Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I stood still at the door, and Qusack looked at me. He had a knowing look in his eyes, and I did not know how I would play it off.

“Good morning, Beta,” I said quickly and moved away from the door so he could enter. “Alpha asked me to come and check on your father,” he said and moved to where my father was.

“Please have a seat,” I offered, and he reluctantly sat.

“Should I make you a cup of tea, Beta?” I asked him, and he shook his head, accessing my father with his eyes.

“How are you feeling, Gabriel?” Qusack asked, and my father nodded.

“Better than I was yesterday.” He said, and Qusack nodded.

“Alpha wants me to thank you for defending the border yesterday. He is looking into the health care facility to improve it to standard. We had no idea of the state of the werewolf health care system, but we will ensure it is improved,” Qusack said, and my father thanked him with a smile. He looked at both of us and relaxed in the chair. I wondered what else he wanted to discuss. I wanted to continue to pretend he hadn’t heard what my father and I discussed. I hoped I was imagining it.

“Would you like coffee?” I asked, wondering why he was lingering, and he shook his head. He looked at me and accessed me.

“You do not seem well, Aliana. You look pale. Won’t you go for a check-up? Maybe you didn’t heal well.” He said, and I felt a bit embarrassed and shook my head.

“Thank you, Beta, but I feel fine,” I lied, and he smiled and nodded, dropping the matter. I wondered why he wouldn’t just leave.

“Keeping secrets from Nikolas is unwise, Aliana. Do not give him a reason not to trust you. He is already moving mountains for your sake,” He said, and I was stunned by his words.

I wasn’t keeping secrets from the Alpha.

“I am not, beta,” I said, worried about why he would put his words in that form.

“But you are,” he said and looked at my father. “I want you to tell me precisely what happened between King Mathias and you. I have heard your conversation with your daughter, but I need you to explain it. Anything that will affect Nikolas is my business,” he said sternly, and I knew he wasn’t playing.

We weren’t enemies, but he exuded dominance that made me uncomfortable.

My father told him all he had told me. He did not miss a word. Qusack was shocked at the magnitude of information my father had unfolded.

uprising?” Qusack asked him, and

listen. We did not mean to kill anyone, but it all got out of hand that night, and Giles paid the ultimate price,” My father said, and Qusack

was Olive and her child buried? Who attended the burial, and who saw the corpses?” Qusack

did it all. The King was too distraught.” M y

Leon friends with Fredrick?” Qusack asked, and I

Alpha and his mother. Please, it will help if I know why you are asking. I do not want to get into more trouble, and I do not want anything that would harm my child,” my father said, genuinely concerned for

harm, Gabriel. I am investigating the queen, Fredrick and the past. There are some irregularities, and I am trying to piece them together. Nikolas has no clue, of course. It is a personal project between Gamma Abraham and me. Knowing what you know would help us better because what

are you doing this?” I asked

Nikolas’ uncle, he should not be against his coronation. Moreover, Fredrik is trying to claim that

when I sent her

said, and my father could not answer because

was close to Leon,” My father said,

a

really loves your daughter, and because of that alone,

that Qusack knew what Nikolas was planning. They must be

My father

trying to be King,” he said, and my

deceiving me but coming from

she was because Mathias could not get over Olive, but Nikolas belonged to Mathias. She deliberately got

words, tell me what you think happened between you and King Mathias,”

to believe we meant to harm him. His final words to me when he took his life in the woods rang and stayed

i

had nothing to gain,” M

refused to take her in when you set her free. The same brother that has been trying to take Forest for a while now. The same brother that does not want Nikolas to ascend. The same brother that we

saying?” I

said, I am investigating something. I will like to know where Olive and her child were buried and the people that attended this burial. I will also like to know where your correspondence with King Mathias was kept.