Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Aliana POV

Spending the day with Nikolas to care for his mother was fun. I got to see his sensitive side, and it was amazing.

He loved her, and I could see it as he switched from the savage wicked rogue prince to a sensitive, sweet man. If his life were normal, whomever he ended up with would be lucky. I remembered our date night and the memory of the dance, him comforting me while I threw up, holding me under the shower and in the tub, the memory remained with me.

I had sl*ipped up and tried to k*iss him, but he had dodged. I saw it and pretended to have passed out.

I was grateful for that memory. I needed it.

I woke up wishing I was a Lycan. Maybe I would have stood a chance with him.

I believe something might have happened between us if I were his kind, but the divide was real, and it kept us apart regardless of what we were feeling.

I knew I could not allow myself to feel anything for him. No matter how good it got, he would one day mate with a Lycan he loves, which would be the end of it for me. He had indeed kept his promise and ruined me. It would be difficult for me even if he decided to let me go. It would be impossible for me to have a werewolf mate because werewolves hated Lycans too.

I thought he would send for me in the evening, but when Ania and Lisa brought my food and left, I knew I wouldn’t be spending the night with Nikolas.

I woke up the next day and got ready for my work. Ania and Lisa brought breakfast, and we gossiped a bit before we got ready to go to the Queen’s room.

I tried to link Nikolas to find out if he wanted to join us to care for his mother, but I met a wall. He had somehow blocked me off.

I was a bit ashamed and hurt about it. I pleaded with Ania to link him with the question to avoid getting in trouble.

She was successful, and my heart was broken. I guess I wasn’t allowed to link him. “He said no and that you should prepare everything needed and leave the room when it is evening. He does not want to find you there when it is time for him to tend to her,” She said with a tinge of sadness.

They believed I had feelings for him, and she had told me to be hopeful, but now she knew better.

“Very well, it means we have time to chat,” I said with a smile, trying to make it seem like it did not bother me, but it bothered me a lot. Ania’s smile dropped, and I knew she had something to tell.

“Tell me, it is okay,” I said, bracing myself for it. “We are to remain there in the evening and assist him,” she said, and I smiled.

“I am the only one that shouldn’t be there. In other words, he does not want to see me,” I said, and she nodded.

I shrugged my shoulders and brushed it aside. “Well, I have ample time to catch up on me-time,” I said, and Lisa smiled.

Aliana. Unlike what Ania said, I am pleading with you not to get your heart invested. You are a werewolf, and our kinds don’t mix. He wouldn’t damn the rules for your sake because he plans to be King one day, meaning he would have to take a Lycan queen. Just enjoy the moment while it lasts, and hopefully, when he is satisfied, he will send you back to

was the most honest advice anyone had given me since I got into this

she was right, and we

as jovial as I used to be. I worked like a machine. It was as if I was moving on muscle

things, and my hatred of Nikolas and

have still been a slave and had the opportunity to settle down

my hand fell while I fed the Queen, and it burned

screamed and snarled at me, then hit

broken pieces of the plate, my hands shook, and I

ones there, the three men Nikolas asked to help me with her were there, and I was scared. Most of it poured on

cheeks while I picked up

shaking, and

I had no idea what Nikolas would do to me. Lisa came to help me to steady my hands. I did not

said, and I

afraid. The same Nikolas that was kind to my people could take out

I looked up Nikolas entered with Gamma Ingham. I bowed my head immediately. Ania knelt in front of me and started pleading. “The plate accidentally sl*ipped Alpha, it wasn’t intentional,” She said,

Queen heal when we have bound her with silver?” Ingham said, stating an obvious

command me, and I knew I had

me to form the right words. “Please,” was all I could

pulled me by my hair.

that I thought he planned to pull my hair out of my

please,” I pleaded. “W*ho*res should be treated like w*ho*res,” he said, tugging

cautioned him. “Do not touch what is mine,” He warned him, and the man let me go instantly, but it happened so fast that

what you are doing. Alpha. Your w*ho*re is high maintenance,” He said, and Nikolas ordered him to get out. Ingham left, and so did the three men in the

may go,” Nikolas said to me without looking at me,

him with Ania and Lisa and

taken from me? I

myself that I got clumsy. Nikolas had let me off easy, but I wondered what the cost would

link him. I had

spent my free time reading and talking to my wolf. I missed shifting and going hunting. I missed the sun. It only touched my skin when I stood by the window in

might have caught glimpses of my father and friends and maybe even gotten to wave at them, but my window faced the inner garden where the Lycan women swam,

some of the parties too. I usually turned off the light in my room during those hours so no one