Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I returned to my room and found Aliana sitting on the bed, her eyes were swollen from tears, and she was smiling. I knew that she knew what had happened.

She rushed towards me and hugged me. I relaxed the moment she wrapped her arms around me to receive the joy she was giving willingly.

“The goddess smiled on you,” she said, and I wrapped my arms around her waist and buried my head in her neck to breathe in her fruity scent.

She let me hold her. I needed it. Something that was supposed to be a celebration was a cause of worry.

Here she was, happy that my mother was all right, but I knew my mother would never accept her, and I could not let either of them go. Aliana was my future, and my mother was a past and a part of me.

I held on tight and k*issed her neck, then travelled with my k*iss to her l*ips to drink her in. She tasted as sweet as always, and I was at complete peace in those moments.

I was calm and broke away.

“How is she?” Aliana asked me, and I nodded.

“She is fine,” I said, leading her to the couch so I could talk to her.

“Aliana,” I said, and she was attentive. I could also sense she was a bit worried, and I knew it was because of my tone.

It wasn’t playful as usual, so it was bound to make her worry. Still, I couldn’t help it. The situation did not call for a happy, playful tone.

“My mother isn’t open-minded, she does not like werewolves and halfbreeds. So, you and your friends won’t be attending to her anymore. I would not want to do anything to aggravate her,” I said, afraid that Aliana would take it wrongly.

She placed her hand over mine and looked at me.

“I wasn’t expecting she would be different. You and Beta Qusack are an exception. It is okay. I will stay away from her if that is what it takes,” she said, and I felt my heart break in those moments.

I wish my mother would make my life easy, just like Aliana. I hope my mother will respect my decisions and support me no matter what. Only time will tell.

tell you something,” Aliana said, and I frowned at

but we were too busy, and I didn’t want to spoil our moment, but I believe I should tell you now. Especially now that your mother is all right and

know you hate my kind, and my father, and you must have your reasons. It may

do otherwise. If you ever forgive them and choose to be kind, it should be of your own free will, but I need you to know this part of the story. Hopefully, that would prepare you for what might come shortly,” She

has to do with your father’s crimes, please do not tell me anything

and I am not here to talk about them, but I will tell you a part that might affect you in the future. Please permit me to speak freely without consequence, Alpha,” She said, and Bane growled because she was still walking on eggshells around

she think there would be consequences? No matter what she does, there will be no consequence. Had she not figured that out? From the onset, I

away with. I had found every bit of her stubbornness enjoyable and

now, she should know that I was a fool for her. As much as

you dare to be formal after everything we shared?” I asked her, and she looked at

face let me know she was hanging on a thread where I was

listening,” I said, and she exhaled. “My father told me that on the day of the battle after the death of the late King, the werewolves brought

My father was once the late King’s beta and friend,

bad, but he wasn’t willing to allow the King’s lineage to end. The King had already lost his firstborn. A child he had with a woman called Olive. Rumours were that they might have been fated, but she was a werewolf. For the late King to succeed his father as King, she pleaded with him to let her remain his mistress so he could be King. That

child, and the child was stillborn. No one saw the corpse, not even the King, because he was too distraught. His half-brother, Leon, was the one that helped with

the fight was a huge misunderstanding, but he knew

remains the way it is so that when her child is of age, the child can come back and claim what is rightfully theirs,” She said, and I did not know what

he will show up in four years when he is thirty-three. My father no longer owns Forest, so it isn’t his to give. It is now yours. If it is a daughter, she might show up soon. I just want

kingship application, but the Snow King will not support you because his sister’s child

conflicting, but parts of the story were in tune with fragments I learned from King Aleksander and even what Abraham, the former record keeper and now my

and his promise to her. It was easy to believe because the man never spent or did anything in Forest. He treated the place as a

If people were working against my father and the werewolves in Forest, it was understandable that they would rise against him. However, I could not forgive their crimes still. There were

mother was all right now, I planned on confronting her with what I had

heir should come?” I asked Aliana, realising she didn’t know my true identity yet. It

in no position to tell you what to do,” she replied, and I shook my

together, you should learn to suggest your opinions,”