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.

slept in the same bed with Alpha before. He usually does his business and asks them to leave. You must

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

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

our day. We are to care for the queen in her room. Do not worry; she has been chained to the bed,” Lisa said, sounding a bit worried, and I knew why she would be concerned. It wasn’t every day a werewolf was made to care for a feral lycan. I also did not

woman might be the death

eating, I mustered the courage

pills? Anything I can take

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

step outside the packhouse or the compound. I would have sought the help of our physician, but with all that had happened,

to take the tea,” I said, and

minutes before intercourse.

besides, if I had a child by him, the child would not be referred to as a Lycan, and I did not want to bring a child into a world like this. I will drink the tea as

she said, and I thanked

air supply cutting off, but I tried to force myself

cannot panic around ferals. It triggers them,” Raven

led into the room, and the curtains were closed with dim

the bed. She looked thin, her dark hair

still sweating. She looked gaunt, and it was

be fed to her in that condition. At the rate she was going, she would starve to

much, but we try to get some food in her. I will show you how

with soap and another

will wipe her with the soapy water and then wipe her skin

Soon, I fell into a rhythm. I wondered why

isn’t she reacting?” I asked, choosing my words carefully,

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

helped me

me to watch her while

I was

chair in

what to do. I hoped someone would say I was done for the