Broken Mate (MM) (COMPLETE)

Epilogue

Knox Williams

Ten Years Later

Today is Remi's tenth birthday. We're having a party at Zeke and Peyton's house. Willow and Ethan are 13 now, and we did end up having another baby. Rhys is 5 now, and he's a big daddy's boy.

He's on Xan's hip now, as he helps get the food organized.

My sister and her mate are here, her kids aren't. They're older now, and didn't want to come to a kids party. Which is fine.

Branson and Noah are sitting in the grass, talking. Layla and Callie decided they didn't want kids. Layla is an amazing beta, and we've gotten closer over the years. Callie is very sweet, and loves to babysit the boys and twins.

I'm helping Peyton move tables in the backyard. It doesn't take too long, and then we're sipping beers. Xan tries to give me Rhys, but it doesn't work. Rhys is showing signs of neurodivergent. He's too young to diagnose with anything, but we are expecting something along the lines.

One thing is, if he can't be with Xan he has meltdowns. He'll come to me on his own, but if he's passed off to me it's a shit show.

"I gotta pee" Xan huffs, "Just go to daddy for a minute baby"

Rhys shakes his head, clinging to Xan. "What if I hold you, and we go with daddy?" I offer, and he thinks about it for a second. Then he nods. I set my beer down, getting to my feet and grabbing Rhys.

He comes to me slowly, and he keeps his eyes locked on Xan. I follow behind him, and once we get to the bathroom we step inside. Xan uses the bathroom while I talk to our son.

"Are you having fun? Did you see the twins?" he nods, playing with the collar of my shirt. He's nonverbal right now, but it'll come with time. He has some stuff sometimes, but most of the time it's a nod or shake of the head.

Once Xan is done, and washes his hands Rhys makes grabby hands for him. He takes him, setting him on his hip and gives me a smile. "Thank you"

Xan still struggles with his mental health, it never goes away fully. But Remi and Rhys have helped with it. It makes him get out of bed.

A while later, Rhys is finally running around with Zeke. Peyton is bugging the twins, Branson is talking with Xan, and Remi and I are throwing a ball. It's one of our favorite things to do.

He isn't sporty, but we normally have some good conversations while we toss it.

"Having a good time?" I ask, throwing the ball to him. He catches it, throwing it back.

"Yeah, I love hanging out with the twins. They're fun. Can we have a sleepover?"

"We can ask Bran. I'm sure they won't care"

"What won't I care about?"

"E and Will having a sleepover with me!" Remi asks, giving his best pout.

"Hey you know i can't say no to that face" he squishes Remi's face, then kisses the top of his head. "Yeah if they want to, that's fine. I don't care"

"Yessss!" he tosses me the ball, then takes off.

"What's happening?" Xan asks Rhys on his hip again.

"Dada '' Rhys interrupts, making grabby hands for me. I take him, giving Xan a much needed break. He cuddles into me, running his fingers into the nape of my neck. He twirls the strands with his fingers and sucks on his thumb.

He's sleepy.

"The twins are gonna spend the night"

Right before we had Rhys, Xan and I bought a house in the gated community we live in. Bran and Noah still live in the pack house, but that's a given.

"Ah okay. I'm gonna go eat real quick while you" he tilts his head to Rhys, and i nod. I slowly bounce our son.

"How are things with him?" Bran asks, sipping his drink.

"They're good. We have an appointment in a couple weeks with a specialist. He's too young to be diagnosed with anything but they have medicines they want to try and give him to help with his behavioral issues. He does okay half the time, and the other half is hard. Like when we gave Remi his presents today, he lost it. But we aren't gonna not give Remi presents on his birthday "I shrug, and Rhys buries his face into my neck.

"Yeah that's true. Is it jealousy?"

"No, because he doesn't care about the presents. He just wanted to be held by Xan but Xan was helping Remi. It's hard for him I think. He doesn't really get a moment alone"

"Yeah I can see that," Bran chews on his lip.

"We love our boys though, and wouldn't change a thing" I rub Rhys back, but he's already asleep.

"We all love them" Bran smiles, and then he walks away. I hold our sleeping baby, while I walk around cleaning up. It's getting late, and we need to head home so Rhys can sleep in his bed.

I help as much as i can, and Xan gets to eat before he's helping too. Between us all things are cleaned up quickly, and then we're walking to our house. Our home isn't too far, it's pretty close to the pack house actually.

Once we get home, I get Rhys changed into his PJ's and in bed, then I find my mate. He's helping the kids get a movie set up in the living room. They get all comfy and then we're going to make them snacks, because they're always eating.

Xan is getting a snack tray ready when I come up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my chin on his shoulder. "Hey pretty angel" I murmured, placing a gentle kiss on his mark.

He smiles small, and shakes his head. "Hi babe"

I move closer, pressing our bodies together. "Long day. Our baby is 10"

"Yeah, and you're old," he smiles, and I pull back, turning him around. His arms go around my neck, and mine stay around his waist. "You're almost 42" he smiles small.

"Yeah okay you're almost 30 so" I smirk, and he shoves at my chest.

"I'm still young at heart"

"Oh yeah?" I bend down, hoisting him up and his legs around my waist. He squeaks, and grips onto my shoulders.

"You're gonna break your back old man" his smile never leaves his face, and it makes my heart thrive.

Because the same man I found covered in blood, is in my arms smiling like nothing could ever be wrong. My youngest kid is upstairs asleep, and my oldest just had one of the best days ever, according to him.

Everything in my life is falling into place. All because of my broken mate. 

.........

Ommmmmmg! I love this book. Which one is a favorite of the series? Have you read any from the series? What are your thoughts on Xan's little family? I love it. So happy for them and I love their story. 

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