Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

We soon arrived at the palace. It was an old stone wall building like mine. It wasn’t in disrepair, and they had upgraded the place, but they had maintained the old features, which gave it an elegant and antique look. We alighted the car, and Qusack handed the car keys to the valet to park. My mother stood at the entrance and looked at the building. I saw tears stream down her cheeks; she was reliving her memory of the past. She was frozen to the spot.

“Fred didn’t let me enter, you know,” She said and looked at me.

Tears in her eyes. This was a real pain, not the pretence she put up just so she could have her way.

My mother was wearing her pain on her sleeves.

‘‘He did not let me in. They took my nannies from me. I was heavily pregnant, and Fredrick could not look upon me with pity,” she said.

“I was kneeling here pleading that he let me in. I told him my husband was dead and those werewolves had taken over Forest. I told him I needed shelter. This was also my home. I grew up here,” She said, wiping away her tears.

“He said I was useless. He called me a disgrace. Said I should have died with my husband. Said it was shameless of me to accept a werewolf’s kind gesture. He said he had no kingdom to share with me since I could not rule what was already mine by marriage,” She said and sniffled.

“I told him I just needed shelter and would return when my child was of age, and he laughed. He took my nannies and chased me away. Looking back now, I wonder how I made it alone. Out there with no one to help me and nowhere to go. I thought of crossing the sea, but the three kingdoms were all I had ever known. I was trapped,” she said, and I went to hold her. She had never shared this pain with me before. It was profound, and it hurt her deeply. I wondered why Fredrick would be cruel to his own sister. It was a shame.

I held her hand, and we entered the palace. My mother looked at the place like a stranger. It was clear the building had been modified a great deal.

We were ushered to the hall where the meeting was to be held.

People were already present.

I somehow knew King Aleksander was around.

With just thirty minutes to go, I knew everyone would be around other than Fredrick. We entered the hall, and people began to murmur when they saw us.

We were led to a place that had seats reserved for Forest. There were six seats altogether, but only four of us had come.

I noticed people looking and whispering. Some even pointed at my mother and me.

I did not know what to make of their actions, but I ignored them. I looked at the throne, and there were two seats there. King Aleksander was already sitting on one.

He looked at me and winked, and then his eyes fell upon my mother. It didn’t linger when he looked away. I knew they might have history, but I wondered how deep it ran.

There was a long table with chairs on one side. It was on a lower level after the throne. Some men were seated there, and they were all looking at us. I knew those were the committee leaders.

There were three empty seats on the table, which were apparently reserved for my nominees and me. The rest of the hall had people. They were just representatives and members of the committee, preferably floor members.

Soon the tall doors on the other side of the hall opened, and a tall, brawny man walked through. Everyone except King Aleksander stood up to pay their respects.

I saw the man emerge, and he looked like my mother.

The resemblance was striking, and I could see myself too.

He was indeed family.

I knew it was Fredrick, and the thought of that alone made me want o sit down and blatantly disrespect this man.

He looked dangerous, with battle scars on his right cheek. He wasn’t peaceful, so he was expected to sustain injuries on his wicked missions. That was what I called what he did. Taking people by force against their will was wicked. I was taking back what was mine by attacking the Forest, but he was stealing what did not belong to him by attacking and bullying others. I had no respect for the bastard.

He went to his throne and sat down. Aleksander extended a handshake, and Fredrik took it. They both bowed to each other, showing they were equal before he sat.

The meeting started.

everyone and told us what was on the itinerary, with my matter being most

today is one who claims to be the son of King Mathias Kowalski and the rightful heir to the throne of Forest. He is here to demand his rights. Although he has conquered the territory and taken it back from the werewolves. He would rather be recognised as a Kowalski than a new king should we choose to crown him,” The man I had come to understand was Alpha Olsen Sadowski, who sent me the invite, spoke and

and bowed to greet the kings and the

I am his son, and I have come with my mother to testify to that,” I

do not know why

have many reasons why we have decided not

you been, Isabelle?” He asked my mother, and

she said with

one lucky wolf,” He said and laughed, and some people laughed with him. I was mad but

know a woman like you would have that much fight in her. Pray, tell me what you ate while in the bush,” He said, and it was out of line, but no one dared tell him to be quiet. My mother did not respond

you have acknowledged she is your sister, and as you can see, she is well, and she isn’t denying

heartily and shook his

tell you about her escapades in the palace before you were

eyes,” Aleksander said, trying to stop him from what he was about to say, but I doubted the man would pass off the opportunity

one at that. Then she became a cheap one,”

Izzy?” He challenged my

given the kingship of Forest. She had no interest in Mathias. Leon was the love of her life. The key to making her a queen. Her key to the Forest kingdom. Leon did not tell my sister

there, really. They continued their love even after she had married Mathais. Some of the Rendezvous was held here. Am I lying, Izzy?” He asked her, and my mother quivered in shame. He wasn’t lying at

time. Then Leon got killed by werewolves, and she was alone. That was when she became cheap. She slept around a lot after that. Some of her lovers were werewolf officers, “she said, looking at her

her many advances to the King’s Beta,” he said, and I was shocked, but I

not here to discuss my mother, your

you this so you will know why I doubt you

you know. There is no guarantee that she was pregnant by Mathias at the time of his death, and there

is no guarantee you are Mathias’s blood. She should have told you this. We would have come up with a better argument.” Abraham said, sounding

regardless of what he thinks about your mother,” Abraham linked me back, and

have the right to be crowned

must achieve a long list of things for my colleague

you know Isabelle.

showing that

grateful to the Hill King because I was beginning to feel alone. My mother

about heirs. In that case, then, they are two. A possible bastard by my dear sister Izzy and Mathias’ illegitimate heir by his fated werewolf mate whom I have raised as my nephew for years,” Fredrick said,

How could you, Fred!!” my

I could see how unfair the Lycan world was. Fredrick had insulted my mother and his sister,

her and the child.” My mother said, and he

the Forest kingdom, so he sold the child to me as a slave. I raised him as

shock. It didn’t seem like the King was lying either. I began to

conniving bastard. If he wasn’t, why bring his lover to my father to marry? I had a lot of digging

is the way forward, your Majesty?”

give him the crown assuming his Mathias’ son say, Aye,” Fredrick said, and Aleksander and

not

of those in support was counted, and it

say, Nay,” Fredrick said through gritted teeth. He

The Hill king had stuck his neck out for me. I

alphas from the Hill kingdom, said Nay,

if I placed Qusack and Abraham in the council and they voted in favour, it

the other matter,” Olsen said, and my mother gritted