded at the pronunciation of her name made her heart skip and her skin tighten. She immediately forgot they were currently in a dispute. He still had such an interesting force on her and the moment they shared in his room only strengthened it. Almost every night since working out their differences she had dreamt about the kiss they shared in the study two weeks ago and she'd woken up panting and needy.

Those nights when she woke, her mind wandered back to just how soft his lips felt on hers and how tight he held her close, and how right it felt. She remembered the manly smell of him, how she desperately wanted him and how she still did until this moment. Neither of them had spoken about the kiss even after everything and she knew they were only going to ignore that it ever happened. She concluded that the Alpha King wanted to move on from it and she didn't want to embarrass herself by asking. Two could play the moving-on game.

Despite his effort to be a better man, he still wanted to strangle her neck. She felt it every time she crossed or challenged him in private or public this week. But she knew he wouldn't. She had seen enough to know the alpha she married was not evil. The side of him she'd seen in the last few months and that of last week made her believe. His upbringing contributed immensely to who he was and she hoped he would work it out with the listener.

"Are you done?" he asked, yanking her out of her thoughts.

She regained herself, "Uh?"

"Are you done eye-fucking me or do you need me to take off my clothes as well?"

Her cheeks heat and she moved her attention away from him to the meal before her.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled after a long while of eating in silence.

Xavier who seemed to know what she apologised for spoke. "You don't have to be sorry. I need their names."

"I can't give them to you."

"Fine, I won't chop them off. I will just place the full moon curse on them to never turn human again."

"That's so cruel!" she gasped.

"I am cruel." he informed her, "Did your mother never teach you to stay away from men like me?"

Her hands dropped to her laps, "I think she would have, but she died when I was ten."

His countenance fell, he had struck a chord. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, but before she could open her mouth, someone stepped into the dining room and turning around, Mia saw Edward.

She rose to her feet and raced towards him, a bright smile that hurt her cheeks on her face. She threw her arms around him before she could stop herself. Edward immediately hugged back, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I missed you," she breathed, the bright smile still on her face as she pulled away. "You're not leaving anymore, are you?" she asked, her eyes searching his for the answer.

"I don't hold the answer to that. Your king does."

Mia turned to replace Xavier's pensive eyes on them and their affectionate moment. She didn't ask him the same question, she knew the answer.

"I'll leave you two." She bowed her head and took her leave.

The men stayed silent, watching each other from their distance.

"You just came back and you're already stealing my wife." Xavier broke the silence, rising from his seat.

"I miss you too, brother." he walked up to him and they threw their arms around each other.

Edward being away for so long had reset his priorities and made him realise just how close by he wanted those he trusted to be. They step out of the dining room together and towards the throne room catching up on what they missed in the last few months. "And alpha Koz?"

Edward huffed a deep breath. "It was tough convincing him to see you as the good person when you tried killing him at your wedding many months ago."

They stepped into the throne room, but Xavier's gaze remained on Edward. "When I see him, I will offer a proper apology."

"He's here now. You can offer the apology." alpha Koz said, making his presence in the throne room known. His voice was calm and his countenance reserved.

Xavier had been caught off guard and he turned to his brother, who stood with a slightly apologetic look. He didn't give him proper information about Koz's presence, and he wanted to smack him in the head for that.

"Alpha Koz, I'm so happy that you considered my request and travelled all the way to meet me. You have no clue how much it means to me despite our past clashes. I'm sorry I tried to kill you on my wedding day. It wasn't personal. I don't think rationally when I'm furious and I'm working on it." Saying the words felt like swallowing concrete mixed with cows dung and it hurt the entire time he spoke. Yet, he understood that his pride would not save him in the upcoming war. He had seen it and he also saw Koz beside him and this was the right way to keep him.

Koz's brown eyes narrowed at the alpha king. "It must have hurt you to say those words?"

"I don't want to be a proud man, it did, but it had to be said. The reason I sent for you is because I trust you. I've realised you have to work hard to keep trust."

Koz bowed his head, "It's wise what you have said. I came because your brother, the crowned prince, offered an interesting argument on why I needed to be on your side, but now hearing you say those words further confirms to me that believing him was not a mistake. You are a wise king and you have my pledge of loyalty."

"Thank you, alpha Koz."

He bowed his head again and took his leave.

"What happened to you? It's been only a few months, but a lot has changed, especially with you." Edward asked with a tone of interest.

Xavier rolled his eyes. "It could be because my tormentor of a brother was far away."

"As much as I'd like to take the credit, I can't. This feels more than that." His brow narrowed, and he stared at Xavier as if there was more to his face than was obvious. "Is it the queen?"

Xavier's eyes flicker at his guess and Edward saw it. "It's the queen," he said with much confidence this time. "You're smitten by your queen."

Xavier's fondness for the queen was part of the truth they were selling. But his brother had picked up something more than he wanted him to know.

"I don't want to hear it." Xavier turned away and towards the throne.

"Does she know?"

"There's nothing to know. I am not smitten by her."

"By who?" Robb asked Stepping into the throne room, his presence was unexpected.

Why was everyone showing up at the Palace without proper announcements today? Xavier inwardly groaned.

"By his queen."

"He's married to her. She's pretty and smart, noble-born. I think he should be."

Xavier at this point couldn't be surprised at his father's words, so he asked. "What do you want here?"

"I came to see my son!"

He groaned, "We saw each other yesterday at the temple."

"The moon goddess wasn't cruel enough to make you my only son," he said, his tone harsh.

Xavier's teeth gritted, and he almost said, "She shouldn't have made you my father!" but he refrained himself. He was working towards becoming a better man and leaving his past behind. And despite this grey-haired old man ticking him off, he had to remain in control.