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.

before. He usually does his business and asks them to leave. You must have made a huge impression.” Ania said, then squinted, looking at

and I held it and smiled. I dared not report to them.

look in their eyes showed that they did not believe me, and

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 miss the fact that they called her

the death of me. I just

eating, I mustered the courage to ask them for

where I can get birth control pills? Anything I can take to stop me from getting pregnant?” I asked,

a painful

but with all that had happened, I doubted he would have such things lying around

to take the tea,” I said, and she smiled at

minutes before intercourse. It

and 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

said, and I thanked her. We finished what we were doing and headed to the room the ‘Queen’

mouth. I was afraid and could feel my air supply cutting off, but I tried to

It triggers them,” Raven warned

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

woman on the bed. She looked thin, her dark hair matted to her forehead

on, she was still sweating.

she would starve

eat much, but we try to get some food in her. I will show you how it is done before you step in,”

bucket of water with soap

water and then wipe her skin

I fell into a

reacting?” I asked, choosing my words carefully,

her, or else we won’t have it easy,” she said, and I was grateful they sedated her before we tended

her, and Lisa helped me

her while they

watched the woman, I was nervous, but

sat on a chair in the room and

growl at me, and I did not know what to do. I hoped someone would say I was done for the day and could leave, but I knew that would never