Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Nikolas POV

Alianas’ reasons touched my soul, and I could not express myself without compromise.

What she achieved was unbelievable, and she made me realise how negligent my kind has been where my mother was concerned.

I could sit beside my mother and feed her for the first time in years. She looked like she did when she was all right, and I wished she would gain her sanity in those moments.

I have learned how meticulous Aliana was with her. She had nursed her diligently, and it had paid off. I might have wanted her if she weren’t Gabriel’s child.

I deliberately stayed away from her to get my need for her out of my system.

Ever since we met, there has been a silent fire between us that only our wolves could understand. The few times we were alone together, we had broken barriers between us.

Knowing it wasn’t good for my agenda and not wanting to hurt myself, I distanced myself from her for a month to get her out of my mind and focus on the things that matter. The truth was that it was a futile effort. I found myself thinking of her, her scent, her voice, her defiance, her confidence, and her beauty.

I thought of her response to my touch, her m*oa*ns.

I knew she wasn’t faking it. Every moment, reaction, expression, and emotion with her were genuine. It was sad that we were on opposite sides.

Since I met Aliana, I had lost interest in other women, but she did not need to know that. It was my cross to bear. I had sometimes listened to her communication with her father, and she never spoke badly of me or complained.

I had thought she was playing a game, but her progress on my mother made me realise otherwise.

I looked at her for a bit and decided to live in the moment, just for tonight.

“Are you allowed to drink wine?” I asked her, and her cheeks coloured with embarrassment.

Her complexion had been going from pale to blush since she sat beside me, and I knew I had the same effect on her.

“I am allowed to drink, but I can’t handle alcohol well,” she replied, and I got up to get two wine glasses and a bottle of merlot and served both of us.

She raised an eyebrow when she collected the glass from me, and I smiled at her for the first time.

“Just for tonight,” I said, and she nodded and took a sip.

asked, and she

which was an ingenious way to

moment, I wanted to unburden myself and live in the moment. So, I switched on the music and stretched my hands toward

her waist and pulling her close to my chest. She gasped, and I held her hand with my other hand on her waist while

tense, but I felt her relax. I was rewarding her for being kind to my mother and doing her best. At least, that was what I

used to dance with my father,” she said, and I froze but then composed myself and decided to live unburdened in those moments. Tomorrow we can get back to

danced the night away and drank too

I realised that Aliana was tipsy. She was laughing a lot, and her cheeks were red. I decided she needed a break. “I haven’t had this much fun since my mother died, and I couldn’t even drink alcohol then,” she said, laughing, and I got curious about her mother’s death. “Do you mind telling me how she passed away?” I

and Lycans killed her. I was with her,” she said, tears

was my fault. She warned me not to wander far and that we weren’t welcome in other territories, but I didn’t believe her, I

me to run while she shifted and fought. She was a Beta wolf, so she could hold her ground, but they were Lycans. I

was too afraid. I listened

last time I saw her. I know my mother would refuse to be enslaved, so they were bound to kill her in the end,”

from the Snow King and his people. He must have been delusional to think he could rule an entire territory. Had my father been alive, no Lycan hunter would wonder near the border of Forest. As long as a king was present, the respect would be mutual. It was a silent law. The Forest border became open for attack and plunder when Gabriel and his friends

I knew she wanted to throw up. I led her to the toilet, and she sat by the toilet seat while I watched her throw up her

back while she threw up, then rubbed

her shoulder and smiled She was indeed a beautiful,

give in to what

I felt

drugs because I would

did with their spare time, but I would have issues if they were feeding

the right places. Her beauty was humble

me, Alpha,” she slurred, and I sighed before undressing and sitting with

was

we would

enough. I made her sit in it with me. She

this was, I could stay with her in my arms forever, but it was just for the night. I wasn’t going to

nodded. I was pissed off immediately and decided I would punish them for it. They

I was not allowed to leave, so I decided to settle for the next best thing. It tastes bad, and it is quite unpleasant,” She said, and I was shocked that Aliana took my rules seriously,

anticipated me touching her

to feed my eyes and feel her body close to me, but