Leland was at a loss for words. He was over the moon by her statement. Surely Sophie wouldn't lie to him, would she? He pulled her to his embrace.
Leland peppered her face with kisses and finally, he planted a long and passionate kiss on her lips. Even though his wounds were so painful when her face and body touched his, Leland didn't even feel it. Happiness numbed him from pain.
"I will always choose you, but..." Sophie spoke in a hoarse voice after Leland finally ended their kiss. "You will break my heart if you killed him. Nicholas is still the father of Luciel and Jan. I cannot live with myself if I let you both kill each other and I only stand on the sideline and watch."
Sophie moved back and cupped her face with both hands, sobbing so despondently. Leland was unmoved in his place.
Damnit. He shouldn't have rejoiced so quickly.
Knowing Sophie, he should have known that she was too good and wouldn't let him and Nicholas hurt each other if she could help it.
"Please don't cry..." The Alpha was frustrated and didn't know what to do to calm her down. Sophie's request was simple, that Leland shouldn't kill Nicholas. However, this simple request was actually the hardest request to fulfill for obvious reasons.
How could Leland spare Nicholas when the king would not spare him? If he complied with Sophie's request, he would end up dead and Nicholas could get Sophie back.
"I will talk to him and beg him to bury the hatchet... I am sure he would listen to me if you would do the same," Sophie said between her sobs as if she could read his mind. "If you do this one for me, I promise I will stay with you. I will not come back to him even if he regained his memory."
Leland clenched his jaws when he heard her plea. "Are you sacrificing yourself for his safety by staying with me?"
"What? No...!" Sophie looked at Leland in disbelief. "How could you say that!? I already told you the reason."
"I don't know. You are so adamant about wanting me to spare his life."
"Because he is Luciel's and Jan's father."
"And also your first husband."
"You are my husband too."
"Well... he is your first love, so you might favor him more."
Leland immediately regretted his words when he saw the look of hurt in Sophie's eyes. He was really jealous and, even though he tried to have this conversation calmly, he ended up losing his cool. This was something that never happened before.
Sophie gritted her teeth and looked at Leland with disappointment. "I need time to be alone. Please..."
"I'm sorry, Sophia... I..." Leland touched her shoulder but Sophie reflexively dodged him. She never did this in their six years relationship. Leland felt so lost and frustrated. "I didn't mean it."
"Can I please... have a space to think?" Sophie pressed her temple. All of a sudden, her head was attacked by a massive headache. Leland had always been so caring and doting, but today he suddenly became so jealous and stubborn. Sophie was not used to this side of him.
"What do you want to think about?" Leland asked her carefully.
"I don't know..." Sophie sighed in frustration. "I know I think too highly of myself if I want to be the peace bringer, but I really can't let you two kill each other. I don't know what to do. I just know that I will die if anything happened to you both. I can't live anymore."
Leland went silent at the mention that Sophie couldn't live anymore if her mate or husband died.
"No, don't you ever think that way," Leland spoke with difficulty. "I would rather die and let you be happy with him than see you suffer."
"But I don't want you to die, Leland. Don't you understand?" Sophie looked at Leland in frustration. "I love you! I don't want you dead. I just want you to spare Nicholas. I will be happy with you if I know you won't kill the father of my children."
Sophie really didn't understand how males' mind works. If Leland could die for her happiness, surely he could let another man live for Sophie's sake, couldn't he?
"They are my children too," Leland said. "I raised them and have loved them from the start."
"Yes, and I am so grateful for your kindness. However, the time will come when they know their biological father is still alive, and that he never meant to abandon them. If you killed Nicholas... do you think Luciel and Jan can forgive you?"
Leland knew Sophie was right. This was truly not fair. Nicholas only planted his seeds and didn't do any work to protect and grow his family... yet now he could still reap the results?
"It's not fair..." Leland muttered. "The moment he left you, he had lost his right over you and the boys."
"He got into an unfortunate accident, as you and I could both conclude," Sophie said tiredly. "I hated what he did and I initially resented him. However, we both must be fair. It was not entirely his fault. I don't even know if Nicholas would get his memories back, but if he did... he deserves to know that he has children. Luciel and Jan deserve to know that their father is still alive."
KNOCK
KNOCK
Both Leland and Sophie were startled by the knocks on the door. Their conversation had become heated and Luciel could sense that his mother was feeling distraught. So, he steeled his heart and decided to interrupt.
"Who is it?" Sophie asked in a hoarse voice.
"Mommy..." Luciel's little voice was heard from behind the door. "Are you okay?"
Leland and Sophie exchanged glances.
"Yeah... mommy is okay. Why are you asking?" Sophie wiped her tears and tried to speak with a happier voice. "Please wait with Jan. Mommy will be right out. I just need to talk with your father for a little bit."
Leland lowered his face and stared blankly at the tiles. He was the boys' father after he married their mother and he raised them and provided for them for almost six years. Leland had loved them from day one. However, soon, they would call another man as their father, even though he didn't do anything for them.
This was really unfair.
.
.
__________________________
From Missrealitybites:
I know I already mentioned that Sophie will end up with both Leland and Nicholas. However, it doesn't mean things would be easy for them to reach that happy ending.
First of all, she needs to convince both men not to kill each other, something that even the kindhearted Alpha finds difficult to grant.
Secondly, she has to become the peace bringer between the two opposing sides, the lycans and the human kingdom.
And thirdly, Sophie has to be able to make both men agree to share. This is probably the toughest challenge.
I am excited to present you with their journey in dealing with all their problems and enemies and making their family work.
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freew𝒆(b)novel.c(o)m Only