"What?!" Sophie''s eyes widened and she looked up at the duke to see if he was joking but even with the mask still on his face and covering him, she could see that Duke Romanov was serious.


    Lnd expected such a surprise toe from her. "The proposal I am presenting you is a proposal for marriage, Miss Hansley. The two of us would both benefit if this were to happen."


    She ced a hand on her chest. "But I am already married."


    A sad smile formed on Lnd''s lips as the memory of Sophie in Hauntingen with her husband appeared in his mind. The fact that Sophie was also looking for her wedding ring was a signifier of her rtionship with Duke Romanov as well.


    So Lnd''s answer was this as he looked her in the eye.


    "I am aware of that… but do pardon me if my words seem harsh and brash," Lnd carefully enunciated each word. "However, if your husband was still around then you wouldn''t be here with me right now, Miss Hansley. I came to the conclusion that you are a widow."


    Sophie bit her lip and felt the wave of sadness ovee her.


    Lnd would feel the same exact thing for a different reason.


    If Nichs happened to be alive and well, Sophie would still be with her husband and so she wouldn''t have to suffer like this. She wouldn''t have returned to Hastings and experienced such cruelty from her rtives.


    Right now, Sophie and Nichs could have felt joy at knowing that they would have a baby together, and the fact that Duke Romanov reminded her that Nichs was gone only made her feel close to tears.


    Lnd was also unhappy about bringing up Sophie''ste and foolish husband. If Nichs was alive then Lnd would perhaps not have felt the need to intervene in Sophie''s life in such a way like this one.


    It meant that if the man didn''t die, then perhaps there would be no chance of ever bing mates with her. Sophie''s heart belonged to Nichs and Lnd could do nothing about it except to ept the fact.


    Such was the case if Nichs were still alive and well, but because the man was gone and out of the picture… Lnd believed that it was necessary that he became Sophie''s mate to protect her.


    It was only one man missing and yet Nichs evoked sorrow in both Sophie and Lnd.


    <o>,m "Duke Romanov… it is true that my husband is gone," Sophie spoke the words slowly and tried to ignore the tears that stung her eyes. She didn''t want to cry in front of the duke like this.</o>


    Lnd waited patiently for her to finish.


    "However, you cannot simply ask me to just marry another man. I married my husband because I love him and even if… I am to assume the benefits of marrying a duke like you, Duke Romanov would offer me great wealth and fortune… I still cannot ept it."


    "You do not have to love me." Lnd managed to say out, despite every part of him longing for such love. He was jealous of the moments where he had seen Sophie treat herte husband with such tenderness and longing.


    "Huh?" Sophie''s eyes widened and she batted her eyes worriedly. Did this man only want her for something else? She stepped back warily and thought about the chances of running away from the study to avoid him.


    "This is a marriage of convenience, Miss Hansley, so you do not have to fear any unwanted conduct," Lnd said. "When I attended my meeting with the others in the capital, I experienced some social exclusion from the others."


    "Exclusion among the nobility?" Sophie batted her eyes in confusion. She was familiar with the feeling of being ostracized by others in Cawden Academy that she felt a small wave of sympathy for the man.


    "Yes. Ie from outside the kingdom of Riga so people do not take it so kindly of me and with the fact that I am a man who is still unwedded even at this age, they do not think of me in a good light," Lnd exined. "This face and my mask didn''t help me either. They became so suspicious of me and my intention. That is why I wish to take you as my wife for that purpose alone."


    "Well… there are many other women here in the castle," Sophie pointed out. "It does not have to be me."


    Lnd shook his head and looked at her sincerely. "I need it to be you, Miss Hansley. You are the one who has lived here in Riga and you also seem to be an educated woman so I believe that you can elevate my status."


    Lnd wanted and needed Sophie''s love for him, but for now, he chose to say that he didn''t need her love. What mattered right now was simply creating a proper way for Sophie to be safe. It wasn''t only for matters that pertained to the unknown danger that she may encounter.


    While Lnd''s influence as an Alpha made the lycans respect his orders not to attack… Another pack or tribe might be unwilling to do such a thing and obey his orders.


    That was why bing mates was so necessary for Lnd''s eyes. It was not only to protect Sophie from any humans trying to hurt her, but it would also protect and shield her from the threats of his own people and that of other kinds.


    Sophie bit her lip and knew that there was another fact that could make Duke Romanov change his mind and so she straightened her back and said.


    "Duke Romanov, you cannot marry me. I am pregnant with my husband''s child," Sophie said with a hoarse voice, as she stared at the man bravely.


    .


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    ________________


    From Missrealitybites:


    Finally! Sophie told Lnd that she was pregnant. Do you think Lnd will ept her anyway.. or would he feel annoyed by the fact?