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.