Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I was more relaxed after I saw my father. Ania, Lisa and I headed to the hospital after the visit. The rickshaw that took us to the place was slow, but I had all the time, knowing Nikolas would not be home tonight.

“When I got to the warehouse that was turned into a clinic, I noticed some construction was ongoing.

Nikolas had told me the place would be renovated and equipped. I saw he was doing as he had said. I was grateful for him, and I hoped he would succeed. I could not wait to scream at the top of my lungs that I love him. I could not wait to make what we have official. He was more than a secret. He was everything to me right now.

A nurse approached us while we waited in the open space, looking at the patients on the rows of beds.

“How are you feeling today, Aliana?” The woman asked.

She looked friendly. Everyone knew my name and who I was by now, so I wasn’t surprised.

I could see her grey hair and fine lines, but even with the signs of ageing, she looked graceful and beautiful. I knew she wasn’t from Riverhead because I did not know who she was, but she was a Werewolf.

“I am fine. Nurse…” I said, searching her uniform with my eyes for her name tag.

“Alison,” She said with a broad smile, and I nodded.

“Nurse Alison,” I said, and she smiled.

It was very unusual behaviour for people that weren’t from Riverhead to smile at me. Most of them loathed me and saw me as a traitor for sleeping with the enemy.

While the people in Riverhead knew I had no choice, others believed I decided to whore myself to make my life easy. The people from other packs were more in Riverhead than my pack members because of Nikolas’ s projects.

Ignoring the oddity of her behaviour, I spoke. “I came here to have myself tested for sickness,” I said, and she raised an eyebrow and looked at me. Ania and Lisa decided to excuse us by giving us some privacy while they looked around.

Nurse Alison led me to a makeshift office that was created with curtains. There was a desk and two chairs on each side. I guess one belonged to the Medical practitioners, while the other belonged to the patient.

Nurse Alison motioned me to sit, and she had a broad grin. It was now looking creepy.

I could not tell if it was plastered or real. Seeing the s*hitty situation we were all in and the fact that most people believed I was a traitor for being with Nikolas, Something I had no control over, by the way, I suspected her smile was fake and plastered. I might be wrong, and I hoped I was.

“May I know why you think you are sick?” She asked, still giving that fake smile again, and it was getting to me.

“Do you mind not faking a smile? It is creepy,” I said, and she laughed.

“I am not faking it, Aliana. I am actually happy. Today my husband was told he would not need to work as a mason. I learned Alpha Gabriel and everyone his age were laid off and placed on pension, and I heard it was because Alpha

Gabriel was sick. We all know the Lycan Alpha did it for your sake. I am just happy,” She said, and I felt a bit uncomfortable.

If they were pedalling such stories, how would our pretence work then?

“I doubt it has anything to do with me. Alpha obeys the unity law,” I said quickly, and her smile dropped.

“Well, I guess we were lucky then,” she said, looking at me.

Though she wasn’t smiling anymore, her eyes looked soft and thoughtful. Clearly, she did not believe me, but I wouldn’t volunteer any information that would harm Nikolas.

at hand,”

I couldn’t keep anything down. I could not eat, and my body was burning up. I had to take a few cold showers to cool my body temperature. This morning I woke up feeling great. I was able

eyes,

heat?” She asked me, and

was talking about. I believed heat periods were for mated wolves. My mother never told

matted wolves,” I said, and she smiled and

might have happened to

and I was confused. I would

birth control was for. To suppress

have a heat period because I am on

out a sheet of paper and writing things down. I began to

it until you

that your

your wolf is ready to bond with your mate’s wolf. Taking birth control like that would

has been offset by the medication

system?” she asked, and beads of sweat began forming

point in finding ways to sugarcoat it.

been

at allergies, flu and bacteria. Once all these things are eliminated, it might just be your disrupted heat,” She

make it

would hate me because that was

get pregnant even after we got together.

we would be able to keep the pregnancy

can we prove he is obeying the unity

at heart. You disregard our laws. Even

and I began to fight my

it would be

nurse was calling me, I could not

engulfed me. I was raking my head

of my deep thoughts, I looked at

I am preganat what am I to do?” I asked her: she

be difficult. You could also keep the baby, most preferable in my regard. I am sure you won’t regret it. That is if you are pregnant. Then again, it could just be the flu, a bug or your heat. We won’t know

the makeshift office and returned with a small cup five minutes

and bring it back. The test won’t take more than ten minutes, and we can eliminate the possibility of a pregnancy,” She said,

was afraid, I managed to steady my hand to keep it from shaking. All I kept

my relationship

would have been great having

been a beautiful

great father, but if he isn’t king and is yet to abolish the

having this baby and living in peace with him would

trouble for both of us, and I knew the Snow King would not

it