Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I bowed my head to show respect, but I hoped Nikolas would stop calling me ‘Little girl’ and just use my name instead.

“What are you looking at down there?” he asked me, and I looked up.

“Nothing, Alpha,” I said, and just then, two ladies came up the stairs. They bowed to the Alpha and then looked at me.

He must have told them something I wasn’t privy to. This was the disadvantage of the mind link.

“Link me if she causes any trouble,” he said, and I knew that part was to my benefit.

He walked away, and the crowd of women in the foyer bowed to him as he walked down the stairs.

“Let us go,” One of the Lycan women told me, and I did not want to cause any trouble, so I followed them quietly.

We returned to my room, and they closed the door behind them.

“The Alpha said we should prepare you for tonight. We will go through the beauty regiments and then dress you up. When we are done, You will be taken to his room,” One of the women said, and the horror of her words struck me.

I gasped, and the women giggled.

“It is an honourable thing to be the Alpha’s mistress. He has never taken a werewolf before. You will be the first.

Appreciate his kindness and focus on showing your worth tonight.

It will determine whether or not you will be one of his favourites or a mistake. Many women would do anything to be in your position right now,” One of them said.

I was disgusted by what she said but did not want them to report me, so I held my tongue.

We spent a while scrubbing, cleaning, waxing, and scenting. Name it, they did it all, and my body felt sore when they were done.

The women were pleasant and told me about their first time. The savagery they practised made my stomach churn.

Werewolves did not mate with Lycans; why would he want me?

I kept the women’s names.

The blonde one who seemed to be in charge was Ania, and the one with red hair was Lisa.

Ania told me they had been assigned to serve me when I was alone and with the Alpha.

They were the only Lycans I was allowed to interact with.

When I moved back to the packhouse under Nikolas’s orders, I thought I would serve people; I did not know it would only be the Alpha.

“We will take you to his room now,” Ania told me, and I became nervous.

They dressed me up in revealing clothes, leaving nothing to the imagination.

The moment we stood by the door of my room, Ania touched my hand.

“Alpha is a hard man; try to make things easier for yourself and your people by not aggravating him,” She said, and I could see a haunted look in her eyes. I wondered what Nikolas did to her people, seeing they were of the same kind. The look disappeared, and she replaced it with a smile.

“I know you are defiant; I can see it in you. Please be careful so you do not end up with a brand for general use,” she told me, and I gasped.

They made me inhale and exhale and led me to the Alpha’s quarters.

I was taken to his room and left there.

wanted to

did not want

to me without claiming me would be dishonourable, but he had told my father that I would have no honour, so I should expect the worst. I also felt

yourself together. When he comes, I will take over, so you won’t deal with him,” Raven offered,

he could. It was now my turn to make

took about two hours before the Alpha returned to his

a look. He just went to

in the bathroom, and when the shower

tummy growled, and I tried to control

my father

but I met silence and became

something happened to

the same silence. I knew then that

little girl, I determine who links who around here,” I heard Nikolas’s deep voice in my head, and I shut my eyes immediately. I knew Lycans had abilities that werewolves could only dream of, and sensing who was trying to mind link and blocking the connection might be one. I

out in

my gaze from his body. He had tattoos, but I did

looked at him. He had

is no need to be shy, little wolf,” he said, and I did not know

clearly wanted to touch me, and I knew he

moved close to me, made me stand up, then

cold, and I felt chills down my

are mine for now. Just because we will be f*uc*king does not make you shit. You aren’t important to this pack

behaviour would determine my hospitality towards your father and

with me or anyone and do not get

not allowed to

getting pregnant by me, you

me change my mind. I will not father a mixed breed and a

of the rules, you, your father and your people will be dealt

in love with him was impossible. I could

on me, so he

birth control?” I managed to ask, and he looked

he said coldly. It was unfair because he was putting me in an impossible situation. I made a mental note to

to step

care for the person in the cage that was brought in. She is to be fed and cared for at all times. On no account should anything happen to her under your watch. Ania and Lisa will help you out,”

growl coming from the cage and became scared. How was I going to care for

of caring

sentence, I regretted it because his eyes turned completely

for my neck. The lace gown tore and he pushed me against the wall, pressing

on my tip-toes. So he would not disconnect my head from my body. My eyes stung. I wanted to

him crushing my windpipe, and I tried

warned me, and the pain was so

to know he had his mother in that cage? I managed to nod while blinking the

coughed, trying

and puffing from rage as

issue with their temper,

against the wall wishing

was shaken

tried to touch

want his hands on me after he had almost

me between his arms and hit