Note:


    Thank you, dear Kelly Goodwin, for gifting a gachapon to this book yesterday. I''m still at a loss for words because of your kindness and support...


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    The mountains in Frisia remained cold all throughout the year, the snowcaps didn''t melt there, but the Alpha and Luna of the Blood River Pack only looked at each other and were immersed in their conversation.


    <o>,m "Unfortunately, not everyone who gives birth to children is meant to be parents," Lnd said. With a mother like Isolde, he knew this all too well.</o>


    Sophie agreed with his words and yet she couldn''t help but remember something that made her smile. A long time ago, her mother, Anne, told her of how some people had a great capacity for love and how it could be shared with other people.


    Anne told that to Sophie when she was younger and jealous of the attention that her mother gave to Lnd in his wolf cub form. It was something that she didn''t think much of, but she cherished those lessons now.


    Sophie looked at her husband and gently touched his cheek. "I think it''s time to focus on the positive side of things. Luciel and Jan are incredibly lucky to have you, Lnd."


    Lnd coughed and averted his gaze. He was a bit embarrassed to have the attention be suddenly on him. He loved how Sophie was looking up to him and it gave him pride, but he was still surprised by her affection.


    The two of them were supposed to be talking about the dangers of getting involved with the witches. He wanted to think that those people might be able to heal his mate because he didn''t want her to suffer, but after long consideration, he thought it was too risky.


    Even his own friend, Eloise was a tangible threat that had the chance of killing both her mother and even Isolde if provoked. Eloise got along with Lnd just fine. However, he did not want to endanger anyone.


    How Sophie still turned it as a chance to express her admiration to Lnd made him want to blush. However, as an Alpha, he couldn''t do such a thing. So he redirected thepliment instead.


    "Sophia… I thank you for thepliments. However, I only learned from the best."


    Sophie chuckled. "Give yourself some credit, Lnd."


    "I am." Lnd insisted.


    "I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, Lnd," Sophie whispered. "You''d be able to wholeheartedly ept my praise if you did."


    She didn''t think that she''d see this side of her strong Alpha mate and yet what Sophie said was truly genuine. She gazed and watched the sight of multiple lycan children of different sizes all pounced together at Duncan.


    The older lycan was now lying on the grass andughed. "Okay, I give up. You guys are great hunters! Truly an asset to the Blood River Pack."


    Luciel proudly strutted in front of Duncan''s face. His tail swished happily. His brother Jan rested his paws on the Lycan''s back and there was a sense of aplishment written all over his cute face.


    All of this was only possible because of how Lnd came into Sophie''s life. If it had been Nichs instead… Sophie''s smile faded slightly.


    She didn''t want to imagine how much danger their children might experience if she was with Nichs.


    She didn''t think that Nichs was going to be a bad father. However, the man might have had trouble epting their kids. Or there was a chance that they needed to defend themselves against the Royal Lycan Hunters.


    And what would his family think of Luciel and Jan when they found out Nichs fathered two… little monsters?


    She bit her lip.


    "Sophia?" Lnd sensed her growing apprehension.


    Sophie smiled sadly and leaned against her mate''s side. "I''ve seen what it''s like to be both a human and a lycan. It just makes me a little sad to see both sides fight against each other. Will this ever end, Lnd?"


    The Alpha didn''t say anything. He knew the answer, but he didn''t want to make her sad. He also didn''t want to lie.


    Some words were better left unspoken.


    ***


    "Your Majesty, this will only end when all of the lycans are eradicated from this continent." Noel Gastrellmented as he blocked the king''s sword. "If I may speak so boldly with you."


    Nichs frowned a little as he made a feint and the Royal Lycan Hunter didn''t fall for it. The two of them were only sparring, but he could see howbat experience truly separated the two of them.


    "I understand what you are saying." Nichs twisted easily and dodged against Noel''s heavy ax that nearly cut off his head. "Unfortunately, even if Riga were to amass all of its military strength, it''s one kingdom against multiple packs, don''t you think?"


    It was a strange and odd friendship formed between the King of Riga and the head of the Royal Lycan Hunter. When Nichs had the time, he visited the secret quarters of the kingdom''s elite anti-lycan unit and trained with them.


    Nichs took the opportunity to practice his sword. Unfortunately, it felt awkward in his grasp. A part of him wanted to drop the weapon and attack Noel bare-handed, which was a crazy idea.


    What kind of person fought without any weapons?


    "We''ve dealt a major blow to them in thest war," Noel exined as he swung his ax and closed the distance. "Their Lycan King is gone and thus the packs have all be more autonomous. Mostly piging viges and towns, threatening travelers and wreaking havoc."


    Nichs blinked and received a small nick on the cheek. "Not killing?"


    "Your Majesty!" Several Royal Lycan Hunters shouted and stood up when they saw that he had gotten injured.


    Nichs raised a hand and eventually dropped his weapon on the floor. "I''m fine. It''s a small scratch. "What were you saying, Noel?"


    "One pack provoking an entire kingdom is usually a bad idea," Noel exined. "Unless the lycans under one pack are beyond a thousand members or have lesser packs under their control, they do not risk extermination, Your Majesty."


    "That indeed makes sense," Nichs said. "I suppose the strategy will be eliminating all of the smaller packs and preventing them from choosing a Lycan King, right?"


    "Yes—"


    Nichs suddenly charged in and went for a sweeping low kick, and he seeded to catch the Royal Lycan Hunter in surprise. This time, he made Noel fall off into the ground with a thud.


    "Unorthodox methods, Your Majesty." Noel chuckled. "Your chivalrous knights will call this dirty."


    Nichs smiled and offered him a hand. "It''s a good thing that I''m not with them then."


    The Royal Lycan Hunter blinked in shock and nced up at his king''s face. The slight cut that was on Nichs'' face was already gone.


    "Is there something on my face?" Nichs asked, unaware.


    "...No, Your Majesty." Noel slowly epted the king''s hand and stood up. "There''s nothing there."


    Noel was wondering if his eyes were ying tricks on him. Wasn''t the king injured earlier? Why did his wound disappear so quickly? As Nichs turned his back on him, the head of the Royal Lycan Hunter couldn''t help but stare at the king with confusion stered on his face.


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    From Missrealitybites:


    I miss Sophie''s and Lnd''s intimacy... Ahaha. A friend of mine, a fellow Webnovel author is reading this book, and herment made me feel over the moon. She said she loved the intimacy part between Lnd and Sophie, even the awkward one during their wedding night.


    This made me think about Sophie and Lnd again. I already told you that Sophie will recover and have Lnd''s child in the future. Now, I can''t wait to write more snusnu for them.. AHAHAHAHAHA. Hope I can deliver.


    By the way... THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you for giving this book so much support! I am really moved. Yourments, votes, gifts, and golden tickets help this book to get seen by new readers.


    I''ve been biting my nails since yesterday, waiting for the werewolf contest announcement. There are still no results. So, several hours ago, I asked the Webnovel staff about it.


    She told me due to so many unforeseen circumstances and the fact that the headquarters in China will celebrate the lunar new year for one week, the contest results announcement is postponed to mid-February or the end of February at thetest. So, still crossing fingers... ahahaha...