Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

We sat quietly on the couch for almost five minutes, processing all that we had discussed. It was a lot.

“What did Alpha tell you after he revealed his identity to you?” Ania said, trying to calm the situation.

“He said he didn’t care about the past,” I said, and she nodded and touched my hands.

“Now listen to me; you have to trust Alpha. He has no reason to lie to you. But you also have to keep away from his mother. Do not allow yourself to be caught in the same space, either. Let us find a hobby and spend more time outside. Do not see her, and do not allow her to see you.

If that happens, then you will be at her mercy.

I do not know if she is a bad person, but she has a bone to pick with your father, and just like Alpha, she might do it through you. She also does not like our kind, so she would not want you with her son. She will try everything she can to make Alpha end the relationship.

You must brace yourself for that part because she might succeed. As things are, your relationship with him is impossible because he wants to be king, but he might have a way to beat it.

This woman might just complicate things,” She said and hugged me.

I let myself cry. I needed to shed tears so I could brace myself for what was to come.

They ate without me. I did not have the appetite to put anything in my mouth. Ania told me I should link her if she is not with me when I get hungry, and she would bring something for me.

After they ate, they decided that we should take a stroll.

I wanted to link Nikolas to inform him, but I did not want to interrupt his time with his mother.

Nineteen years were too long for both of them; he deserved to enjoy his time with her uninterrupted. They had much to catch up on, and I did not want to disturb them.

“Alpha said you will think of a work to do. He said something like a hobby,” Ania said once we stepped outside, and I nodded.

“A hobby means I would have to do it in that building, but as things are, I doubt I want to be in that building all the time. So let us volunteer to work in the werewolf clinic. There we can take care of people for free, and we do not have to be there always like their regular staff; we will need to only come in when I am not with Nikolas. That would keep me away from the palace and out of Queen Isabelle’s way,” I said, and Ania nodded.

“Well, you are right. After all, we were nursing her; now we can care for others. I like it, but you have to run it by Alpha first. If he approves, we will apply if there is a need,” Ania said, and I understand why she was unwilling to jump without Nikolas’s approval.

“Should we go to the market? I have little money we can spend there; besides, the Werewolves do not have much, and their stuff isn’t expensive, so we will be fine,” Lisa said.

Ania lifted my hand to admire the bracelet on my wrist.

“Where did you get this? It is so pretty and professionally crafted,” She said, and I looked at it and shook my hand lightly so it would dangle on my wrist. I laughed while I looked at it, remembering when Nikolas put it on my wrist with love and care.

“Alpha gave it to me as a gift from Peakland,” I said, and she beamed and touched it gently.

“Real Emerald and Amethyst held together with pure copper. It is a thing of beauty. Alpha has an eye for beautiful things,” She said, looking at the bracelet, then turned her attention to me and touched my chin.

“His taste is exquisite,” She said right about when we walked past my father’s house.

He was yet to be home, so we moved past it. Lisa looked at the bracelet and touched it gently.

“I wished someone would do something this nice for me. It would be romantic,” She said with a dreamy voice, and we all giggled.

For someone so pessimistic, she sounded too wistful to be true. Her cheeks were coloured with embracement.

and

my fear, and now that it

and follow his lead wherever

the

palace, which was far now, and nodded. I doubted Nikolas would be done with

much

hopped on a Cycle rickshaw so we

thought the person riding it was a Lycan until Ania told me he was a halfbreed. I planned on

market are you going?” He

Lock, where the werewolves have shops,” Ania said excitedly, and he nodded and

with Lisa in the middle and Ania and me at both

people look at me with disgust. It made me look away and stare

market wasn’t so far, so we arrived

and we alighted the vehicle and entered

There were multiple stalls.

food items, while others had objects like clothes, cookware, decorations, costume jewellery, and so

table, while others laid them on the floor

shops too. It was organised, and there were people buying things at every point. I noticed that people moved

Lisa said, hurrying ahead of Ania and me. A

yellow scarf that caught my yes.

frowned. I smelled the air; I knew she was a werewolf, so where

don’t speak to her like that,” Ania said, coming to

of it,” she said and spat on the ground as if I

ashamed of yourself, Aliana. Your mother will be rolling in her grave. Sleeping with the monster that stole our home and enslaved

come here. You should be ashamed of yourself,” She said, and people began to gather, and they seemed to agree with her. “She follows him about. Who would have thought she had a w*hor*e in

because he will, I hope you do not expect any of our brothers or sons

buy and sell. She is the reason you are earning wages and have some

the king, the savages won’t be upon

the King would have sold you all as slaves to the Forest King. Was it not your men that met my father and begged him to liberate them? My father had no qualms with the king, but he sided with them against the

forcing you to remain in Forest. If you feel Alpha Nikolas is too much of a savage to lead you, go to the forest and surrender to the snow hunters. I learned snow Hunters are looking for slaves,”

ashamed of myself!” I yelled at

this as suffering. I will be happy to convey your feelings to the Alpha so you won’t have the need to buy and sell anything again, and all privileges you claim

Aliana should just tell Alpha there is no need for him to show her kindness by being lenient on her people; he should treat all of you as the other two kings treat werewolves. I am sure you will all be happy,”

the privileges you have? I am not hoping your sons or brothers will fancy me when all this is over because I doubt they can ever meet up to the standards

someone to pick on. I snatched the yellow scarf from the woman and smelled it. Then threw it back at

I wondered what they were thinking, trying to mess with me the way they were. I wasn’t an easygoing person, so they should have known better. I guess they chose to vent to

we leave?” Ania asked, and I

came to the market; we will buy something,” I

to the

respectful towards me. Most of them gave me things and thanked

sold on consisted of werewolves from Woodland, Oakspring, Timber, and other parts of

place where they were nice to me consisted of the people from Riverhead, my people. They

young blacksmith told me he would marry and care for me when Nikolas dumped

promise. His name was Oliver Greenford. He was a handsome man, about twenty-five, and he looked like he meant every word.