Nicholas immediately dodged the attack and prepared to charge back. However, before he could do anything, Sophie had jumped at Leland and hugged him as tightly as she could with her small body.
"Please... stop fighting..." she shouted in frustration. "This is not the place for a fight..."
"Sophia, please step back," Leland tried to unwrap her arms from his waist. "I need to teach this jerk a lesson."
Sophie cried and rubbed Leland's arm. She spoke pleadingly, "Luciel is watching. Don't let him see this."
Sophie had promised Leland to stand by his side in this war between lycans and the kingdom of Riga. However, she didn't want her sons to witness the cruelty and bloody fight between the two men who claimed to be their fathers.
Not at this young age. At six, they were too young for this shit.
Leland immediately realized his mistake. He got carried away by his anger and jealousy, and he even broke his own rules, not to fight around the kids. Not only it was bad for them mentally, it was also dangerous.
"I am sorry..." he muttered. "It's my fault."
Sophie hugged him tightly and cried, "Thank you. Please... hold back your anger. I know you are enraged by my parents' deaths, but I need you to give me a moment to talk with Nicholas without your intervention. Please take Luciel and wait for me. I won't be long."
Leland looked very unwilling, but seeing Sophie's pleading gaze, he could only clench his fists and nodded reluctantly. He threw another murderous glare at Nicholas and finally stepped back.
Once Sophie saw he had calmed down a bit, she let go of her hug from him. However, before she knew it, Leland had pulled her closer to him and hugged her tightly again, then he planted a deep kiss on her luscious lips.
He kissed her until she was out of breath, witnessed by the king whose heart was brimming with rage and jealousy. Nicholas could feel all the hairs on his body stand and half his arms had transformed into wolf's arms.
His sharp claws were shaking out of anger, as if ready to attack and devour the opponent.
He hated the Alpha before him with every fiber of his being. He really wanted to pounce on Leland and kill him in a fight to the death.
"L-Leland..." Sophie pushed her mate out of instinct, as she was panting for breath. "T-take Luciel with you..."
She wiped her lips and added, "Please..."
Leland didn't say anything. He rubbed her hair lovingly, as if showing Nicholas that Sophie was his, and his alone, before he went to get Luciel who had been watching the argument with eyes wide open.
Nicholas had to take several minutes to calm down his nerves. He was so agitated and almost lost all his reason, just to teach Leland a lesson. Slowly, his arms transformed into human arms again.
"Where is Jan?" Nicholas asked Sophie. He just realized that he had not seen the other boy. Seeing how close he was to Luciel, Nicholas doubted Jan would not want to spend time with his brother.
Sophie rubbed her wet eyes with her sleeves before she replied to Nicholas' question. "Jan was injured after a big rubble fell on his head during your fight with Lucas."
She said it as a matter of factly because she didn't want Nicholas to think she blamed him, but she also wanted him to understand that what he did, fighting with another man around children was dangerous.
Nicholas' eyes suddenly widened. He was very surprised and felt even more guilty because his son was injured in his fight with Lucas.
"Gosh... how is his condition now?" Nicholas asked urgently. "Have you had him treated by doctors?"
Nicholas felt so remorseful. His fight last week had endangered Jan. He felt so ashamed of himself.
"Yes. we have healers and doctors," Sophie replied.
"Can I see my son?" Nicholas asked again. This time his face was filled with worry. "I need to see him."
"I am sorry, he is resting and cannot be disturbed," Sophie said. "Please... we have talked about everything we need to discuss. It's time for you to leave."
"How do you think I can leave just like this, knowing that my kid is hurt?" Nicholas came closer to Sophie and looked at her intently.
"They are not hurt. They are in good hands," said Sophie. "Please, Nicholas. This conversation is now over."
"Sophie, please, I beg you. Let me meet them. I will do anything to get you to let me meet them." Nicholas looked at Sophie expectantly.
"If you want me to kneel, then I'll do it without hesitation," Nicholas said. He had wanted to kneel right away but Sophie quickly said that there was no need for Nicholas to do such a thing.
"Nicholas, Jan is fine," Sophie said. "You don't have to worry about him. If you are sincere with your plans to stop the war, maybe someday we can meet again under better circumstances."
"But I don't want to meet again someday," the man insisted. "We are already here, I can meet you today. IF you would allow me, I can also meet my children."
Sophie bit her lip. She thought there was a glimmer of hope now that Nicholas had made the decision to stop the war between their two races. Maybe... if she could slowly convince Leland, then this war could really end.
"Nicholas, thank you for coming here and showing me that you are willing to do whatever it takes to make up for what happened in the past," Sophie spoke softly. She needed to end this conversation now and find Leland. She added, "I really appreciate it."
"But..?"
"We are trapped in a tangled web where all of us have reasons to hate each other. I am happy to hear that you are willing to end the war within your capacity as the king."
Nicholas looked Sophie in the eye. "I would do anything for you."
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