Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 45

I woke up in a lonely bed. Nikolas’s side was cool, so I knew he had left early. I did not know if it hadanything to do with what happened yesterday, but I hoped he was fine.

What transpired between Isabelle and me played in my mind. I was grateful that Nikolas handled itinstead of finding ways to manage it.

He chose me, and that boosted my confidence in what we had. I wanted him to be King and hopedeverything would work out.

I felt nauseous even though I was a bit hungry. I went to the bathroom to look at my reflection in themirror. My complexion was a bit pale, and there were beads of sweat on my face. I felt warm, too, so Iturned on the water and damped my face with cold water to make me feel better.

I tried a breathing exercise, and it worked.

The issue with Isabelle must have shaken me to make me feel sick, but I could not let it spoil my day.

It was Saturday. It was time to visit my father.

I knew Ania and Lisa were ecstatic about it because they visited some friends living in Riverhead onSaturdays too. It wasn’t part of the agreement, but Nikolas decided to allow it so I could get someprivacy with my father. I was grateful for it.

“Good morning,” I linked to Nikolas. Wanting to hear his voice to complete my morning. I wished I hadseen him in the morning, but he had an important matter to attend to.

“Sleep well?” he linked back, and I giggled a bit. He always gave me butterflies, and as every daypassed, I let down my defences more and more. He affected me so much that I could not hide itanymore. I was in love.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was blushing. How could he have such a strong hold on me? Itwas an amazing feeling.

“Yes, you?” I finally replied.

“I held you all through the night,” he replied, telling me he slept well.

“I know you are excited to see your father today. Try to have fun and relax, okay. My mother won’ttrouble you again,” He linked me and sighed.

“Thank you,” I said, and he was silent.

“Do not make me miss you too much,” he said, telling me not to linger into the night, and I giggled.

“I won’t,” I replied, and the connection was closed. I could tell he was busy, so I did not want to prolongour conversation. Nikolas was very kind to me. I appreciated his kindness.

I got dressed and headed out of the room. I saw Gezel at the bottom of the stairs and did not want toget into any altercation with her.

I did not look in her direction and tried to walk away quickly when she stopped me.

I really did not want anything to spoil my mood for the day. I had much to discuss with my father, andmy mental state was crucial when I got to him.

“May I have a word with you, Aliana?” I heard Gezel say, and she sounded nicer than usual. Iwondered what was up her sleeves. Even though Nikolas protected me and had my back always, I didnot want to occupy his time with trivial matters.

“Yes, Gezel?” I asked as nicely as I could. I did not want to come across as bitchy, but there was apossibility she wouldn’t say anything nice. “I want to apologise for yesterday. I had no hand in it. I also

want you to know I do not hate you and won’t trouble you again.” She said, and I fought the urge to rollmy eyes.

Of course, she would not trouble me again. After seeing what Nikolas would do, there was no point incontinuing to be a bully. She had no choice but to be nice.

“There is no need to be nice to me because you fear Alpha. Honestly, I do not want that. If you are evernice to me, it should be because you want to, not because you are afraid of punishment. I know youhad no hand in what transpired yesterday, and I do not hold you accountable for it, but please, you donot have to pretend to like me.” I said, and she nodded.

“Honestly, I do not hate you, Aliana. Most of us are just jealous. Alpha is a big catch, and none of uscould attract his attention, but you did it easily. It is as if it was ordained by the moon. It is enough to bejealous over. We are taught from a young age to hate werewolves, and they are beneath us. It is amust for us Lycans. I cannot tell you I have had any issues with a werewolf, and being mean is tedious,so I want to be nice for a change and be myself. Since it is clear that Alpha is relaxing the laws aroundhere, I hope we won’t only be civil but can be friends too. I do not want to hate werewolves for noreason anymore,” she said, and I smiled at her. I wasn’t buying it and would not give her a chance tohurt me, but I didn’t have to be a bitch about it, either. If she was being genuine, then it must havetaken a lot for her to wait for me by the stairs.

“Okay,” I said, not knowing if it was appropriate.

I just wanted to get out of the place and see my father. I was too hungry for this and could not keep myfather waiting.

“Well, I have to go now. Thank you so much for clearing this up. It means a lot to me,” I said, smilingand hurried to the front door and left the building.

I did not know what Gezel and Erica had up their sleeves, but it was clear that two days with the‘queen’ had done a number on them. I chuckled while I walked towards my father’s house, Imaginingthe horror they would have gone through having to serve the ‘queen’. Too bad for them.

I got to my father’s house and knocked on the front door.

“It is opened, princess,” I heard his voice, and I knew he must have spotted me from the glass b y theside of the door. So I figured he was in the kitchen section.

I entered and looked towards the kitchen counter. My father had outdone himself. There was a spreadof food on it for breakfast. My stomach growled, and I was hungry. The food also smelled delicious.

“Good morning, Daddy,” I said and went to hug him. He kissed my forehead and smiled at me.

“You reek of your boyfriend,” he teased, and we laughed.

“How is he, by the way?” My father asked, and i t was an odd question.

“He is fine,” I said, and he nodded.

I noticed a bandage on his wrist. I touched it immediately, and he let me.

“What happened to you?” I asked, surprised at what I was seeing.

“Hunters attacked the Eastern border yesterday. They killed a few residents, but Nikolas and his mencame to the rescue. I heard the hunters came with warriors from Snow and Hill,” he said, and I gasped.

I could not believe that Nikolas did not tell me h e went to fight.

I suddenly felt selfish because all he had dealt with was my issue with his mother. How was 11 o knowit was a miracle that he was alive? I was mad that he did not tell me.

“What is the matter, princess?” My father asked, pouring me a glass of juice. I lifted the glass and tooka sip.

“He did not tell me he was in a fight or anything like that,” ‘I said, and my father nodded.

“Well, now you know. Maybe he didn’t want you to have that look on your face,” He said, pointing at myface, and I frowned at him.

“What look?” I asked, putting down the glass and touching my face.

“The one you have on right now. The look of worry,” He said, and I laughed. Maybe he was right.

We ate quietly, and I kept searching for openings to tell him about Isabelle. I did not want him to chokeon the food, so I let us finish breakfast.

We did the dishes together, and my father wanted us to work on his vegetable garden in the back.

It had been a long time since we did something like that together. I looked forward to it. I was feeling abit nauseous, but I tried to control myself. I did not want my father to worry, but as things were, I wouldhave to remain indoors when I got back.

“Do you know werewolves are escaping Snow and coming to Forest?” he said while tending to the aloevera plant.

“Why?” I asked him, yet to figure out what I wanted to tend to in the garden. The nausea waspreventing me from bending down. So I stood and looked around.novelbin

“Well, it is believed that Forest is still safe for werewolves,” he said, and I frowned because that was nota good thing. If Forest is labelled as safe for werewolves, then it means the unity law isn’t enforced inthe Forest, which can affect Nikolas’s coronation request.

“That is not true,” I argued, and he laughed and stood up.

“Well, it is, darling. Compared to the others, we have it well. It was almost like the time of King Mathiaswhen we were free,” he said, chuckling, and this was my opportunity to chip i t in.

I watched my father laugh and looked around his small garden. He, too, was wondering what plant totend to next.

“Speaking of the Late king, Do you know that Nikolas is his son?” I mentioned quickly, and he looked atme in total shock. I nodded so he would know it wasn’t a joke.

“His mother is Queen Isabelle, the feral woman I was caring for. She gained her sanity two days ago.” Isaid, and he ushered me back into the house. I could feel his anxiety and his shock. He was an alpha,after all, so his mood was affecting me.

“Are you serious?” he asked me gently, and I nodded. He led me to the sitting room close to the couchby the entrance. The house was small, so there wasn’t much space.

“She has been giving me hell since she regained her senses,” I said, and he frowned.

“Isabelle is supposed to be in Snow. I told her to go to the Snow,” He said, arguing with me.

He was shocked. It is hard to believe that she was the one. I could understand his feelings.

Mathias was his friend, and he believed he had done right by Isabelle by setting her free and sendingher off to her brother.

“Well, it seems, the Snow King did not take them in, and they had to live in the woods,” I said, and myfather sat on the chair gradually. I could understand he was in shock. Tears were streaming down hischeeks, he was hurting.

“What did she say happened to her?” He finally asked me, and I chuckled.

“Other than beating me up and telling me she is protecting her son from me and you, of course, shehasn’t spoken a word to me,” I said, and he looked at me in shock.

“She beat you up?” He asked, and I nodded.

“Nikolas was furious, of course, and put her in her place. She hates me. She hates us.” I said, and hesighed.

My father was in deep thought, and I did not need to guess what was in his mind. It was guilt. I saw it inhis eyes. He blamed himself for their suffering.

“Father, is everything okay?” I asked him, and he looked at me.

“Did you tell Nikolas all I told you?” He asked me, and I shook my head. He nodded and sighed. “If youset her free, why would she visit so much hatred on me?” I asked him, and he looked at me with worryin his eyes.

“It is not you she hates, Princess; it is me,” He said, and I already figured that out.

“Why would she hate a man that saved her life and set her free? It wasn’t your fault that they grew upin the wild. That was her brother’s fault,” I said, and he shook his head.

“If Mathias had not died, she wouldn’t have had to leave,” he said, and I understood that part, but I alsoknew that my father did not kill him, and the werewolves did not attack.

“If he had not gone mad and tried to kill all werewolves, none of it would have happened,” I said, seeingmy father wipe away his tears.

“Nikolas is Mathias’ son?” was all he managed. It was as if he was still in shock.

“I really failed Mathias,” he said and began to weep.

I did not understand why my father would say that.

He had set Isabelle free so she could have

Nikolas. He saved her life. Nikolas wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for him.

“I have to see Isabelle,” he said, and I shook my head.

“I do not think it is a good idea,” I said, remembering my few encounters with her.

“I think she is still mentally unstable,” I said. “She had to live in the wild for many years. That can doanything to anyone, Princess. I need to see her and tell her what really happened to Mathais so shewould stop hurting,” He said, and I shook my head.

“No, you do not, father. The person you need to see and speak to is Nikolas. Tell him what you told me.He is open-minded he would understand. Isabelle’s mind is twisted. She might turn it against you. Sheis a monster,” I said, and my father was silent.

“They did not deserve the life they had. This was their home. She should have returned when Fredriksent her away; I would have protected and kept them. I would have kept them at the cost of my life forMathias’s sake,” He said, and there was a knock on the door.

My father wiped away his tears while I went to see who it was. To my surprise, it was Qusack, and thelook in his eyes indicated he had heard all that we discussed.