Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 20

Aliana POV

I sat on Nikolas’s lap in his mother’s room, waiting for her to wake up I wasn’t happy that day because I realised my father was made to work long hours.

His health wasn’t good, but I dared not bring it up with Nikolas.

I felt like a failure.

I felt like I was betraying my father, but there was just so much I could do in a temporary relationship.

What if I say or request something that would annoy him?

I did not want my people to be worse off than they already were. I was tom.

I cared about Nikolas a lot, but I also knew it would end one day.

Discussing the birth control pill with him was very important because I doubted he would understand if I got pregnant, and I did not want to bring a child that would be rejected into the world.

I was yet to ask Ania and Lisa why they were referred to as halfbreeds. Still, I somehow knew it had much to do with why they were maids and why Lisa always warned me to be cautious. Could it be possible that they were rejected because they were half-werewolves? If that was the case, what quality of life would my child have?

Going on birth control was for the best. Nikolas had bent so much already, I did not want to push it.

If he was going to make any change, it should be because he wanted to and not because I pressured him

The physician entered the queen’s room and handed me a packet of pills. He told me when to start taking it and how I should take it. He also warned me not to stop taking it, or it would be ineffective.

Nikolas was there for it, and he did not say anything. I collected the medication, and the doctor left.

There was an awkward silence between us for about five minutes long before Nikolas finally spoke.

“I will figure something out, Aliana. Do not write what we have off.” He said, rubbing my back gently, and I smiled at him.

“I am not sad, Nikolas . I am happy that I wouldn’t have to resort to drinking that painful tea. Thank you,” I said and got off his lap to place the medication in my pocket. His eyes said he did not believe what I was saying, but he let it rest. Honestly, it would have been nice to have a family with him. Ruthless or not, he was a loving and responsible man. He would have been a wonderful husband and father. I took comfort in knowing we would have a good king.

We cared for the queen when she woke up, and as always, he left me to attend to pack matters while I returned to the room.

I slept early that night. I did not bother staying up for him or looking out the window to see what he was doing in the garden. It had become a routine, and I wanted to break it.

I felt him in the night when he came to bed and pulled me close to his b*ody.

He smelled of alcohol, so I knew he must have drunk a lot before coming to bed. I wondered what was bothering him so much that would make him drink that much.

I hoped he was fine and he wasn’t depressed. I doubted he would want to share his problems with me, and I dared not ask, so I just prayed for him.

I went to see my father in the evening the following day. Lisa and Ania accompanied me, and I was nervous to see him. I got to his house, and my heart was pounding in my chest just like it did the day before.

I did not know how I would feel seeing and talking to him.

Unlike the mind link, we will be able to communicate genuinely. I trusted Ania and Lisa to keep whatever they heard secret.

I knocked on the door, and my father answered. He opened it and was shocked to see me. “Princess,” he said, and tears streamed down my face. He looked tired, and I did not need to know why. They were overworking him, and it was showing.

It was as if Nikolas wanted my father to suffer by all means.

He ushered us in. We hugged the moment I stepped in. I knew I reeked of Nikolas, but I could do nothing. He had marked me with his scent, and we slept in the same bed together. “How have you been?” My father asked me, breaking the hug.

“I have been fine, and you?” I asked him, and he nodded. I frowned at him, and he looked at Ania and Lisa. He already knew them, but I guess he wasn’t comfortable still.

“They are my friends, Daddy, they won’t tell,” I said, and Lisa nodded.

He trusted Ania, but I guess he needed to be sure of Lisa. My father sighed and led me towards his room.

When we got to the room, he asked me to sit, so I sat at the foot of his bed, and he sat beside me. “I am so happy to see you, Aliana. I wondered if I would ever see you again, knowing he keeps you locked up in that place. How is he treating you?” He asked me, and I nodded.

“He is very caring, Father. Almost as if he loves me, but I know it is an illusion. I also know he isn’t as bad as we thought he was,” I said, and my father nodded.

“But he is hateful, and I wonder why,” my father said, and I sighed. I knew that part of Nikolas too. So I couldn’t argue.

“His mother is feral. I take care of her daily/’ I said, and my father gasped.

“His mother is in there with you ?” He asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, Father, she is, and he somehow blames werewolves for her predicament. I take care of her every day. She is docile now since we feed her well, but her senses refuse to return,” I said, and he sighed.

“How can his mother’s condition be our fault? Wolves go feral when they have been cut off from their pack and Alpha for a long time. He just has a need to blame someone for it. Maybe it makes him feel better,” my father said, and I shrugged because Nikolas had never told me what happened. I was also afraid to ask because he is emotional about the things that concern his mother. I did not want things to go back to the way it was. If he cuts me off this time, I will not be able to handle it. My father t*ouched my hand and sighed

“Tell me the truth, Aliana. How are things in that place?” he asked me, and I sighed.

“I swear to you, Father, he treats me well. We even sleep in the same room,” I said, and he was shocked.

“You need to be careful, Aliana. Do not fall in love with him. Lycans never mate with werewolves. Remember what he said when he took you. He said you would have no honour and would never wear his mark. I do not know what he is playing at, but you need to be careful and watch him. Guard your heart Aliana,” He said, and I nodded.

There was no way I could tell him that I was head over heels for Nikolas, and he made my heart beat in a certain way that I could not explain. There was no way that I could tell him that I fantasised about spending the rest of my life with Nikolas and having his children. There was no way I could tell him that I was a fool in love.

I just nodded and smiled “Have you eaten, Father? Should I cook for you?” I asked him, wanting to change the topic and pamper him a bit before I left. He bowed his head and sighed, and I knew something was wrong.

“I do not want you to take what I am about to tell you to heart. I just want you to know what is going on out here,” he said, and I knew what he had to say would be bad.

“The Lycans have been starving us. They cut our wages whenever they like, and we cannot buy or sell in the market. So some of us have resulted in growing our food. I have a vegetable garden at the back, but there is only so much I can grow there. Isreal sold two egg layers last month.

They have been of good support. I have new chicks, and hopefully, they continue to multiply.” He said, and I was appalled by what I heard. “But Werewolves are supposed to be able to buy and sell in the market,” I argued.

“Lycans won’t sell to us, and the place allocated for us in the market is too expensive. We can’t afford the rent. They also cut our wages whenever they like. The free groceries that we are supposed to get are limited. They give the first hundred people, and the rest can go hungry.

The werewolves have been cooperative, and we share the free groceries among ourselves, but life is hard here right now,” He said and bowed his head.

I could not believe they were starving my people, and Nikolas said he would make their lives easier. Was this the easiest he meant? I fed and cared for his mother daily, meanwhile, my father and my people were hungry. This was unfair.

‘Calm down, Aliana, we will find a way to solve this issue,’ Raven said, and I was silent.

“I have cabbage soup if you would like to have some,” My father said, and I shook my head. I did not want to see it because I would break down if I did.

My father and I spent much time together, and soon it was time to return to the palace.

I did not know when Nikolas would let me see him again, but I hoped this wouldn’t be a one-off thing.

We returned to the palace, and I went to Nikolas’s room.

To my surprise, he was there. He sat on the two- sitter sofa, and a table was before him. He looked at me when I entered with a smile, and I returned the smile

I did not want him to ban me from seeing my father again, so I had to behave. “You are in the room early,” I said, noticing this wasn’t his usual time, and he nodded.

“I decided to skip the garden party and spend time with you,” He said, and I took off my clothes and went to the bathroom to shower. I knew it would be only wise to wash off my father’s scent before going close to Nikolas. I returned to the room, and the food was already on the table. I looked at the spread, and I felt like a traitor.

“Come one, we need to eat,” he said eagerly, and I knew he was waiting for me to return before he ate. It was sweet of him.

“I hope your father did not stuff you up with food,” He said, and this was my opportunity to bring it up.

I chuckled.

“How could he? They do not have food to eat. They have to grow and source for their meals. All he had was cabbage soup. I didn’t want to reduce his ration. He needs food to work those many hours,” I said,

and Nikolas put down his spoon. His head remained bowed, emitting rage that made me step back.

“Why is your father lying to you?” He asked with a low tone, and I shook my head.

“I think you should investigate it. The werewolves cannot buy or sell, so they must source food independently. The free groceries are given to the first hundred, and that is it. The wages are also cut, reducing their purchasing power. The stalls in the market are too expensive for them to afford. I am not complaining, but I just feel you should know because you said I ate in his house,” I said, and he looked at me.

I knew he was angry and might kick me out of his room that night.

“I will look into it quickly because none of it makes sense. Free groceries are to be given to all the families every Saturday. Werewolves are supposed to be allowed to buy and sell in the market, and I never cut their wages.” He said, defending himself.

He motioned me to move closer to him, and I did it fearfully because he was mad. I sat beside him, and he pulled me close, then buried his nose in my neck.

“Everyone can look at me like that, but not you, Aliana,” he said, pulling me close to his b*ody. “I am only mad because I figured out why the werewolves that got killed were picking mushrooms and digging for potatoes in the woods. I am angry at the people in charge of welfare, not you, Aliana.

You have done nothing wrong,” He said, and tears of relief rolled down my cheek with his words. I did not know I was holding my breath until I exhaled.

He opened the bathrobe I was wearing and caressed my b*rea*st gently. “You can tell me anything, Little Wolf. I am not a monster,” He said, k*issing my shoulder, and I doubted I could eat anything with how my b*ody felt.

He stopped what he was doing and plated my food. novelbin

He had made me completely uncomfortable. All I could think about was his t*ouch.

I could not wait for Lisa and Ania to come and clear the dishes so I could get my fix of him. Nikolas surprised me when Ania and Lisa came to gather the dishes.

He instructed them to have the kitchen staff serve dinner and breakfast to the werewolf families in the inner compound, especially my father. Ania looked at me when he said it, and I smiled shyly.

With that one act of kindness, Nikolas chased the clouds away.

He got off the couch and went to bed, but I wasn’t done with him yet.

I followed him to bed, w*et and ready to be taken. His eyes showed he knew, and his s*e*xy smirk was my undoing.

I undid his pants to give his c*oc*k the attention it needed with my mouth. Nikolas had been good, and he deserved a reward.