The King's Wife Is The Alpha's Mate

"What happened?" Nicholas asked, looking at Sophie with compassion in his eyes.

"It's okay," Sophie said. She was reluctant to tell Nicholas about her problem because she didn't want to be taken to the palace.

"Is that true?" Nicholas took a step closer. "Then why are your eyes puffy? Why are you so pale and what are you doing with the kids on a night like this? Where are you going?"

Sophie was silent, not knowing what to say to answer Nicholas' question. She finally could only look down while holding back her tears.

Seeing Sophie like that, Nicholas clenched his fists. "So it's true? Leland broke up with you?"

Sophie was stunned and looked at Nicholas questioningly. She was surprised to hear Nicholas' words. How did the man know this?

"I know it all," Nicholas said.

"How do you know?"

"That doesn't matter." Nicholas' face was serious. He didn't know the reason why Leland broke up with Sophie but right now he was annoyed that Leland abandoned Sophie and his children like this. Leland even abandoned his own two babies.

"Now, let's go to the palace," Nicholas said.

"No thanks. I can't come with you."

"Then where are you going? Where are you going to live?"

"I'm going to rent a house. I still have savings to support me and the kids for a few months, then I'm going to work or open my business."

Nicholas looked at Sophie deeply. The memory of the past returned to him. Many years ago when he met Sophie in Hastings, he asked her what her dream was. She told him she wanted to open a tavern. He promised to help her get a loan so she could have her business.

He always admired her resilience and her hard-working attitude. No matter how bad things got, she always found ways to survive. The memory was followed by more memories of their past together. He always regretted the fact that he couldn't give her a good life. He even added to her misery, even though he did it unintentionally.

No... he would never let her have a hard life again. Not during his lifetime. He had promised himself to make up for everything that happened in the past. He would not let Sophie suffer again.

"I can't let you stay out there alone let alone with the kids," Nicholas touched Sophie's shoulder gently. "I beg you, Sophie, come with me."

"I'm sorry. I can't."

When Nicholas was at a loss for persuading Sophie to come with him, Max walked over to them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, my lady. If I may give a suggestion. You better go with King Nicholas. Luna and I know that there are many lycans from the pack members who don't like you. Currently, you and the children are no longer protected by Alpha Leland. They may take this opportunity to vent their years of resentment on you," said Max sympathetically, but firmly.

He added, "You and the children are not safe outside. Besides, if you stay in the palace, baby Anne and Jack can get good care from the palace doctors. If you are outside you won't be able to get medical treatment for them," said Max .

Max did this for Jan and Luciel's sake. He loved the two boys. All this time Leland assigned him and Duncan to supervise and look after the two children. Because of that, he became close to them, and he loved them both like his own nephews. According to him, the safest place for them was the royal palace.

As for Anne and Jack, Max felt Nicholas wouldn't mind taking them in as well. Didn't Leland take his sons in many years ago and raised them during his absence? It was only fair if Nicholas did the same thing now.

"Are your babies still sick?" Nicholas' forehead frowned as he asked Sophie.

The woman nodded slowly.

"Then you must come with me to the palace. I will ask the royal doctor to treat them."

Max's words helped Nicholas tremendously in persuading Sophie to come with him to the palace.  Meanwhile, Sophie was considering Nicholas' offer. She remembered the healer  who had given up on treating Anne and Jack. Now the two babies were slightly better but they were still very weak.

The royal family had the best doctors in Riga, maybe their treatment could help cure Anne and Jack.  For the sake of the healing of the two babies, Sophie finally nodded in agreement.

She would do anything as long as her children were safe.

Nicholas smiled happily. He then turned to Max.

"From now on they are my responsibility," he said.  Max nodded then approached the carriage to say goodbye to Jan and Luciel.

"Hi, boys." He lowered his head and peered through the carriage window.

"Uncle Max." The two children looked at him while holding their younger siblings. They knew that the current situation was a farewell so they looked at their Uncle Max sadly.

Max smiled warmly.

"Don't be so sad. We're not separated forever. We just don't see each other again every day. If I have free time, I'll visit you guys," he said then reached out and gently ruffled the two children's hair.

Too bad Duncan wasn't here, if he was, he would've been crying.

"Take care of yourselves," he said, smiling and straightening his back.

"I hope you take good care of them." He looked at Nicholas.

"That's for sure. Thanks for your help, I won't forget it," Nicholas said and Max nodded slowly then turned to look at Sophie.

"Excuse me, Luna."

"Thank you, Max."

Max nodded again slowly then sped away from the place towards the Blood River Pack base.  After Max left, Nicholas asked Sophie to re-enter the carriage while he took Max's place in the driver's seat.

While keeping the horses running, he repeatedly smiled. Thinking Sophie and her children would live in his palace made Nicholas feel very happy. Even though, on the one hand, he felt that it was not right for him to feel happy about Sophie leaving Blood River Pack to stay with him.

It was as if he was happy while Sophie was suffering.

Time passed and they arrived at the palace when it was almost midnight. Queen Marianne who had been worried for hours because Nicholas had suddenly disappeared, immediately came out shortly after she received news from the maid that the king had returned.

When the queen went outside, she was surprised to see her two grandchildren who had just stepped out of the carriage, followed by Sophie.

Queen Marianne was confused but she felt happy to see her two grandchildren were here. She immediately approached them. "Jan, Luciel you guys here?"

She came over and rubbed the heads of the two children who were holding their younger siblings. The queen then looked at Nicholas and Sophie who had just finished unloading her luggage from the carriage.

"Nick, what happened?" The queen asked.

"I'll tell you later. Let them rest first," Nicholas said.

Queen Marianne nodded in understanding then led Jan and Luciel and Sophie into the palace.

While inside, she ordered the maids to escort Sophie, Jan, and Luciel to their respective rooms.

"Um, Grandma, we want to be with mom and our siblings," Jan said then turned to Luciel and Luciel nodded in agreement.

The two children did not want to leave their mother alone. They would help their mother look after Anne and Jack even though there were maids who would help, they still wanted to take care of their little siblings.

"Can we stay together?" Luciel looked up at Queen Marianne and Queen Marianne nodded in agreement.

"Of course, honey," the old queen nodded. She approached Sophie and talked to her. "How are you, Lady Sophia?"

Sophie forced a smile and curtsey to the queen.

"I am fine, Your Grace," she said. She turned to look at Nicholas who walked toward them. She spoke to him politely. "Thank you for having us, Your Majesty."

Nicholas didn't want Sophie to call him using honorifics, but he couldn't say anything because they were surrounded by many other people. So, he only nodded. "You better rest and we can talk about details tomorrow."

"Thank you," Sophie said again.

"Have you all eaten?" Nicholas asked. He motioned his butler to come and made food for Sophie and her children. He assumed they had not eaten anything for that day.

Sophie only nodded her head. "I am fine, Your Majesty."

"Okay then. You better rest. I will have the butler and servants to help you all settle in."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness," Sophie curtseyed to Nicholas. The butler and maids came to help Sophie with her luggage and her children. They were taken to their old room when they visited the palace the last time.

Sophie immediately fell asleep after she nursed her babies. She felt physically and mentally exhausted. Luciel and Jan transformed into their wolf forms and slept around Sophie who was hugging her pups. Luciel's and Jan's fur provided their mother with warmth. Sophie no longer cried in her sleep.