Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

The day was very long. I did not know if I should remain in the palace or spend the night in my father’s house.

Nikolas had told me he wouldn’t be spending more than two days in Hill, so there was a possibility he would return the next day and not tonight. He wasn’t in danger of anything on the road, so he might return tonight, but I doubted he would want to rush.

I decided I would spend the night in my father’s house.

I knew I couldn’t do that again once Nikolas returned. I also doubted I would want to spend the night away from Nikolas once he returned.

I closed for the night and linked Beta Qusack to inform him I would stay in my father’s house.

He was silent for a bit but then responded that it was okay. I thanked him and headed to my father’s house.

I had a lot of things bottled up inside me that I wanted to ask my father before Nikolas returned. I hoped my father would be honest and tell me exactly what happened with King Mathias.

All I had heard so far was that my father and his friends were the villains in the story, but my father was a peace-loving man. I could not see him actively moving against the King. Or maybe I was wrong because I wasn’t born when it happened.

My father hadn’t even mated with my mother then. Could his values have changed over the years? Could he have realised his mistakes and has been living in regrets? I could never tell until I spoke to him, and he has divulged his truth.

I was uncomfortable with my mission because I did not know how it would end. His health has been better since I started going to care for him. Nikolas had kept his promise on food, and there was a lot to eat. They were also allowed to buy and sell in the market. Anyone that refused to allow the werewolves was dealt with.

The only down part was we could not leave Forest, we could not choose our jobs, and we weren’t paid as well as the Lycans. What the werewolves were given was more of an allowance than wages. Still, the werewolves were getting by with free groceries on Saturdays and rights to buy and sell in the market. My father had stated clearly that we had it better than others.

As much as I hated to think about it, I, too, was getting a taste of what my life would be without Nikolas if he decided to end it.

The werewolves did not like me because I reeked of him. He had marked me with his scent, so there was no way I could wash him off.

much as I tried to be happy and take Nikolas’s words for it. Gezel’s words rang in my head. If he casts me aside, I will be alone. It was a bleak future if things go in that route, but a tiny part of me prayed it would be otherwise. I prayed

father’s door, and he answered

you would sleep in the palace tonight,” he said when he opened the door. He looked tired, and I could smell

I asked him, stepping in, and he moved aside for me to enter and left me at

food on the table, and it

asked him, and he nodded and said

tired to cut up vegetables and prepare a steak. This would do,” he said, and I took the bowl

steak to have with

your boyfriend returning?” he asked me,

him. After telling me to be careful many times, he

and I nodded and smiled. There was no point telling him what Nikolas had promised

with you by his side. Even Mathias did not marry his fated. She was

his half-brother Leon helped him with the funeral. The two were close,” My father said, and I saw he was going down memory lane. He had just given me information

evil King have a werewolf mate?” I asked him: he sighed and bowed his head.

try not to tell you the story because it was the past, but with all the talk of werewolves being traitors now flying around, I think it is best I tell you the whole story because

with your emotions to hurt you and hurt me since I am the one they all believed betrayed the King. I fought King Mathias, Princess. Don’t get it wrong, but it isn’t how they make it sound,” he

the kitchen, so it was easy for us to communicate. My father picked up the aubergine

friend. I was his beta,” he said, and I was

see the divide between us. When King Fedrick ascended the throne, he wanted to enforce a slavery law, called the Lycan Unity law,

Aleksander was a coward,

go for battles, and his land was poor, so he had to keep his head down and answer to Mathias

everyone traded with us. Our vast army consisted mostly of werewolves, so we couldn’t be intimidated. It was a vast