Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I almost peed on myself when the Alpha ordered me to get out. I was pressed. I did not sleep comfortably, and my body ached severely. I was worried about losing myself in my sleep and waking him up. It was a difficult night. I left his room in a hurry and returned to mine. I tried to link my father, and I got through to him this time.

“Hello father, I hope you are fine?” I said quickly, not sure when Nikolas would block the mind link.

“Aliana,” my father said, and my heart melted. I was glad to know he was all right. I entered the shower and turned on the water.

“Yes, father, I am here, and I am fine,” I said, and he was silent. I was worried that Niokolas had blocked our mind link again, but he spoke and put my mind at ease.

“I am sorry I could not protect you, Aliana. Had I known he would do this, I might have fought him to the death,” he said, and tears welled up in my eyes.

“If you had, we would have all been dead. At least this way, we can one day run away when they are not watching us,” I told him, and he was silent.

I turned on the water to rush through the shower routine, so I could finish quickly and care for Nikolas’ mother.

“Forest was the safest place for our kind, Aliana. It still is. Nikolas is evil, but he is nothing compared to the Snow King or the passive Hill King, who allows the Snow King to interfere in his business. We have to remain here. I will find a way to plead with him on your behalf,” he said, and I quickly stopped him.

Remembering how erratic Nikolas behaved when we were together last night, I did not want him to lose his calm with my father and kill him.

“Don’t, father; I like it here. He is nice to me,” I lied, and my father was silent.

“Are you telling me the truth?” he asked.

“Yes, father. I have two Lycans that serve me. It isn’t as bad as it seems. He has a soft side to him,” I lied, and my father was quiet.

“Are you sure you aren’t lying to me?” my father asked, and tears welled in my eyes because I had never lied to him before, but I did not want to risk letting him speak to Nikolas. My father was better off away from the mad Alpha.

“I won’t lie to you,” I said, letting the shower wash away my tears.

“Please stay in touch; hopefully, he will let you see me,” he said. We both closed the mind link before Nikolas discovered that we had communicated.

I finished, exited the shower, and found Ania and Lisa in my room with food. They were smiling at me, and I bowed my head.

They were lycans, so even if the Alpha asked them to serve me, they were still my betters, according to Nikolas, and I wasn’t ready to be dealt with.

does his business and asks them to leave. You must have made a huge

I dared not report to them. They were not on my side; they

thinking it was linked to pleasure, and I shook my head immediately. The look in their eyes showed that they did not believe me, and I wasn’t ready to

been chained to the bed,” Lisa said, sounding a bit worried, and I knew

death of me. I

courage to

I can take to stop me from getting pregnant?” I asked, and

to drink before sex. It has a painful effect, but what it does is

packhouse or the compound. I would have sought the help of our physician, but with all that had happened, I doubted he would have such things

the tea,” I said, and she smiled

few minutes before intercourse.

was to have a baby by a monster, and besides, if I had a child by him, the child would not be referred to as a Lycan, and

for you before you go to Alpha tonight,” she said, and I thanked her. We

afraid and could feel my air supply cutting off, but I tried to force myself to breathe and

ferals. It triggers them,” Raven warned me, and

and the curtains were closed with dim

the bed. She looked thin, her dark hair matted to her forehead with

was on, she was still sweating. She looked gaunt, and it

people feeding her. Just so little could be fed to her in that condition. At the rate she was going, she would starve to death. I did not know if I should help her or just do what they usually do and watch her

towel, then try to feed her. She doesn’t eat much, but we try to get some food in her. I will show you

water with soap

with the soapy water and then wipe her skin with clean

her legs, and then I took over. Soon, I fell

she reacting?” I asked, choosing my words carefully, and Lisa glanced

and feed her, or else we won’t have it easy,” she said,

her, and Lisa helped me to

left me to watch her while they attended to other

was

on a chair in the room and watched

began to growl at me, and I did not know what to do. I hoped someone would say I was done for the day and could leave,