Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I had never been so scared in my life. My heart was thumping while I walked towards Nikolas’ room. I dreaded how he would react to my request. I wished it was a lot simpler than this. I fought my tears and tried to compose myself.

I entered the room and sat to think of how I would table the matter before Nikolas. Since he took over the pack, I had dared not discuss my father with him. After speaking to Isabelle, I realised he had separated his dealings with me from my father.

It was easy because I did not get involved with how he ran the place or treated my people. I was on my best behaviour and did my best to please so my people would have an easy life.

I did not plan to fall in love and hope for a future with him, it all happened in the process, and we have been building our relationship gradually. I was worried that discussing this issue with Nikolas would cause a setback. He wasn’t the type to be driven by emotions. His love for me would not make him bend where my father was concerned. I knew I was in trouble. It would be wrong to sit in silence while my father wasted away.

“We have to talk to him about it,” Raven, my wolf, said while I sat on the couch to think of what to do.

“Our mother is gone; we can’t afford to lose father too,” She said, and tears streamed down my cheek because she was right. If I hold my tongue and refuse to speak out of fear and my father dies in the process, I will forever blame myself and hate myself for my cowardice. I would also harbour resentment towards Nikolas and not feel the same anymore. If I dared to speak to him about it, he might take offence and end our relationship. Other than his scent, nothing is connecting us. His mother would support and help him with his resolve, and that would be it. My father would still be worked to death.

I might not blame myself in that scenario, but I would still be broken.

The best case was that he listens and sees reason, and that scenario was the least likely.

Nikolas’s hatred ran deep, and meeting Isabelle, I could see that it was in his blood to hate so deeply.

He would not let my father off the hook.

Qusack was his closest friend and had his back always. If he could decide not to listen to Qusack, then who was I to talk to him about it?

The dilemma was so profound that all I could do was weep.

I remembered the image of my father lying on the bed and wondered how much more he could take before he finally gave up. He was at his best every Saturday, hiding his problems from me. Today I saw him in his true condition, and it broke my heart.

for a while and

ends our relationship because of

my heart. My father’s life was more important than my heart’s desires. If my father dies, then nothing will matter. Nikolas’s plan to change the law would mean nothing to me because I would have no one. There was no guarantee we would end up together. With Isabelle in the picture, anything could

issue made me feel sickly, and I rushed to the bathroom to

be the second time I would be throwing up. I began to suspect I might have caught something. Visiting the werewolf hospital was important. I knew the health care system was substandard, but they should be able to run a simple blood

after I had left them. They came to my room with food. None of them was chatty because they knew my

on the table and sat beside me on the couch, where I had been since I showered. I had sat there waiting for Nikolas to return. I knew I wouldn’t see him until nighttime, but I sat there gathering

not to. The smell bothered me, but I could not tell her that. I know

to do,” I answered Ania,

I am not happy about what he is facing, but this is just too much,” I said, and she held me so

Nikolas took charge. He had been cruel to my father, never letting up. He went easy on others

not bring it up for fear that he might revoke all privileges. I also did not want it to seem like I was trying to

be cross if you bring it up, especially now that you know his reasons for his hatred,”

She was right.

been easier if he wasn’t Mathia’s son. I would have braved it, but knowing

her reasons for asking.

know,” I said, wiping

at the end. He has the upper hand,”

tell you to speak up, Aliana, knowing how Alpha can sometimes be. He might take it as if you want to control him. Even his mother, whom he loved so much and carried about for nineteen years, dared not control him. I am worried about

she was telling the truth, but I had come to understand that Nikolas wasn’t the type to be controlled

they left me alone. I sat on the

and he was about to place me on the bed. He looked at me

asleep on the couch.” He teased me and placed me on