The Ugly Bride by Jennie

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.