Lucas, Max, and all the lycans who did acknowledge and respect Sophie as their Luna and Leland's mate were surprised to see Sophie carrying their belongings, followed by her children out of the mansion. Little Jack and Anne were in their brothers' arms. They all looked dejected.
"Where are you going, Luna?" Lucas asked, stopping Sophie, Jan, and Luciel from heading for the gate. All the lycans in the mansion gathered and looked at Sophie.
"Leland has cut ties with me. I'm no longer this luna pack so I have to go."
"But where are you going? You can stay here," said Lucas.
[... if you still have any shame, get out of my mansion and take your children too...]
Leland's words echoed in Sophie's head. That left her with no reason to stay there. She could only smile while holding back the pain in her heart. She said, "Thanks, Lucas, but I have to go. I'm sorry I couldn't attend your and Lily's wedding, I hope you both live happily."
then, she led Jan and Luciel back on their way.
"Luna, let me take you to your destination." Max volunteered. He felt very sorry for Sophie who left with her four children.
"Please allow me to help," he said again with genuine intent. He looked at Jack and Anne who were being carried by Jan and Luciel then back at Sophie who was carrying their luggage.
Sophie, who had previously followed Max's gaze when he saw Jack and Anne, nodded and accepted Max's offer. She did it for the sake of her two sick babies.
Max immediately took Sophie's luggage and carried it out and put it in the carriage.
At this point, Sophie planned to stay in an inn and think about her plans. She didn't want to come to Nicholas because that would make people speak ill of her. If she went to the palace and stayed there, she was worried that Jack and Anne would also experience what Jan and Luciel had experienced.
Receiving cynical stares and having to listen to people gossiping and insult at them because they were not Leland's biological children. If she went to the palace, people would gossip about Jack and Anne not being Nicholas' children but leeched on him.
She didn't want her babies to be exposed to that. She would rather find her own way and rebuild her life with her children. She was educated and smart. She believed she would survive even without a man in her life.
She had savings, it was enough to rent a house and support them in a few months. To sustain herself and her children, she would work hard. Didn't she have a dream when she was young to open a tavern and make money? It was not too late to pursue that dream.
This time, she would have the capital to open her own business. She didn't want to bother Nicholas at all. Even though when Leland broke up with her, he taunted her and mocked her go find Nicholas, she wouldn't do it.
After loading their stuff, Max opened the carriage door for the family. Luciel and Jan entered first then Sophie.
"Be careful when on the way," Lucas advised Max. "I trust you to take them to their destination."
He walked to the carriage and asked Sophie respectfully if she knew where she would be going. The woman nodded with a tired smile.
"Yes, I will go to an inn in the city and stay there for several days. I will then make my way to Hastings and start over," she said.
Lucas sighed. He knew he couldn't change Sophie's mind. So, he planned to send the news to their people in Hastings to keep an eye on Sophie and her children and protect them at all costs. He would also send his men to shadow the carriage that Max was riding. They would make sure Sophie would arrive in town safely.
"Goodbye, Lucas. Thank you for everything," said Sophie. She nodded at Lily who came to Lucas' side, looking sad. "You take care of Lily, okay? Lily, please visit us in the future when you have time. I would love to maintain our friendship."
Lily only nodded. She was too sad to utter any words. Lucas touched Lily's hand and replied to Sophie's words. "We will visit you, Luna. Please take care and safe travels!"
Max nodded then immediately got up and sat in the coachman's seat.
The horse carriage started walking out of the mansion area. Lucas and all the lycans who were there looked at their departure sadly but not a few of them were happy. It was no secret that some pack members harbored resentment toward Sophie. They just didn't dare to be vocal about it. So, now, they were glad to see her go.
Inside the carriage, Luciel opened the window and saw the manor slowly drifting away from his sight. He felt sad that he had to leave everyone who was there.
Even though some disliked him but he and Jan considered everyone there as a family. For seven years he and Jan grew up among them.
After a while, he closed the curtain and turned to Jan who had also been looking out for a while.
They then looked at Jack and Anne who were on their laps and then saw their mother who looked dreamy with a very sad expression on her face.
The big question that was running through their heads right now was why their father, Leland, had cut ties with their mother. Although very curious, they did not dare to ask their mother who looked very devastated.
In the end, they could only look down while rubbing and making sure their younger siblings were kept warm.
Jan picked up and hugged Anne, trying to give his little sister some warmth.
"Shh, don't worry, your brother will take care of you," he said as he hugged his sister tightly but still didn't hurt.
Sophie, who had been silent for a long time, turned her head when she heard Jan's words. She smiled and rubbed Jan and Luciel's heads in turn.
"Jack and Anne are very lucky to have brothers like you. Now let me take them on my lap."
"You should just rest, Mom. Let us take care of them. We'll let you know when they're hungry," said Jan.
"We're here, so mommy better take a break and relax," Luciel chimed in and smiled broadly.
Seeing her two eldest children, Sophie was deeply moved. Now she was not alone in going through her problems. She had two sons who supported her, Even though they were young, they are very reliable.
"Thank you, dear. I'm also very lucky to have you guys," she said, still rubbing Jan and Luciel's heads and then stroking Anne and Jack.
The thing that became her biggest concern right now was that the two babies were still unwell, although she was a little relieved because since yesterday Anne and Jack have started wanting to breastfeed again. It raised hope in her heart that her two children would survive.
She didn't expect Leland to just dump Jack and Anne even though they had been waiting for Anne and Jack for a long time.
Sophie still remembered how happy Leland was when he found out about her pregnancy. The cold man even shed tears because he was so moved.
"Do you also think of them as your burden? They are your biological children. Why are you doing all this?" Sophie mumbled in her heart. She didn't realize, she had burst into tears again.
"Don't cry, Mom. They'll get better soon," Jan said, wiping his mother's tears. He thought that his mother was crying because she felt so sad for Anne and Jack who were sick.
"You're right, honey. They'll get better soon." Sophie smiled and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. She advised herself to stop being weak. She had to be strong for the sake of her children.
***
Meanwhile, at Armeria's castle, Leland tried to find information on how to find Anne's soul stone. He also needed to make plans to see Sophie and feed Jack his soul stone to get him to recover.
That's why, when he was around Eloise, Leland became very considerate. He wanted to get close to her and find out all her secrets. The fact that Leland no longer treated her like air made Eloise feel very happy.
At this time they were having lunch together by a beautiful pond.
"I used to think that eating with you like this would be impossible," Eloise said with a happy smile. Her face was filled with a tinge of happiness even though she knew that Leland was behaving that way because he had his hidden agenda, she still enjoyed it.
Leland didn't say anything. He focused his attention on the steak he was eating. Eloise knew she shouldn't push her luck, at least not yet. So, she changed the subject.
"So what's your decision? Are you going to join us? You said you didn't want to take care of this pack, but from now on you're going to stay here. I don't think you have any reason to turn down the Alpha Obsidian Sand Pack position."
"You want me to guard the throne of Armeria for your son?" Leland asked.
Eloise nodded. She smiled faintly and rubbed her belly. It had started to show her pregnancy and she was actually surprised to know that she was enjoying this phase.
Perhaps, she did want children, but she hated Elias being her husband. Now, sitting by the pond, enjoying the beautiful view with the man that she truly wanted and waiting for her son to be born... she felt happy.
This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com