Chapter 477 The Transformation (2)
Sophie hugged Jack so tightly that the big boy felt squeezed. He pouted his lips and complained that he couldn't breathe.
"Gosh... I am so sorry," said Sophie apologetically. She chuckled and let go of Jack from her embrace. She took a good look at the boy, and suddenly, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Jack was truly Leland's copycat. The boy looked like the mini and more adorable version of Leland. his body type, his hair, his face, and his eyes, all reminded her of her mate.
Gosh... this made Sophie miss him so badly.
Even though she felt hurt by his action and she had tried to move on from him over the years, she thought about him often and missed him. It now felt like a one-sided love story because she was still in love with the man who had abandoned her and left without a trace.
Sophie often scolded herself for being this way. She kept telling herself that loving and missing Leland was like inflicting wounds on herself. However, she couldn't help it. When it came to matters of the heart, it was stubborn. What her mind wanted and what her heart wanted sometimes didn't match.
"Mommy...." Sophie was moved from her reverie by the sweetest voice she had ever heard. She batted her eyes and pulled herself together. She had been thinking about Leland again just because she saw Jack's human form. Gosh... she missed the man so badly that her chest felt literal pain.
To her right, a small, frail, and adorable little girl sat and looked up at her with her big round eyes. Anne had shifted too. Surprisingly, she had sparkling grey eyes that looked like silver, different from her wolf eyes.
Her white hair was long and soft, flowing down to her back like a waterfall. She looked like a gentle celestial being. Sophie couldn't believe she had given birth to this little one. Now, even Leia seemed pale in comparison, and she was the cutest little girl in the whole capital of Riga.
"Anne!!" Sophie gasped. She immediately hugged her daughter tightly and cried. She felt so, so relieved and happy that she got to see Anne shift into her human form. For so many years, Sophie had worked so hard to protect her frail baby, so she could survive and grow together with Jack.
So many sleepless nights and hard work to take care of her when she was ill. It was all worth it. Now, Sophie got to see her baby as a human and talked to her.
"I love you so much!" she whispered. "I am so glad to see you."
Anne hugged Sophie back and closed her eyes, her lips were smiling.
"Hi, mommy," she said softly.
"Oh my..." Sophie wiped her eyes and hastily took out the clothes she had prepared for her children. "Jack and Anne, you must wear human clothes when you are in your human forms. Humans don't walk around naked."
She helped Anne wear her outfit, while Jack insisted that he could do it by himself, since he was a big boy. However, he failed miserably when he tried to wear his shirt sleeves on his legs. Finally, Luciel helped him.
"Ahh... you look so good!" Sophie gushed at her children. Anne and Jack were really adorable. She knew she loved them so much even before they met as humans, but now she felt like her love for them was overflowing. "So pretty."
Sophie had never felt so happy in her life, being surrounded by her children like this, and she could communicate with all of them. After Jack and Anne wore human clothes, they, too, looked like the prince and princess of Riga.
Nicholas was very happy for Sophie. He could already communicate with the children in their lycan language. So, for him, there was no difference if the kids transformed or not. However, he could understand Sophie's desire to get a deeper connection with her children in the form of shared language.
"What does it feel to walk with two legs?" Luciel asked Jack. "It's great, isn't it? Your vision becomes higher now that you can stand tall."
Jack nodded. "Yeah."
He tried to move with his two legs, but it was not too easy to do because walking with two feet was not his nature. He was used to walking with all four limbs ever since he was born, and now he needed to practice using only two.
Sophie patiently taught her children to walk, and she eagerly talked to them about whatever. She couldn't have enough of hearing their sweet voices. Only when Leia fell asleep on her lap did Sophie remember that the night was already very late and the children needed to sleep.
"Gosh, It's really late now. You should all go to bed," she ordered them. "Let's continue tomorrow at breakfast."
Luciel and Jan kissed her and then bid the rest good night. Sophie wanted to get up so she could take Anne to her bedroom and read a bedtime story for her and Jack before the two slept. However, her youngest one was already sleeping soundly on her lap.
"Let me take her," said Nicholas. He motioned to the sleeping Leia. "I will take her to bed. You can go with Anne and Jack."
"Oh, well.. then thank you," Sophie smiled. She let Nicholas bend down and picked up Leia gently from her lap.
"Good night, Anne, and Jack. Sleep well," said Nicholas to the older siblings. He rubbed Anne's hair and patted Jack's shoulder. "See you tomorrow morning. Oh, and congratulations on your transformation."
"Good night, Daddy," Anne said in an almost inaudible voice. Her face looked shy when she called Nicholas 'daddy'.
This made Nicholas halt his movement. He turned and looked at the little girl for a moment, then a big smile appeared on his handsome face. "See you tomorrow."
Leia had been calling him 'daddy' since she could talk because she was copying her older brothers, Luciel and Jan, who called Nicholas as their daddy. Initially, Sophie felt awkward about the situation since Leia was not Nicholas' child. However, since Nicholas was so casual about it, she finally let Leia call him 'daddy'.
Leia didn't have her biological father around, and she had zero memories of Leland, unlike Jack and Anne, who were born when Leland and Sophie were together and had a great relationship. They also had spent time with him and knew who he was.
For Leia, there had only been Daddy Nic from the beginning. So, she considered him her father. Deep inside, Nicholas hoped Leland would not come and claim his youngest daughter because, at this point, Nicholas had loved Leia so much that he couldn't imagine having the girl taken away from him someday when Leland returned... if he ever would.
And now... Anne also called him 'Daddy'?
Nicholas couldn't ask for a better gift in his life.
Sophie observed the scene with a fluttering heart. That was all she had ever wanted all this time, to see everyone she loved, her family, be good to each other, and have a loving relationship.
Jack still rolled his eyes and pretended not to see Nicholas when he grabbed his twin's hand and walked with her out of the room. He would stay in Anne's room for their bedtime story, and then he would go to his own room. This routine was his favorite time of the day.
Sophie and Nicholas exchanged glances and then smiled.
"He is very consistent," Nicholas commented with a chuckle.
"You know he doesn't hate you," said Sophie. "He is just a grumpy boy. That's why he always looks that way."
"Don't worry, Sophie. I never take it to heart," said Nicholas lightly. "Very well. I will take this baby girl to her room and meet you later in Anne's room."
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Sophie asked. "It's almost 1 am."
"No," said Nicholas. "I don't feel like sleeping. My heart is full, and I am feeling inspired. Would you like to have a drink with me after you read Anne and Jack their bedtime story?"
Sophie thought Nicholas' behavior was unusual. Did something happen?
"I mean, if you are sleepy and want to hit the sack now, I totally understand," said Nicholas. "However, if you are down for a glass of wine or lycan ale, I would love to have your company."
Sophie thought about it and realized she had not gone drinking for fun for a long time already. It would be nice to spend time with Nicholas tonight and see what he wanted to talk about.
"Sure," she said. "Where do you want to drink?"
"No need to go and find me. I will just come to Anne's room to get you," Nicholas said.
"Well, then... see you later." Sophie nodded her head to Nicholas and then took her leave. Nicholas looked at Sophie's back view longingly, while carrying Leia in his arms. And then he smiled sweetly.
Sophie went to Anne's room and found the twins happily chatting in their human voices. It seemed they were still fascinated by the new appearances and new voices they had.
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