Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 153 : I Love You, Mate

*Xander*

Seven Years After Their Wedding

“No," I said firmly as I shrugged off my jacket. I tossed it over the side of one of the chairs in the breakfast nook

nestled in our private kitchen, which was currently full of cooking smells, toys, and screaming children.

Lena arched her brows as she stirred a pot of stew, her hair tied in a large, messy bun on the top of her head.

“What do you mean, no?" she replied with a smug laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief and excitement.

Alexis darted between my legs, and I almost tripped over her as I made my way toward the kitchen island, laying

my palms flat on the surface.

“Lena," I said slowly, flexing my jaw as a scream pierced the air. Alexis, who was now seven, and Jaqueline, her six-

year-old sister, were currently holding Rosie, who was five, down on the rug and tickling her while our sweet,

amiable two-year-old daughter Daphne stood by and watched, her mouth twisted in a mischievous smile around

her thumb.

That's right, we had four daughters. And we had a son, Rhys, who was currently clutching Lena's shirt so tightly his

knuckles were turning white as he eyed his sisters. We'd just returned from the Realm of Light after celebrating

Rhys's first birthday with Lena's family, and judging by the look of the wing of the castle designated for our private

use, none of the children had adjusted to life back at home after being spoiled by their grandparents for two

months.

“What are we supposed to do with another one?" I said through gritted teeth, Lena rolled her eyes, pressing one of

Rhys's ears to her chest while she covered the other with her hand.

“You should have thought of that," she whispered, “before you knotted me that night we spent in Avondale!"

I ran my tongue along the inside of my lower lip, fixing her with a playful glare. I remembered that night well, very

well. How could I possibly forget?

Especially since nine months from that night, we would have an everlasting reminder of our late night romp on one

of the private beaches in the Isles of Denali.

I relaxed my shoulders, huffing a breath as I pointed my finger at her. “This is the last one, okay?"

“You said that after we got pregnant with Daphne," she laughed, shifting Rhys to her other hip.

“Well, I mean it this time," I said, extending my hands toward Rhys so I could give his mother a break for a moment.

Rhys eyed me skeptically like he always did when Lena was also in the room. When it was just the two of us, or us

and all of his sisters, he was fine. But Rhys was my spitting image to the point I was almost convinced that none of

Lena's DNA had mixed in with mine to create our son. It was sometimes frightening how much he looked like me,

like looking decades back in time every time I looked into his eyes. He had black, softly curling hair and even darker

eyes, flaked with crimson and amber. He was going to be tall and lean, which was evident already.

And, just like his dad, Rhys only had eyes for Lena.

He reluctantly leaned into my arms but snapped his head toward Lena as I walked him over to where the girls were

now wrestling on the carpet.

We'd designed this wing of the castle to suit the needs of our family and Lena's desires to be as hands-on with our

children as possible. It was a large “house" within the castle's walls, situated inside the left side of the castle, with

several large bedrooms and a kitchen that was open to an informal dining room and living room.

Alexis, Jacqueline, and Rosie shared a room, while Daphne and Rhys shared another room right next door. The

entire area was filled with children's toys, and the walls were littered with drawings and paintings. Neither of us had

the heart to throw any of their art away, so we hung everything up wherever we could find the space.

Other areas of the castle were starting to show the signs of young children living within the walls. On my way to our

family's wing, I'd picked up an armful of toys that had been left out in a long trail from one side of the castle to the

other, leading from my office all the way to our quarters.

One of the maids was carrying a tricycle when I passed her in the hallway, and two more were admiring a colorful

mural made with chalk that roped around a curved corridor. Upon closer inspection, the mural had been a picture

of our family, including every maid and servant we had on staff.

There was a time when this castle was cast in a shadow of darkness and mystery. It was almost unrecognizable

now, every darkened corner now bursting with light and life.

Daphne wrapped herself around my leg, and I dragged her over to where the older girls had each other in

chokeholds on the carpet. Alexis, Rosie, and Rhys all looked like me with their dark hair, but Daphne and Jaqueline

favored Lena's family. Jaqueline's copper blonde curls reminded me of Maeve, and Daphne's straight golden locks

were about as close as any of the kids were going to get to Lena's white hair.

I dumped Rhys on the couch and scooped Daphne up by her ankles, dangling her upside down before tossing her

next to her brother. The older girls began to try to wrestle me, but I was the one who had taught them all of their

moves.

“We're out of bandages, and I'm not walking anyone down to the infirmary tonight," Lena warned from the kitchen

over the sound of running water. I had Rosie and Jaqueline pinned beneath me, and Alexis was on my back with her

arms wrapped around my shoulders.

“Daddy says bandages are for babies!" Rosie squealed. Lena looked in my direction, her eyes narrowed.

“I did not," I growled, tickling the little girl mercilessly. I looked up and watched Rhys slide off the couch, looking

over his shoulder at the fray and giving me a devilish smirk before waddling back over to his mother, who likely had

free hands for the first time today.

“Is Ava coming over?" Alexis asked, rolling off my back and onto the floor. I sat up, releasing Rosie and Jaqueline

and watching as they scurried off around the corner into their bedroom.

“Mom and I have an event tonight," I said to Alexis, who looked slightly disappointed. She was starting to realize

there was more to Lena and me than just being Mom and Dad. We were still Alpha King and Luna Queen of Egoren,

and while we had the freedom, and desire, for our kids to just be kids for as long as they could, it wouldn't stop

reality from creeping into our home, and their lives.

Alexis was a White Queen, and as the first-born female, that title was her birthright. Lena had taken her to the

temple of the White Queens in Winter Forest during our latest trip, and she'd stood with her mother as Rosalie,

Maeve, and Lena posed for a very special picture.

Four generations of Queens stood in front of that altar. It was a sight to behold, if I was being honest. Alexis looked

up at Lena and I think, at least I thought, she saw her mother for what she was for the first time.

And I worried that Alexis might be starting to feel the weight of that birthright, even at only six years old.

Was this just the way things were for those of us who were fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to carry these titles?

I looked over at Lena, who had her back turned to us as she continued preparing dinner for the children. I rose onto

my knees so I could look over the top of the couch, catching a glimpse of Rhys as he pulled a few pots out of a

lower cabinet in the kitchen.

So many children. So many little royals.

And we were having a sixth.

I turned to Alexis, who was watching me closely as I shifted my weight and crossed my legs, motioning for her to

come forward.

“I thought you liked it when Ava came over?"

“I do like it," Alexis shrugged, sitting down next to me on the carpet. “She lets us read her magazines."

One of the maids was carrying a tricycle when I passed her in the hallway, and two more were admiring a colorful

mural made with chalk that roped around a curved corridor. Upon closer inspection, the mural had been a picture

of our family, including every maid and servant we had on staff.

“Do you understand why Mom and I have to go out tonight?"

“You have to dress up in your costumes and be like Grandpa and Grandma," she said, toying with the fringe on the

end of the carpet. “And be queens and kings, like in our storybooks."

“You are correct," I replied, nudging her with my shoulder. She smiled up at me, but I could see the disappointment

in her eyes. “We're going to come back. It's just for the night. We'll be home before you wake up for school."

“Will I have to get dressed up and be a queen like Mommy one day?"

I paused, letting out my breath as I shifted my gaze toward the far wall. Pictures of our family lined the walls,

interwoven with their drawings and dried flowers hanging in frames.

“Only if you want to," I said as I looked back at Alexis.

“Dada," Rhys said somewhere behind me, and I turned to look up at Lena, who was standing nearby, her eyes

glimmering with silent tears, a look of relief, understanding, and love playing over her face.

***

*Lena*

Xander unzipped the evening gown I'd worn to the Gala at the Temple of Lycaon, which had been an extremely loud

and busy affair. Alphas from all over the realm had been in attendance, and my throat was dry from talking for

what felt like hours.

I shrugged out of my dress, sighing with relief as the fabric slid down over my waist and thighs into a puddle on the

floor. Xander's arms came around my waist, his lips brushing over my shoulder as he pulled me against him.

“Xander…" I breathed, closing my eyes against his touch.

“Hmm?"

“It's two in the morning!"

“And the kids are asleep, and we're alone."

His hands moved up my belly to my breasts, which were swollen and aching from the new, still very early

pregnancy. His hands were cool against my heated skin, and I sighed with relief as they slid beneath my bra.

“You looked beautiful tonight," he whispered against my neck. A shiver of pleasure ran up my spine as he kissed the

space just behind my ear.

Based on the low growl in his throat, I gathered that if I hadn't already been pregnant, he would've definitely gotten

me pregnant tonight, of that I was sure.

The fact that we had five children and one on the way wasn't entirely my fault. We just couldn't keep our hands off

of each other, and that apparently led to lots and lots of kids running around.

It wasn't always easy. I'd been juggling my responsibilities as the Luna Queen with small children at home in a realm

that was totally new to me. Different customs, different expectations, different beliefs.... It had been a rocky

transition, to say the least.

But there was nothing in my life that I was more proud of than how far Xander and I had come in the past seven

years. I thought of those early days in Crimson Creek often, those days when we had loved each other from that

very first moment we looked into each other's eyes, but felt like there was no way our lives could ever interconnect.

Those days when I thought I was incapable of having a mate, and I had wondered if I'd ever have the opportunity to

just be Lena, and not Selene, the Moon Goddess.

But here I was, standing in the bedroom I shared with my mate and father of my children while he turned me

around to face him as he laid me on our bed and began to take off the tuxedo he was wearing.

He didn't break from my gaze, not once. Hunger and sheer animalistic desire flashed behind his eyes as he

practically launched himself onto the bed, naked as the day he was born, and covered me with his body.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him in for a deep kiss.

“I love you, mate," he whispered, his breath a rasp as his mouth hovered over mine.

“I love you, too."