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 now I am head over heels for Alpha,” I said,

now that it was over, I was

Nikolas and

check the market

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

him much if

rickshaw so we could

it was a Lycan until Ania told me he was a

part of the market are

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

middle and Ania and

at me with disgust. It made me

wasn’t so far, so we arrived

the cycler, and we alighted the vehicle

There were multiple stalls.

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

while others laid them

people moved away every time we

let’s buy something there,” Lisa said, hurrying ahead of Ania and me. A

out right when I touched the yellow scarf

filthy hand,” she sneered at me, and I frowned. I

that,” Ania said, coming to

Lycan filth. She reeks of it,” she said and

rolling in her grave. Sleeping

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

any of our brothers or sons to settle with you,” someone said, and Ania

She is the reason you are earning wages and have some freedom. You should be grateful to her. She has sacrificed herself and happiness

the king, the savages won’t be upon us,”

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

feel Alpha Nikolas is too much of a savage to lead you, go to the forest and surrender to the snow

am not ashamed of myself!” I yelled

happy to convey your feelings to the Alpha so you won’t have the need to buy and sell anything again,

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

all twenty-nine years of freedom. How many werewolves in other regions can boast of the same? Alpha Nikolas is kind to all of you because of me. How many werewolves in other regions can boast of 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 the Alpha has set. But I will advise you to watch yourselves around me and my father. The only reason we surrendered was so none of

snatched the yellow scarf from the

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

we leave?” Ania asked, and I

the market; we will buy something,” I said, moving

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

me. Most of them gave me things and

sold on

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

young blacksmith told me he would marry and care for me when Nikolas dumped me. He said he didn’t

He was a handsome man, about twenty-five, and he looked like he meant every word. I knew there would be no need because I trusted Nikolas, and I was hopeful. But if it