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.

ago, and now I am head over heels for Alpha,” I said, and we all

me deal with my fear, and now that it

hold on to Nikolas and

we check the market

far now, and nodded. I doubted Nikolas would be done with his mother

much if I were

on a Cycle rickshaw so we could get there

a Lycan until Ania told me he was a halfbreed. I planned on

part of the market are you

Ania said excitedly, and he

in the middle and Ania and me at

saw people look at me with disgust. It made me look away

far, so we arrived in thirty

we alighted the

There were multiple stalls.

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

things on the table, while others

organised, and there were people buying things at every point. I noticed that people moved away every time we passed them; I wanted to believe it was because of me, but

Ania and me. A few

I touched the yellow scarf that caught my

and I frowned. I smelled the air; I knew she was

like that,” Ania

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

will be rolling in her grave. Sleeping with the monster that stole our home and enslaved us.

here. You should be ashamed of yourself,” She said, and people began to gather, and they seemed to agree with her. “She

I hope you do not expect any of our brothers or sons to

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

king, the savages won’t be

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 king for your sake, and now you spill nonsense,”

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,” I

not ashamed of myself!” I yelled at them, and

need

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,” Lisa said, and they remained

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 the Alpha has set. But I

they were tough and just looking for someone to pick on. I snatched the yellow scarf from the woman and smelled it. Then threw it back at

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

asked,

the market; we will

branched several shops, and they were a contrast to the scarf lady

me. Most of

the scarf woman and the street she sold

where they were nice to me consisted of the people from Riverhead, my people. They had words of encouragement for

Nikolas dumped me. He said he didn’t care that Nikolas marked

promise. His name was Oliver Greenford. He was a handsome man, about twenty-five, and he