"Oh..." Sophie tried to keep her expression flat. She was curious to know what was the conversation about but she didn't want to look very interested. She was giving consideration to her mate's feelings. Leland must not think that Sophie wanted to know things about Nicholas.
"I think we need to sit down and talk about this," Leland said gently. He looked at her deeply, as if trying to find assurance that she loved him more than she loved Nicholas. "I might have misunderstood his family and... him."
"Oh... is it a good thing or a bad thing?" Sophie asked. Her heart fluttered when she realized Leland no longer had that hatred in his eyes when he mentioned Nicholas' name. Did something happen to soften Leland's heart?
"It's a good thing," Leland assured Sophie. He bent down to pick up the babies and took them in each of his arms and motioned Sophie to come inside. The woman followed him.
Leland put the babies on the small basket and then he pulled Sophie to sit on his lap. He was extremely gentle.
"He said he had done his investigation and found that your parents were not killed by humans but most likely by lycans," he spoke softly and calculated. He didn't want to make Sophie sad when they talked about her parents' deaths. "After I listen to his explanation, I tend to believe him. That means..."
That means there were liars and traitors among the lycans. Even though Anne had left the pack when she married Jack Hansley, Alpha Leon still made sure that all lycans on the continent know that she was under the protection of the Blood River Pack.
This was what annoyed Isolde the most but she couldn't do anything about it because Anne was the daughter of King Malachi and everyone respected her bloodline. She tried to frame Anne as the pack's traitor but Alpha Leon would have none of that.
Leland was silent. Scenarios were running through his mind. Who would know what happened back then? He was still fifteen and under the harsh training of his father. He didn't even know about Jack's and Anne's death until many years later. They kept the news from him.
Had he known they were killed, he would have run away from Frisia and come to get Sophie. He would never let her be alone without her parents. Unfortunately, he was not informed and he only found out about it after his father passed away and he became the next Alpha. By then, it was much too late to do anything.
His men couldn't even find Sophie for years. They met with her by accident when Sophie returned to Hauntingen with Nicholas to marry him.
Leland always blamed himself for the delay. If only he found out sooner. He might also have got the right lead and would be able to immediately capture and punish anyone who was responsible for Anne's and Jack's deaths. But instead, he was chasing the royal family who didn't have anything to do with the crime.
Did his mother have anything to do with this? She had the motive and surely the means. She hated Anne to the core and tried to make her life miserable, all because her husband still loved Anne even after so many years.
Leland sighed. He promised himself to investigate properly this time. He would find all the elders from fourteen years ago and force them to tell him the truth about what happened. If they refused, he would torture them to death because their incompetence had let the Hansleys be slained.
"That means..." Leland touched Sophie's chin and spoke in an apologetic tone. "The Hannenberghs are innocent and I shouldn't keep blaming them for the crime."
Sophie was stunned to hear her mate's explanation. She was always feeling conflicting when it came to Nicholas' family. She wanted her sons to have a relationship with their father's side of family.
However, when she remembered that the Hannenberghs was responsible for her parents' death, it became hard to do. How could the children love the family who killed their grandparents?
With this new development, the children didn't need to hate on the Hannenberghs. Perhaps, they could start to have that relationship? She looked at Leland and was moved to see his gentle eyes seemed to tell her what she needed to know.
Did this mean Leland was lowering his shield and was willing to give Nicholas a chance to see his sons?
"So... I guess the conversation went well?" Sophie asked carefully. "What else did you guys talk about?"
"Well... he said something about wanting to promote peace between humans and lycans in this kingdom to make Riga a better place for Luciel and Jan," Leland said.
Sophie held her breath. That really sounded like the Nicholas she knew. She loved that he was willing to lower his pride by coming to see Leland and initiating the conversation. All because he wanted to make this kingdom a better place for his sons.
"He is such a smooth talker," Leland commented. "He said Riga belongs to Luciel and Jan anyway, so I am wasting my time if I am thinking of trying to take over power from him. He'd give Riga away willingly."
Sophie couldn't help but chuckle. That was really a good argument from Nicholas' side. He killed two birds with one stone.
He could show that he was a loving father who was trying to make the kingdom a better place for his sons, and at the same time, he could make Leland think that trying to attack Riga for power was a stupid move.
"He does have a way with words." Sophie nodded in agreement. "Judging from your words, you agree with him?"
Leland shrugged. "I only wanted to punish those who are responsible for Anne's and Jack's deaths. I have no desire for power."
Sophie smiled and touched Leland's cheek. "Would you believe me if I told you I think you and him have so many things in common?"
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