During their travels to Frisia, there were other questions and situations that occupied Sophie's once she felt more secure about their choice of leaving Riga. Among them was the state of the Blood River Pack after they had left the manor.
"Leland… are these the only people who remained with us?" Sophie's brows scrunched up in worry as she looked at her husband. "When you said that the pack revolted, I did not expect that so few would remain."
When Sophie parted open the curtains of the carriage to let in some moonlight, and to let Luciel and Jan enjoy the night wind, she only saw about five men on horseback following after them.
Behind them were two smaller-sized carriages.
There was a great possibility that there were other people occupying the carriages and it did not only hold their belongings, but even then, the number was so few that it made her heart ache.
This was the only thing that Sophie saw in the darkness of the night and she felt concern grow in her chest that Leland lost too many men when they revolted. However, her husband didn't seem bothered.
On the contrary, Leland chuckled and shook his head. "No, of course not, Sophia. But similar to how we travel at night and rest during the day, this is all to conceal ourselves."
When Leland left the kingdom of Riga, he divided the remaining members of the Blood River Pack into several groups. Small groups wouldn't attract too much attention as they traveled towards Frisia.
In Leland's own group, he only took ten members of the pack to accompany him and his family. Lucas took charge of the other groups and they traveled separately from the Alpha.
"Oh, I see." Sophie smiled in relief and nodded slowly. "That makes a lot of sense… and we shall be traveling for how long, Leland?"
"It would be a lot quicker if all of our men were in their wolf forms," Leland explained. "However, we are going at a pace that wouldn't alarm the villages and cities we pass through. A month or so of travel."
"Ah, so it's not that far away from the borders of Riga itself." Sophie rubbed Jan's fur as the boy poked his head out and happily raised a paw at Max and Duncan who were riding together.
"It's still close to Hauntingen." Leland smiled softly. "That is how I managed to come to your family in the first place when I ran away from my parents and the pack."
"Really?" Sophie's heart welled with nostalgia. So many good memories returned to her mind as to when she was still with Leland and her parents. It made her smile back at her husband.
For a moment, she could forget about their grief. Thinking about the past when everything was fine and their lives were happy always managed to elevate her mood.
"Yes, if you'd like, we can actually take a detour and visit your old home in Blackwoods." Leland offered to her. "Would you like that?"
Sophie's heart warmed at his offer.
It would be nice to pass by Hauntingen and relive the memories.
"That sounds lovely. I can show Luciel and Jan the home of their grandparents, where we grew our vegetables and there are so many other things I wish to show them…"
Sophie's expression grew a bit somber at the memory of Nicholas. A lot of fond and happy memories filled that hut with just the two of them there. Her heart suddenly panged and she bit her lip.
Back then, Sophie waited for Nicholas in that inn at Hauntingen, not knowing that he had died with his grand-uncle, Baron Ferdinand.
Sophie was now aware that it was the Blood River Pack who attacked the royal family, including distant relatives like Nicholas which saddened her. However, she did not want to trouble Leland with her grief.
There were already a lot of events that happened, Sophie couldn't and wouldn't add this as another burden on her husband's shoulders. Leland had already gone through a lot.
She would keep it to herself.
Still, that was an impossible thing to do, because even if Sophie still tried to smile, she still looked despondent. The Alpha noticed the sadness of his mate and gently touched her hand. He thought that the sudden sorrow in her heart was because of their lost children.
"We had boys as well," Leland softly said.
Sophie's heart immediately pounded as she met the Alpha's longful and sorrowed gaze. She felt something stuck to her throat and her eyes watered. "Our children were boys as well?"
"Two, just like Luciel and Jan over here," Leland said softly as he picked up Luciel and combed his fur. The happy lycan puppy rested his head against the Alpha's strong arms. Leland managed his flat expression and looked up at Sophie. "Did you have any names for them, Sophia?"
Sophie smiled sadly as she folded her hands together. "I was actually hoping to discuss it with you when I told you the news but…"
"We can still discuss it now," Leland said. "To remember them by."
"Of course!" Sophie looked her husband in the eye and admitted something. "When I talked it over with… Dinah. I was not sure if we would have boys or girls. I prepared a name that could go well for any gender."
"That is wise," The Alpha said. "What names do you have in mind?"
Sophie bit her lip. "I-I didn't know there would be two. I only prepared one."
Leland nodded. "I can name the other one."
"Ahh… you are right. Do you have the name?" Sophie asked her husband with teary eyes. "I like Morgan."
"That's a good name," Leland said as he looked at her dotingly. "Let's call the other one Emery. Would that be a good name to you?"
"It's nice. I'm sure Luciel and Jan would have loved to have two more brothers."
"They could have their own little pack," Leland said. "The older brothers helping the two younger ones just like I did with them."
Sophie's heart ached at Leland's words and she closed her eyes. "I can already imagine it. One black lycan puppy, one gray, and two adorable tiny white wolf puppies following them everywhere."
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