Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 71 Dinner (Nikolas POV)
I returned to the room to meet with Aliana and prepare for dinner with Piotr. To my surprise, she was already dressed, and she
looked amazing. She let her hair fall beautifully. I believe Ania must have helped her straighten her curls.
Her lair looked silky and fell gracefully.
She wore soft pink lipstick that made me want to her l*ips. Her make-up was subtle, almost non -existent. She looked innocent
and s*exy at the same time.
To finish the look, she had a short floral dress that hugged her and showed some cleavage.
She looked like a Luna and stood gracefully in her transparent heel sandals. Her legs looked s*exy in them.
I smiled when I saw her, and she smiled at me, almost blushing. I did not know why Aliana was shy around me sometimes, but it
showed I had an effect on her, and I liked it.
“I guess you have raised the bar, Little wolf. I have to look good,” I said, sounding like I was under pressure, and she giggled.
“You look perfect with or without your clothes, “ She teased me and arched my eyebrow.
“I will take you up on that tonight, little wolf,” I said, and her eyes widened with surprise while she giggled.
I went to the closet, wore simple blue jeans and a white Henley shirt to compliment Aliana’s look, and stepped out.
She was sitting on the couch waiting for me and blushed when she saw me.
“Too s*exy for you?” I asked her, and she shook her head, but her eyes had given it away.
“Come on,” I said, reaching for her with my hand, and she took it.
We left the room and headed to the dining room.
Unfortunately for us, we bumped into my mother.
Erica wasn’t with her this time. I guess she took my questions as a warning, or she might have gone on an errand for my mother.
Aliana bowed her head to greet my mother with respect.

‘Good evening Luna,” she said, and I could see the hatred in my mother’s eyes even though she tried to mask it with a plastic
smile.
“Good evening,” she replied with difficulty and looked at me.
“I learned Prince Zielinska is around,” she asked, and I composed myself, waiting for what she would say.
“Do you think it is wise walking about with Aliana, knowing what the committee had set as a condition for your crown?” She
asked, and I knew it was more to Aliana’s benefit than mine.
She wanted Aliana to realise she was hurting my chances of being King by remaining at my side. My mother was sly.
I felt Aliana tense.
I had not discussed the outcome of the meeting with the committee with her, so this would definitely affect her.
“I am an Alpha and not a king. Thanks to you, my legitimacy is in question. Now if you will excuse me,” I said, ready to walk
away, and she grabbed Aliana’s wrist.
I could see it was on impulse. She held on tight and did not want to let go.
“I hope you can live with yourself when you cost him his crown. Ready to finish what your father started and destroy the Kowalski
bloodline,” She said, and I yanked Aliana’s hands away from her.
A mark on her wrist showed how tightly my mother had held on. 2
“Do not deceive yourself, mother. You single-handedly made sure of it by sleeping around. Do not be mad at Aliana simply
because Gabriel said no,” I said, and I could swear some guards chuckled a bit.
“How dare your Niko? I am still your mother?” She said, and I was the least affected by her words.
“As long as you continue to behave this way, you won’t have it easy with me. Now excuse us, “ I said, ready to move.
“I am the one that should join you to entertain the prince,” She called out while I walked away with Aliana beside me, and I
stopped in my tracks.
“He is too young for you, Mother,” I said, teasing her, and I heard her curse under her breath. 3

Her reaction made me chuckle a bit, and I looked at Aliana, who was sad and distant.
My mother’s words had gotten to her.
I stopped walking abruptly and turned towards her. I pulled her closer, lifted her chin and k*issed her. This was my home, and I
could do whatever I liked.
I could worry about the consequences later. Aliana was mine, and everyone needed to know that.
“Do not let her words get to you, little wolf. I want us to have fun tonight.” I linked her.
I broke the k*iss, and she looked like I had taken her breath away. I smiled at her, and she looked away.
Smiling had become a frequent activity of mine, and it was all thanks to Aliana. My mother was crazy to think I would give her up.
“Shall we?” I asked, and she nodded, looping her arms in mine. Unlike Piotr, I wasn’t ashamed of my choice.
We walked into the dining room, and Piotr stood up with Natasha, who had her hair in a ponytail and was wearing a short red
dress and red lipstick. She looked really nice.
“I hope you do not mind,” Piotr told me, but his eyes were on Aliana.
“Good evening, your highness,” Aliana bowed, and he was speechless.
I tugged at her hand to sit beside me, and she obliged.
Piotr sat with Natasha beside him. A maid came to serve the wine. Knowing that Ania and Lisa would be serving us, I relaxed.
I raised my glass, forgetting that Aliana should not be drinking. I saw her request for Juice instead, and the servant reluctantly
served the Juice. It was because she felt Aliana was beneath her. I was a bit mad, but Aliana linked me to calm down.
“I had a headache this afternoon; alcohol will mess me up,” she said quickly and raised her glass of Juice. I rubbed gently
rubbed her thigh, realising my blunder.
I gave a welcome toast, and we drank.
“I like the atmosphere here, Nikolas, and I am glad you agreed to accommodate Natasha,” he said, and I shook my head and
leaned forward to look at him.

“Let’s cut the bullshit, Piotr,” I said, and he looked stunned and then offended.
“Look around you. This isn’t Hill or Snow. This is Forest. As you can see, my mistress is a werewolf, and I dote on her. I won’t
have her kneel or treat her like a slave just to keep up appearances.
You might try to hide it, but it is obvious Natasha isn’t your maid. I do not care who you chose to date, and no one would hear it
from me, but please, if you want this friendship to work, you have to be honest with me and not pretend,” I spelt it out, and he
was stunned.
“How did you know?” he asked, feeling embarrassed.
“Do you want me to go there? The fact that you two reek of each other and want her sleeping in your room makes it obvious.
By the way, your excuse for bringing her with you was lame. I had known you had a thing for werewolves from my visit to Hill.
You spoke highly of their businesses. I also know the ill- treatment of werewolves in Hill is for show,” I said and sighed.
“I do not have anything against you. I am glad you understand that there is no divide between us. It is just some greedy, power-
hungry domineering people like Fredrick and the committee that are trying to create that divide and exploit the werewolves,” I
said and raised Aliana’s hand to my l*ips.
“Aliana and I shouldn’t care for each other because there is bad blood from the past, but here we are,” I said and sighed, then
looked at him.
“I know it isn’t easy keeping your relationship. Know you can be together and do as you like in Forest. As for Fredrick’s spies, I
am working on it,” I said, and Natasha began to cry.
She picked up a napkin and wiped away her tears. Piotr pulled her close and k*issed the top of her head.
“We have been together for seven years,” He finally confessed, and I was completely shocked. “She is my fated. It is unheard of,
but Lycans can be fated to werewolves like your father was to his mistress. It is just that they do not feel it like we do,” He said,
and I heard a crack in his voice.
“We have hidden all these years, meeting in private away from everyone. You do not know how many times we had come close
to being caught and what I had to do to save both our skins,” he said with a haunted look.

“Thankyou for making this place a safe haven for us. Know that I will do everything possible to ensure you get the crown,
Nikolas. With you as King of Forest, abolishing the wicked unity law will be easy. It will be two of us against Fredrick,” he said
with determination.
I wondered what he had to do to save both their lives. There was no point asking because I knew they were terrible.
“Does your mother know?” He asked me curiously, and I nodded.
“It doesn’t matter, really. I conquered Forest. It is my territory; Kowalski or not, I own the place. I can do whatever I damn, please.
As for Fredirck’s spies, I will fish them out,” I said, and he chuckled.
“You’re a Kowalski; forget your uncle; My father told me you have your father’s eyes.
Fredrick just wants to get his hands on Forest by all means. Gabriel had made it hard for him, and now he sees this as an
opportunity; all he has to do is discredit you. The guy is s*cum.
As for the spies, it will be great if you catch the ones from Hill, too. They are one and the same.
I wouldn’t put it past my father’s people to answer to Fredrick. My father has been subservient to the Snow King for so long that
Fredrick has become his King, and Hill citizens have it at the back of their minds that they answer to Fredrick above their King. I
plan to change that when I become King,” he said with conviction, and I was glad that I had allowed him to come.
“So, how is your sister?” I asked, hoping I would hear something about Miles.
“Stubborn and still seeing the half-breed, Miles Gordon. Everyone thinks he will succeed
Fredrick. I do not like the guy. He is too serious, and he shares his uncles’ views even though he is a halfbreed and his uncle’s
views are against his liberty,” Piotr laughed.
I wondered how Miles had been able to function over the years.
“You two look a bit alike, though. The resemblance isn’t striking, but your eyes are a bit similar. I do not like the guy, and now he
has made it his duty to visit Hill often because of Lena. Our parents do not want the union, but they are afraid to speak up
because they do not want anything to lead to war. You see, Miles leads most of the battles for Fredrick, so pissing him off is as
good as incurring the wrath of Fredrick,” He said, and that was a valuable piece of information I was grateful for.

We talked about trivial matters while we waited for Qusack and the meal. I knew Qusack’s tardiness had much to do with the fact
that I had insisted he brings someone.
It was sad that, indeed, he wasn’t seeing anyone