Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

We remained on our knees, waiting for the new Alpha’s orders. We were now slaves, so there was no

point acting brave anymore. I did not want my father’s sacrifice to be in vain, so I chose to keep my

promise to him and behave myself. I knew things would get more complicated from then on, and I

needed to be strong.

“Get up,” Nikolas said, and my father and I stood up.

Nikolas walked up to my father and stared him in the eyes until my father averted his gaze.

“Good. I do not want you to leave this place. If you do, I will end your girl,” He said, saying that last part

as if I were an object. My father nodded, and Nikolas moved towards the entrance of the packhouse.

His Beta walked to us and yanked me from my father’s side.

“Henceforth, you serve the alpha,” the Beta said, and my father looked up with surprise and fear.

“That wasn’t part of the deal, Alpha,” My father said, but Nikolas remained cold and unmoved. He stood

by the entrance, and I could see he was mind-linking his men.

“Something to keep you in check,” The Beta said, squeezing my upper arm a bit too tight for comfort. I

stifled my voice. I would not give him the satisfaction of screaming.

My father was afraid and sad.

He was a mix of emotions, but I doubted Nikolas had a heart to appeal to.

Nikolas knew we could not fight him. Other than strength and speed, Lycans had abilities we

werewolves could only dream of. The takeover my father led in the past only succeeded because of

years of meticulous planning and the moon’s blessings.

They were an evolved version of us, and there were rumours that some had the ability to turn

werewolves into Lycans, but those were rumours as it had never actually happened and might not.

We also never breed with them. Although it was a possible mix, we were considered inferior gene

carriers and thus not a good choice for mates. Werewolves mated with only werewolves, and Lycans

mated with only Lycans. The laws and prohibitions were endless, and we were at the bottom.

The forest was our home where all werewolves were free, but now, just like the snow and hill territories,

the forest territory was no longer a safe haven for us.

Nikolas looked like a man that would ruin anything he wanted, and now I was somehow on his list of

objects to destroy.

“Please, Alpha, allow her to have a normal life. She is all the family I have. If you take her, I will have

nothing,” My father pleaded in tears.

He was powerless in this regard, and we all knew it.

I wanted to tell him not to beg, but even I did not have the heart to face what Nikolas would subject me

to. I was also afraid.

“I doubt you show your enemies the same sympathy. She will serve me until I feel generous,” Nikolas

finally said, and my father shed tears for the first time.

“No one would want her if you do this. She will lack honour. If you must, then just claim her,” He said

with difficulty; I wanted to say no, but I knew my father was right. This bastard will get his way whether

we like it or not.

“Never!” Nikolas said as if I weren’t worth it.

“She will never be my Luna. She will never bear a Lycan’s mark; she will be my property to use as I see

fit. I can never mate with a werewolf. Never! She will have no honour, and that is final!” he said, and the

tone in his voice made me know that he meant what he said.

It also sounded like there was hatred in his heart, and the hatred was towards my father and me.

What did we do to him to make him want to go this far and ruin my life? He took over the neighbouring

packs and never took any of the Alphas’ daughters for himself. He allowed them to continue to live on

the land as slaves but never took their daughters. Why me? Why was he doing this to us?

“Get your things and move back into the packhouse, Little girl. Alpha has plans for you,” the Beta said

and let go of me, then walked back towards the structure we used to call our packhouse.

This was indeed going to be a hard life for everyone. The Forest Territory, Riverhead Pack and I would

be the sorest losers.

Everyone returned to their homes after the Alpha had given the order. I had a bitter taste in my mouth

and knew it would only worsen.

I went into the house my father and I moved to and began to gather my bags. Fortunately for me, I did

not unpack.

My father entered the room and sat on the couch. He bowed his head, and I knew his heart was in his

mouth.

“I failed you, Aliana,” he began to weep.

I stopped what I was doing and went to him immediately.

“No, you did not, father. You kept me alive. You kept all of us alive. We would have died like the other

packs who refused to surrender, but you stood your ground against the Lycans and made sure we lived

at the cost of your pride. You are a great man.

Your humility is bravery, father. There is no alpha brave enough to do what you did,” I said, holding him,

and he wrapped his arms around me.

“He wouldn’t give you the honour you deserve,” he said, and I smiled at him even though my heart was

breaking too.

“I am not as fragile as you think, father. I will survive Nikolas and his gang. I promise you. I won’t let him

break me,” I told him and told myself. I was determined.

I was slow about leaving, and after two hours, one of Nikolas’s men came to get me.

He was vulgar and arrogant. He lacked manners, and I knew that would be what I would deal with daily.

He treated me like trash, but I expected it from a lycan.

I carried my bags and followed the savage back to the packhouse.

I had left that place with my father in the morning and returned there in the night as the Alpha’s

property.

They gave me the room beside the Alpha’s quarters. The man who came for me did not talk after we

left my father’s house.

“May I go and get the rest of my belonging?” I asked, and he growled before nodding. It was

unnecessary, but he believed it made him look strong. What a joke.

I returned to the house and told my father where they had placed me. I knew I dared not stay long. I

could feel their eyes on me when I was leaving. So I carried my bag and headed back to the

packhouse.