Chapter 9

Philip’s POV

"Eat first," I said, cutting through the noise of their bickering. "We have a long day ahead."

We moved to the dining room in a loose pack. The table was heavy, expensive, and usually quiet, but the air felt charged this morning. Royal didn't even wait for the coffee to be poured before he leaned in.

"Philip, we have a security gap at the hospital," Royal said. He was always the one thinking three steps ahead. "The rumors are already moving. People know we found a pureblood. If we leave her sitting there without a guard, someone is going to snatch her."

Ripley let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "Let them try. Anyone with half a brain knows what happens when they touch our property."

"A pureblood isn't just property, Ripley. She is a prize," Royal countered. His voice was flat and hard. "Packs have burned entire cities to the ground over a female like that. Philip, don't be careless with this."

I stared at my plate. I didn't want to think about her. The mere thought of that girl made my skin crawl. If it were up to me, someone could take her, use her, and discard her, and I wouldn't lose a wink of sleep. She could spend the rest of her life as a breeding slave for all I cared.

But then I thought of Rosamund.

Everything came back to Rosamund. If I lost the girl, I lost Rosamund’s cure.

"Ripley, Robbie, get it done," I muttered.

Ripley grinned, though there was no warmth in it. "Fine. Now that we have the little rat back, I'll make sure she stays put. I'm not finished with her yet."

We worked like a machine. I led the Iron-Vail Pack, but I didn't do it alone. My four brothers were the gears that kept the empire turning. Royal and I handled the money and the business. Ripley and Robbie were the teeth, managing the violence and the security.

Then there was Rory. He was the wildcard. He only stepped in when he was bored or when the rest of us were about to fail.

"I don't want her breathing the same air as us," Robbie said, his voice tight with disgust. "Find somewhere else for her to stay once the doctors are done. She isn't setting foot in this house."

"Put her in the stables," Ripley suggested. He tapped his fingers on the table. "The horses might hate the smell of a stray, but it’s the only place that fits."

Robbie nodded. "The stables work. Easy to guard, easy to keep her out of sight."

The stables were at the far edge of the estate. We spent a lot of time there with our horses, so it was secure, but it was a far cry from a guest room. It was exactly what she deserved.

"So, who's going to be the first one to claim the prize?" Rory asked. He had that mocking glint in his eyes again. He loved watching us squirm. "Don't look at me. The scent of her makes me want to gag. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole."

I looked at the others. The goal was clear. We needed heirs, and we needed to save Rosamund. One of us had to do it.

"Pass," Robbie said, holding up his hands. "The only thing I want to do with her involves my toolkit and a very long night of questions."

Ripley leaned back, his lip curling. "She's probably rotting from the inside out after being on the run. I'm not interested. Use her for medical trials. Let the scientists have her."

My eyes landed on Royal. He was the one who actually wanted a family. He was the one who talked about legacy and sons.

Royal didn't flinch. "Don't even think about it, Philip. This is for Rosamund, which makes it your burden. If it were any other woman, I’d be in. But not her. Never her."

Rory let out a soft, knowing chuckle. "Well, Philip. We got the blood work back. You know what has to happen."

I didn't answer. There was nothing to say. We all knew the price of Rosamund's life.

We finished and headed out to the driveway. The servants wouldn't enter the house until we were gone. They knew the rules.

Royal and I climbed into one car. We had to hit the hospital before going to the office. The other three piled into a separate SUV. They were heading to see Robin. He ran the biggest club in the city and always had a rotating door of women available when the brothers needed to blow off steam.

"You two should come find us later," Ripley shouted through the window. "Once you're tired of looking at that bitch's face, come have some real fun."

I ignored him and pulled away. My mind was a straight line leading to Rosamund.

When we reached the hospital, I went straight to the private wing. I left Royal downstairs to coordinate with Romilly and handle the logistics of our prisoner.

The room was quiet, smelling of antiseptic and expensive flowers. Rosamund was propped up in bed, her eyes fixed on the television. A nurse was adjusting her IV drip. When I walked in, Rosamund’s face lit up, a small, tired smile touching her lips.

She used to be radiant. Now, she looked like a shadow. She was fading, her strength being sapped away by a sickness that shouldn't have been there.

It was all Rilla’s fault.

"Philip," Rosamund whispered. Her voice was thin. "I was hoping you'd come."

I sat in the chair by her bed and took her hand. "I stopped by last night, but you were out cold."

"I tried to stay awake," she said. "The meds are just so heavy."

I squeezed her fingers. They felt like brittle twigs. "I have news. We found a pureblood. Everything is going to change now. You’re going to get healthy again."

She looked at me, and for a second, I saw a flash of guilt in her eyes.

"Philip, I know how you feel about other people," she said softly. "I know you hate being forced into this. But you have to do it. For us. I'm so sorry it has to be this way."

I didn't have the heart to tell her the truth. She thought I’d been a monk for the last six years, waiting for her. She didn't need to know about the endless string of women I’d used to forget my own rage. If the lie kept her happy, I’d tell it a thousand times.

"Don't worry about me," I told her. "Just focus on getting better."

She smiled, a little more color returning to her cheeks. "I promise, when I'm well, I'll be everything you need. We'll have the life we talked about. You, me, and our kids."

I made a vague sound of agreement.

She didn't know the whole story. She didn't know about the bond I shared with my brothers. I could never truly mark her. She could never be the Luna in the way the pack required. But I could give her my name. I could give her a life of comfort. That was the best I could do.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Royal. I knew it wasn't a social call.

I excused myself, giving Rosamund’s hand one last squeeze before stepping into the hallway.

"What is it?" I snapped.

"She’s gone, Philip," Royal’s voice was tight, vibrating with a mix of anger and panic. "She’s not in the room. The guards didn't see her leave, and the nurses are clueless."

My pulse spiked. I felt the heat of a snarl building in my chest. Of course. She couldn't just stay put. She had to make this difficult.

"I’m on my way," I said, hanging up.

I poked my head back into Rosamund’s room just long enough to tell her an emergency had come up. Then, I turned and ran.

If I found her, I was going to make sure she never had the strength to run again. She was playing with Rosamund’s life, and I was done being patient.

I found Royal in the security hub, staring at a bank of monitors. He pointed to a screen showing the elevator lobby.

"There," Royal said. "She got into the lift three minutes ago."

A nurse standing nearby looked terrified. "She... she asked me earlier how tall the building was. She said she wanted to see the view from the roof. I didn't think..."

"Damn it!" Royal yelled, slamming a hand against the desk.

He looked at me, and the realization hit us both at the same time. She wasn't looking for a view.

We bolted for the stairs.

"If she jumps, I'm bringing her back just to kill her myself!" I growled.