Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Nikolas POV

I wasn’t expecting Grant to go that far with Joshua.

I planned to scold him when I returned. The lycan Joshua was with said she seduced him. She confessed, and still, Grant felt the need to do this. I had to call him to order.

I did not want Aliana to see things like this. How was she going to hang on when all this was happening? She had already seen herself up there in place of Joshua. I planned to caution Grant because he knew how I felt about Aliana, and I cared about her a lot, parading her kind like that and saying those things were wrong. We were guilty of those things, and I could understand her fears. Grant had spoilt what was meant to be a romantic day for us. I had never gone anywhere with a woman, this would be my first, and Grant ruined it.

Aliana wasn’t her usual happy self throughout our trip, and I couldn’t blame her. I was sure Grant’s words haunted her.

The cattle ranch on Timber was the last place we had to check, and I decided to take Aliana to the stables so she could see the horses there. I had bought the horses from Hill land. She would be excited because they didn’t have horses in Forest.

“Come on,” I said and went into the stables with her. Wanting to be free with her, I ordered Qusack to stand guard and ensure no one entered until we left. Aliana was in awe of the horses. She smiled genuinely for the first time since the horrible scene she saw in the morning.

I was glad we saved the ranch in Timber for last. I wanted her to see all I was doing in Forest, and she approved. Forest was far behind development-wise because of the isolation, but I planned to catch up and surpass the others.

Once we were done admiring the horses, I pinned her against the wall in the stables and k*issed her passionately. “Do not compare what we have to others, Aliana. No one would dare do that to you,” I said and caressed her plump juicy l*ips with my thumb.

Her l*ips had always driven me crazy. It was a sin for a woman to be as beautiful as Aliana, and I was a sinner for wanting and loving her. “Once I am king, I will fix the divide,” I said, and she was speechless.

“To make you happy, no werewolf would be paraded like that again,” I said, trying everything I could to please her and make her happy. There were so many things I wanted to tell her in those minutes, but this wasn’t the time.

The thing I was sure of was that no one would dare parade her like that for getting pregnant with my child. Even if I weren’t King, I would damn the consequences.

“I am scared, Nikolas,” she finally confessed.

honour the law, what would happen to my people? It isn’t a crime to love,” she said with

I fight it every day, preparing my mind for the day you will have to cast me aside and ascend the throne. Yet I am free. I feel like a hypocrite and an

chin to look at

crime,” I said, searching her eyes, and

you, Aliana. I have loved you for a long time now. I tried to avoid you, thinking it would disappear, but I had to accept it. I love you, so you are not in this alone. I want to have a life with you, Aliana.

be King, so I can do what I want without

if Hill and Snow refuse to abolish it on theirs, it would no longer be a Unity Law. I am working towards that, so I keep pleading with you to give me time,

knew my words had renewed her hope, but I needed the k*iss. Her sadness affected me, and I wanted her to be happy. I k*issed her passionately, and she responded. Then finally, we broke the k*iss to catch our breaths. I rested my

to get there,” she said, knowing exactly what

left the stables, and Aliana’s mood was no

Aliana was exhausted. She headed straight to our

and Abraham in the office, and they were on

I went to him and punched him. He fell back on the couch. “Did you have to make a spectacle of the werewolf guy? The girl confessed that she went after him, seduced and professed love, yet you still did that and had to say all those f*uc*ked up things knowing Aliana was watching. She is a f*uc*king werewolf, Grant! What do you think would happen? She started seeing herself up there, and you

first time

I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t see it like that. I was just following the law,”

you were to be beheaded, Grant? Where was the law when your family was massacred in Snow? Where were these laws? If anything, you should revolt because the laws did not favour you,” I

that situation again, Grant. I mean it,” I warned him, and he nodded. Then I went to sit on my chair. Qusack sat on another couch and was laughing at Grant. Abraham

Zieliriska,” Abraham said, and I opened the envelope. I guess Zieliriska wasn’t an

“Dear Nikolas Kowalski,

existence. Your father was a good friend of mine, and it was sad to learn that his subjects turned against him. I know you will make a good King and restore the honour of your family and your people. You have risen from the ashes of your family and made something of yourself. I have

not inherit the throne, there are specific requirements that you would meet to

it because I know the throne is rightfully yours, but Federick isn’t as easygoing as

I want to