Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 66

parts anyone would try to hide away, yet he wanted her to know. He trusted her.

Mia saw Xavier struggle as he revealed a part of his past, especially his estranged relationship with his father. It seemed to have begun many years ago, and she understood why he had a difficult time getting along with him. He didn't have to tell her. Those were He didn't want to be like his father, though, and looking at Xavier now, she knew he was nothing like him. He was a good man and king, and every day he worked to get even better.

She didn't want to shut him down. He communicated healthily and encouraging him would go a long way.

He had given up so much for the throne, some of which she still didn't know about. If she could help him gain back even a little, she wanted to try. She wasn't just his wife and Queen; she was his Luna now.

"Have you ever wished for another life?" her head swivelled to give him an angled glance.

"More times than I can count," he admitted, with a long exhale.

They had so much in common and once she would have laughed at this very thought.

"And now?" her brow rose.

He peeked at her and smiled. "I no longer do."

She felt chilled at the sight of him smiling and she wanted to freeze time and keep them this way.

"Good." Deciding to step out of her comfort zone for once, and be a little rebellious, she took his hand and raced them towards the forbidden forest.

She reached the hedges and let go of his hand, pushing the palisade to the side and stepping through. Xavier followed behind not, complaining.

"This is a bad idea, and I'm the king of bad ideas." he finally spoke up with an oddly amused voice.

"Well, now you have a queen." Mia chuckles as they stepped through and they glance around at the open forest with tall trees and dry leaves lying on the ground. Birds sang sweetly, chirping and rattling up the trees and she could hear soft noises of the wind from a far distance.

This part of the forest differed from the path they normally took during the full moon and her wolf leapt, excited. The completeness and peace she felt made her eyes flutter and her hand stretch out. No wonder he had a hard time leaving here as a child. It was a place of escape.

After taking it all in, she saw Xavier's gaze on hers. How embarrassing. She was acting out right before him.

He cleared his throat and looked away, trying to concentrate on something else.

Her eyes caught sight of a rose flower growing beside the massive tree to the left. The rose flower, being her favourite, captured her heart and she immediately longed for it. She took a step forward to pluck it and her leg stepped on something. She heard a click followed by what sounded like a heavy force approach. Her head snapped back, and she saw it. It was a log, chained to the tree with its mouth shaped into a stake and it swung towards her with full force and speed.

She gasped, surprised and unable to move, and her life flash before her eyes. She shouldn't have acted out or come here. Bad things happen when she acted out of line and this was it for her. Her eyes shut tightly as she waited to be impaled by the log, but before that could happen, she hit the ground.

Her eyes fluttered, and she saw Xavier on top of her, his eyes wide and staring down at her and his face only a few inches away.

She gasped out, a little fear registering in her eyes at what almost happened. She peered at him, knowing he just saved her life, but could not utter a word.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his breath fanned over her face. His concerned green eyes locked on hers as if they had the answers he needed.

She calmed her trembling body while struggling to catch her breath.

She swallowed on her empty throat as her trembling body returned, not from the fear of what had just happened, but from the sight of the man before her.

Her gaze drifted from his and paused on his lips. His full, red lips and her body immediately gave out a needy response. She felt the heat leaving his body and longed to have his skin on hers once more. Her eyes travelled back to his. They met. She blinked a few times.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, still not getting up from on top of her.

"Yes, I'm fine," she squirmed under him so he could get off her. He did and offered her his hand. As she took it, he pulled her up.

She brushed off the few leaves hanging on her grey robe. "What was that?"

"It's part of the defensive measures Robb took after the war. He couldn't trust Foth to keep the peace. He did this. I requested to take them down last year, but I see it hasn't been followed." He sounded upset, despite looking worried about her. "You saved my life." she gave him a grateful look.

"You can't die and leave me." a little fear flashed in his eyes and she saw it. Once her death would have brought him joy and peace, but that wasn't the case anymore. She liked it. She didn't want to die either, not anymore. Not when there was so much to live for. "Why not?" she pushed further, wanting to know why he said that and her voice held a little tease in them.

He tamed the fear that registered in his eyes and smiled at her. "Dying wasn't part of our agreement."

Right, the agreement.

Just like that, she's reminded why they are both in this. Whatever happened wouldn't change his focus. Maybe she should learn from him.

They still had a few more months to go, and all she had to do was play her part.