Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 54

I went to the office and was surprised to find Qusack and Abraham there. Grant wasn’t there as usual. He wasn’t an early bird and was late for everything, so there was no need to wonder about him.

“Good morning, Alpha,” Abraham greeted me, and Qusack did the same. I responded and sat on my chair.

Three envelopes were on my table; one came with the council’s seal. It was yet to be broken. “This arrived in the night,” Qusack said, pointing at the note from the council, and I lifted it up.

“By the way, terminate Gabriel’s work. He is slowing the workers down with his illness. I do not want him working as a mason anymore,” I told Qusack.

I made it seem as if I was irritated that Gabriel’s illness was slowing down the project. No one needed to know my soft spot for Aliana except for Qusack, and the look on his face said he figured it out because there was an ‘I-told-you- so’ expression on his face.

“Where should I put him?” Qusack asked me, and I shook my head.

“Nowhere he is old and sick. More of a liability than a help. Just put him on a weekly allowance to get by,” I ordered, and Qusack nodded.

“Have the doctor examine him. I can’t let him die on my watch. He understands this place better than any of us,” I said, and Abraham nodded in agreement.

The whole pretence was for Abraham’s benefit.

Qusack was the only person I trusted who would not judge my choice to be with a werewolf. I couldn’t say the same for others.

“I will ask Grant to handle it,” Qusack said, and Abraham volunteered immediately.

“Why?” I asked Abraham.

“He is Aliana’s father, and you know Grant won’t be careful. I will do it. She might be your mistress, but I doubt she could make you happy if anything happens to her father,” he said.

I nodded, feigning boredom at his words, but he had a point there, not the one I was trying to prove, but a good point nonetheless.

I opened the letter from the council, and it read.

“Alpha Nikolas Kowalski, we hereby summon you to the council tomorrow, the eighth day of August, to come and plead your coronation case. The meeting will be held at the palace in Ice Hill in Snow at three in the afternoon.

Our host will be King Frederick Semenov.

King Aleksander Zieliriska and others will also attend.

Kindly come with two of your officers, your nominees, to represent Forest in the council. As you are yet to be named King, you will also represent Forest on the committee.

Please bring all evidence to support your claim as the rightful heir of Forest through the Late King Mathias Kowalski. We look forward to seeing you.

Committee Leader Alpha Olsen Sadowski,”

It read, and I stood up immediately.

My heart was thumping in my chest. I looked at the clock, and it was seven in the morning. 1

I was glad I woke up early.

Snow was six hours away from Forest by road. We could make it for the meeting if we left in an hour.

“What is it?” Qusack asked me.

“We have been summoned to attend the committee meeting. It will commence three this afternoon in Fredrik’s palace in Ice Hill Snow. I have been ordered to bring two officers that would represent Forest on the committee and evidence to support my claim as the rightful heir,” I said, and Qusack widened his yes.

“That is sudden,” He said, and I nodded.

exactly what

alright. I doubted she had gone out since she felt better. Fredrick must know his sister is mentally unstable. He made the

you,” Qusack said, and I knew he, too, had done the

would be in for a shock,” I said, and

then we should start preparing

reek of Aliana, Alpha. They will know you have been with a werewolf,” He said and sighed. “By now, it isn’t a secret that werewolves are in Forest or that they roam freely even though we uphold the unity law. Besides, as an ordinary leader, I am allowed to sleep with as many werewolves as I like,” I said, and he frowned. “It will

side with him because of her hatred for Aliana, or would she testify that

and Qusack will be coming with me. I will leave Grant in charge,” I said, and Qusack was confused because I was supposed to take Grant with me,

Abraham laughed at how

I will handle the transportation and preparation while you prepare. I hope your mother is ready for the long trip to

you read the other letters?” Qusack asked me, and I had forgotten

up the first one, and it

I will be visiting you Wednesday, the thirteenth of August. I will be coming with my servant. I wanted you to know before I show up. She is a werewolf and

I hope I won’t be

me better, and I would not want to trouble your

await your response on

you. Be careful. My old man has no balls, but I am sure

to guess that

him to come here and

be the next Hill king, it would be stupid to reject his

too seriously. I needed that kind of friend. One

aware of the Hunters that came to my forest with warriors to attack my people? With what his son had written, I couldn’t put it past him. I

“My boy, Nikolas,

hope you

be summoned to a meeting on

is trying to discredit you on

Snow to hunt

your mother and that you are holding her feral self captive to pretend she is your mother so you can claim the

spies say you do not respect the unity law and thus cannot

and has requested I support the motion to deny

are a Kowalski, and

be neutral for now to

properly and make powerful friends from

Please remember your promise

one thing I was sure of was that Aleksander was assuming a neutral stance on the matter, and Fredrick was trying his best

with my mother, but I planned

to

rushed out of the office to speak

are you?” I

and I felt ashamed that I did

am sorry. Good morning,” I said, and she

am in my room having breakfast”, She

my way to you/’ I said, closing

I wondered if Aliana was still in bed or had left for the clinic. I did not

walked briskly until I arrived

entered before she permitted me

her with

were laughing about something, but the moment I stepped in, Erica stood up

call her when we were done. She left, and I

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