Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 88

Mia had returned to her room after the incident with her husband two days ago and hadn't gone back since. This morning, unlike yesterday, when she went for breakfast, she didn't see him at the table. She didn't ask Edward, who sat at the table with her where he was. She was still mad at Xavier as she should be. But she didn't hate him. She couldn't hate him because she loved him. He only did what he thought was best, what he thought she wanted. Yet, it hurt her. He was ready to give up on everything. On the kingdom, his throne, and on her. That made her mad.

She stripped out of her clothes, picked up the towel and wrapped it around herself. Then she made her way to the bathroom to get a hot bath.

Toni already set her white nightgown on a hanger close to the door, so she could change before leaving the bathroom.

She stayed in the tub, easing her body and mind of the events of the day. She missed Xavier's hands on her. They were good at washing and making her feel relaxed. She no longer wanted to stay mad. It yielded nothing good. She would meet with him when he returns and they will talk everything through.

She heard a rattle not so far away and her eyes snapped open, but when she looked around, she saw no one. Her mind once again played tricks on her. The increased number of guards around the palace wasn't for nothing, it was to protect and keep danger out. She shoved aside her scary thought and took her time to relax and wash off properly.

The next step was drying herself and after putting on her nightgown, she stepped back into the room. She stopped in her tracks when she saw a dark shadow looming around her door. Her eyes scanned him and saw a silver dagger in his hand, and her breath hitched.

There was an intruder in her room. Her mind wasn't playing tricks on her earlier.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she staggered backwards, missing a few steps. The intruder must have heard because they turned around and approached her. She would have thought this act a prank if she didn't notice the silver dagger in his hand, which meant he came to kill her.

He had a black mask on, and it covered his whole face up. However, his eyes blazed red, and it told her he was an alpha. He had masked his scent, yet she perceived it. There was something familiar about his scent, yet she couldn't pick out who it belonged to. The alpha here to harm her wasn't a stranger. She knew him, she just couldn't tell where.

"Who are you?" her voice cracked as she made out the words.

The intruder did not reply, only kept approaching, his feet heavy on the ground. He swung his hand forward and in the next second, Mia felt as if he had set her skin on fire. She burnt from the outside all the way in and it weakened her. Her nose took in the smell and realised it was wolfsbane; every werewolf's nightmare.

Her legs shook from weakness and her muscles contracted as it worked to heal itself, but the potent of the wolfsbane felt stronger than anything she ever felt.

She needed to get out, find her escape. To get to the entrance door of her room, she had to run past the man in her room, hoping to kill her. And even if she screamed, no one would hear her.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded again. Her courage returned and subdue her fear despite the physical pain she was in.

Again, he didn't answer her. He got to where she was, and he swung the silver dagger he held at her. She ducked barely, and the blade slashed the side of her rib, giving it a deep cut, making her cry out in pain.

He didn't relent as he aimed the dagger towards her heart to drive it in that same second. She grabbed onto his hand to stop him, her heart hammering against her chest, denoting her fear. He was stronger, probably because the wolfsbane had weakened her strength even as luna. He smashed his fist into her face and shoved her back and she crashed against the wall. She groaned out in pain and blood trickled down her mouth.

Her eyes tightly shut, and she told herself this might be her end.

She couldn't die here. This couldn't be the end of her story.

Her eyes snapped open blazing red and her body healed up speedily from the effect of the wolfsbane. The intruder launched at her again, swinging the dagger, but she overpowered him and twisted his hand, which held the dagger to the back. He groaned out and released the dagger in his hand and it fell to the floor. Mia quickly kicked it away, and they were left to face each other fist to fist.

"Who sent you?" she asked with a hard voice.

The man swung at her with his claw and as she ducked; he immediately swung his hand, shooting forth wolfsbane. She saw and flinched back, but a few dropped on her hand. While still in recovery from the burn, the intruder took advantage and landed her an uppercut, sending her to the ground. She fell hard and the bones of her leg twisted to the side, and pain shot through her.

She growled in anguish, but she couldn't stay down and die in the hands of this man. No, she had to defend herself and so she hurried up onto her feet.

She sighted the silver dagger she had kicked off before, now not so far from her, while the man approached. As he launched towards her, she rolled to the left side of the room, picked up the dagger and slash it over his clothed right hand. It tore open, and she saw the red tattoo on the skin of his hand. She had never seen it before, but she didn't dabble in thought and forget about her fight with him. The bright light of the moon shone through the window where the intruder stood and further into the room. It gave her a clearer vision as she readied herself for his attack.

The man growled and surged towards her, but the door flew open, stopping him in his tracks. They both turned to the door and there stood the alpha king with eyes blazing red, a murderous look on his face, and his long, sharp claws drawn out. The intruder, knowing he was no match for the both of them, withdrew and jumped through the window next to him, shattering its glass. Mia and Xavier moved to the window and looked through it, but he had disappeared.

"Guards!" Xavier roared, stepping away from the window. About seven of the guards matched into Mia's room.

"I want this place searched and I want the intruder found. You do not rest until he is found. Is that clear?"

"Yes, my king," the men echoed before marching out in a hurry until they left the two of them in the room.

He turned his focus to Mia to give her his undivided attention after almost three minutes of being inside. The anger on his face faded away and the concern in his eyes helped calm her raging heart.

He reached for her before he could help himself, and Mia didn't waste a second before running into his arms and burying her face in his chest. Her trembling hand clenched around his white v-necked shirt as she let the dagger in her hand drop. His hand tightened around her securely, not taking any chances with her.

He pulled away and his hand stroked the side of her mouth where a little blood stayed, although it had already healed up. "I'm sorry he hurt you," he said, cupping her face in his hands tender with his touch.

She shook her head, "I'm fine. I hope we find him," she told him, being more interested in getting to who wanted her dead.

"We will find him, and then I will rip his heart out!" he seethed, the anger he had subdued a while ago surging back to the surface.

They hugged again, and this time, when they pulled apart, Mia stared up at him. "How did you know I was in danger? I don't remember shouting."

He stroked the side of her face. "I felt it. I felt your uneven heartbeat. The bracelet notifies the other when one is in danger. The bracelet does not only inform everyone about our union but also serve as a communication link between us since we are united in one bond. I was at the temple when I felt your uneven heartbeat and I knew you were in danger. I came running immediately."

She glanced down at the bracelet in her hand, never knowing it had such magic. If he could sense her pain, that meant she could do likewise.

This was good, but the danger was still very much present.