Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 18

Aliana POV

I had a very hectic day caring for the Queen. She was running a fever, and it took a while before the physician could bring her fever down. Nikolas was very worried, and he was a bit cranky too.

I could not blame him. The fear of losing the only parent he had left was intense, and I could relate.

Even though I had not seen my father, and we linked every day, I was always afraid that he would d*ie one day.

My father’s health wasn’t great, but Nikolas had him working with the masons. Even though the hours were more friendly, it was tedious work. I dared not bring it up with him because I noticed he hated my father, but I did not know why.

I had tried to bring it up once, and the way he behaved made me believe that I should tread carefully. I felt powerless because even though he showed me a lot of affection, I was hanging on a thread, too, and he could snap anytime.

Living an uncertain life was hard, but I pushed on for the sake of my father, my people and my wolf. I could not deny that my heart belonged to Nikolas.

He became better when his mother was stable, and he apologised to me for snapping, but I did not take offence. The Queen gave us a scare. I was most afraid because I was the one in charge of coordinating her feeding. I was scared that the doctor would link her fever to me and that Nikolas would think I wanted to harm his mother. Seeing her temperature go down made me happy. I lingered in her room until I was sure she was completely alright.

No matter how much Nikolas showed me affection, I knew it would be nothing compared to what he would do for his mother.

I retired to Nikolas’s bedroom while he went to handle pack matters with his beta and Gamma.

Lisa and Ania brought me dinner in his room. I was glad that Nikolas permitted them to keep me company. I somehow knew he would be in the garden, he was always there, but it did not bother me like it used to. I was holding on to his word.

Ania sat on the couch in his room comfortably and smiled.

“Who would have thought attending to you would mean luxury for us?” She said, and I frowned at her.

“What do you mean?” I asked, and Lisa laughed.

“When Alpha assigned us to you, we were mocked. It wasn’t normal that Lycans would serve a werewolf, so they saw us as the bottom runt. We were already rejected and condemned, so it was the lowest any Lycan could go,” Lisa said, and I felt terrible for them. “Anyway, we have been on top of things since we started attending to you. We enter everywhere, and our work isn’t much. Serving you made our lives easier, Aliana,” Lisa said.

I did not know why they would see it like that, but to think of it, our lives were indeed easy. We were not washing clothes and scrubbing floors. We eat, attend to the Queen, gossip, and go to bed. That was all we did.

I was too caught up in my pain that I did not see things this way. My only issue was that I was a werewolf attracted to the Lycan Alpha, who would soon be King and dump me. The werewolves were put to work, but they have been earning wages, and the Lycans aren’t allowed to discipline them unless they break a law which was the norm when my father led us. He always disciplined wolves that broke the law. I was glad Nikolas was the one that came for Forest and not the Snow or Hill King.

“Have you been put on birth control yet?” Ania asked, and I shook my head. She gasped and beamed at me.

might be courting you,”

her head. It isn’t good for her heart.” She scolded and

with me, and I nodded. There was no way I could tell the woman that

introverted, today, he was laughing with Qusack, and they were having a drink. I wondered what the occasion was. I saw him

the light so he wouldn’t see me

me,’ I heard his voice in my mind, and I was shocked. What was he doing? I thought we were supposed to be private. Having me in his room was different from having me beside him in public. That would make me more than a bedwarmer, it would make me his companion. I did not think it was a bright idea, but I trusted he knew what he

you like me to wear?’ I asked, still being careful so I do not overstep. Seeing how I suddenly became compliant when he started being

normal clothes would do. I just want you beside me. The moon is full, by the way.’ He said, and I did

showered in a hurry and wore a T-shirt and shorts. The shorts were very s*e*xy, and it was deliberate. My hair was a bit w*et, but it looked nice. I let it

more confident. I did not know what I would be doing amid Lycans, people that thought they were better than me. The moment I got to the door that led to the

the

sky, and Nikolas was right, it was indeed a full moon, and it

I was outside. Besides, I hadn’t been out in a long time, apart from when Ingham dragged me out to disgrace and punished

from the moon to look at the person speaking to me. It was Gezel, one of my bullies. She was lycan, and I

half-breed friends aren’t here now, scram,” she said, grabbing my hand to push me back. I yanked my hand

I said, and she

that? Don’t you know your place?” Another

and slowly attention was being

third won’t come. She was the b*itc*hiest of them all. Erica was a no-show, and

said, and I saw Qusack walking towards us. The women smiled at him as if they were not trying to attack

werewolf shouldn’t be here,” Gezel

and I could not help but chuckle quietly. Gazel was still trying to process what he had said, but I understood it. He asked me to follow him, and I obliged. When we got to the table, Nikolas motioned me to sit beside him. I went about and made sure I greeted all his officers respectfully. They

sat beside Nikolas, and he reached for my hand, which I let fall loosely on my side. He held on to it

did not want you in the bedroom alone. It seemed I was keeping you prisoner,” he said, and I did not know what to say, but what he

and I looked at him wide-eyed, then averted my

holding my hand,

led the way, and we walked towards the woods

safe place. I felt eyes on us as I followed Nikolas, but I did not care. He was the one that made the rules around here, and I

woods, and he stopped and bent

moonlight t*ouched his hair and part of his face, and he seemed breathtakingly handsome, but

moon, Aliana,” he said, caressing my cheek. His t*ouch was electric, and my mind was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255