Forged In The Flames By Karima Sa’ad Usman
Chapter 55 After He Left (Aliana’s POV)
I would lie if I said I wasn’t nervous about attending the clinic. The thought that something might be wrong with my health bothered me. I laid back down on the bed as soon as Nikolas left. Sleep swooped in, and I did not wake until ten.
Lisa and Ania were in the room playing cards when I woke up. There was a tray of food on the table, and I knew there was a possibility its content was cold.
“She is up,” Ania said with a smile, and I frowned at her, wondering what the occasion was.
Ania put down the cards and walked towards me. She sat on the bed beside me and held my chin with her hand, turning my head from side to side to check my face.
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Lisa was laughing, and I didn’t get the joke.
Not wanting to speak with my morning breath, I pushed away her hand and got off the bed.
I gathered the sheets, wrapped them around my naked body and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth; Ania followed me. It was clear she was disregarding the boundary rules this morning. I wondered what had gotten into her.
“I was checking to be sure you are intact. Knowing the mood you were in when we left you yesterday. You slept on the couch. You did not know when we brought food. I was wondering what must have made you tired. Then Alpha returned, and I got worried for you. But seeing you naked in the sheets and looking like a hot mess, I figure it went well,” She said, rushing through her words.
I brushed my teeth in a hurry and rinsed my mouth, then unwrapped my body with the sheet and threw the sheets at Ania since she had decided to be a spectator. I stepped into the shower and heard the door close. I guess she decided to respect the boundaries.
I took only a short time in the shower. My stomach was growling, and I was ravenous.
I finished quickly and left the bathroom.
I went to the closet to get ready for the day.
Nikolas’s scent filled my senses, and I lingered in the closet with his shirt held to my nose.
I felt a strong need and longing for him and wondered what was happening to me.
The scent was also unique.
It smelled like morning. Like a garden would smell early in the morning with rain dew on the plants. It smelled like wet, cool ground. He smelled of home. Somewhere I wanted to linger. He smelled whole and complete.
“Mine,” Raven said, and I moaned at her words.
There was a strong need and longing for him inside me. None like I had felt before. It was overwhelming and strange, but I welcomed it. With him, I was safe. It was safe to let myself fall this deep. I knew he would catch me, no matter what. I was that sure.
I breathed in the shirt one last time, and when I knew I couldn’t let go of his scent, I chose to wear the shirt to surround myself with it.
Suddenly I felt an emptiness that I knew only he could fill.
I remembered what happened last night and how he had made an effort to bend for my sake. There was no doubt that he loved me. I just hoped I would not cause him to bend that way again.
The thought of his love made me giddy, and I tried to link him but met silence. It was apparent he wasn’t around. I wondered where he must have gone. I planned to be wild with him tonight. He deserved it for being sweet.
I stepped out and found Ania and Lisa waiting patiently on the couch. They both looked in my direction and assessed what I was wearing.
“That bad?” Lisa asked, and I nodded.
I knew I was blushing, and my cheeks felt red. They laughed when I placed my palms against them to calm the blush effect.
“Honestly, I was scared he would kick you out and do terrible things to you. Instead, I heard Alpha sent Dr Newton to check on your father. I was shocked,” she said, and I was shocked too because I wasn’t expecting he would keep his promise.
“By the way, Alpha has travelled to Snow this morning and might not return until tomorrow, “ Ania added, and I felt like my world had collapsed.
Here I was, missing him and thinking of how to show my appreciation tonight. Knowing he won’t be coming home tonight, I felt lonely. Something sudden must have come up, or he would have told me beforehand. I just hoped he would be safe.
“They left with Luna Isabelle,” Lisa said, and I felt a knot in my stomach.
I remembered my conversation with the woman and wondered if what they were off to do had anything to do with our discussion.
Nikolas had told me that Isabelle would defend him for the crown. I secretly hoped that was all there was to it because I would hate putting Nikolas in a problematic situation.
“Do not worry, Darling, we are here to keep you company,” Lisa said, realising how the message had affected me. Just then, my tummy grumbled, and I looked at the dishes on the table.
“What’s in them?” I asked, wanting to eat.
“Toasts and other things,” Ania said, and I went to the table to dish out food. I opened all the dishes, and the food smelled great. I was glad it wasn’t irritating me like it did yesterday. I plated my meal and ate quickly. It tasted delicious, and my hunger was satisfied. After I finished eating, Lisa cleared the dishes and carried them away.
Ania and I waited for her to return.
“So, how did it go with Alpha?” She asked, and I did not think it would be wise to give her details of our intimate discussions, so I opted to tell half-truths instead.
“He did not find it funny but decided to allow it because my father was slowing down the work with his illness,” I lied, and she widened her eyes.
“You are lucky he was already thinking along that line,” She said with a smile and gently smacked my shoulder with a broad grin.
“Yes, I was lucky,” I said with a fake smile.
I felt like s*hit for lying to Ania, but I knew if I told her exactly what happened, she would ask more questions I would be uncomfortable answering. This was for the best.
“So, what is our itinerary for today?” She asked, smiling.
“I mean, now that Isabelle isn’t around, we can roam about the place, you know,” She said, and I smiled.
“Maybe we can cook that steak you have always wanted to make for lunch,” She said, and I shook my head.
“I am more in the mood for mixed veggies stir fry,” I said, and she laughed.
“Since when did you like vegetables?” She asked, and she had a valid question. I did not hate them, but I had never requested them specifically, and I usually went for the protein mostly.
“I guess now,” I said, and she laughed. Just then, Lisa returned and joined us.
“I am feeling a bit under the weather. I told Alpha I would run a test at the werewolf clinic,” I said.
Ania checked my body temperature with the back of her hand pressed against my forehead, then did the same to my neck.
It won’t give her an accurate reading. It might not give her anything, but I appreciated the gesture.
“I must admit your body was off yesterday, but you seem pretty okay now. The stress of discussing your father with Alpha might have caused it.” She said, and I figured as much, but I knew Nikolas would only drop the matter once I ran a test.
“Alpha insists I go for a medical checkup,” I said, and she nodded.
“We can go there after lunch. Right now, the volunteers would be at their place of work. They won’t resume work at the clinic until three in the afternoon,” She said, and I had utterly forgotten that aspect.
I wanted to know if the clinic could be registered as the workers’ place of work so they do not need to work elsewhere. Even though it would be a bright idea to bring it up, I knew I should take it slow. Nikolas had just made a significant bend for my sake. I needed to give it space and time. We weren’t there yet.
I agreed, and we remained indoors.
Once it was one in the afternoon, we headed to the kitchen to prepare mixed vegetables.
Unfortunately for us, we bumped into Gezel and Erica in the kitchen. I walked past them, trying to ignore them, but Erica called on me.
“I hope you know your days in Alpha’s bed are numbered. His mother plans to get him a suitable Lycan bride. You know he can’t resist it because he would need her beside him to be king,” Erica said, and to my surprise, Gezel cautioned.
“Stop it, Erica. It is none of your business. I do not want trouble anymore. This s*hit is getting old,” she said, and I saw shock registered on Erica’s face.
Gezel collected the cup Erica was holding and served herself some juice. She walked out of the Kitchen while Erica was still stunned by Gezel’s response. I guess Gezel had turned a new leaf. Hopefully, Erica will see the light too.
Ania and Lisa glared at Erica, and she left, looking confused.
She was still yet to understand what had just happened with Gezel, and I doubted her small mind could understand it.
We made the mixed vegetable, and it tasted delicious. I added broccoli, cauliflower, butternut, aubergine, carrots, garlic and boiled potatoes for a filling effect.
I seasoned it with lots of pepper to taste. It was a weird combination for me, and even though Lisa and Ania did not like the taste, it tasted delicious, and I ate a lot of it. Once we were done. We cleaned up and left.
Although I was with Nikolas, people still saw me as a slave and his mistress, so they would often throw snide remarks or try to be disrespectful; nothing blatant, and I knew it was to avoid Nikolas’s wrath, but there was an attitude they put up to try to show I was beneath them, and that was why we had to do the dishes and clean up after ourselves.
Even though there were workers in the kitchen to do that, they clearly said they would not clean up after us, especially me. I did not take offence, really. I just ignored them, but I registered their faces in my mind. I wanted to see how they would behave when Nikolas abolishes the Unity law in Forest. It would be a wonderful experience.
We left the building, and I decided to check on my father at his house before going to the clinic
I found him awake when I arrived, and Israel was there.
Isreal was happy to see me, and his smile let me know that my father would be okay.
My father did not look sick, but I did not allow his looks to fool me. He motioned me to sit close to him on the bed, and I did so. Using his free hand, which had no needles stuck in, he hugged me and k*issed my cheek.
“Thank you, Aliana. Gamma Grant just told me that I have been placed on allowance and no longer required to work anymore,” He said, and I was surprised Nikolas had put the gesture into effect.
“Honestly, I did not think you could do it, Aliana, but I am glad you did. Everyone your father’s age, including myself, has been relieved of our duties and placed on allowance. They said something about us slowing down the work. I know deep down it was you because it wasn’t a coincidence,” Israel said, and I smiled.
I was grateful to Nikolas.
“Speaking of the Alpha, you reek of him. Is that his shirt?” Israel asked, and I nodded.
“Are you sure you aren’t more than a mistress to him?” Israel asked, and I shook my head.
“I am sure I am just a mistress,” I lied, and my father squeezed my hand gently for support. He knew I wasn’t just a mistress. Qusack had revealed that much to him.
“Anyway, he seems to have a soft spot for you. I wonder why that is, knowing how he loves obedience and how stubborn you are,” He said, and we all laughed.
I could not tell my father I was going for a medical test, so I kept my sickness to myself and stayed with them for forty-five minutes before deciding to leave.