Kael's POV
Before their banter could drag on, I cut in. "Let's have breakfast. We have work to do."
We headed to the dining room and took our seats around the table.
Roman was the first to speak. "Kael, we need to arrange security around the hospital. By now, word must have spread that we have a pure blood she-wolf. Leaving her unguarded could make it easy for someone to take her."
Lucian scoffed. "Who would dare? They know exactly what they'll get if they lay eyes on what belongs to us."
"When it comes to a pureblood she-wolf, they will dare," Roman replied flatly. "We've seen entire packs destroy each other over one." He turned to me, his gaze steady. "Kael, you should take this seriously."
I knew he was right, but I didn't want to care. Not when it was about that bitch. I won't blink even if others abducted her and she ended up whoring around from pack to pack and bred for the rest of her life.
But this was about Sophia. So I had to care.
"Lucian, Jason, take care of it," I ordered.
Lucian leaned back with a dark glint in his eyes. "Don't worry. Now that bitch is back in our hands, I won't let her slip away. Not until I'm done with her."
Our roles were well divided. I was the Alpha, the leader of the Stormhowl Pack, and I ran it with the help of my four sworn mate-brothers.
Together, we managed a vast business empire alongside our responsibilities for pack security. Roman and I handled the business side, while Lucian and Jason oversaw security operations.
And Rafe? He only involved himself when something piqued his interest—or when we truly needed him.
"I don't want her in our home," Jason stated firmly. "Arrange for her to stay somewhere else once she's discharged."
"We can put her in the stables," Lucian added with a cold smile. "The horses might not be pleased to see a filthy bitch, but that's the only place I can think of."
Jason nodded in agreement. "She'll still be under our watch there."
The stables sat at the rear of the estate. We all enjoyed horseback riding and had raised our own horses, so the place was well-maintained and familiar to us.
"And who's going to be the lucky one to fuck that stinking bitch first?" Rafe taunted with a mocking chuckle, clearly enjoying how his words soured the mood. "Certainly not me. Her stench makes me nauseous, let alone feel any urge to fuck her."
I looked at the other three. We needed to have pups soon and save Sophia as well.
Jason raised a hand in protest. "Don't look at me. The only thing I plan to do with her is test out my torture tools."
Lucian leaned back, his expression filled with distaste. "Her worn-out cunt is probably crawling with diseases. I wouldn't touch it. She's only good enough to be my drug testing rat."
My gaze settled on Roman. Of all of us, he had always wanted a mate, children, and a family.
But even he didn't waver.
"Don't look at me either," Roman said with finality. "You need her for Sophia's sake. That makes her your responsibility. I would have fucked her happily only if it was not that bitch, but some other shewolf."
Rafe let out another low chuckle and looked at me with a knowing gaze. "We got the result."
I didn't respond. There was no other choice, and we all knew it.
We headed outside, and only then were the servants allowed inside to begin their duties—cleaning and tending to the house.
Roman and I got into one car since we needed to visit the hospital first, then head to the company. Lucian and Jason went with Rafe. They were taking him to Caston.
Caston was a friend of theirs, the owner of the biggest bar in the city and the one who often supplied us with women when we needed to vent some frustration.
"You two can join us once your mood's ruined after seeing that bitch," Lucian said with a smirk. "Let's fuck some bitches together."
I ignored him and stepped into the car. My mind was focused on one thing—Sophia.
We reached the hospital, and I went straight to the VIP floor where Sophia was staying. I left Roman behind to deal with Liam about the matter concerning that bitch.
As I stepped into the room, I found Sophia lying in bed, watching TV. A nurse stood by her side, checking her vitals and monitoring her condition. The moment Sophia sensed my presence, she turned toward me, a soft smile appearing on her lips.
Once, she had been a stunning woman. Now, she looked fragile, fading with every passing moment.
All because of her.
"Kael," Sophia said in a voice that was weak yet warm. "I was waiting for you."
I smiled and took the chair beside the bed. "I came by last night, but you were already asleep."
"I waited for you," she said softly. "But I guess the medicine knocked me out."
I reached for her hand, gently wrapping her frail fingers in mine.
"There's something I need to tell you," I said.
Her eyes lifted slightly, a hint of curiosity in them. "What is it?"
"We've found a pureblood she-wolf. It won't be long now. You'll get better just like you were."
A faint smile touched her lips, but I saw the flicker of sadness that followed.
"Kael, I know how much you hate being close to other women," she said gently. "But you have to do this for me. I'm sorry…"
The truth was, I had been with more women than I could count over the past six years. Countless meaningless nights with nameless whores. But if Sophia believed I hadn't touched another woman since her illness, I had no reason to correct her.
"Don't think about it," I told her. "Just wait for the day you're healed."
She smiled again, her voice trembling with hope. "I promise, once I'm better, I'll do everything for you. I'll be the perfect mate. You, me, and our children."
I gave a quiet hum in response.
She didn't know the full truth yet. She didn't know that I had four mate-brothers, and because of that, I wouldn't be able to mark her. She could never be my true mate.
But I could still give her a place at my side. As my wife in name, if not in bond. That was all I could offer her.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Roman. I immediately guessed the call was about her.
Not wanting Sophia to overhear anything, especially the identity of the she-wolf, I excused myself and stepped out of the room to answer.
Roman's voice came through, laced with panic. "Kael, she's not in her room. The hospital staff has no idea where she went."
My jaw tightened. As if last night wasn't enough, now she was creating more trouble.
"I'm coming there," I said and ended the call.
Returning briefly to Sophia's room, I told her there was an urgent matter I needed to deal with and left.
'That bitch is dead today,' I clenched my fists. 'She better pray I won't find her.'
When I arrived, Roman was already reviewing the security camera footage. His eyes were fixed on the screen.
"She's heading toward the elevator," he said.
The nurse nearby suddenly seemed to recall something and spoke up. "Sometime before, she asked me how tall the building is. I think she wanted to go to the rooftop to see the city view and…"
"Damn it!" Roman cursed, shoving the tablet back into the security guard's hands. He looked at me, and I could see exactly what he was thinking.
Without wasting another second, the two of us rushed toward the elevator, heading straight for the rooftop.