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.

an uprising?” Qusack

he won’t listen. We did not mean to kill anyone, but it all got out of hand that night, and Giles paid the ultimate price,”

who saw the

all. The King was too distraught.”

friends with Fredrick?” Qusack asked, and I wondered

malice towards the Alpha and his mother. Please, it will help if I know why

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 we have is extremely one-sided.” He said, and I wondered

I asked him, and he

uncle, he should not be against his coronation. Moreover, Fredrik is trying to claim that Nikolas isn’t the heir.” He

her to Snow,” My father said, sounding a

affair?” Qusack said, and my father could

she was close to Leon,” My father said, and even I

a

He is my best friend, and I want him to succeed. He really loves your daughter, and because

knew what Nikolas was

to do that?” My father asked

is the only reason he is trying to be

had come from me, he would have said Nikolas was deceiving me but coming from Qusack, the second in command, was something

could not get over Olive, but Nikolas belonged to Mathias. She deliberately got pregnant. The midwife who attended to her was Gwendolyn, who became m y wife. When Isabelle got pregnant, she had no flings,” my father said, and

you think happened between you

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

believe Isabelle did i t?” He asked, and my father shook his

not be her. She had nothing to gain,” M y father said,

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 are fighting,” Qusack said, and none of us

saying?” I

like to know where your correspondence with King Mathias was kept. If you remember anything about the incident of the past, please inform me,” Qusack said, and m