"Witches are just like lycans and humans. There are good and bad people among them," Lnd exined as a matter of factly. His words made Sophie smile sheepishly. She knew he was right and immediately regretted asking the question.


    Of all people, she should know better that there were good and bad people in all races and ns. She was half human and half lycan who was raised among humans and witnessed how they misunderstood lycans and considered them as monsters.


    On the other hand, now that she lived among lycans, she could see how much they hated humans for all the bad things that thete king of Riga and his Royal Lycan Hunters had done in the past, hunting them and killing the lycans out of hatred.


    When in reality, there were many humans who were good and didn''t see lycans as the enemy. Her father was a good example. She should realize that witches were also like that. They had good and bad people.


    So, what kind of witch was Eloise in Lnd''s eyes, she was wondering.


    "You told me you have an old friend, a witch," Sophie looked at Lnd attentively, trying to sound like she was just asking this in passing and didn''t really need an answer. "What''s her name again? Eloise, I think. She must be a good witch for her to be your friend. Where is she now?"


    Lnd shrugged. "I haven''t kept in touch with her for years. I think she is now in Armeria."


    "Oh.. isn''t Armeria now ruled over by the Obsidian Sand Pack?" Sophie had heard about this months ago before they moved back to Riga and now she was wondering if Eloise was still safe in Armeria.


    "Yes," Lnd replied. "She is the luna of that pack."


    "Oh..." Sophie pressed her lips in surprise. This made her feel somewhat relieved. It''s not that she was jealous of the other woman. She could tell that Lnd only loved her. However, she remembered how much Isolde was speaking so highly about Eloise when she came to visit them five years ago, Sophie felt slight difort.


    Knowing that her mother-inw favored another woman to be with Lnd, and the fact that Eloise was close to her husband when they were young, Sophie felt a bit worried that Eloise might be a problem in her life with Lnd.


    What if Eloise had a crush on Lnd? It was very likely because... which woman wouldn''t be attracted to him? Especially if they knew his real appearance.


    So, now, hearing that Eloise was already married, Sophie felt a slight relief. "So, she married the Alpha of the Obsidian Pack."


    "Yes."


    "You went to the Alpha meeting almost every year, except for the past three years," Sophie said. "Did you meet the Alpha of the Obsidian Sand Pack?"


    Lnd nodded. "Yeah. He is a useless man. He was actually married to my cousin, but he was so useless, he couldn''t even protect his mate. She died after being attacked by a stranger."


    Even though Lnd''s expression stayed t, Sophie could feel his anger. His veins appeared on the back of his hands. It seemed, he was holding back his anger, so he didn''t make her feel scared.


    "Oh.. I didn''t know that." Sophie didn''t even know Lnd had a cousin. The man really didn''t like talking about his family and Sophie only heard bits and pieces when they talked. She was wondering who else from his family that was still alive. What about his mother?


    "It''s nothing important," Lnd exined. "You will know stuff if they are important and useful."


    He was trying to say that none of his family members were worth mentioning. He was not close with his cousin, so her life and death didn''t really affect him. Now, Sophie realized Lnd''s anger was more to do with the Alpha of Obsidian Sand Pack being a useless man.


    "So, you and Eloise have stoppedmunicating?" Sophie asked Lnd casually. She was happy that Eloise was married. So, she could just continue to ask about her in passing.


    "Lycans are extremely prideful and jealous creatures," Lnd looked at Sophie and smiled. "I will not have a rtionship with another Alpha''s mate, not even friendship."


    Sophie batted her eyes when she heard his words. So, this also applied to their own rtionship. Lnd must not want Sophie to have a rtionship with another man, not even a friendship.


    That''s why he was so adamant not wanting to let Nichs have a rtionship with his children that Lnd raised. Because... that would mean, Nichs would also have a rtionship with Sophie by extension.


    And now that Nichs had been so open about his feelings for Sophie, the situation became worse. Sophiepletely understood her mate now. Even though she wished things could have been different, she didn''t want to force her will on Lnd and demand him to ept Nichs into their children''s life.


    Ahh... this was all soplicated.


    However, knowing that Lnd didn''t have any more rtionship whatsoever with Eloise, made Sophie feel happy. She had never met the witch and was not interested in doing so.


    "Hmm..." She leaned her head on his broad chest and yawned. "I am always happy if we have this talk before bed."


    Lnd had started talking considerably moretely, much to her delight. She thought, slowly she could get to know more about what he was thinking and what he was feeling. Of course, it was all because of her patience and consistent efforts.


    "Sleep?" Lnd asked her gently.


    Sophie nodded. "Hmm..."


    <o>,m ***</o>


    Sophie pretended not to know that Katherine was a witch. She thought it was better to wait until the teacher opened up to her on her own. In the meantime, she was just happy to have another woman in the castle that she could rte with.


    Katherine started teaching Luciel and Jan five days a week. She was free on the sixth and seventh day to do whatever she wanted. The study seemed to be working well too.


    The boys initially didn''t like studying. They preferred to run around and hunt, but Katherine was really skilled in convincing them to sit still and enjoy learning simple maths or history lessons.


    Sophie was so impressed when she took a peek into the ssroom to find her usually rowdy son, Luciel, was sitting calmly and working on a simple math problem seriously.


    She had taught them everything she knew but now that she was heavily pregnant, Sophie didn''t have the energy to do any activities that would make her tired. So, it was good to see that her sons were learning things from a real teacher.


    Jan seemed to actually enjoy studying. He was more attentive than Luciel and Katherine told Sophie that secretly, Jan was her favorite student ever. Sophie was very happy with the situation and her happiness was what really mattered to Lnd.


    He had received the results of the background check he asked Lucas to do. Katherine''s mother and sister did pass away and she had to raise her nieces in a small vige near Giza. There was nothing special about her past that made Lnd feel suspicious.


    Thus, time flew by in peace. Two weeks passed and now it was time for Sophie to give birth to her pups.


    ***


    "You can do it," said the midwife encouragingly while holding Sophie''s right hand. Her other hand was held so tightly by the Alpha, her mate. Even though Lnd''s expression still looked calm, beads of sweat had rolled down his temple, showing his inner nervousness.


    He stayed with Sophie when she gave birth to Luciel and Jan and it was the most incredible experience he had with his wife, but now, these were his own flesh and blood that he would wee to the world.


    He couldn''t help but panic and hope things were going to be okay. Her miscarriage had always ced a dark cloud over his head whenever he thought about having more children with Sophie.


    They even avoided pregnancy for years, because she was too weak to carry babies. However, now the time had finallye.


    Sophie was crying without a sound. She felt so much pain all over her body. She already gave birth before so the birth canal was supposed to be opened by now. Most women she knew told her that the second or third birth would be easier than the first. However, she didn''t believe them now. This pain... was so great that she felt like shouting and screaming, but she didn''t want to scare her mate and sons.


    They would think she was dying. Lnd would be scared to death, she thought. He would be reminded of the moment when... they lost Morgan and Emery.


    "You can scream, Luna," said the midwife, when she felt Sophie''s grip on her hand be so much tighter. "Just let it go..."


    Sophie looked at her with pursed lips and shook her head. "I-I''m fine...."


    She saw Lnd from the corner of her eye. The man was trying to show that he was calm too. His grip on her hand loosened. He cleared his throat and coaxed her gently, "I am fine. You can scream."


    He knew she was worried about him if she scream. He could feel her pain and it broke his heart.


    "No..." Sophie bit her lip. "I will just..."


    "PUSH!" the midwife told her.


    "Push... yes..." Sophie closed her eyes and pushed her baby with all her might. She felt like she was breaking ten bones at the same time. It was so painful. She felt something pass through her vagina and suddenly she felt relieved.


    "One is out!" The midwife cried. "It''s a female pup."