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.

it together throughout my time with Nikolas since he returned from his mother’s room in the morning. But now

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

misjudged by my kind loved me wholly and wholeheartedly. No one would ever love me as

my tears and asked Ania and Lisa to enter. They came with two trays of food and a frown. I didn’t bother to ask them why they were

should eat with you and keep you company because he would 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

to look away, but she caught it. She gasped immediately,

She asked, and I shook my head. She was the most pessimistic person I had ever known. She frowned, wondering

and sat o n a chair at the table. I joined her

with his mother,” Ania teased, laughing.

man,” she

charged with now is hanging with you and doing whatever you like. I can’t believe the woman would hate the people that nursed her to health, halfbreed or not, werewolf or not; if Aliana did not step in and we were

said, sounding a bit angry and

our scent alone. You should be worried, Aliana. That woman is not a good person. Feral or

walls have ears, and Lycans have abilities. Watch what you say, please,” I said, and she mumbled something, so I immediately removed my hand from

been warned, Aliana. That woman is no good,” She

learning what I learned, Isabelle’s hatred was justifiable.

and they both looked at me as if I

separating you from Alpha. And don’t lie about how you feel because we have been there from the beginning. You two are so good together, Aliana; what that woman intends

want things that I should only dream of with him. In fact, I deceive myself daily on the matter, but I have to be honest with myself,” I said, and tears began streaming

on to Nikolas’s words, only time 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 to go,

covered my face, letting

say I do not trust him, but I could cry my heart out with Ania and Lisa;