The Alpha King's Ugly Bride

In the palace of La Ville Royale (The city of Royals)

The capital of the Wahala kingdom

The alpha King, Xavier Ainsworth paces around the Palace, apprehensive and angry. Blood courses through his veins and he curses every minute that passes with silence. He had sent all the guards out; he didn't need them around. Their presence only suffocated him the more. He knew he would snap their scrawny neck or rip out their heart if they as much as breathe wrongly beside him.

He had a temper; he knew it since the day he came to the reasoning of his own and navigating his emotions, especially his rage had never been easy, not for someone like him. His mother warned him about the dangers of having such a foamy temper on her dying bed. Her last words were, "control it or it would control you," but what did she know? She grew up without the pressure of being a ruler and only got chosen when she turned eighteen, when the alpha king, Robb, Xavier's father, chose her to be his mate. He, on the other hand, didn't have the burden of the king down on him when he was still a baby. No wonder he grew with so much rage and anger because how can one man carry so much responsibility and still have his people expect him to be perfect? It made no sense. It was foolish, and it angered him.

Who could blame him? Running a kingdom was enough to make anyone mad, and he was so close to mad now.

Red flashes in his vision as the door cracks open and none other than his lousy and worthless younger brother, Edward Ainsworth, and crowned prince walked into the Palace wearing his famous royal blue apparel matching his blue eyes. He brings his sorry self further into the Palace Hall and shuts the door behind him.

"Have the council of alphas decided yet."

"I... Well, I don't know... I do... Didn't check."

"Please remind me what your use to me in this kingdom is?"

He opens his mouth, probably to tell his brother that he was still the prince of the kingdom, but Xavier's glare dared him to speak and like a little fool he was, he couldn't. He gulps and remains quiet.

As Xavier expected.

"The council of alphas disgrace me and want to anger me, I am to marry, they forget I am the alpha king and no one tells me what to do!" Xavier roars, his eyes blazing in a furious red and Edward shook on his stand, frightened.

"The council of elders is the reason behind every alpha king on the throne, brother." Edward's audacity startled Xavier and his head spin around to make sure the idiot had uttered the word. He continues, "You killed two of your own people, and for what? Admiring the woman that you like? Is that enough reason to end the lives of two people? You might not like me saying this, but it's the truth. Even kings have to be held accountable for their actions. You have two choices, marry or step down as alpha king and those two choices are a generous offer."

Xavier raced across the Palace and stood towering above Edward in a second, intimidating his younger brother with both his impressive height and massive build. His claws lift to trace over the side of Edward's face, leaving a deep cut as he goes down to his jaw. Edward's face heals almost immediately, but he still felt the pain of the cut, just like Xavier intended.

"The only reason your head isn't flying for the nonsense you just vomited is because you're my father's son and I promised mother to not let any harm come to you, but say another word and that promise be damned!" he vows through gritted teeth.

The door opens immediately and alpha Chike Smith walked into the Palace hall, dressed in brown apparel and white cotton trousers with a scroll in his hand.

He reaches the centre of the hall and takes a bow. "My king!"

"What?" Xavier snaps, casting a glare at him for intruding while he was still imputing 'the fear Xavier' in his worthless brother.

"The council of alphas have reached a decision and have chosen the bride for you."

Xavier's brow rose, but the glare remains on his face. "Who is it then?"

"I believe it would be best you see it yourself, my king." Alpha Chike stepped forward and stretched his hand out to deliver the scroll to the alpha king before stepping back and out of the Palace.

Xavier's hands tightened around the scroll and he was about to pull it open, then realise Edward could be useful for once in his life and he handed the scroll over to him.

Without complaining, he accepted the scroll offered by his brother, and he slowly stretches it out to read through while Xavier strolled over to the throne to sit on it.

Edward clears his throat and reads audibly and boldly. "As decided by the council of alpha's, the chosen alpha's bride is Ariel of house Asika and you shall wed tomorrow." Edward reads out loud and clear.

"Ariel?" Xavier echoes, the name sounding so familiar for a strange reason, and the look of anger that had lingered on his face changed into that of curiosity.

"That's what it says here."

"You know Ariel right?"

"Yes, she's the first daughter of Jobe Asika. From what I've gathered over the years, she's a beautiful young woman with fair skin and noble character. She's submissive as she would only do as she's told and wouldn't get in your way. Also, she's past the mating age, so she's ripe for the picking. But it was rumoured years back she battled acute-"

"You should have just stopped speaking after you got to ripe for the picking, but you never learnt when to shut your mouth." he hisses, irritated, but not going to let that turn his mood around. "I know Ariel, she's indeed beautiful and fair to behold, looks like the elders' punishment was a blessing after all and if she's as submissive as you claim, then even better," he adds, feeling happy.

Zara has been his mistress for years and she's been everything he ever wanted when it came down to pleasure with a woman. After years of being with someone, emotions are bound to set in and yes, he liked her a lot, more than just someone he sleeps but his father had laid a lifelong curse on him that would activate if he ever married her. So despite wanting her, he knew better than to cross his wicked old man. Regardless, he chose to keep her along and take care of her until they found their way around this curse.

He had lost it when she told him those men called her a whore, hurt and left her for dead. He vowed to find every one of them and pay them back for what they did to her. When he finally found the men, he could have tortured them and let them go, but death felt better. That's not the story that went throughout the kingdom though, and honestly, he didn't care.

"Does that mean you're okay with the choices of the council of alphas?"

"If I wasn't, do you think I'd be so calm?" He raised a brow, once again doubting Edward was his actual brother. "Go tell the elders I accept the bride they choose and tell them they can begin preparations."

"I do not think your acceptance or rejection changes anything in this decision," he pointed out, ignoring the murderous look on Xavier's face, "but I will tell them, anyway, my king." he bows his head a little, before turning and making his way out of the Palace.

Xavier watch Edward walks away, knowing now that selling him into the slave trade might not be as bad as it seems.

The Asika household.

The North of the Capital.

A knock came to the door of Jobe Asika's house and after a few moments passed, a young maid reached for the door and opened it.

"Is your master home?" the man bearing the royal message asked, his voice proud and high.

"Yes, he is," she responded, rather timidly.

He dipped his hand into the inn of his jacket and handed the neatly folded piece of paper to her.

"This is for him. Tell him it's from the Royal Palace," he instructed and walked away.

The young maid closed the door and moved to the garden where Master Jobe of house Asika and his eldest daughter, Ariel Asika, sat talking and Jobe kept cracking up almost every time.

Ariel was the first of the two daughters in the Asika's family. She was blessed with beauty, radiant and fair skin, and it was obvious the moon goddess had a favourite. Her beauty made many maidens in the kingdom feel insecure but unlike many of them, Ariel's beauty wasn't the only reason she was loved. She also had a noble character. This made many feel at home and this brought not only respect to Jobe, but made him known amongst other fathers in the kingdom as a man of character.

"Master, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but this letter came from the Royal Palace."

The smile on Jobe's face vanished, almost sensing something bad was about to happen.

He lifted his hand, and the young maid handed the letter to him. "Thank you, Riley." he nodded, and she took her leave.

He broke the Royal seal on the letter and read through it. His eyes hardened at the paper and his brow pulled together.

"What is it, father?" Ariel asked, becoming concerned at the mood her father had switched to since reading the letter.

"Remember the alpha King's punishment was to get him a bride?"

When she nodded, he sighed, "Well, the lot fell on my house. The council of alphas have chosen you as the future bride of the alpha king." he announces with bitterness in his voice.

Who could blame him? Almost everyone knew the alpha king, and he was ruthless, cold and problematic, which made everyone avoid him at all costs.

This was a royal decree and as much as Jobe hated it, he knew there was nothing he could do.

The royal bride maker, which was the company of over six women and two men, arrived at the Asika home and were all welcomed into the house.

The wedding, although its notification came in this morning, would take place at the central temple tomorrow as decreed by the council of alphas. And the Royal bride makers came to make sure the bride would be ready for her big day of becoming the queen.

Mia Asika, the youngest and most rebellious Asika who has been out of the house since the break of dawn in search of a better scholar, returns home only to find it crowded with strange faces she'd never seen before.

She glanced around at each of them while moving along to the study where she knew her father would be. Once at the door, she pushed it open and stepped in and, just as expected, her father sat at his favourite table, reading a book.

"What are all these people doing in our house?" she demanded, her voice rising higher than it should.

Jobe sighed and beckons to Mia to come sit down and when she did, he explained everything to her. "So you see, your sister will be queen tomorrow and that's why they are here."

..

Mia stood at the door looking in while the bride makers tried to fit Ariel into a white gown that appeared too small for her.

"She won't breathe in that!" she snapped, making her presence known.

Ariel had felt discomfort in the gown she had on, but being too nice to hurt anyone's feeling, she kept her silence.

"Who are you?" the older woman with brown curly hair asked with squinted eyes.

"I'm Mia Asika, I'm her sister! And she can't breathe in that."

They readjusted the fabric and robes and when they put it on her the second time; it fit perfectly.

"We will be back before the first cockcrow tomorrow, so please get all the rest you can." the curly-haired woman informed Ariel before taking her leave with the rest of the crew.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Ariel's face broke into a wide grin and she beckoned to Mia, who ran over and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you for speaking up when you did, Mia." she said.

"You're welcome. Father told me everything. Tomorrow you will be queen. How do you feel about that?"

Ariel shrugs and climbs onto her bed. "I'm not happy or sad. I'm just going to go with the flow and expect only the best."

"I'm happy as long as you're happy. At least one of us will make a father proud." She giggled.

Ariel pulled herself onto her elbows to watch Mia properly. "And your plan? How's it coming along?"

"So far, so good. After months of searching, I've been fortunate to find a scholar that would leave for the southern world in the next few weeks."

Ariel's eyes widened, her happiness matching that of her sister's. "Great!"

Mia nodded and moved to sit beside Ariel in bed. "I was going to break the news and my other plans to father today, but the news of your wedding stopped me. I am going to do that once you get married."

Mia had a dream of leaving the kingdom when she turned fourteen. It was at that age she realised there was nothing for her here and developed the courage to seek something more. She knew she would always be in her sister's shadow and, despite loving Ariel and holding her on a pedestal, she couldn't bear to live such a life.

Ariel was the definition of perfection. Her long golden hair swept perfectly to her back and highlighted the diamond shape of her face. And her sky-blue eyes made so many feel at home. Her perfectly shaped full red lips, down to her long neck, screamed perfection in the flesh. She also had the perfect body and height of five feet seven inches, which made her stand out from the crowd and this made men drool over her.

Mia had a tanned skin that sometimes looked as though burnt by the sun. She also had amber eyes, and it appeared golden than copper and so far she had met no maiden or man in the kingdom with the same eyes colour as hers. Her nose was long and pointed and her lips pale and small. Her hair was curly and as red as rose, while everyone else in her family had golden hair. She had the petite height of five feet two inches and a curvy body shape.

While the image of Ariel would scream perfection from head to toe, hers screamed opposite whenever she stared at herself in the mirror. Whenever she stepped out of the comfort of her home, she met with people who reminded her of that as well.

Knowing her chances with beauty had been limited from birth, Mia opted off that carriage and pursued enlightenment and after her fourteenth birthday. She started on her quest to leave the kingdom and find knowledge even till the ends of the earth, and her sister was her biggest supporter.

Ariel takes Mia's hand and gives it a comforting squeeze. "Sure and I will support you the best way I can, but promise you will share whatever knowledge you find in the other part of the world with me."

Mia bobbed her head, grinning happily. "I will and if your marriage to the alpha king doesn't work out the way you plan, you can write to me and I'll come to take you away."

Ariel shook her head, but still laughed. "I doubt I'd want to leave this place. I was born here and I will die here."

"I know, and you will be a wonderful queen."

They shared a hug again, and Ariel kissed her forehead.

...

A loud knock came onto Mia's door, which dragged her out of the state of sleep and sends her eyes flying wide open. The cock was still yet to crow and she would have known because that's when she always woke.

"Mia, please open up." her father's voice came through the door and the broken tone of his voice had made the hair on her skin stand, sensing bad news.

She hurried out of the bed and raced to the door, opening the door wide as soon as she got there. Jobe entered the room, his eyes filled with sorrow and tears.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"It's Ariel, Mia."

Her stomach tightened in a bad way, even as she waited for him to finish what he had to say.

His lips trembled and for a man that barely showed his vulnerability when his wife died, he was doing a very poor job now. She took hold of his trembling hands, almost wincing when she felt how cold they were.

"What happened to Ariel? Where is she?"

"She's dead, Mia, Ariel is dead."

The day was already bright, and the cock already crowed twice, yet the alpha king was yet to leave his chambers. His manservant and maidens didn't dare enter his chambers without his permission, despite today being his wedding day.

Edward, who had his red royal robe on for the Royal wedding, noticed the servants standing around aimlessly and he drew closer to them. They saw him approach, and all stood at attention.

"Why do you all stand aimlessly on the morning of the King's wedding?"

"He hasn't beckoned to us yet." The male servant holding onto the golden robe of the alpha king replied.

Edward's brows narrowed at their response and he headed to the door, pushed it open, and stepped in.

The bedroom with its thick window curtain drawn looked as dark as ever and it was no wonder his idiot brother, the alpha king, was yet to wake. Guiding his legs to the window, he pulled the curtains apart and the light of the sun shone into the room; he moved and did it to the other two windows. Soon, light illuminated the room, banishing the darkness.

Feeling satisfied, Edward turned to the bed where his brother lay and found him wide awake. His gaze was murderous as they beheld him, but the two naked women rested on each of his arms, still slept soundly, barely bothered by the intrusion of lights.

They weren't the first whores Xavier had entertained in the Palace, but they were the first heavy sleeping whores he ever had. Edward noticed.

"I think it's time for you to get up."

"And who the hell are you to think for me?" for a waking man, Xavier's tone had so much vitality in them.

"I'm your brother, the crowned prince and your best man for today's occasion." Edwards then claps his hands thunderously, yanking the ladies beside him out of their beauty sleep. "Please grab your clothes and get out. Thank you."

The naked women did as they were told and Edward watch them, making sure they had left before returning his gaze to the bed. Xavier was no longer on it though, and before Edward could think where he took himself to, Xavier grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the wall of the bedroom, causing a crack in the wall.

"Amongst the both of us, who's the king?" he demanded, his voice sneering into Edward's ears.

"You are," Edwards choked, struggling to loosen his grip on his neck, but Xavier wouldn't let go.

"Then who gave you the audacity to come into my chambers and chase my guests out?"

"No one, but you seem to have forgotten that today is your wedding day and you should no longer be in bed."

At his words, Xavier released him and turned towards the bed. "It's today? I thought it was two days' time?"

"Is this why Zara sent the girls over to me as a pleasant gift last night? I didn't know, and didn't ask, but now it makes sense." he mumbled to himself and Edward heard.

Edward wrapped his hand over his neck, trying to ease the pain Xavier had inflicted on it with his monstrous grip. He sighed, infuriated by the sight of his brother's naked butt, which would haunt him for the rest of the day.

"It's today, my king, and your bride will arrive soon. You should be in the temple before she comes."

Edward walked over to the door and pulled it open, widening them for the servants to walk inside. Once the last servant entered the room, he shut the door.

An hour later, the alpha king stood, wearing his long, golden royal robe, neatly made with each design thought through from his neck down to his feet. The servants made his long, silky black hair into a neat ponytail before adorning him with the white lacy mantle. The royals wore the mantle, and it always served as a sign of them getting married.

Once done, the alpha king rose to his feet with grace, and his entire aura commanded reverence.

"You look like every maiden's dream." Edward gushed, mumbling under his breath, "but you're their nightmare."

Xavier cast him a glare, overhearing him, but he paid no mind.

"It's your big day, brother. Do you wish father was here?" Edward asked, helping Xavier adjust his collar.

Xavier stared at himself in the mirror, loving the face that stared back at him. "No, I'm so glad he's sleeping and I hope he sleeps for a very long time."

Once an alpha attained a hundred years of ruling, he'd fall into a deep sleep that could last for two years and sometimes up to a decade. When they wake, if they wake, they receive the title of Alpha of Alphas. So far Robb Ainsworth, their father, had been asleep for the last three years and no one knew when he'd wake, but the physician and sorcerer had calculated it being before winter, which was two months away.

Xavier didn't want his father waking up, he wanted him to pass through his sleep. And that was how much he hated him and his brother knew this.

"You don't mean that."

Xavier turned around and gave Edward a stare that displayed emotions ranging from pain to anger to resentment. "All he ever did was compare me to that bastard called Elliott and tell me how much better he would be as alpha king, so yes, I mean that and I hope he sleeps to death."

Edward felt for him. This was one of the few times they talked without slamming each other into walls or tearing at each other, and he saw past his brother's shield.

"Hopefully he wakes up, sees you're married and his opinion of you changes."

"Or better still, he doesn't wake."

A small knock came on the door and Edward hurry over to it.

"Is the king ready, my Prince?" a male guard's voice came through as soon as the door opened.

"Yes, is the carriage set?"

"Yes, my prince."

Edward turned back to glance at him, a happy smile on his face as if he was the one getting married. "This is it, brother."

Xavier rolled his eyes. "Sure. Just stay out of my way and we'll be fine."