Chapter 16

Rory’s POV

"We have a numbers advantage, Riley," Robbie said, his voice dripping with a cruel sort of playfulness. "There are five of us. That means five different men taking their time with her, breaking her in, and filling her with as many pups as we can manage."

He didn't stop there. He let his eyes travel down, mocking the space between Riley’s legs with a sharp, pointed stare.

"By the time we get bored of her, decades will have passed. I seriously doubt you will even be capable of performing by then."

I stepped up beside him, my jaw tight. "And let is be clear. We do not share. Not with outsiders. What belongs to us stays within our circle," I said. It tasted like ash to call that woman ours, even in a threat.

Riley let out a dry, hacking laugh after a moment of silence. "Yours? That sounds familiar. I remember another girl who used to belong to you. My brother spent quite a lot of time with her. By the time he was done, she couldn't even remember your names."

The air in the room turned brittle. We all knew exactly who he meant. Rilla. The mention of her name was like a fresh blade to an old scar. That betrayal from six years ago still burned in the back of our throats, and Riley was happy to twist the knife.

"I can still hear her," Riley continued, his lips curling into a sick grin. "She used to scream for him to go harder. She was a desperate little thing. One afternoon, she came looking for him when he was out. I had her on her floor instead. She didn't hesitate to please me. I would have finished the job right then if my brother hadn't walked in and ruined the fun."

One of Riley’s brothers, a blond man with a sneer fixed on his face, finally spoke up. "Wasn't she the one who sold out your pack’s secrets? I wonder if she is still busy serving men or if someone finally put her out of her misery."

"It makes no difference," Riley said, standing up and smoothing out his coat. His voice went flat and casual again. "Women like that are for use and disposal. Think about my offer. If you refuse, don't be surprised when this new girl brings another internal collapse to your home."

Robbie didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, stopping inches from Riley’s face. His words came out like shards of ice. "Who do you think you are talking to? That girl got exactly what she deserved. You should keep your hands to yourself and your pathetic plans in the dirt where they belong. If you cross us again, you will be joining your dead family in the ground."

Riley tilted his head, acting like the threat didn't move him at all. "We will see. For now, you should probably go check on your toy. Royal is good, but he might not be enough if someone decides to steal her away."

He turned on his heel and walked out. His brothers followed, their laughter echoing down the hall.

Ripley stood up the second they were gone, his face a mask of rage. Riley had found our collective nerve and stepped on it.

"We are leaving. Now," Philip ordered. There was no room for debate.

We all moved as one. The logic was simple and dark. We might despise the woman back at the house, but she was our property. Whether we chose to hurt her, use her, or end her, it was our choice. No one else got a turn.

I reached my car and drove like a man possessed. Speed was the only thing that calmed my pulse. I loved the way the engine roared, drowning out the intrusive thoughts of Riley’s smug face.

On the drive, Robbie called Royal to tell him to lock the place down. Ripley was already on his phone with the security detail, ensuring the perimeter was a fortress.

When we screeched through the main gates and came to a stop, the house looked quiet. There were no signs of a struggle or a breach. Royal met us at the front door. He had his arms crossed over his chest, looking bored.

"Everything is fine," Royal said, looking at Philip. "That man was just trying to get under your skin with talk."

Philip didn't say anything. He just stared at Royal through a haze of anger and leftover alcohol. It wasn't about the woman. It was about Royal. We had lost too many people already. We couldn't lose a brother. Royal was part of the bond. He was a piece of us.

Once Ripley finished double-checking the guards and the sensors, we finally went inside. The moment I walked into the main room, I stopped and wrinkled my nose.

"What is that?" I snapped.

Royal looked at me, confused. "What is what?"

"I can smell her from here," I said, my irritation boiling over. "Did you really have to bring her into the main house? It smells like a cage in here."

"You will adjust," Royal said firmly. "After what Riley said, I want her where we can see her. Unless you want to walk her over to his house yourself."

The room went silent. He was right, and we hated it.

"I should have killed that man years ago," Robbie growled, sinking into a chair. "We should have finished him when we took out his brother."

"Killing is too quick," Ripley said. His voice was low and dangerous. A sharp, mean smile spread across his face. "He’s upset because he never got his chance to use her? Fine. Let’s show him what he is missing."

"What are you planning, Ripley?" Royal asked.

Ripley leaned over the table, his eyes shining with a dark light.

"We record it. All five of us. We show him exactly how we use a pureblood. We send the video to him so he can watch what he can't have."

He let out a short, cold chuckle.

"And later, we send him photos of the pups she carries for us. Imagine his face. He let a pureblood slip through his fingers because he was too stupid to realize what she was. He will live with that regret forever."

A heavy silence settled over the room. We all turned to Philip. He was the one who made the final calls.

"Do it," Philip said. His voice was like a hammer. Riley had pushed him too far.

Ripley turned to Royal. "Is she ready? Is she in good enough shape to be used?"

Royal sighed, looking tired. "She is nearly dead, Ripley. Do you want a video of a girl or a corpse?"

"How long until she recovers?" Ripley asked, ignoring the sarcasm.

"A week, maybe," Royal said. He didn't look happy about it, but his loyalty was to us. "If you want to get a reaction out of Riley, she needs to look healthy. It’s more effective if she looks like she’s worth wanting."

Ripley gave a sharp nod. "It won't just be me. We are all doing this."

Royal looked at him for a long beat, then finally nodded back. "Fine. I’m in."