Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 79

Xavier and Mia, along with Edward, made their way towards the courtroom where Edward had told them Robb and the councils of elders were.

If Xavier said he wasn't afraid, he would be lying. If he had the chance to go back to three days ago, he probably would have done the same thing: protect his wife and queen and kill those assassins. He didn't want to think of those waiting for him, and he didn't want to think of the things ahead. The door opened and Xavier and Mia stepped into the courtroom where Robb sat in the upper seat and the eight elders beside him. Standing beside Robb was Elliott, and the sight of him made Xavier furious. "Should he be here?" he rose a concerned brow.

"I asked him to stay," Robb replied, and a smirk appeared on Elliott's face. "It's good to finally see you after three days of visiting!"

"I'm sorry, your grace, the past three days haven't been the best."

"Guilt or something else?" Robb asked.

"I have no reason to feel guilty, your grace!" he answered.

"You killed four people in cold blood."

"I didn't kill anyone in cold blood. I was protecting my queen from those who would harm her as any good king should," he defended himself.

"Then why did you choose to hide away for three days if what you're saying is the truth?" alpha Chike asked with a curious tone.

"Because I terrified the queen and made her afraid of me. I was so affected by how she saw me I couldn't stand to look at myself."

"If you truly did nothing wrong, then why were you so affected by how the queen saw you?" alpha Chadow, the middle-aged man with grey hair and beards asked.

Xavier opened his mouth to speak, but the words didn't come out, and it became a struggle. He was baring himself out to men he knew didn't have his best intentions at heart. Some of them hated him and others couldn't stand him. It was a struggle and speaking took courage.

"Because he thought I'd give him the benefit of a doubt. When he attacked the men, I thought the worse because I didn't see what he saw." Mia spoke up for him, and he glanced at her with grateful eyes. "What did he see?" Elliott asked, his eyes narrowing at her.

"The men that I attacked were not harmless and ordinary citizens. They were killers who came to kill the queen."

Chike gave a ridiculous look to Xavier, "Says you."

"Says the engraved marks on their wrist and shoulders." Xavier barked back with a hard glare. "About three months ago, I received an anonymous letter threatening mine and the life of the queen." "Did you discuss the matters with your council?" Robb asked.

Xavier shook his head. "I didn't. I didn't know who to trust amongst those around me, and I shared it with the few I trusted." He ran the letter with the scholars, but there was no other match for the handwriting in the kingdom. They kept the copy to keep running the handwriting.

"I worked on doubling the security, only easing them a week ago. That was my error."

"We came today with the decision of overthrowing you as the alpha king of Wahala." Robb started taking Xavier's attention back to him. "We've heard your reasons. The priests will examine the bodies to back your claims. However, abandoning your duties as king because of personal crises does not show you as a strong leader that Wahala needs and your excuse is not enough-"

"But your grace!" Xavier protested.

"I'm not finished." Robb snapped. "There have been major lapses from you and you have neglected some of your duties as King, just like you have in the last few days. I have weighed your performance as alpha king these past months and I have decided. There will be a trial for your eligibility as alpha king and you get to choose two out of the three options I will give. One, the trial of the moon. Two, the trial of the elders and three, the trials of witness testimonies."

This was not how he pictured the meeting with the elders going. He didn't think Robb would already have his mind made about the throne and deciding his eligibility. This probably made him happy. The old man didn't even have to do anything, yet he would get what he wanted this time.

He didn't want a trial. He had done everything to avoid one, but here it was, right in front of him. Yet, more than anything; he didn't want a trial by the elders.

In the trial by the elders, the eight elders would take account and assessment of him and his reign for the past three years and recount it. On this account, they would decide if he was fit or not. He didn't trust half of them to have his back. If they had their way, they'd have him removed as alpha king, and he knew he couldn't pick that.

The trial by the moon was the trial of him going into the temple during the full moon and shifting under the silver lining. The most painful and torturous shifting anyone could go through. If the moon goddess found him fit to rule, he would survive the shift, and if they didn't. He would die. As fearful as this trial was, Xavier knew it was better than the first.

The trial of witnesses is also known as a trial by the Alpha of Alphas. During this trial, he would place his fate in the hands of witnesses he picked to testify of the few goods he's done since being King. If the witnesses' testimonies convince the alpha of alphas, he would give a favourable ruling. Xavier didn't trust Robb either, but he was his father and he had to have faith that he could do what was right without being influenced.

"I choose the trial of witnesses and the trial by the moon," he said, sounding confident in his decision.

A murmur went through the room at his response, but Robb looked impressed with his choice. "The elders seated are going to vote if your trial should be a trial by witnesses or trial of the moon. Please step out of the courtroom."

Xavier paced around the throne room, apprehensive and out of control. He did not know what the elders would choose, but he could tell what it would be.

The trial of the moon would have two turnouts, death or life. If he was fit to rule, he would live, and if he wasn't, he would die and escape this wretched world. It was a cruel fate leaving everything behind, including his queen, but at least he'd give her the freedom she always wanted. He had taken the elders' opportunity to try him away from them, and he knew they would do the same to his opportunity of being tried by the moon.

Mia was in the corner, fidgeting with her fingers and stealing glances at him.

He read her thoughts and knew she wanted to speak to him, but didn't know how. And pausing, he turned to her. He stepped towards her, but she didn't let him come all the way because she moved to meet him halfway.

"Thank you for speaking up for me in there." a warm smile dominated the agitated look he had on earlier.

"I'm your wife and you're my husband. My first duty is to you. You never told me of the letter."

He ran the tip of his finger over the side of her face and felt her shiver against him. "I didn't want to bother you, I thought I could keep you safe."

"If you had told me, perhaps I would have been less rebellious."

His warm smile lingered. "I know I love your rebellion."

"I know you're in a dilemma and tortured by thoughts, and I might never understand, but I'm here to console you the best way I can.

Her words felt good to not be true.

"I know I haven't been the best person or even a husband to you. I made you cry so many times in the past. I haven't forgotten how mean I was and I'm sorry for all I did to you. I don't deserve your loyalty and I wanted you to know that I'm sorry. And for as long as I can, I will keep making up for the things I did."

She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the inconsistent beating of it. "I have forgiven you. I do not hold it against you."

He pulled her close to himself and wrapped his arms around her. Her eyes fluttered as his smell engulfed her and she held onto him as well, tightening her grip as if he'd run away if she didn't.

"My king," the guard called out.

They pulled away and turned to him, waiting for him to speak. "Your presence is required in the courtroom."

Xavier nodded and glanced down at Mia, who bobbed her head, assuring him she wasn't leaving.

The door opened and Xavier stepped in with his arms wrapped around Mia's waist. They came to a stop before the large table, their head held high.

Robb's eyes moved to acknowledge Xavier and Mia standing before him, awaiting his words. Elliott handed Robb the scroll which the elders cast their votes in and he read aloud. "The elders have decided, and based on majority votes, you shall have a trial by the witness."