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.

the committee greeted everyone and told us what was on

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 nodded

greet the kings and the

do not claim to be King Mathias’ son. I am his son, and I have come with my

lad, you do not know why I pushed

have many reasons why we have decided not to give you the

asked my mother, and she stood

she said with

and laughed, and some people laughed with him. I was mad

ate while in the bush,” He said, and it was out of line, but no one

you can see, she is well, and

laughed heartily and shook his head in

mother, but I am sure she did not tell you about her escapades in the palace before you

to stop him from what he was

A power-hungry one at that. Then she became a cheap

Izzy?” He challenged my

him thinking he would be given the kingship of Forest. She had no interest in Mathias. Leon was the love of her life. The

found out when Mathias was named the next inline. They didn’t stop 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

she was alone. That was when she became cheap. She slept around a lot after that. Some of her lovers were werewolf

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

mother, your majesty,” I said as

are, young lad. I am telling you this so you

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

your mother’s fidelity is in question, then there is no guarantee you are

took the Forest from the current leader, so it is yours regardless of what he thinks about your

lesson. Regardless I know I am King Mathias’ son. Nonetheless, I still have the right to be

happen, young lad, there are many boxes you have to tick. You must achieve a long list

and you know Isabelle.

showing that their

I was beginning to feel alone.

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, and people gasped. I didn’t. I knew he was

How could you, Fred!!” my mother called, and Olsen

he warned her and I could see how unfair the Lycan world was. Fredrick had insulted my mother and his

and the child.” My

twins, Izzy. One survived, but Leon did not want a half-breed to be heir to the Forest kingdom, so he sold the child to me

and she was in shock. It didn’t seem like the

his daughter the truth about Leon. He seemed like a conniving bastard. If he wasn’t, why bring his lover to my father to marry? I had a lot of digging to do. My mother had

the way forward, your

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

did not like

in support was counted, and it totalled

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

The Hill king had stuck his neck out for me. I hoped he would not regret

alphas from the Hill

they voted in favour, it would not show the

is clear that we look at the other matter,” Olsen said,