Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

The moment Nikolas left the room, I became scared. Who would have thought he was King Mathias’ son? His hatred towards my father when he arrived, was understandable.

My heart broke, and I tried to hide it so I do not spoil his mood. It was unfair for a prince to grow up in the wild and watch his mother go feral. I am yet to know how Queen Isabel lost her mind, but going through all that would drive anyone off the edge.

I looked around the room and thought of Forest as an entirety and realised everything was his all along. He never took anything, and the fact that he had to fight for it made me feel like a thief.

It made me feel guilty. I wasn’t the one that took it, but I felt that way.

Nikolas must care about me to ease his rage on my people. I could just imagine what was happening in his head when he arrived and saw my father: the man he believed buried a sword in his father’s heart, stole his kingdom and banished his mother.

My father was lucky to be alive.

I was fortunate to be alive.

As much as Nikolas told me I had nothing to worry about, I knew I had plenty to worry about.

Queen Isabelle was bound to hate me, and soon he would have to choose because I doubted the woman would let it go.

She was alive when everything happened. She had her version of the truth based on experience; her pain and hatred would be more profound than Nikolas’s. I was afraid and didn’t know what to do.

Everything was against me. I wasn’t only a werewolf but the daughter of the man that ruined their lives. I couldn’t tell him what my father said about how his father died, he would think it was because I knew, and he would not believe it. Only the goddess could vindicate my poor father.

I am sure if my father could glimpse into the future, he wouldn’t have tried to march the werewolves to the palace to demand freedom, but if he hadn’t done that, King Mathias would have wiped us out.

There was no way King Fredrick wouldn’t have taken advantage of the slave trade deal. It was for the best but at the expense of Nikolas and his poor mother.

since he returned from his mother’s room in the morning. But now that I was

willing to let go. I was fooling myself when I believed I could walk away when the time came. I

No one would ever love me as Nikolas does, and

I did not need to guess who it was. I wiped away my tears and asked Ania and Lisa to enter. They came with two trays of food and a frown. I didn’t bother to ask them why they were

of the day with his mother. Hope you don’t mind?”

crying?” She said, and I tried to look away, but she caught it. She gasped immediately,

I shook my head. She was the most pessimistic person I had ever known. She frowned, wondering what was the

sat o n a chair at the table. I joined her and Ania at

mother,” Ania teased, laughing.

man,” she continued,

or not; if Aliana did not step in and we were not diligent, the woman would be dead by now. Gezel and Erica finally got the promotion they wanted. I heard Gezel saying the woman plans to get rid of you and get her son a Lycan bride. For goddess sake, she just got her senses, and I

Lisa said, sounding a bit angry and looking

the woman behaved. She was disgusted by our scent alone. You should be worried, Aliana. That woman is not a good person. Feral or not, I think we messed with the mercy of the goddess by nursing her to health,” she said, and I covered

Lycans have abilities. Watch what you say, please,” I said, and she mumbled something,

Aliana. That woman is no good,”

what I learned, Isabelle’s hatred was justifiable. I could not

know?” I said, and they both looked at me as if I had

feel because we have been there from the beginning. You two are so good together, Aliana; what that woman intends to

in love with him. I want things that I should only dream of with him. In fact, I deceive myself daily on the matter, but I have to be honest with myself,” I said, and tears began streaming

I do not see him cutting himself off from his mother, and if she fails to see the light,

said and covered my face, letting my

do not trust him, but I could cry my heart out with Ania and Lisa; they would listen to me and help me