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.

said, and

our moment, but I believe I should tell you now. Especially now that your mother is all right and you have decided to make Forest

you hate my kind, and my father, and you must have your reasons. It may be based on what was

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 said, and I frowned

me anything that would spoil our relationship, Aliana,” I said quickly, and

I am not here to talk about them, but I will

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

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

fool for her. As much as I

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

on her face let me know she was hanging on a thread where I was concerned. Did she figure out who

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

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

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 was why he married

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 funeral.”

maids. He would have let her stay to rule because the fight was a huge misunderstanding, but he knew some people were working against the King and werewolves. He also knew the werewolves were too aggrieved to allow her

father told her to go back to Snow and live with her brother. He promised her that he would keep Forest intact and make sure it remains the way it is so that when her child is of age,

to give. It is now yours. If it is a daughter, she might show up soon. I just want you to know that I just found out that the former King’s wife is alive, and she left while pregnant with his child.

know what is happening to your kingship application, but the Snow King will not support you because his

the story were in tune with fragments I learned from King Aleksander and even what

not know why my mother did not tell me Gabriel set her free 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 keeper and

and the werewolves in Forest, it was understandable that they would rise against him. However, I

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

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

what to do,” she replied, and I shook

to spend the rest of our lives together, you should learn to suggest your opinions,” I said, composing myself and