Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Nikolas POV

I wasn’t expecting Grant to go that far with Joshua.

I planned to scold him when I returned. The lycan Joshua was with said she seduced him. She confessed, and still, Grant felt the need to do this. I had to call him to order.

I did not want Aliana to see things like this. How was she going to hang on when all this was happening? She had already seen herself up there in place of Joshua. I planned to caution Grant because he knew how I felt about Aliana, and I cared about her a lot, parading her kind like that and saying those things were wrong. We were guilty of those things, and I could understand her fears. Grant had spoilt what was meant to be a romantic day for us. I had never gone anywhere with a woman, this would be my first, and Grant ruined it.

Aliana wasn’t her usual happy self throughout our trip, and I couldn’t blame her. I was sure Grant’s words haunted her.

The cattle ranch on Timber was the last place we had to check, and I decided to take Aliana to the stables so she could see the horses there. I had bought the horses from Hill land. She would be excited because they didn’t have horses in Forest.

“Come on,” I said and went into the stables with her. Wanting to be free with her, I ordered Qusack to stand guard and ensure no one entered until we left. Aliana was in awe of the horses. She smiled genuinely for the first time since the horrible scene she saw in the morning.

I was glad we saved the ranch in Timber for last. I wanted her to see all I was doing in Forest, and she approved. Forest was far behind development-wise because of the isolation, but I planned to catch up and surpass the others.

Once we were done admiring the horses, I pinned her against the wall in the stables and k*issed her passionately. “Do not compare what we have to others, Aliana. No one would dare do that to you,” I said and caressed her plump juicy l*ips with my thumb.

Her l*ips had always driven me crazy. It was a sin for a woman to be as beautiful as Aliana, and I was a sinner for wanting and loving her. “Once I am king, I will fix the divide,” I said, and she was speechless.

“To make you happy, no werewolf would be paraded like that again,” I said, trying everything I could to please her and make her happy. There were so many things I wanted to tell her in those minutes, but this wasn’t the time.

The thing I was sure of was that no one would dare parade her like that for getting pregnant with my child. Even if I weren’t King, I would damn the consequences.

“I am scared, Nikolas,” she finally confessed.

people? It isn’t a crime to love,” she said with

I fight it every day, preparing my mind for the day you will have to

her chin to look at me so I would have her

the same crime,” I said, searching her eyes, and she

I have loved you for a long time now. I tried to avoid you, thinking it would disappear, but I had to accept it. I love you, so you are not in this alone. I want to have a life with you, Aliana. I want babies by you, so I was reluctant to put you on birth control. I want you to be my queen, but I can’t make those things happen

be King, so I can do what

I become King, I can challenge and abolish the law on my land. Even if Hill and Snow refuse to abolish it on theirs, it would no

needed the k*iss. Her sadness affected me, and I wanted her to be happy. I k*issed her passionately, and she responded. Then finally, we broke the k*iss to catch our breaths. I rested

Nikolas. I will pretend and wait for you to get there,” she said, knowing exactly what I needed her to do. I knew we would pull

stables, and Aliana’s mood was

we got back to Riverhead, Aliana was exhausted. She headed straight

Abraham in the office, and they were on

him and punched him. He fell back on the couch. “Did you have to make a spectacle of the werewolf guy? The girl confessed that she went after him, seduced and professed love, yet you still did that and had to say all those f*uc*ked up things knowing Aliana was watching. She is a f*uc*king werewolf, Grant! What do you think would happen? She started seeing herself up there, and you know I care about her. Why couldn’t you just beat the guy and give him a mild punishment knowing he did not actively break the

rogue status, gave you a pack and home, and the first time I try to make myself happy,

I didn’t see it like that. I was just following the law,” He said, and I growled

you were to be beheaded, Grant? Where was the law when your family was massacred in Snow? Where were these

to sit on my chair. Qusack sat on another couch and

said, and I opened the envelope. I

“Dear Nikolas Kowalski,

your existence. Your father was a good friend of mine, and it was sad to learn that his subjects turned against him. I know you will make a good King and restore the honour of your family and

you did not inherit the throne, there are specific requirements that you would

it because I know the throne is rightfully yours, but Federick isn’t as

territory. I want to help you ensure you meet the requirement for kingship