Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 653

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.

just like his dad, Rhys only had

I walked him

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

are for babies!” Rosie squealed.

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

onto the floor. I sat up, releasing Rosie

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

birthright. Lena had taken her to the temple of the White Queens in Winter Forest during our

being honest. Alexis looked up at Lena and I think, at least I thought, she saw her mother for what

be starting to feel the weight

were for those of us who were fortunate, or

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

So many

we were

closely as I shifted my weight and crossed my legs, motioning for

it

down next to me on the carpet. “She lets

why Mom and I have to

like Grandpa and Grandma,” she said, toying with the fringe on the end of the carpet. “And be queens and kings, like in

me, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes.

and be a queen like Mommy one

wall. Pictures of our family lined the walls, interwoven with their drawings

you want to,” I said