Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

The whole issue with my mother had destabilized me. I wasn’t supposed to feel the way I was feeling. I was supposed to be happy. My joy was supposed to be immense, but I felt more worry than joy.

What Aliana had told me got me thinking.

Gabriel had told her this without even knowing that I was the heir. I wondered what happened and why my uncle would turn my mother away and then deliberately oppose me knowing there was a possibility I was his nephew.

I sat at the foot of the bed, unwilling to step outside. I had planned to spend the entire day with Aliana, but it didn’t seem like that would happen now that my mother was

awake. I just dreaded facing her and telling her that I was in love with a werewolf, the daughter of the man she called a traitor, the very man that saved her life. It wasn’t comforting.

Since what Aliana said her father told her matched what I had heard, I planned to look into what happened in the past. Had Gabriel allowed the werewolves to finish my mother off, I wouldn’t be here, and he would have still held Forest. I owed him my life. Even though he betrayed my father, I owed him my life. He must have regretted his action all these years.

“You look worried. Should I move back to my old room?” Aliana asked me, and I wondered why she would ask such a question. Her words snapped me out of my deep thought, and I looked at her, a bit confused.

“Why would you say that?” I asked her, and she shrugged. I could see the fear in her eyes. I knew in her mind that our relationship had come to an end. I hoped I would be able to prove to her otherwise. She deserved my assurance, and words weren’t going to do, but I will try.

“I lived nineteen years without my mother’s influence. I have lived without her longer than I know her. She cannot wake up and change my life. I knew what I was getting into when I chose you. Allow me to handle this my way Aliana. Yes, I would want to gradually ease her into our relationship, but I do not plan to beg her for approval,” I said and went to the bathroom to shower.

It was normal for her to feel this way. People still referred to her as a slave and mistress. I have to keep it that way until the deal with the Lycan committee and the Kingship pulls through; then, I can reveal m y true intentions to our world. Everything seemed like forever, but I was hanging on. I hope Aliana will keep faith in

us breakfast in my room, and I told them they would no longer serve the Queen, but

not seem happy about the development but were silent, just

mother regaining her sanity will change a lot, some of the changes would be unwanted, but it was necessary. I would use the time to reform her hateful mind to successfully build the world I want to build in Forest without opposition. I was determined to make the werewolves more comfortable and free for Aliana’s sake. They deserve a

is willing to side with a halfbreed to become King instead of his nephew, my children with Aliana would be good enough. Still, we had to wait a little longer. All these dreams could not be achieved as a rogue prince but

eating, and I placed the tray outside for

the couch beside Aliana. “I think you should find a hobby, something you will love doing, and put your friends to work. There is nothing for you to do, and I would

Little

of responsibility for someone to look at me the way Aliana

the soft music while we talked about ourselves and the things we liked. I wanted to know her better. I understood her body, I needed to understand her mind, and honestly, I

drawing near, and it made my stomach churn. I

have been a lot easier, but I had to face her now, whether I liked it or not. Who knows,

was finally time to join my mother for

room had an open arch instead of a door. We