The babies were asleep peacefully after they got their fill. Sophie was still weak and she was too tired for anything. She immediately fell asleep too. She didn't even wake up when the two pups climbed her body and sucked on her nipples again and eat.
The new father didn't sleep all night. He was engulfed in a euphoria that he couldn't get a wink of sleep. Fortunately, he had a really strong physique and didn't need sleep that much.
The next morning, Luciel and Jan came to visit their newborn siblings and they were so giddy and excited. Luciel kept trying to poke the two furballs to make sure they were really lycan pups who were alive and breathing.
"They just sleep all the time," he commented.
Sophie laughed at his words. She had eaten breakfast in bed and had gained some energy to sit back and converse with her children.
"Well, you slept a lot too when you were a baby," she said. "You slept the most."
"Really?" Luciel who was the most active really couldn't imagine himself sleeping all day like his younger siblings. He pursed his lips. "Their eyes are still closed. Were my eyes closed too when I was born?"
"Yep," Sophie nodded. She turned to look at the silver and white pups who were snuggling on her lap. Their noses touched each other so adorably. "Give it two weeks. They will open their eyes and start running around."
Jan who had been observing the chubby puppies for a while now, finally kissed their heads alternately. He then looked up to Sophie and said, "They are beautiful."
"Aww.. they are," Sophie said with glee. The two pups's fur was now dry and so soft to the touch. She couldn't stop rubbing their backs gently, to feel the silky smooth feeling on her fingers.
The female pup had white fur, and the male pup had light grey, very close to silver fur. Both looked very adorable.
Just like their parents, Luciel and Jan spent a good part of the day admiring the new babies. Luciel excitedly chattered about whatever he planned to do once the pups were big enough to play with them.
"I'll take them running," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Like what father used to do with us."
He looked at Leland and smiled broadly. The Alpha was the only father he knew for the first six years of his life. He found out months ago that his biological father was apparently still alive, but now that they were far from the capital and no longer met Nicholas, he stopped thinking about it.
Leland showed his rare smile and rubbed Luciel's head. "You were both such strong opponents to beat."
Sophie coughed violently when she heard the conversation. She knew Leland always made the boys think they were so fast and so strong that they could beat him if they worked a little bit harder.
Leland stole a glance at her and grinned. He was really in a good mood. Things were going really well with his family. Now that the babies were born, he would give it a little more time to focus on the family, before he resumed his mission to gather power and take over power in the capital.
"What's their names, by the way?" Luciel asked again. He looked at Sophie attentively.
Sophie and Leland exchanged glances. They had talked about this for weeks. Both agreed if the baby was female, they would name her 'Anne' as a tribute to Sophie's mother, whom Leland also adored.
If it was a male baby, they would call him 'Jack'. However, now that they were blessed with both male and female babies, it was only fitting to use the names together.
"Well..." Sophie pointed at the white pup and said, "This is Anne Salazar."
"Ahhh... from Grandma!" Luciel exclaimed. "So pretty."
"Yes." Sophie then pointed at the silver pup and said, "This is Jack Salazar."
"From Grandpa!" Luciel exclaimed again.
"Yes."
Sophie suddenly remembered something. She turned to Leland and asked him what they should tell Katherine about her pregnancy. She gave birth during Katherine's off days and she left the castle for two days.
She would return tomorrow and would definitely wonder why Sophie no longer looked pregnant, but she didn't see any babies around the castle.
Leland nodded casually. "Let me handle it. As a witch, she is used to dealing with lycans."
"Oh... okay." Sophie was so relieved.
It was nice to not keep any secrets from Katherine.
***
Leland kept his promise. When Katherine returned to the castle, she was summoned to come to the Alpha's study. Sophie didn't know how Leland delivered the news to her, that she was actually working under a lycan pack, but after the meeting, Katherine came to visit Sophie in her room to congratulate her.
"Gosh... I am so happy for you," Katherine said to Sophie when she was let in to see the Luna.
"Oh, thank you, Katherine," Sophie smiled. "I am glad we can be open to you about who we are. I don't like to keep a secret from my kids' teacher, especially because you are my friend and you have helped me a lot in the past."
"Oh, Your Grace, please don't mention it," Katherine sat by the bed and touched Sophie's hand. She smiled sincerely. "We all have secrets."
She took a deep breath and then looked at Sophie deeply. "I think I should also tell you who I really am."
Sophie held her breath. Did Katherine want to reveal that she was actually a witch? She waited in anticipation for Katherine's next words.
"Who are you, Katherine?" she asked carefully.
Katherine smiled crookedly and then said with a mysterious voice. "I am actually a witch."
Sophie had already heard from Leland that Katherine was a lowly witch, but she was still surprised to hear it directly from Katherine's lips.
So, it's true.
Sophie looked at Katherine attentively.
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