Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

The moment Nikolas left the room, I became scared. Who would have thought he was King Mathias’ son? His hatred towards my father when he arrived, was understandable.

My heart broke, and I tried to hide it so I do not spoil his mood. It was unfair for a prince to grow up in the wild and watch his mother go feral. I am yet to know how Queen Isabel lost her mind, but going through all that would drive anyone off the edge.

I looked around the room and thought of Forest as an entirety and realised everything was his all along. He never took anything, and the fact that he had to fight for it made me feel like a thief.

It made me feel guilty. I wasn’t the one that took it, but I felt that way.

Nikolas must care about me to ease his rage on my people. I could just imagine what was happening in his head when he arrived and saw my father: the man he believed buried a sword in his father’s heart, stole his kingdom and banished his mother.

My father was lucky to be alive.

I was fortunate to be alive.

As much as Nikolas told me I had nothing to worry about, I knew I had plenty to worry about.

Queen Isabelle was bound to hate me, and soon he would have to choose because I doubted the woman would let it go.

She was alive when everything happened. She had her version of the truth based on experience; her pain and hatred would be more profound than Nikolas’s. I was afraid and didn’t know what to do.

Everything was against me. I wasn’t only a werewolf but the daughter of the man that ruined their lives. I couldn’t tell him what my father said about how his father died, he would think it was because I knew, and he would not believe it. Only the goddess could vindicate my poor father.

I am sure if my father could glimpse into the future, he wouldn’t have tried to march the werewolves to the palace to demand freedom, but if he hadn’t done that, King Mathias would have wiped us out.

There was no way King Fredrick wouldn’t have taken advantage of the slave trade deal. It was for the best but at the expense of Nikolas and his poor mother.

his mother’s room in the morning. But now that I was alone, I broke

go. I was fooling myself when I believed I could walk away when the time came. I knew deep down I wouldn’t

would ever love me as Nikolas does, and that thought alone made me dread

enter. They came with two trays of food and a frown. I didn’t bother to

spend the rest of the day with his mother. Hope you don’t mind?” Ania said, and I smiled at her, but Lisa continued frowning. She put the tray

said, and I tried to look away, but she caught it. She gasped immediately, and I wondered what

pessimistic person I had ever known.

and sat o n a chair at the table. I

mother,” Ania teased, laughing. She

missing her man,” she continued, but Lisa wasn’t buying

people that nursed her to health, halfbreed or not, werewolf or not; if Aliana did not step in and we were not diligent, the woman would be dead by now. Gezel and Erica finally got the promotion they wanted. I heard Gezel saying the woman plans to get rid of you and get her son a Lycan bride. For goddess sake, she just got her senses, and I think she would be trouble for

Lisa said, sounding a bit angry and looking at

not a good person. Feral or not, I think we messed with the mercy of the goddess by nursing her

please,” I said, and she mumbled something, so I immediately removed my hand from

That woman is no good,”

was justifiable. I could

isn’t her fault, you know?” I said, and they both

because we have been there from the beginning. You two are so good together, Aliana; what that woman

you are right. I am in love with him. I want things that I should only dream of with him. In fact, I deceive myself daily on the matter, but I have

would tell. I do not see him cutting himself off from his mother, and if she fails to see the light, one of us has

am f*uc*ked!” I said and covered my

not trust him, but I could cry my heart out with