Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Aliana and I stood in the same spot for a while. I held on to her while she cried. I had never seen her so afraid before. She
honestly dreaded the situation.
I wouldn’t lie and say I wasn’t shocked by the news. I dreaded it. It had just complicated everything. Something that was
supposed to be a thing of joy had created a cause for worry.
I did not know what to do or how to handle it. I wanted to calm Aliana down. I knew she had been shaken since she heard the
news, and I figured her weird behaviour when I arrived was because of this. It wasn’t because her father was hypertensive.
Ania’s fear made sense. What broke my heart was the fact that she thought I would be mad at her and the fact that she
suggested termination.
I doubt I would ever forgive myself if I had suggested that. Aliana needed to have faith in me and know I would never hurt her. I
might have temper issues, but she was safe from
them. I wouldn’t dare harm her; Bane wouldn’t dare it. She had nothing to worry about where I was concerned. I hope she finds
out one day.
“So we are going to be parents?” Bane, my wolf, said, sounding excited, and I was utterly silent because Aliana was still crying.
“You need to calm down, Little Wolf. This isn’t bad news. It just came at the wrong time, but we will make it work,” I said, and she
pulled away and looked at me with swollen eyes.
“What about the Unity law and your crown?” She asked, and the fact that she was still thinking of my needs and desires t*ouched
my heart.
“None of it will matter without you, Aliana. I will find a way to get it all and ensure our children have a life. King Aleksander seems
to be on my side. I just have to find a way to get my uncle to agree,” I said and used my thumb to dry her tears.
“You should not feel this way or stress too much so you do not harm our child,” I said, and she laughed a bit.
“What is funny?” I asked, wondering what I said.
“Has nothing to do with what you said. It just has everything to do with the fact that I see your doctor as a quack,” She said,
which was funny.
The man seemed so indeed.

He should have confessed that he knew nothing about reproduction and referred us to a specialist. Instead, he just brought the
pills, and Aliana did as suggested.
“I will have a word with him soon,” I said, and she shook her head, which made me frown.
“Why shouldn’t I speak to him?” I asked, and she stepped away and adjusted herself.
“I do not know how to say this, but I have been thinking about Doctor Newton since I got the news of my pregnancy,” She said,
and I led her to the couch.
I did not want her to stand for long.
“Do you want to eat more food, meat perhaps? My mother told me pregnant women liked lots of meat,” I said, going down
memory lane, thinking of our time in the woods hunting deer. Aliana laughed and shook her head.
“I will be happy if I keep anything down. Eating has been pretty h*ard lately,” She confessed, and I stroked her hair gently.
‘What about Newton you wanted to share with me, Aliana?” I finally asked her, realising I had digressed.
She cleared her throat and adjusted her sitting position to face me.
“I do not get involved in pack matters, and I have learned to keep my opinions to myself, but after this pregnancy thing and
knowing how it would affect your cause, I thought deeply of Doctor Newton’s tensions,” she said, and I was attentive.
“When you put me to work for your mother, remember he deliberately did not sedate her, so it will be impossible for me to do my
work. Remember the terrible condition she was in before all this? It was as if he wanted her to die. As her physician, he should
have known she was underweight and underfed and thought of ways to help her. I am not an expert, but there are certain things
people in the medical field know.
The nurse that attended to me explained things that Doctor Newton deliberately missed. I used the word deliberately because
Alison is a Nurse. She is just a Nurse, Nikolas; the doctor should have a vast knowledge of her. Why would Doctor Newton
mislead me like that? We all know he is vast in the medical field, so an omission like this must have been deliberate. We both
know what will happen should I get pregnant by you. You aren’t royalty yet, so it is a crime punishable by law. Why would Doctor
Newton put you in such a precarious situation? Why would he expose you like that? It is as if he does not want you to get
anywhere. With your mother dead, you won’t be able to prove you are King Mathia’s son. You can just be an average Joe posing
to be the heir of the King hence why your mother’s survival was crucial, and now this,” She said I did not know how to tell her my
legitimacy was questioned.

“Well, no one has to worry about my legitimacy anymore. Apparent my mother slept around casting a shadow on who my father
really is,” I confessed to Aliana, and she was in shock.
“Her brother used that information against me. He humiliated her. I wished I didn’t bother going there, really, Aliana. It was a
shame. It seemed she slept with many people,” I said, and she shook her head.
“But you are really Mathia’s son. My mother was your mother’s maid and Midwife. Had she been here, she would have testified
to it. My father said, your pregnancy was planned. Your mother wanted to have a baby with your father badly so she would stop
living in his dead mistress’s shadow. She wasn’t sleeping around during the time of your conception. She wanted to be sure she
conceived for the King. Why will King Fredrick humiliate her like that?” She asked, and I frowned because she had said
something very Valuable.
“You mean your mother was my mother’s midwife?” I asked, and she nodded.
“My father told me. They weren’t mated then, but my mother told him about it when he, too, doubted your legitimacy. She swore
you were Mathia’s,” Aliana said.
Although it was great news, I could not use it because Amelia1 s mother was dead.
“Had your mother been here, it would have helped me figure out what to do? I honestly doubted my legitimacy, too,” I confessed,
letting her know that Fredrick had somehow gotten into my head.
While I thought of it all, I figured Fredrick could have known that Aliana’s mother was my mother’s Midwife. Could she have been
killed deliberately because I had started conquering Forest when she went missing? He did say he always knew where we were
and what we were doing. Could it be that he took her for this very purpose? I did not know, but I intend to find out.
It wouldn’t do much, but it was something that would lead to another.
“This thing you said about Doctor Newton is disturbing, Aliana. As much as I want to brush it off as a conspiracy, I can’t,
especially knowing that Fredrick had spies in Forest. Doctor
Newton might have been one of his spies. He joined my pack six years ago when Adam went missing. Adam was my physician
then, and thinking of everything, my mother was healthy around that time too,” I said, thinking aloud, and Aliana t*ouched my
hand.

“Whatever you decide, you have to be careful, Nikolas. If there is a shadow of doubt about Doctor Newton, then he has no
business rendering medical services to people close to you. We will also have to keep this pregnancy secret. As much as I hate
to say it, I do not want our baby to be used as a tool against you,” She said, and I looked at her.
Her eyes were filled with concern. Aliana wasn’t selfish; she genuinely cared about my well-being and wanted me to achieve my
dream. I was indeed blessed.
“For now, we will be silent about it. I will feed Newton some false information that only he would know and see what happens. If
he happens to be one of Fredrick’s spies, he will be dealt with mercilessly.” I said, and she agreed with me.
“I think you should send him to another settlement to serve in their hospital anytime you have something important to do. If truly
he is a spy, we will be saving ourselves from setbacks,” She added, and I agreed.
“Well, it is nighttime, and you have slept most of the day, Little Wolf. Would you be able to sleep tonight?” I asked her, and she
smiled.
“I hope so,” She said, and I chuckled, knowing it would be a long night.
“I will meet with your father in the morning and send for the nurse that attended to you. We have to control this news in the best
way possible. The fewer people know, the better for all of us,” I managed, and Aliana nodded, understanding my reasons.
“What would your mother do when she finds out?” She finally asked me, and there was a tinge of fear in her eyes. I figured my
mother must have said some things to her, but I let it rest. I was sure Aliana would tell me if there was any need for concern.
“She is one of the people who should remain in the dark on this. And if she says or does anything to you, let me know. You are
more important to me right now. That woman has hurt me in irreparable ways. I will also advise you to be careful around her. She
is desperate for my forgiveness and approval and might try to use you to get it. I do not trust her yet. She has much to prove to
me as my mother and pack member,” I warned, and Aliana nodded gradually.
“Please take it easy on her. Her hatred will dissipate eventually, but she is the only family you have left. Do not cast her aside,”
Aliana said, and I frowned at her and pulled her close.
I Do not tell me that simply because you do not bear my mark. You and our baby are my family, and at this point, the two of you
are all that matters to me,” I said and caressed her neck where my mark should be.
“One day, I will sink my teeth in, forever making you mine, and I will be unapologetic about it,” I said, and she giggled sweetly.

I bent to k*iss the spot and nibbled a bit. I felt her body come to life with a s*exy m*oan, and I was ready to start our love
exercise. It might be a long night, but it won’t be boring.