Chapter 476 The Transformation (1)
"Why did you promise something like that?" Sophie whispered to Nicholas disapprovingly. She was always paranoid when it came to her children's safety. She wanted the children to have friends their age, but she didn't want to compromise their security.
Maybe after they were older and bigger... it would be okay. Right now, Luciel and Jan were almost twelve. They grew up to be two handsome teenagers, but they were still not old enough to be let out in the world.
"It's time," said Nicholas patiently. "We cannot always keep them at home. They need to go out and see the world. I promise I will make sure they will be safe. If needed, I will go with them myself."
Nicholas was an Alpha, and even though he didn't train with other lycans to keep his physical strength, he did quite a lot to maintain his energy and speed by taking the children hunting once a week and spending time outside in nature.
He wanted the boys to grow up strong even though they were not in any packs. As rogues, it was more important for them to be formidable so they couldn't be bullied by other lycans. They needed to be able to defend themselves.
After doing that for many years, Nicholas could see that Luciel and Jan, and even Jack, the younger one, were ready to face the world. He wanted to take them traveling with him to other parts of Riga so they could learn firsthand how they could rule a kingdom and get to know the people as well.
That's why he thought they could do it after Jack gained his ability to transform so that they could go together without having to worry about a wolf pup who couldn't hide among humans.
"Are you sure?" Sophie asked again. She looked at the older sons worriedly.
"I am sure," said Nicholas. "I plan to take them to visit all the duchies and districts under Riga to get to know the area and the people. And if they find companions from among the youths in those areas, I will invite them to come to the capital to study with Luciel and Jan. That way, they could go to school safely and have friends their age."
He added, "I think it's also important for them to get to know and befriend those young noblemen because in the future, Luciel or Jan will become king, and those youths would be their subjects."
Sophie realized Nicholas had a good point. She finally, reluctantly, nodded. "Okay, if you think so."
Luciel and Jan exchanged glances when they heard their parents' conversation. As they grew older, they started to understand more about matters of the heart, and they could now see their parents' relationship from a different perspective.
Deep inside, they just wished Sophie would get back together with Nicholas. Seeing so much love filled Nicholas' eyes every time he looked at Sophie, while the woman didn't seem to notice it made the boys feel so sorry for their father.
How long would this continue? It's been years, and they didn't want their parents to get comfortable with this condition. Nicholas must not forget that he wanted this woman to be his wife again. And Sophie must realize that there was nothing to lose if she would just accept Nicholas back.
They already lived as a family anyway. Except for sharing a bed as husband and wife, the king and Sophie acted as family and parents to five young children. Since Nicholas never differentiated his treatment for Sophie's children that were not biologically his, everyone had seen the other three as his own too.
Sophie must not get too comfortable being a single independent woman, both boys thought in unison. She had a good income because her business was running well.
She even bought the property next to her tavern and converted it into an inn. So, now, she had a tavern and a bigger inn that accommodated guests and patrons alike. They were quite popular and brought in good money for her.
At this rate, Sophie might never want to become someone's wife again, even to a king. This worried the boys greatly.
The family had dinner and then stayed together for several more hours to witness the moment when Jack and Anne transformed for the first time.
"Mommy... why can't I transform?" Leia was pouting and nagging at Sophie when she was gently rubbing Anne's fur. Sophie had a beautiful silk dress ready on her right for Anne when she shifted into a human.
Sophie turned to her youngest child and sighed. She had explained this several times in the past, and she thought Leia had understood, but lately, she kept repeating the same question, not caring if she already knew the answer. She acted as if she didn't know the truth, then the reality could be different for her.
"We are just different," said Sophie patiently. "I also cannot shift. We don't have enough lycan genes in our bodies. I am sorry, baby... but that's what happened."
Leia looked unhappy. Her chubby cheeks were puffed in annoyance which made her look even more adorable.
"Why do you want to shift so much?" Nicholas asked her patiently. "It's inconvenient. You are naked when you transform, and it's a hassle to bring clothes with you if you want to shift into human again. I didn't want to be a lycan in the beginning. I did everything I could to get rid of the lycanthropy that I..."
He halted his words. Gosh... even after twelve years, he still couldn't get over that regret over his decision to leave Sophie to cure himself of Lycanthrophy.
"I want to be faster and stronger," Leia said with pursed lips. "Daddy, you are dumb for trying to get rid of the lycanthropy. I would never do that if I were you."
Nicholas coughed violently when he heard Leia's words. The little girl was so smart and spoke in full sentences. Of course, now he agreed with her, but Nicholas from twelve years ago was dumber than a three-year-old girl.
"I was not as smart of you, baby girl," said Nicholas apologetically. "I wish I could turn back time. I would embrace my condition and be grateful for what I have."
He glanced at Sophie and held his breath. Sophie knew how he felt, and they had made peace about what happened twelve years ago when he left her unintentionally. She said she had forgiven him. But maybe she hadn't forgotten it...
"Wait... if you were smart back then, mother would never marry my father, and I would never have been born," suddenly Leia spoke again. Her face became red. Then, her brows furrowed as something suddenly crossed her mind. "Wait...! Maybe I would still be born, and you would be my real father."
This time it was Sophie's turn to cough. She often felt grateful for her youngest's intelligence, but there were times like this when Leia would say unexpected things and make the situation uncomfortable.
Sophie wondered who Leia took after in this regard. Appearance-wise, Leia looked so much like her, but her feisty personality and intelligence looked more like her mother, Anne.
Ahh... maybe Leia took after her grandmother? Too bad she was not a lycan like Anne. Leia would become so happy to be compared to her grandmother.
"Awwooooo!!!"
Before anyone could say anything else, Jack suddenly became restless. He started rolling on the ground and rubbed his head with his paws.
"The fur must feel itchy to him," Nicholas commented. "It's about time for him to shift."
Immediately, everyone paid full attention to Jack and Anne. Both pups let out growls and crouched down on the ground. Sophie's heart was pounding with excitement. This reminded her of the moment from seven years ago when Luciel and Jack first shifted.
She fell in love at first sight with her boys when she saw them as humans. They were exactly as she thought they would look. Their wolf forms were so beautiful, and their human forms were even better. Now, her sons had grown up to be two handsome young princes, and they looked so much like Nicholas.
Now, she couldn't wait to see Jack and Anne.
The two pups growled several times and then rolled to the ground. And soon, the transformation that Sophie was waiting for was happening before her very eyes.
"Gosh..." She pressed her lips in amazement and gasped. The big wolf pup slowly transformed into a beautiful young boy with long white hair and glowing blue eyes. He was really, really handsome. He was even more handsome than his father, Leland.
"Mom...." Jack let out his first word as a human, and it was to call his mother. His voice was hoarse for a boy. And when he got up, he looked much bigger than an average five-year-old human child.
"Jack!!" Sophie shrieked. She hugged Jack tightly and kissed his hair. "I am so happy to see you."
This chapt𝙚r is updated by fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com