"Anyway..." Nichs cleared his throat. "I am not an ungrateful man. Even though I still hate you for taking the woman I love, I am thankful for everything that you did for Sophie... and for Luciel and Jan."


    Nichs looked Lnd in the eye and spoke so sincerely. "You have protected the people I love. You epted them, cared for them and you even raised my sons as your own. I am forever indebted to you and I hope someday I could return the favor."


    Lnd''s heart was stirred. He didn''t feel that what he did was anything special. He did raise Luciel and Jan. So what? They were amazing kids and he loved them. Except for the fact that his blood didn''t run in their veins, they were as much as his just like little Anne and little Jack.


    However, as before, Lnd didn''t say anything. His focus was now on his wine cup as he continued sipping his wine nonchntly.


    "I have been thinking hard for the past few months," Nichs continued his words. "I realized that my chance to go back to being with Sophie is slim. I have wronged her and made so many mistakes that I know I don''t deserve her. While you.. on the other hand, have collected so many points that I don''t think I can ever catch up."


    Lnd was surprised to hear Nichs say those words. Did this mean Nichs was admitting defeat? He would stop pursuing Sophie?


    Nichs downed his wine and poured more from the jug into his cup. He had really thought about this and came to that decision. He loved Sophie so much that he knew he would never open his heart to another woman.


    However, now, he had to be realistic. Sophie was already married to Lnd for six years and built a good family together with him. What Nichs and Sophie had was left in the past.


    Six years was a long time and he had lost his chance when he left many years ago.


    It was also not fair to subject her to a stressful situation if Nichs insisted to stay in her life. He could see how it made her ufortable. From all angles, Nichs was in a bad spot.


    Now that he was older and more mature, he must understand that sometimes he just had to give up and take what he could get. He could not take back Sophie, but at least... he could still have a rtionship with Luciel and Jan.


    That was what he wanted to ask Lnd today.


    "I hope the babies are fine," Nichs said casually, referring to the babies Sophie gave birth to Lnd. He also could hear the heart beats when he met Sophie and could tell that there was more than one fetus in her womb. "You must be overjoyed."


    Lnd nodded very lightly. Nichs could see a glint in his eyes when his babies were mentioned. There were pride and warmth. This made Nichs know that he was touching the right spot. Perhaps, now that Lnd already had his biological children, he could be more sympathetic to Nichs''s situation.


    If he were in Nichs'' shoes, would he not try to make up for what happened and make the effort to have a rtionship with his own children?


    "They must be adorable," Nichs smiled. "I missed the birth of mine and the first six years of their lives. I envy you."


    He was telling the truth, but this time there was no hint of resentment. He was merely stating facts.


    Lnd put down his wine cup and looked at Nichs carefully. The Alpha was wondering what exactly the man before him wanted from him.


    "I really want to make up for what happened, and be there for my sons from now on," Nichs didn''t beat around the bush. "Tell me what I need to do to have that opportunity again."


    Lnd was still silent.


    Nichs added, "I will do anything for them. I just want to be in my children''s lives. I want them to know that I, their father, love them, even though I failed them in the past, I won''t fail them again."


    He couldn''t help but be emotional. He remembered how cold his father was toward him. There was no warmth, there was no love, and sometimes he questioned why was he brought into this world?


    Nichs didn''t want his children to experience the same thing, feeling rejected by their own father. He didn''t know if Lnd and Sophie told the boys that their biological father was still alive or if he was dead, but no matter what, sooner orter the truth would prevail and they would know that Nichs was still alive.


    "My father was distant and we didn''t have a real rtionship," Nichs exined. He smiled bitterly. "He was the reason I was a lousy husband and father. I was too busy proving myself to him, to gain his eptance and approval, that I hated myself so badly. I was too focused on getting rid of the lycanthropy so I could be human again - because my father hated lycans. All at the expense of my family: Sophie and my children."


    "I am a different man now. If I could turn back time, I would surely make different choices. I would make sure to be there for them," Nichs sighed. He took his wine cup and downed his wine. "I think you should understand what I mean."


    Lnd still didn''t say anything but he did understand what Nichs was trying to say. He actually appreciated that Nichs was sharing this with him. Perhaps, deep inside, because Lnd loved Luciel and Jan, he, too, didn''t want them to feel rejected by their biological father.


    Knowing that Nichs truly loved them, and not only used them to get back together with Sophie made Lnd grow a bit of respect for Nichs.


    Hearing how Nichs didn''t have a good rtionship with his own father, Lnd was reminded of his own experience with his father, Alpha Leon.


    It looked like he and Nichs had more things inmon than what they let on.