Forged in the Flames

Chapter 13

Aliana’s POV

After my encounter with Ingham, leaving my room took much courage. Even when I was with Ania and Lisa, I was always afraid he would come for me.

My encounter with him gave me nightmares, and I would sometimes think of binding myself with silver and jumping out the window just to put an end to it.

Being unable to go outside and do what I liked drove me crazy. How could my life change in a blink of an eye like that? I lived in fear.

I had not seen Nikolas still other than when I peeked at the garden parties.

He was always by himself, looking serious and dangerous, but he never looked at my window, and I knew he never would.

I heard he was serious about being King and taking steps to try.

One criterion was for him to be mated to a Lycan from a good family.

I guess that was why he cut me off. I couldn’t say I wished him the best because I did not.

I hoped he suffered like I was suffering, and he and whomever he tried to settle down with had a very bitter and unfulfilled life.

I hated him.

I hated myself for developing feelings for the b*astar*d, and I hated him for ruining me and cutting me off abruptly.

I hoped his heart would hurt like I was hurting, and happiness and peace would flee from him My sadness had changed to anger, and it was getting worse. It took a lot for me to still care for his mother.

I never knew a day would come when I would not care for anyone, but I felt it in my heart. I had pure hatred and rage towards the Lycans. Being sheltered all my life, I thought all my parents told me of the Lycans were stories, but now I knew better.

They were an evil and vile race, and they deserved every bad thing that would happen to them. All of them except for Ania and Lisa, and that was because they were nice to me. I hated them all.

Months passed, and nothing changed. I had somehow forgotten about Nikolas. My curtain was permanently closed. I no longer peeked at the garden at night, and I no longer thought of him. I had buried my feelings and learned how to deal with Ingham. He would often ruff me up and try to touch me, but I made it so tedious that he stopped. He had bites from me as souvenirs. I got hit and slapped for it, but that was it. I took care of myself and let him know I would rather d*ie than let him screw me.

I told him I would s*li*t my throat to prevent it, and that was when he stopped. I was tired of everything, and I meant it.

One day I had just exited the shower and worn my underwear when some men broke down my door. I gasped and tried to scramble to get some clothes but couldn’t.

Gamma Ingham walked in with the Lycan men guarding the door. He grabbed me by my hair and dragged me out.

Once we got outside, they wound a silver chain on my wrist and bound them together then one of the men used the chains to drag me out to the entrance.

Many werewolves were outside, and I could see fear and worry in their eyes. I began to look around for my father. I saw him standing in front with teary eyes. He had aged a bit since I last saw him. I was

grateful for the view but sad about the situation.

I was forced to be on my knees in my underwear in front of everyone. I did not know what was happening but knew I would find out soon.

Gamma Ingham pulled my hair so I could look up at him.

“Nikolas isn’t here to save you today. I’m in charge b*itc*h.” he said and let go. “I do not want to repeat myself,” He announced.

“Who murdered the Lycan in the woods?” he asked, and I gasped and looked at my father. He shook his head immediately. We could not link each other because I had silver on.

“I won’t ask nicely again,” he said, collecting a whip from one of his men. He began to pace about the front.

“We have been kind. We let you keep your home, keep your family members, feed you, and even gave you employment, and how do you repay us? You repay us by k*ill*ing one of our own like a dog in the woods.

I told Alpha that the werewolves of the Forest were treasonous, but he wanted to believe otherwise. You all have proven me right. Before you turn on us and destroy us like you destroyed your former monarch and refused to show Lycans mercy, I would destroy you,” He said and landed the whip on my back.

I screamed.

“This is all your fault. Your former Alpha’s child would get it because you all chose to act against us Worse things will be done to her if the culprit does not step forward,” He said and looked at my father.

“Gabriel, you better bring out the killer, or your daughter will suffer,” he said, stepping back and laughing.

“She tried to get you all comfortable, and how did you repay her? You repaid her by committing a crime that would get her into trouble and maybe cost her life,” he said, ticking his tongue, and then he shook his head.

“Who would have thought weres would be wicked to their kind too,” He said, landing another hit on my back.

“Who murdered the Lycan in the woods?” he said, and he was about to land another hit when I heard my father confess to the crime.

I looked at him and shook my head with tears streaming down my cheeks, knowing he did not do it.

“I did it,” he said, stepping forward, and Ingham laughed.

“Nice one, Gabriel, but I know you didn’t do it because your whereabouts have been accounted for,” He said and landed another hit on my back.

“Please stop hurting her,” My father said. “This wasn’t part of the deal,” My father added, and Ingham laughed.

“Murdering a Lycan wasn’t part of the deal either,” Ingham corrected him. “Besides, I do not see Nikolas anywhere here,” He said, laughing at my father.

He was about to land another hit on my bare back when I heard a loud growl, and someone yelled.

“Enough!” I looked to see who it was, and the werewolves parted the way for Beta Qusack to emerge.

“You have overstepped Gamma!” he yelled at Ingham and collected the whip from him. “Who asked you to do this?” he asked him. I could not be at peace yet. “Answer me, Gamma?” He yelled at Ingham, and Ingham could not speak.

“Did you not smell Alpha’s scent on her? Do you not know whom she belongs to? Could you not have carried out your investigation without this display?” He asked, and Ingham bowed his head. I was crying by then. The silver burnt, and the whip stung severely.

Qusack was still scolding Ingham when everywhere went silent and still. We heard a low wolf growl.

It sounded dangerous, and I did not want to look in the direction of where it was coming from. It was approaching, and I was scared. I looked in the direction of the growl, and an eight feet tall grey Lycan wolf approached. It went on all fours and walked towards us, its dark eyes trained on me, and I did not need to guess who it was, I recognised those eyes instantly.

I bowed my head immediately, and when Nikolas’s wolf got to us, he hit Ingham so hard he flew off his feet and hit the ground. I feared Ingham might be dead.

Qusack freed my chains and helped me up. Nikolas shifted back, and a man brought him shorts to wear. He faced the crowd.

“Go back to your work. I will launch an investigation to catch the culprit. If you know or saw anything, reach out to Beta Qusack,” he said calmly, and the people started leaving quietly.

I looked at my father, and he looked at me. I fixed my eyes on him, not knowing when I would see him again. He did not want to go, but he had to. Nikolas had given an order, and staying would be defying those orders. To my surprise, Nikolas carried me in his arms and took me back into the building.

I wanted to ask him to let me down so I could walk, but I knew I couldn’t, and that would be throwing his kindness back in his face.

I wondered why Ingham hated me so much. Refusing to let him f*uc*k me couldn’t have been the issue. Whatever his problem was, it ran deep. Nikolas took me back to my room and laid me on my bed. Now that the silver was off, I would heal.

I did not speak a word to him. He had blocked me from the mind link for a purpose, so I held my peace and remained submissive. Nikolas sat by the bed, bowed his head, covering his face with his palm. He was battling something internal, and it was none of my business. I dared not ask. I did not want to be nosey, and I did not want to be sucked back into feeling anything for him.

“How long has this been going on?” he asked me, and I did not know what he meant by it. I did not know what to say.

“Answer me, Aliana?” he said calmly, and I knew I had to speak up.

“How long have you been sleeping with Ingham,” he asked me, and I was in shock.

“Never,” I blurted out, and he turned to look at me.

“Then why does he have your scent sometimes?” He asked me, and I frowned at him.

“That is because he has been ruffing me up in corners for months, telling me he is waiting until you put me up for general use,” I said quickly, glad I could finally report the b*astar*d.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked me with concern, but I did not let it fool me.

“How could I? I had been cut off completely, and I could not ask Ania and Lisa to report the Gamma. That would be getting them in trouble. Besides, you told us that we answer the four of you. He reminded me of it, so I felt you would be okay with it and opted to protect myself from him with bites,” I said, and he turned away from me and bowed his head. His hands shook a bit.

“I didn’t cut you off. I have some things I had to deal with,” he said calmly, and I nodded.

“I know. You are planning to get married and be King,” I said quickly, and he turned to look at me. “News flies,” I added quickly, not wanting him to think the maids told me.

“I am not planning on getting married. I am trying to get the kingship and skip that part. It is my right,” he said, and I did not let anything he said sink in. It wasn’t my business, and it wasn’t my problem.

“I did not cut you off, Aliana,” he said, calling my name for the first time, and even though it should warm my heart because it was an improvement from ‘little girl’, I was too numb to feel anything..

“If we had continued, you would have developed feelings for me, which is a rule I do not want you to break. It would be best if you did not break it because we can never be together. That is why I have been distant,” he explained, and I nodded.

“You should have given me an option,” I said, looking at him. “It would have been nice to have some good memories with you before it ends so I will have something to keep me going. It is better than this. I can never settle down or be with anyone. This is it for me. I am not asking you for anything. I am not expecting anything from you, but our few moments together made me forget that I am a werewolf and this is my prison. I won’t fall in love with you, Alpha, because in this world, you are the sky, and I am the earth. We can never meet. I am water, sinking to the bottom, and you are oil always at the top, we can never mix. When you gave me your rules, I listened. Cutting me off wasn’t necessary,” I said without emotions, and he nodded.

“I will deal with Ingham and put everyone in their place. No one would m*ole*st you again,” he said, changing the topic, and I nodded and thanked him.

He got off the bed and exited my room.

I turned to face the window, and even though the curtain covered it, I let it help me escape my thoughts.

I stayed indoors until the next day. I was asked to stay in while Ania and Lisa attended to the Queen. I did not see them until evening, and I was healed from the whip and silver burn by then. 

Ania and Lisa entered my room smiling. I wondered what the occasion was but then remembered I had just escaped death at the hands of Ingham. It was something to celebrate.

“Guess what?” Ania said, squealing, and I did not know what to think, I just rolled my eyes and opened the wardrobe to find something to wear.

“Alpha has moved you to his bedroom,” she said, and I looked at her in shock. Was she joking?