《Unhinged Omega: A Dark Reverse Harem Omegaverse Romance (Ghost Alpha Unit Book 4)》


 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 1

    The world slowlyes into focus, like a radio tuning between stations. Static. Glimpses of rity. Then static again.


    I blink, trying to orient myself. My head feels like it¡¯s been stuffed with cotton, my thoughts sluggish and disjointed.


    Did those bastards drug me?


    No¡­ this haze is familiar. A special cocktail of fugue and delirium my own brain has cooked up plenty of times before. I forgot how much worse it is without the pills.


    How long has it been now?


    Days? Weeks?


    I try to direct my thoughts through the blips of lucidity in the static. The bunker. The pack of assholes interrogating me about Azarel, even if they called him by a name I¡¯ve never heard before. The brief glimpses of consciousness in the back of a vehicle with heavily tinted windows gliding jauntily down rough terrain.


    And through it all, the same darkness¡ªthe same nightmare¡ªthat kept pulling me under.


    Glowing blue eyes.


    Grinning jaws full of sharp teeth.


    A monstrous face straight from hell.


    It¡¯s a struggle to put it all in order, let alone string it into any logical sequence of events, and my head throbs from trying. So I decide to just focus on the pressing issues that actually matter right now.


    The monster ising for me, but that¡¯s nothing new. He¡¯s been hunting me my entire fucking life.


    What matters right now is figuring out how I¡¯m going to escape. The other things I need to deal with can wait.


    First, I need to wake up.


    A small underground room materializes around me as my vision clears. Bare concrete walls. A single flickering light bulb dangling from exposed wires. The flimsy cot beneath me creaks as I try in vain to move a little, every bar of the metal frame pressing at my back through the thin mattress. The pillow, if you can even call it that, stinks too.


    At least I have my own personal metal bucket for a toilet and don¡¯t have to share with anyone. Although there¡¯s no wall or even a curtain around it.


    Just a toilet. Awesome.


    This isn¡¯t where the Ghosts brought me. It¡¯s so much¡­ tackier. And that¡¯s saying something. This is like something out of those crime novels Monty is always pretending to read when guestse over.


    Even the sheets beneath me are threadbare. Is it possible for the thread count to be a negative number? The scratchy yellow cloth isn¡¯t even thick enough to hide the bloodstain on the mattress beneath.


    Gods, I hope that¡¯s a bloodstain.


    I try to move away, but my limbs are still heavy and haven¡¯t quite remembered who they belong to yet. Better just wait it out. A bitterugh escapes my lips, startling me with its harshness.


    ¡®Sold again,¡¯ I mutter, the irony not lost on me.


    History repeating itself as usual. My mother, bought and shipped off to my father like a prized breeding bitch. And now me, passed from my father to Monty, and now whatever fucker the Ghosts sold me off to.


    One set of hands to another.


    It¡¯s par for the course in the life of an omega. The moment that identifying designation mark appeared on my right hip, an unusual ce for one to appear but clearly an omega mark all the same, my fate was sealed the same as my mother¡¯s.


    I should care. I should be terrified.


    Instead, a strange numbness has settled over me, dulling everything to a distant ache, and it¡¯s not just in my physical body. It¡¯s not that I think whoever bought me can¡¯t be any worse than Monty. I¡¯m not that naive.


    It can always be worse.


    Always.


    But without Azarel¡­


    My chest constricts painfully at the thought of him.


    My alpha. My protector.


    No¡­ not mine. He didn¡¯t even tell me he has a brother. A brother who belongs to the Ghosts, the most notorious pack of special ops alphas in Reinmich. There¡¯s no other exnation for the resemnce they share, except the one I met a few days ago isn¡¯t quite as jacked.


    Four years, and I guess I still don¡¯t really know him. No, not mine at all.


    But a girl can dream, can¡¯t she?


    The possibility that I won¡¯t ever see him again¡ªthat this cramped, dank room is just the first stop on a journey taking me further and further from him¡ªthreatens to shatter the fragileposure I¡¯m clinging to.


    I close my eyes, digging my sharpened nails into my palms until I feel the blood pool at the surface. It¡¯s all I can reach. I let out a slow, steady breath as the haze fades and the world sharpens to those five little points of pain.


    Crying changes nothing, mylita.


    My mom¡¯s voice echoes across the dank stone walls as clearly as if she were here, her Vrissian ent soft and soothing.


    My father wouldn¡¯t let her speak her mother tongue at home, but she made sure I learned anyway. Each bruise and mark on her smooth skin was proof of her insistence that her daughter remain connected to the world she was ripped away from at barely the age of sixteen.


    Everywhere but her beautiful face.


    Never the face.


    We look so much alike. I inherited her long silver hair that falls in waves down the length of my back. Her violet eyes, her full lips, her heart-shaped face. Sometimes, if I stare in the mirror long enough and lose focus, I can pretend it¡¯s her staring back at me. And sometimes, if I watch her for too long, another face appears.


    The monster¡¯s.


    Guess it¡¯s only fair to be haunted by both a devil and an angel.


    I used to wake up screaming, terrified of those iron ws gripping my soft body, his jaws full of gleaming razor-sharp teeth parting to devour me, long tongue snaking out.


    Now? If I can¡¯t escape, if I never see Azarel again¡­ at least I know there¡¯s an end in sight. Without Azarel¡¯s protection, the monster I have endless nightmares about will find me eventually. He¡¯s out there somewhere, even now, hunting me. I can feel his approach in my very bones.


    With any luck, he¡¯ll take out my new captors in the process.


    The creak of a distant door snaps me out of my morbid thoughts. The thump of heavy boots echo down what sounds like a long corridor, growing louder with each passing second. My muscles tense involuntarily, fight-or-flight instincts kicking in despite my body¡¯s sluggish response.


    A face appears in the small window of the cell door. Scarred. Alpha. Female. But gender doesn¡¯t matter. All alphas are the same.


    All but the one I might never see again.


    The lock clicks and the door swings open. I manage to scoot back on the cot, my limbs finally cooperating enough to put some distance between us. It¡¯s not nearly enough.


    The alpha strides in with a metal tray. She¡¯s wearing a battered ck leather trench coat that brushes the tops of her steel-toed boots, and the leather is faded in patches as if someone tried to bleach stains out of it over the years. And seeded, but at what cost?


    ¡®Well, well, well,¡¯ the alpha drawls. ¡®If it isn¡¯t sleeping beauty looking all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.¡¯


    I re at her, willing my eyes to burn holes through her face. And judging from the looks of those jagged scars extending from either side of her smirking lips all the way up to her ears, someone else has already given it a respectable attempt. The smell of whatever slop is on that tray makes my empty stomach churn even more than her awful alpha scent.


    Burned motor oil.


    How is that even a scent a person can have?


    But even when it¡¯s the usual smoky pine and wet dreams and sandalwood bullshit half of them smell like, the revulsion is instant. It¡¯s an almost allergic reaction my body has to every alpha¡¯s scent.


    Well, not every alpha.


    ¡®What¡¯s the matter? Still not in a chatty mood?¡¯ she asks, her raspy voice grating on my nerves.


    ¡®Who the fuck are you?¡¯ I spit out.


    Her lips twist into a grin that makes her look like a hyena, stretching the scars in the corners of her mouth. ¡®And here I heard the great Arthur Maybrecht¡¯s daughter was a prim and proper little housewife.¡¯


    I snort, raising an eyebrow. ¡®I am when I¡¯m in thepany of civilized people. Not criminal trash.¡¯


    To my confusion, she lets out a loud, heartyugh. ¡®You really don¡¯t remember your old pal Lex, do you?¡¯


    Old pal?


    I search my foggy memories, bute up empty. How the hell did I get here?


    Lex clicks her tongue, setting the tray down on a rickety table by the door. ¡®Guess I lost that bet. Thought for sure the lifeless doll routine was an act.¡¯ She shrugs. ¡®But Jamie was right. Three days is a long time to keep it up, anyway.¡¯


    ¡®Three days?¡¯ I whisper, more to myself than to her. Has it really been that long? Assuming she¡¯s telling the truth, anyway.


    ¡®Give or take,¡¯ Lex says, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms. ¡®You¡¯ve been in and out. Well¡­ mostly out. Had us worried for a bit there.¡¯


    I scoff. ¡®I¡¯m sure you and your merry little band of omega traffickers were all beside yourselves with concern.¡¯


    ¡®Hey now,¡¯ Lex says, holding up her hands in mock surrender. Her palms are badly scarred, like she wrapped her hands around a hot iron. Judging from the burned motor oil smell, maybe she did. ¡®Flesh is about the one thing Niki doesn¡¯t trade in.¡¯


    ¡°And who the hell is Niki?¡± I demand, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡®Is that who those bastards sold me to?¡¯


    Lex¡¯s face twists into a confused frown, but the frown smooths out as quickly as it appeared. A low chuckle rumbles from her throat. ¡®Oh, you¡¯ll find out tomorrow night. He should be home by then.¡¯


    I curl my lip at her. This alpha gets under my skin more than most, and that¡¯s saying something.


    ¡®In the meantime,¡¯ Lex continues, gesturing to the tray, ¡®you¡¯d better eat up. Wouldn¡¯t want your daddy to think we¡¯ve been starving you.¡¯


    A weird flicker of hope sparks in my chest. Are they¡­ giving me back?


    No. It can¡¯t be that simple.


    Nothing ever is.


    Lex¡¯s eyes drift over my body, lingering on my curves. ¡®Hate to see those curves waste away,¡¯ she adds.


    The spark of hope is reced by a familiar surge of anger. I force myself to my feet, ignoring the way the room sways. My legs feel like they¡¯re made of lead, but I manage to stumble over to the tray.


    Without hesitation, I grab it and dump its contents all over Lex¡¯s boots. Some of it sshes on her coat, too. Good. She can ruin it with even more bleach.


    For a moment, she just stares. I brace myself for the blow I¡¯m sure ising, but instead, that obnoxiousugh fills the small space again. She kicks the tray away, sending it ttering across the floor.


    ¡®Careful, now,¡¯ Lex warns as she turns to leave. ¡®Keep showing those ws and Niki just might decide to keep you.¡¯


    The cell door ms shut behind her, leaving me alone with that ominous statement echoing in my ears.


    Who the fuck has me now?


    The lights flicker out, plunging me into darkness. Lex probably turned them off out of spite. As if that¡¯s supposed to scare me.


    At least I don¡¯t have to look at the toilet anymore.


    I slump against the wall, sliding down until I¡¯m sitting on the cold concrete floor. My stomach growls, reminding me that I just wasted what might have been my only meal for who knows how long. I¡¯m certainly not going to eat off the floor.


    But the satisfaction of seeing shock on an alpha¡¯s face is always worth it.


    I close my eyes, not that it makes much difference in the pitch ck of the cell. I¡¯m used to the darkness. If there¡¯s one thing that makes me feel a twisted kinship with the monster who haunts my dreams, it¡¯s that. We¡¯re both creatures who came from the dark.


    For a brief moment, I had a glimpse of the sun with Azarel. But deep down, I¡¯ve always known I¡¯d return to that darkness eventually.


    And when I do, the monster will be waiting.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 2

    I stare out at the horizon, watching mes lick the sky where Reinmich¡¯s borders once stood proud and unassable. The acerbic stench of smoke and death carries on the wind, a familiar perfume I¡¯ve grown ustomed to over the years.


    This is just the beginning.


    The real war, the one that will reshape the very foundations of our world, has only just begun. My hands are stained with rivers of blood already, and there will be an ocean more before all is said and done.


    I¡¯ve killed more men today than I can count, their faces blurring together in a crimson haze. Some begged. Some fought. In the end, it made no difference. All were a necessary sacrifice.


    There is blood in every birth.


    I turn away from the smoldering ruins of the old world, my boots crunching on broken ss as I make my way toward themandeered church that now serves as our makeshift headquarters. The golden serpent coiling around the sun above the massive wooden doors stares down in disapproval as I yank the doors open and reveal the soldiers scurrying about like ants within.


    A house of worship turned into a den of war and politics. Far from the first sacrilege this ce has seen, and I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be thest.


    The soldiers inside the church all snap to rigid attention as soon as I cross the threshold. The sour stench of their fear rolls off them in waves.


    Good. Fear keeps men in line. Keeps them from asking too many questions.


    A young lieutenant approaches me with the nervous energy of prey that knows it¡¯s being stalked. ¡®Lieutenant General,¡¯ he says, his voice cracking slightly. ¡®Mr. Maybrecht is waiting for you in his office, sir.¡¯


    I whip off my blood-soaked gray cape and toss it into his arms.


    ¡®I¡ªI¡¯ll have this cleaned right away,¡¯ he stammers, but I don¡¯t miss the way he grimaces at the blood thates off on his hand. Probably another nepotism hire who¡¯s yet to see the reality of battle.


    ¡°It¡¯s just General.¡¯


    He freezes and looks up at me, his eyes tracking warily over my face. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, sir?¡¯


    ¡®General Hargrove is dead,¡¯ I remind him. ¡®As the highest ranking living member of the Reinmich Armed Forces, you will address me now as General Vesper.¡¯


    He gulps audibly and salutes, leaving a dab of blood on his forehead where his hand touched. ¡®Yes, sir. General.¡¯


    I turn and continue down the long corridor, pausing in front of the massive door leading to the sanctuary that has been repurposed as our war room. My eyes catch my reflection in a nearby mirror, and for a moment, I study the man staring back at me.


    Deep bronze skin marred by countless scars that tell the story of endless bloody battles. ck hair spilling over my broad shoulders that does nothing to soften the harsh nes of my face. Presentable, aside from the small stter of blood I missed on the edge of my jaw. I wipe it off and rub it away between my fingers.


    I may look different from the average Reinmichian soldier, but my mission here was never about blending in. It was infiltration. And yet, as I search the pale blue eyes staring back at me for any sign of the Surhiiran noble I once was, I find nothing.


    Turning away, I rap the backs of my knuckles against the heavy oak door, the sound echoing in the cavernous hallway. A deep voice bellows from within. ¡®Come in.¡¯


    I push open the door, stepping into what was once a ce of reverence and peace. Now it¡¯s a hive of activity. Maps and strategic ns cover every avable surface, including the altar presently being used as a desk. The air is thick with tension and cigar smoke where incense once burned.


    And there, looming over it all like some great beast of war, is Arthur Maybrecht.


    Financier.


    Oligarch.


    Puppet master.


    He cuts an imposing figure even in his finely tailored civilian suit. His salt-and-pepper hair is meticulously styled, not a strand out of ce despite the chaos around him. His face is all hard angles and deep-set lines carved from years of cold ruthlessness.


    He ys whichever role suits him best in the moment, slipping from one mask to another with practiced ease. But I know the truth of what lies beneath. A monster wearing human skin, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and control.


    So what does that make me?


    He doesn¡¯t look up as I enter, his eyes fixed on the map before him. His meaty hands trace potential battle lines, entire cities reduced to nothing more than strategic points to be captured or sacrificed. With a single, agitated flourish of his hand, he sends the soldiers scattered around the room running. Thest one pulls the door shut behind her with a heavy thud.


    ¡®Report,¡¯ he barks, still not deigning to acknowledge my presence directly.


    I stand at parade rest, my voice steady and emotionless as I deliver the news he¡¯s been waiting for. ¡®The Council chambers have fallen. What remains of the old guard is in full retreat. They¡¯re scrambling to regroup at the secondary location, but it¡¯s only a matter of time before the Surhiiran invaders flush them out.¡¯


    Maybrecht grunts, finally looking up from his maps. His eyes, a muddy gray like stagnant water, fix on me with predatory intensity. ¡®Casualties?¡¯


    ¡®Extensive,¡¯ I reply. ¡®The Council loyalists were all scrambled to the Capital the night before the attack, as you ordered. I¡¯d estimate approximately ten percent survived the onught and are prisoners of Surhiira now. Anyone essential was guarding the Council chambers.¡¯


    ¡®Good,¡¯ he says, only the barest hint of satisfaction in his tone as he leans back in his chair, studying me with the bored patronization of a god analyzing a devotee. With the wings of the stone angel positioned perfectly behind him, he looks the part. ¡®And the girl?¡¯


    My jaw clenches at the apathy in his tone. As if Cosima is nothing more than another pawn on his chessboard. His own flesh and blood.


    Her face shes through my mind. Those violet eyes that seem to see right through me. The curve of her lips when she smiles, a rare and precious thing. The way her silver hair catches the light, making her look like some ethereal goddess too pure for this world of blood and shadows.


    I school my expression to careful neutrality, though I know it¡¯s futile. Still, old habits die hard.


    ¡®I have her location,¡¯ I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. ¡®The Ghosts kept their word. She¡¯s in Surhiiran custody. And they would never harm an omega,¡¯ I add, though the reassurance is more for myself than for Maybrecht.


    A sneer twists his features. ¡®How precious,¡¯ he drawls. ¡®Who knew, after all those years of istion and brutal destruction of anyone who dared to get close, that the key to controlling the great Surhiiran empire would be one little omega?¡¯


    My muscles tense at his words, rage coiling in my gut like a venomous serpent. ¡®I can fetch her as soon as you give me leave,¡¯ I say, keeping my tone carefully neutral, forcing the bile down.


    Maybrecht leans back in his chair, regarding me with those cold, calcting eyes. I can see the gears turning in that twisted mind of his. For a moment, I think he might agree. But then he shakes his head.


    ¡®Leave her for now,¡¯ he says dismissively. ¡®There are more pressing matters that require your attention.¡¯


    I clench my jaw so hard the bone creaks. Every instinct screams at me to argue, to demand that we extract Cosima immediately. But I know better than to push him too far.


    Still, I can¡¯t help myself. ¡®Sir, with all due respect?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Silence.¡¯ Maybrecht cuts me off, his voice sharp as a de. It takes everything I have to stifle the growl building in my chest. ¡®You should consider yourself fortunate I didn¡¯t put a knife in your windpipe when I learned you were fucking my daughter.¡¯


    I feel my eyes narrow a fraction, but otherwise, I keep my face a mask of stone. Unreadable. For all the good it does me. It seems fitting that the one time I¡¯ve ever heard genuine emotion in his voice in regard to his daughter, it would be indignation.


    Like I¡¯d touched his property.


    It doesn¡¯tst, though. His wrath fades as quickly as his asional whims of mercy, and he¡¯s a paper figure of a man once more.


    ¡®In any case,¡¯ he continues in a neutral tone, ¡®now that Monty is out of the way, and you¡¯ve risen to a position appropriate for the mate of an omega of her station, there¡¯s no reason you can¡¯t be together.¡¯


    Wait¡­ what is he saying?


    Is this a trap? Some sort of bizarre test?


    ¡®We can both have what we want,¡¯ Maybrecht says, leaning forward. His eyes glitter with predatory intensity. ¡®But it requires cooperation. Unless¡­ you¡¯re having second thoughts after selling out your own people?¡¯


    His usation hangs in the air between us, heavy and suffocating. I think of Surhiira, of the family I left behind. Of the brother I hadn¡¯t seen in years, until recently. I think of the guilt I should feel. And the empty pit that upies the ce it would.


    ¡®No,¡¯ I say tersely. ¡®No second thoughts.¡¯


    A slow smile spreads across Maybrecht¡¯s face, and I¡¯m reminded of a shark scenting blood in the water. ¡®Good,¡¯ he purrs. ¡®Then you won¡¯t mind a simple little test.¡¯


    Ah. There it is.


    ¡®What kind of test?¡¯ I ask, nearly as apathetic as I sound.


    He ps his hands twice and the door behind him opens. Two guards immediately stride in, each hauling a prisoner with them.


    Surhiirans.


    They¡¯re both wearing the uniforms Reinmichian soldiers¡ªthe one on the left a lieutenant¡¯s dress grays, the one on the right a medic¡¯s fatigues¡ªbut their sharp features and eyes those particr pale shades of blues and greens tend to stand out.


    The one on the left struggles against his captor¡¯s grip, fear radiating off him in waves. But it¡¯s the one on the right that catches my attention, and not just because he¡¯s as still and defiant as a stone statue, his sharp eyes fixed on me in silent judgment.


    Arun.


    His face is bruised, one eye swollen shut, but there¡¯s no mistaking that defiant re. We grew up together, trained together. He was there the day I took my oath to protect Surhiira at all costs. And now here he is, on his knees before me, wearing the uniform of our enemy.


    Just like I am.


    The irony isn¡¯t lost on me.


    Maybrecht¡¯s eyes bore into me, searching for any flicker of recognition. ¡®Well, General Vesper? Do you know these rats?¡¯


    ¡®I recognize the one on the right,¡¯ I say. ¡®We served together. Before.¡¯


    Maybrecht¡¯s lips curve into a smile. ¡®How interesting. It truly is a small world, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Something in his tone makes me quite certain he already knew this was a reunion, not an introduction. He leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers. ¡®I¡¯m in a generous mood today, so I¡¯ll give you a choice. You may spare one of these infiltrators and execute the other. Since you know one of them, it should be an easy decision. Consider it a test of your loyalty.¡¯


    This is his favorite game, and he has many. Forcing impossible choices, reveling in the pain and conflict they cause.


    But I¡¯ve danced this dance before.


    I know the steps by heart.


    I draw my gun with my left hand, my right still wrapped in bandages from when that Vrissian snake put a bullet through it. The weight of the weapon is still unfamiliar in my off-hand, but I¡¯ve adapted quickly.


    ¡®Remove their gags,¡¯ Maybrecht says, his voice cold and detached. ¡®It¡¯s unsporting to refuse a man hisst words.¡¯


    The guardsply, yanking the cloth from the prisoners¡¯ mouths. The one I don¡¯t recognize in the medic¡¯s fatigues immediately starts pleading.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ he begs, his voice cracking. Snot bubbles from his broken nose. ¡®I was just following orders. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know, just please?¡ª¡¯


    Arun cuts him off with a harshugh. ¡®Pathetic,¡¯ he spits, turning his one good eye to me. ¡®Keep your mercy, traitor. I¡¯d rather die than live owing my life to scum like you.¡¯


    I feel Maybrecht¡¯s eyes on me, gauging my reaction. Waiting to see if I¡¯ll flinch, if I¡¯ll show even a flicker of hesitation. But I¡¯ve had years to bury the part of me that might have once cared.


    I step closer, my boots echoing in the suddenly silent room. The nameless infiltrator whimpers, shrinking back. But Arun meets my gaze without flinching. Hatred and disgust burn in his pale blue eyes.


    I raise my gun, aiming at Arun¡¯s head. My finger tightens on the trigger, but something stops me.


    A flicker.


    A hallucination.


    For a split second, it¡¯s not Arun kneeling there, but Hamsa. My brother. It¡¯s his eyes that stare up at me now. Not with hatred, but with that same disappointment I¡¯ve seen so many times before.


    The visionsts only a heartbeat, but it¡¯s enough to make my hand tremble. I blink hard, the vision of Hamsa shattering as my finger squeezes the trigger. The crack of the shot grounds me. When the smoke clears, it¡¯s Arun once more. Cordite fills my nostrils, mingling with the coppery scent of blood. It¡¯s a smell that stopped turning my stomach years ago.


    Maybrecht leans forward in his chair, eyebrows raised. ¡®An interesting choice,¡¯ he muses, a hint of surprise in his voice. ¡®I would have thought?¡ª¡¯


    Before he can finish, I swing the gun toward the second prisoner, who lets out a bubblingugh of relief that doesn¡¯t have time to turn to terror before I fire.


    He joins Arun on the floor.


    Silence descends on the room. So does the weight of their stares. Maybrecht, the guards, even the corpses at my feet.


    I do a double take at the angel hanging above Maybrecht. For a moment, it¡¯s transformed into the visage of a resplendent ibis gazing down at me in disappointed judgment. I will have to earn her forgivenesster. For now, I can only offer a few droplets of blood in penance.


    I clench my right hand into a tight fist and squeeze until I feel the blessed avian bones hidden beneath the bandages digging into my healing flesh. Until the cilice draws forth the coppery scent of fresh blood. Until the statue is an angel once more.


    Slowly, deliberately, I holster my weapon.


    ¡®There¡¯s no use for weakness in the world we¡¯re trying to build,¡¯ I say, my voice steady and cold. ¡®Or nostalgia.¡¯


    Maybrecht recovers first, a low chuckle escaping him. ¡®I couldn¡¯t have said it better myself,¡¯ he says, leaning back in his chair. His eyes glitter with something that might be approval. ¡®Perhaps I made a mistake by giving Cosima to Monty after all. I see myself in you, Azarel.¡¯


    I think he means it as apliment.


    The thought makes bile rise in my throat, but I steel myself before my lip can curl at his words.


    ¡®I¡¯m ready to get on with my work, sir,¡¯ I say, injecting as much calm into my voice as I can muster. The ¡®sir¡¯ feels bitter on my tongue, but I spit it out anyway.


    The sooner I finish this busywork, the sooner I can get to Cosima. Her name echoes in my mind, a beacon of light in this blood-soaked darkness. The thought of her is my only anchor.


    ¡®Very well.¡¯ Maybrecht reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out a sealed envelope, cing it on themandeered altar in front of him. ¡®Inside the envelope, you¡¯ll find a list of every remaining Council loyalist scraping around in the Outer Reaches.¡¯


    ¡®You want them dead?¡¯ I ask.


    ¡®Assuming the rats and pestilence haven¡¯t gotten to them first,¡¯ he says in a wry tone. ¡®After that, you can bring my daughter home. Since you¡¯ll be in the area anyway.¡¯


    ¡®Of course,¡¯ I mutter, tucking the envelope into the interior pocket of my uniform jacket. ¡®And about what we discussed¡­¡¯


    ¡®You y your role, General, and I¡¯ll y mine,¡¯ he says, a dangerous glinting into his eyes. ¡®Let¡¯s just hope you don¡¯t have any second thoughts when the timees.¡¯


    ¡®I won¡¯t,¡¯ I say without a trace of doubt in my voice. And I feel none. ¡®Reinmich has fallen, and soon, so will Surhiira.¡¯


    And I mean everyst word. It doesn¡¯t matter what I have to sacrifice.


    My country.


    My brother.


    My very soul.


    I snuffed out the lives of every fucking alpha Monty ever let touch her when I found out what was really happening at those parties, and I won¡¯t hesitate to burn the entire world to ash before I allow anyone else near her again.


    And if this war continues, it just maye to that.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 3

    Earlier


    moonlight fading


    can barely see it behind clouds


    just a sliver


    silver like her


    silver silk


    strings from heaven


    eyes like small purple flowers on the road


    too small to pick, try anyway


    knife-ws carve earth


    no matter how gentle


    keep walking


    silent roads


    no humans


    only dirt


    animals


    insects


    tracks from other metal monsters


    saw one once


    stared it down


    it spun on four rubber feet


    two eyes in the front shing


    metal body spinning in circles


    then it attacked


    crashed into me


    struck iron arm


    inside the beast was a human


    twisted too


    blood everywhere


    wanted to eat it


    had not eaten for years and years


    ate through needles and tubes before


    but cannot eat with the iron mask


    crash broke part of the mask


    bared part of the jaw beneath


    ate bones


    ate flesh


    ate blood


    blood sings a strange song


    humming softly


    like her in the darkness


    like my moonlight


    moon sings the same song every night


    hmm, hmmm, hmmmmmm


    cannot make it with monster voice


    only snarls


    only growls and roars


    can only hear her song at night


    when she whispers


    not in words


    but she doesn¡¯t need words


    ¡®Come to me.¡¯


    ¡®Find me.¡¯


    ¡®Consume me.¡¯


    same plea, every night


    harder to hear her tonight


    easier than when in concrete cage


    but the clouds are many


    and my moon is small


    harder to hear her


    harder to follow her


    will be hard to consume with mask


    scared to hurt her when ites time


    but still must find her


    hunt her


    do what she asks even if it hurts


    saw another like her in that cage


    that cage of concrete and steel


    smaller and with fiery hair


    fiery hair and blue green eyes


    she was kind


    despite what i am


    and she was kind to the other monster


    the one that followed her


    sharp teeth like mine


    but dark hair


    a monster that protected her


    that worshiped her


    did not know there was another like me


    thought none others existed


    so simr, yet so different


    he was not as scarred


    he was not as broken


    he was not as insane


    but more than that


    he was not alone


    he had the same blue eyes


    and the same monster jaws


    and the same pain


    only his was healing


    maybe mine will heal me too


    maybe mine will even smile at me


    maybe mine will touch me


    her song is getting louder


    every night, clearer


    i must be getting closer


    white stone gleams ahead


    pieces of moon, fallen to earth


    decorated with ss


    stones reach up, up, up


    hands trying to touch sky


    hands trying to touch my moon


    hands grabbing at stars


    i understand


    want her for myself


    beautiful


    too beautiful for monsters like me


    but she calls me


    she must be here


    where else would moonlight live?


    of course she lives here


    where even stones reach for her


    will she be happy i came?


    will she reach out and touch me?


    can i hope for that much of heaven?


    but must be careful


    must stay hidden


    humans hate monsters


    rumble makes ground shake


    not earthquake


    not thunder


    more mechanical monsters


    humans like these monsters


    and only these


    ck shells gleaming


    eyes glowing yellow


    full of humans


    full of alphas


    full of meat


    line of metal monsters stretches long


    one alpha stands out


    blood red coat catches dying light


    blood red sses


    white hair harsher than moonlight


    so long since i have seen humans


    how long?


    time moves strange now


    only night and day


    only sun and moon


    only her song tells the time


    but hunger remembers


    aches deep inside


    alphas are bitter


    but better than nothing


    blood sings too loud


    drowning her out


    if i do not eat, i will die


    step onto road


    metal beasts screech


    round rubber feet squeal in dirt


    closest one hits me


    it flies up without wings


    flips over and rolls


    humans fall out


    humans scatter like ants


    one is already dead


    humans die so fast


    betas die faster


    grab beta in metal ws


    tear off arm


    crush through broken mask


    into side of jaws


    betas taste less bitter


    betas have no taste at all


    better than alphas


    more metal beasts stop


    screech to halt


    doors open


    alphas pour out


    guns point at me


    always guns


    always pointing


    they never work


    my ugly skin heals too fast


    first alpha charges


    his t teeth bared


    i rip his arms off


    like pulling wings from a fly


    blood sprays hot on me


    another alpha shoots


    bullets ping off my iron


    i grab him with metal ws


    squeeze and crunch


    no more alpha


    moree


    always more


    they die just as fast


    they die fastest on darkest nights


    when my moon hides from me


    when her song does not soothe me


    blood is everywhere now


    singing its song


    but not her song


    this foul blood drowns her out


    wrong


    disgusting


    even more than me


    need moonlight


    need her


    white-haired alpha in red yells something


    female alpha with smile scars barks orders


    have not seen many female alphas


    she smells like metal beasts¡¯ blood


    others move different now


    organized


    smart


    dangerous


    explosion rocks ground


    smoke fills air


    cannot see moon through smoke


    cannot hear her song


    no


    no


    no


    need moon


    need song


    need her


    everything turns red


    roar so loud it hurts


    tear more alphas


    not to eat


    just to tear


    smell only blood now


    foul alpha blood


    foul beta blood


    drowning without moonlight


    ¡®It¡¯s fucking immortal!¡¯ white-hair yells


    voice filled with awe


    with want


    with greed


    ¡®Take it alive or I¡¯ll kill you myself!¡¯


    chains fly


    heavy metal links


    just like in the cage


    not again


    please no


    i will do anything


    i do not beg easily


    i cannot see my moon from a cage


    already learned thatst time


    thest time i got out


    thest time i was caught again


    break free


    but more chainse


    always more


    explosions rock earth again


    ears ring


    head spins


    cannot focus


    cannot think


    where is my moon?


    where is my song?


    need her


    need her


    need her


    chains pull tight


    too many now


    cannot break them all


    roar in fury


    roar in pain


    roar in loss


    bullets do not hurt


    but this hurts


    red coat


    red moons where eyes should be


    above him, a sliver of white


    the crescent of my moon


    she came to say goodbye


    hear her song onest time


    hmm, hmmm, hmmmmmm


    then nothing


    no more moon


    no more song

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 4

    ¡®<span>It¡¯s not gonna fit, you big oaf!¡¯


    ¡®Just push harder!¡¯


    The deration, followed by masculine grunts, has my leather boots halting on the middle of the tarmac. I stare up at the rmissioned hangar on the far end of the shelled-out airport I recently had rebuilt into a proper base after thest one exploded, weighing just how badly I want to know what¡¯s going on around the corner.


    Fuck it, I¡¯ve seen worse.


    I¡¯m just not sure if I¡¯m relieved when I turn the corner and see the giant alpha and squirrelly beta trying to stuff crates marked with explosive warnings into the already overfilled section of the hangar.


    Mikey grunts, his big muscles straining as he tries to wedge a crate on top of a tower that already looks like it¡¯s going to topple over as soon as the door opens again, while Reese, his marginally less idiotic beta counterpart, barks instructions while doing shit all himself.


    For fuck¡¯s sake.


    I haven¡¯t slept in days, and this is what Ie back to? Idiots ying Tetris with enough firepower to level a small country.


    Home sweet fucking home.


    My eyes burn from exhaustion, but I force them to stay open, scanning the yard. The ce is a mess of crates and pallets, munitions of every caliber imaginable scattered like deadly building blocks. It¡¯s more than I expected, even with Reinmich¡¯s legendary arsenal.


    I¡¯ve been up all hours, shuttling weapons and supplies to my various hideouts across the Outer Reaches. Can¡¯t keep it all in one ce¡ªthat¡¯s just asking for trouble. But fuck me if I didn¡¯t underestimate just how much shit Reinmich was willing to part with.


    Even if it was from its cold, dead hands.


    A crash from inside the hangar snaps my attention back to the present. Reesees stumbling out, tripping over his own feet as he backpedals.


    ¡®Shit, shit, shit!¡¯ he yelps, his eyes wide with panic.


    Mikey¡¯s bulk fills the doorway a secondter, his meaty hand mped around Reese¡¯s cor as he hauls the smaller man backward. ¡®Run!¡¯


    The world slows down as I watch the domino effect unfold. A single crate teeters on the edge of a stack, then topples. It hits the ground with a sickening crack, and suddenly the air is filled with the hiss of fuses.


    Fuck.


    The first explosion is almost anticlimactic. A dull thump that sends up a small plume of smoke. But it¡¯s just the opening act. Within seconds, the entire section of the hangar erupts in a cacophony of bangs, whistles, and thunderous booms.


    Rockets screech into the night sky, trailing sparks and smoke. Mortars thump in rapid session, sending up geysers of dirt and shrapnel. It¡¯s like the grand finale of the world¡¯s most lethal fireworks disy.


    And in the middle of it all stand Mikey and Reese, frozen in ce like a pair of ck-jawed statues as ming debris rains down around them.


    I don¡¯t even realize I¡¯ve moved until I¡¯m grabbing them both by the scruffs of their necks, hauling them behind the dubious shelter of an overturned truck. We hit the ground hard as another wave of explosions rocks thepound, and then it¡¯s over, as anticlimactically as it began.


    ¡®Oh, hey boss,¡¯ Reese says, his voice an octave higher than usual. He gives me a nervous grin, dirt and soot streaking his face. ¡®Uh, at least there¡¯s more room now?¡¯


    Mikey looks down at my feet and I notice the edge of my coat is on fire. I give the edge of the coat a violent flick that kills the me and level them both with a re that could strip paint.


    ¡®Remind me again why I keep you walking advertisements for swallowing around?¡¯ I ask, keeping my voice level, partly because I¡¯m not sure if the scream building in my throat is capable of toppling the rest of those precariously stacked crates.


    ¡®C¡¯mon, boss,¡¯ Reese whines. ¡®You know we¡¯re the two most loyal guys in the Family.¡¯


    ¡®I meant on earth!¡¯ I bellow, loud enough that Reese jolts and Mikey grimaces.


    Guess everything stayed in ce. Before I can properly rip into them, the crunch of boots on gravel announces Lex¡¯s arrival. She skids to a halt beside us, her scarred face a mask of confusion and rm.


    ¡®What the fuck?¡¯ she pants, eyes darting between me and the smoldering wreckage of the hangar. ¡®Are we under attack?¡¯


    Why does she sound fucking excited?


    I push myself to my feet, dusting off my coat with deliberate slowness. ¡®Yes,¡¯ I say tly. ¡®From within.¡¯


    Lex¡¯s brow furrows, then smooths out as understanding dawns. She turns to Mikey and Reese, both still sprawled on the ground looking like guilty children. ¡®You two dipshits did this?¡¯


    Mikey at least has the decency to look ashamed. Reese, on the other hand, seems to have regained some of his usual bravado. He scrambles to his feet, puffing out his chest in a pitiful attempt at intimidation.


    ¡®It wasn¡¯t our fault!¡¯ he protests. ¡®If you¡¯d just let us use the other storage facility?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®The other storage facility,¡¯ I cut him off, my voice low and dangerous, ¡®is upied.¡¯


    Reese¡¯s mouth snaps shut with an audible click. His eyes dart nervously to Lex, who¡¯s watching the exchange with barely concealed amusement.


    ¡®upied?¡¯ Mikey asks, his brow furrowed in confusion. ¡®By what?¡¯


    I pinch the bridge of my nose, fighting back the migraine that¡¯s been threatening to split my skull for days. ¡®Not what,¡¯ I growl. ¡®Who.¡¯


    ¡®I thought it was whom,¡¯ Mikey muses.


    He¡¯s never been a brightd. But unlike Reese, he usually knows when to keep his fucking mouth shut.


    Usually. They¡¯ve clearly been rubbing off on each other.


    ¡®None of your business, twatwaffle,¡¯ Lex barks, smacking Reese up the back of the head. ¡®Go get a fucking broom and start cleaning up this shit!¡¯


    ¡®Yes, sir,¡¯ they answer in unison, scrambling to follow orders. Thest time any of my men made the mistake of calling Lex ma¡¯am, they were shitting out their own teeth for a week.


    ¡®You thought it was a good idea to leave them in charge of packing munitions?¡¯ I ask through my teeth, deciding my anger would be more properly directed toward the only member of my organization with two working brain hemispheres, apparently.


    ¡®No, I left Diesel in charge of handing out jobs,¡¯ she says gruffly, casting a rueful nce toward the mess hall. ¡®Mistake noted.¡¯


    ¡®I should take it out of your pay,¡¯ I mutter, striding toward the wrecked section of the hangar to assess the damage.


    Her boots shuffle faster across the gravel. ¡®You don¡¯t pay me enough to manage this shitshow as it is, and I can damn near guarantee you the next poor fucker dumb enough to take the job¡¯ll eat a bullet in a week.¡¯


    She has a point. One I refuse to acknowledge with anything other than the vaguest grunt.


    I whip out my bandana to breathe through the smoke and survey the smoldering wreckage inside the hangar, mentally tallying the losses. Not as bad as I initially feared. The concrete barrier contained the st, sparing the bulk of our stockpile.


    Well. Most of the st.


    ¡®Could¡¯ve been worse,¡¯ I mutter, more to myself than Lex. ¡®The facility near Belvast should be operational in a few days. We¡¯ll move what¡¯s left there.¡¯


    Lex¡¯s eyebrows shoot up. ¡®Belvast? Thought that was off the table.¡¯


    My jaw clenches. Of course she¡¯d bring that up. As if I need the reminder.


    Raven.


    The name alone is enough to sour my mood further.


    ¡®I¡¯m not letting that spoiled hedonistic twink¡¯s princess tantrums deter me from using a perfectly good facility,¡¯ I snap, my voice harsher than intended. Lex doesn¡¯t flinch. She¡¯s used to my moods by now. ¡®Besides, with Surhiiran forces crawling all over the Outer Reaches like they¡¯re scouting real estate for one of their swanky little spa towns, a gutter like Belvast is the only safe option.¡¯


    Lex holds up her hands, cating. ¡®Hey, you don¡¯t gotta sell me on it. Just curious, is all.¡¯ She pauses, and I can see the question forming before she even opens her mouth. ¡®You, uh¡­ heard anything from himtely?¡¯


    ¡®Of course not,¡¯ I snarl, my hand instinctively going to the gun at my hip. The familiar weight is soothing. ¡®Last I heard, the little shit had sunk all his ill-gotten gains from whoring into that cesspool of a club.¡¯


    ¡®Oh yeah,¡¯ Lex muses, her scarred face scrunching up in thought. ¡®What was it called again? Alpha Beta?¡¯


    ¡®The Alpha¡¯s Alpha!¡¯ Reese¡¯s voice carries from outside, and I swear I can hear the grin in his tone.


    ¡®Fuck off!¡¯ I roar, my patience hanging by a thread. A thread that¡¯s already stretched tight under the best of circumstances.


    Lex snaps her fingers. ¡®Right, that was it.¡¯ She grimaces, shaking her head. ¡®Never got the appeal of a ce like that myself. Why would an alpha want another alpha when you could have an omega?¡¯ There¡¯s a wolfish glint in her eye as she grins. ¡®A beta¡¯ll do in a pinch, long as she¡¯s got a nice rack, but?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Speaking of princesses,¡¯ I cut her off before she says another word that¡¯ll have Reese scrambling back in here to weigh in. ¡®How¡¯s our guest?¡¯


    ¡®Peachy. She¡¯s been out the whole time since I picked her up. Least, she was untilst night.¡¯


    I arch an eyebrow. ¡®You drugged her?¡¯


    ¡®Nah.¡¯ Lex shakes her head. ¡®She was awake, just¡­ not all there, y¡¯know? Zoned out.¡¯ She chuckles. ¡®Now though? More like a rabid tiger. And a pretty cute one. Too spicy for my tastes, though. I like my omegas sweet.¡¯


    Something in her tone sets my teeth on edge. ¡®I trust you followed my instructions to the letter?¡¯


    ¡±Course, boss,¡¯ she says, all innocence. ¡®No men allowed near her, just like you said.¡¯


    I bristle. ¡®I said female betas only.¡¯


    Lex¡¯s grin turns downright shit-eating. ¡®Did you? My bad. You know how the connection out here can be.¡¯


    I clench my fist, resisting the urge to put it through her face. ¡®That omega is Arthur fucking Maybrecht¡¯s brat. Do you have any idea the kind of shitstorm that¡¯s going to rain down if we give her back even slightly inconvenienced?¡¯


    ¡®Since when do you care about diplomacy?¡¯ she asks, folding her arms.


    ¡®Since I have enough guns to be a diplomat,¡¯ I answer with a sneer. My gaze tracks across what was once the most active airfield in the region. A country that no longer exists.


    But that¡¯s the way it is out here.


    Empires rise and fall like dominoes, so why not add another to the mix?


    A glint of excitement shes in Lex¡¯s eyes. ¡®Diplomacy was never my strong suit,¡¯ she muses, running a hand through her short-cropped hair. ¡®But I could see myself as a general. Those fancy Surhiiran swords are something else.¡¯


    I can¡¯t help butugh at that. ¡®We y our cards right,¡¯ I drawl, ¡®finish this deal with the Ghosts, and you can have all the fancy swords you want.¡¯ I pause for effect, watching her eyes widen. ¡®And an omega to hold each one.¡¯


    Lex throws her head back andughs, the sound harsh and grating in the smoke-filled air. ¡®You¡¯re a crazy fucker, you know that?¡¯ She shakes her head, still chuckling. ¡®But that¡¯s why I¡¯d rather work for you than your old man.¡¯


    My mood sours instantly at the mention of my father. The great patriarch of the kov Family.


    I push the thoughts away, focusing on the matter at hand. ¡®Speaking of prisoners,¡¯ I say, my voice carefully neutral. ¡®How¡¯s our other guest doing?¡¯


    Lex¡¯s brow furrows and she drops theugh like a hot coal. ¡®That¡¯s the thing, boss. It won¡¯t eat any of the meat we throw down there. Just stands and stares at the sky all night, at least when it¡¯s not tryin¡¯ to rip apart anyone who gets too close to the pit with those fucking ws. Sometimes it moves around like it¡¯s trying to stand under the moon. So maybe it¡¯s got some moon version of photo-sympathy.¡¯


    I arch an eyebrow. ¡®Photosynthesis?¡¯


    ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s it.¡¯


    I sigh. ¡®Maybe it doesn¡¯t eat meat.¡¯


    ¡®The fuck am I supposed to feed it then?¡¯ Lex asks, exasperated. ¡®Kibble? You know Bess doesn¡¯t share.¡¯


    The scruffy shepherd mix that shadows her all the time pants up at me with her distinctly microwaved-cod-scented breath as if to agree.


    ¡®It could eat people,¡¯ I muse.


    ¡®It sure ate some of our men like it had five minutes to finish itsst bucket ever of chicken fingers,¡¯ Lex says with a snort.


    That earns a wary stare from me. ¡®And what the fuck is a chicken finger?¡¯


    ¡°Best damn food on the. Popr back in Columbia before they started using synth meat instead because it was more cost-effective,¡± she says, waving me off. ¡®You wouldn¡¯t get it. I¡¯m sure you only go to those bougie ces where you drink pricey champagne out of a stripper¡¯s ass with a paper straw.¡¯


    ¡®I think you and I have very different definitions of ¡®bougie,¡± I say dryly. I need to get this conversation back on track. Lex¡¯s specialty may be derailing trains, but it¡¯s also derailing a goddamn conversation. ¡®Maybe it eats people.¡¯


    ¡®The stripper¡¯s ass?¡¯ she asks, bewildered.


    ¡®No,¡¯ I snarl. ¡®The monster in the fucking pit.¡¯


    ¡®Why didn¡¯t you just say so?¡¯ Lex mutters. ¡®And yeah, that¡¯s a good point. But it¡¯s not like we have a bunch of bodies lyin¡¯ around we can throw to it to test that theory.¡¯ She nces up at Mikey and Reese as the alpha lumbers by with the prattling beta close behind him like a mangy puppy dog. ¡®Unless these two morons fuck something else up.¡¯


    I grunt, already striding toward the pit we dug out on the far side of the airfield. ¡®I¡¯ll take a look at it.¡¯


    The closer we get, the more the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There¡¯s something¡­ off about the air around the pit. A heaviness, like the calm before a storm.


    Or maybe I¡¯m just on edge fromck of sleep.


    I peer over the edge, and sure enough, there it is. The Knight. Standing perfectly still in the center of the pit like it¡¯s meditating, its iron-masked face tilted up toward the sky. Following its eerie gaze, I spot a thin sliver of crescent moon peeking through the clouds.


    Even motionless, the thing is a sight to behold. At least eight feet of pure muscle and metal, its skin a patchwork of scars and grafted armor ting. The iron mask fused to its face gleams in the moonlight, those eerie blue eyes glowing from within like trapped stars. It would look human except for the chip in the lower left quadrant, enough to reveal monster jaws full of sharp exposed teeth.


    Rods of metal jut from its back like a twisted parody of wings, and its right arm is solid metal and fully articted, ending in a wed hand with massive curved des where fingers should be. Despite the off-and-on rain we¡¯ve been getting, there¡¯s still blood on those ws from what it did to twenty-six men.


    My men.


    I should throw a few bombs into the pit for that. It was the most gruesome, violent thing I¡¯ve ever witnessed out here, and that¡¯s fucking saying something. But I knew the moment I saw it in action, I had to have it in my arsenal.


    And not in pieces.


    ¡®Thought you said it was being aggressive,¡¯ I mutter to Lex, unable to tear my eyes away from the creature below.


    She throws up her hands in exasperation. ¡®It was! Snarling and wing at anyone who came near the edge of the pit. That¡¯s what all those marks are from.¡¯ Her frustration ebbs back into a smirk. ¡®Maybe it¡¯s got a crush on you. Calmed right down as soon as you showed up.¡¯


    ¡®Fuck off,¡¯ I growl. My mind is racing, piecing together fragments of rumors and half-forgotten stories. The Vytoskyk facility. Vrissian experiments pushed beyond the limits of human endurance.


    ¡®What should we call him?¡¯ Lex asks.


    I give her a weary look. She insisted on naming that mutt we found scrounging around in the ruins, gnawing on a human arm bone, too. Bess is a hell of an innocuous name for a beast that¡¯s eaten half my favorite boots and pissed in my favorite chair.


    ¡®They call it the Knight,¡¯ I answer. When I see the look she¡¯s giving me, I add, ¡®Finally dug it out of the Ghost who wears the gue doctor mask. Says they encountered it on their escape from thatb. Guess their feral omega got attached.¡¯


    She snorts at that. ¡®An omega? Bit skittish for that, aren¡¯t they?¡¯


    ¡®Perhaps,¡¯ I muse, studying the beast below as it continues gazing up at the night sky with a fixation that borders on worship, as if it¡¯spletely oblivious to our presence. ¡®All the ones I¡¯ve encountered have been.¡¯


    ¡®You should go encounter the one in our basement,¡¯ she scoffs. ¡®Maybe you can charm her into giving us some intel on where her daddy keeps the big bucks before we hand her over. Don¡¯t think she likes women.¡¯


    ¡®Maybe she just doesn¡¯t like scumbags,¡¯ I counter, already headed toward the entrance to the other storage facility turned dungeon.


    ¡®You¡¯re one to talk!¡¯ she shoots back.


    I flip her off and tug open the door leading into the pitch ck corridor below. Fucking fuse must have blown again. But when I flip the switch, the lightse on one by one, illuminating the row of storage rooms we¡¯ve been using as a makeshift jail. Usually, the cells are only upied when my men get a little too rowdy.


    Or Lex. It¡¯s often Lex.


    But for right now, they¡¯re all reserved for our VIP.


    I flip the switch and watch as the lights flicker to life, illuminating the dank corridor before me. The smell of mildew and stale air hits me as I descend the stairs, my boots echoing off the concrete walls. It¡¯s a familiar scent, one that reminds me of countless other hideouts and safehouses I¡¯ve inhabited over the years.


    But as I reach the bottom of the stairs, another scent cuts through the musty air. Something¡­ different.


    Intoxicating.


    Impossible.


    My steps falter as it washes over me, unlike anything I¡¯ve encountered before. It¡¯s sweet, but not cloying. Pure, but not innocent. It calls to something primal within me, something I thought I¡¯d buried years ago beneathyers of ambition and dried blood and ruthlessness.


    I shake my head, trying to clear it. I¡¯ve smelled omegas before. Plenty of them. But never like this. Never so¡­


    Fuck.


    A part of me wants to turn back, to retreat to the safety of my office and send someone else to deal with our ¡®guest.¡¯ Because suddenly, I¡¯m not so sure I can trust myself.


    But I am a Vrissian alpha. I may be Vrissian scum, but I am Vrissian nheless. Not some spineless Reinmichian coward hiding behind the Council or a posh elitist Surhiiran who¡¯d rather hide in a university tower rather than get his hands dirty in the real world.


    I face my problems.


    Head fucking on.


    I force myself to keep walking, even as that scent grows stronger with each step. It wraps around me like a silken cord, tugging me forward. By the time I reach her cell, my heart is pounding in my chest in a way it never has all the countless times I¡¯ve faced death, my mouth dry as cotton.


    I peer through the small window in the heavy metal door, and for a moment, all I can see is a spill of silvery-white hair across the pillow. She¡¯s facing away from me, curled up on the cot like a sleeping cat. But even from here, I can tell the curves of her body beneath the thin nket are all woman, soft and inviting in a way that makes my fingers itch to stroke something other than a trigger for the first time in months.


    For a moment, I wonder if she¡¯s in heat. That would exin the intensity of her scent, the way it¡¯s affecting me. But no¡ªthere¡¯s none of that musky undertone thates with a heat cycle.


    This is just¡­ her.


    Pure and undiluted.


    Pure what¡­?


    I rack my brain for any scent topare it to, but despite the fact that Ie up empty, there¡¯s an undeniable familiarity there.


    No, that scent isn¡¯t like anything else on earth. But I do have a frame of reference. An image¡ªno, a full-sensory fucking experience¡ªthat pops into my mind as she stirs in her sleep and the threadbare sheet slips away from those gloriously thick, milky thighs.


    Moonlight.


    What the fuck does that even mean?


    How can something smell like moonlight?


    No one¡¯s even set foot on that useless rock since we decided killing each other and blowing up this one was a better use of funds. Even if I could ask thest trillionaire asshole who went up there, he¡¯d probably say it smelled like fucking space dust and astronaut breath, not¡­


    Whatever the fuck this is.


    Before I realize what I¡¯m doing, my hand is on the door handle. The rational part of my brain screams at me to stop, to think this through. But that voice is drowned out by the blood rushing in my ears, by the need to get closer to the source of that impossible scent.


    The door swings open with a metallic groan, and she stirs at the sound. I hold my breath as she sits up slowly, that silvery hair cascading down her back like a waterfall.


    And then she turns, and I¡¯m lost.


    Her eyes hit me first. They¡¯re the color of royalty, a shade of violet so deep and rich it puts the finest Surhiiran silks to shame. They widen slightly as they meet mine, and for a moment¡ªjust a fraction of a second¡ªI think I see a flicker of the same awe I¡¯m feeling reflected in their depths.


    But then her gaze hardens, and the spell is broken.


    Well, not broken exactly.


    I¡¯m still locked in it.


    Because in spite of the clear disdain twisting her features, she¡¯s the most beautiful thing I¡¯ve ever seen. Who am I kidding? The spite only enhances it. Like a little pepper in a gourmet dish.


    My eyes travel over her face and body,mitting every detail to memory. The delicate arch of her eyebrows, the heart-shaped face. Her nose is straight and slightly turned up at the bottom, flushed slightly across the bridge. And that mouth¡­


    Full lips, the bottom one slightly fuller than the top, currently pressed into a thin line of hate. I find myself wondering what they¡¯d look like parted in pleasure instead. Or wrapped around my cock.


    The thought sends a jolt of heat through me, and I have to clench my fists at my sides to keep from reaching for her. My gaze drifts lower, taking in the graceful curve of her neck, the hollow of her soft throat where her pulse flutters visibly.


    The silky robe clinging to her plush curves looks rough and harsh inparison to her skin. The robe has slipped off one shoulder, revealing a tantalizing expanse of creamy skin just begging for me to bury my fangs as deep as my¡­


    Fuck.


    No.


    Fuck no.


    Get it together, you fucking assclown.


    I¡¯ve spent years building my empire, wing my way to the top through blood and betrayal. I¡¯ve sacrificed everything¡ªmy family, my conscience, any chance at a normal life¡ªall in pursuit of power.


    And now, standing before this slip of an omega with eyes like amethysts and hair like moonlight, I realize how fragile it all is. Fragile enough that all it would take is a glimmer of moonlight to bring it all crashing down.


    This omega is going to cost me everything.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 5

    I look around in the endless dark, but this time, it¡¯s different. The abyss stretches infinitely in all directions, yet I¡¯m not alone. He¡¯s here with me, closer than he¡¯s ever been at the start of these nightmares.


    The monster towers before me, his massive frame backlit by the only other thing in this void. A perfect full moon hanging impossibly close. His iron mask gleams in its light, and for once, I can make out every detail. The intricate patterns etched into the iron. The jagged edges where it¡¯s been damaged. The way it seems fused to his face.


    But something¡¯s changed.


    The usual predatory tension is gone from his shoulders. His metal arm, usually poised to tear and rend, hangs loosely at his side. He simply¡­ stands there, face tilted up toward the moon like a flower seeking the sun.


    I try to move, to run, but my feet might as well be rooted to the ground. My heart pounds against my ribs as I wait for the moment he notices me.


    For the hunt to begin.


    Instead, he just keeps staring up at that moon, and I find myself studying him. The rods of metal protruding from his back like broken wings. The jagged scars covering his muscr torso. One resembles an autopsy scar, spanning the width of his corbone and cutting straight down to his navel.


    I¡¯m surprised he has a navel at all. I don¡¯t know why I never imagined he could have possibly been born. And for a moment, he¡¯s less terrifying than usual.


    He looks¡­ almost peaceful.


    Then he turns.


    Those glowing blue eyes lock onto mine through the holes in his mask, and my breath catches in my throat. Terror mingles with an odd sense of inevitability.


    Of destiny.


    He takes a step toward me, the movement surprisingly graceful for something so massive.


    Another step.


    Another.


    Part of me wants to just run toward him. To get it over with. To finally face what¡¯s been hunting me all these years. But I¡¯m frozen, caught between flight and surrender.


    All I can do is wait.


    When he reaches me, his metal ws surprisingly gentle as they close around my arms and his other handes up¡ªa human hand, though it¡¯s still massive enough to wrap around my entire upper arm just the same¡ªI don¡¯t resist as he pulls me down into the darkness. The mask begins to crumble, pieces falling away to reveal the horror beneath. Shocking blue eyes boring straight into my soul, exposed bone and muscle, razor-sharp teeth in a face that¡¯s more monster than man.


    But I don¡¯t feel revulsion or even the usual horror from all the other times I¡¯ve caught a glimpse of him. Only a deep, aching sadness that feels like it¡¯s hollowing me out.


    His jaws part, and I know whates next. I¡¯ve lived this moment a thousand times in my dreams. But knowing doesn¡¯t make it hurt any less when those knife-like teeth sink into the crook of my neck.


    The pain is excruciating. Not just the physical agony of flesh being torn, but something deeper. Something that resonates in my very soul. His pain bes my pain, flooding through me like poison, and I want to scream but no soundes out.


    But then¡­


    Something cuts through the nightmare.


    A scent that doesn¡¯t belong.


    Blood.


    Not mine, though. This is different. Deep and rich and dangerous, like wine spilled on velvet. Like rust on a de.


    It smells¡­ good.


    My eyes snap open to find myself back in my cell, heart racing and skin covered in a cold sweat. The dream clings to me like cobwebs, but that scent¡­


    That scent is real.


    I sit up slowly, trying to orient myself in the light that seems blinding in the face of the darkness I just emerged from. The concrete walls feel closer than ever, but at least they¡¯re real. Solid. Unlike the endless void of my nightmare.


    I¡¯m not alone.


    I stare at the alpha looming in my doorway, his blood-red coat a ssh of violent color against the drab concrete. His eyes are hidden behind crimson tinted lenses, but I feel his gaze raking over me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.


    His choppy hair is so bone-white, I immediately wonder if he¡¯s Vrissian. But the fact that he¡¯s here keeps me from holding out any hope this is a rescue mission. Not that anyone from my mother¡¯s homnd even knows I exist.


    ¡®Who the fuck are you?¡¯ I demand, trying to ignore the way his scent fills the small space.


    It¡¯s¡­ wrong.


    All wrong.


    With one notable exception, every alpha I¡¯ve ever met smells revolting to me. Like rotting pine bark or stagnant swamp water or bitter cheap cigar smoke.


    But this one¡­ he smells like fresh blood. Like steel and danger and moonless nights.


    And worst of all, it¡¯s not repulsive.


    Not at all.


    His lips curve into a smirk, but there¡¯s something off about it. Something almost uncertain beneath the swagger as he responds in perfect Vrissian.


    ¡®Niki kov, at your service.¡¯


    I bristle at the sound of my mother¡¯snguage on his lips. Each word feels like a personal insult.


    ¡®You sick son of a bitch,¡¯ I hiss, getting up from the cot and stalking closer.


    What stops me from getting any further isn¡¯t fear, it¡¯s the fact that I don¡¯t trust myself not to visibly scent the air around him. It¡¯s hard enough to focus from back here, considering I¡¯m used to having to hold my breath in an alpha¡¯s presence.


    Even¡ªno, especially¡ªmy father¡¯s.


    ¡®You should be ashamed of yourself,¡¯ I spit. ¡®Kidnapping and imprisoning a helpless omega in this cesspit.¡¯


    ¡®Helpless?¡¯ He arches an eyebrow with a doubtful snort, leaning casually against the open door frame. The gesture seems deliberately calcted to draw attention to the fact that he¡¯s leaving my escape route wide open, even if I would have to brush past him to get through it. Whatever had him looking like he saw a ghost earlier has vanished, and even though I can¡¯t fully see his eyes behind his tinted lenses, I can tell he¡¯s amused. ¡®Aren¡¯t you the one who injured three members of the legendary Ghost Alpha Unit before they managed to subdue you?¡¯


    My chin lifts with stubborn pride before I can stop myself. ¡®It was four,¡¯ I correct him. ¡®And you¡¯re next if you don¡¯t release me at once.¡¯


    A low chuckle rumbles from his chest, and the sound does things to me I refuse to acknowledge. He gestures gantly at the open doorway. ¡®Be my guest,¡¯ he purrs in that ented voice. ¡®If you can get past me, you¡¯re free to go.¡¯


    I narrow my eyes, studying him. He¡¯s tall, even for an alpha¡ªhe probably had to duck down just to enter the room¡ªand the way he fills out that ridiculous coat suggests he¡¯s not just for show. But there¡¯s something in his posture that seems¡­ off. Like he¡¯s trying too hard to appear rxed.


    Is he taunting me? Testing me?


    Or is he actually giving me a chance?


    As remote as thetter possibility seems, I have to take it.


    I take another step closer, watching his reaction. His scent grows stronger. Blood and steel. I hate him so much, I want to w his eyes out. But the best I¡¯d be able to do is a good rake across his face that would dislodge his tinted sses.


    Looks like someone else already tried, judging from the huge scar cutting diagonally across his face.


    ¡®What¡¯s the catch?¡¯ I ask, not bothering to keep the suspicion from my voice.


    ¡®No catch,¡¯ he says with another smirk.


    He¡¯s fucking with me. I know he is.


    And he¡¯s going to regret it.


    I take another step forward, watching his posture shift ever so slightly.


    He just thinks I¡¯m going to try to dart past him.


    Predictable alpha.


    Instead, Iunch my knee up between his legs as hard as I can. The impact is solid and satisfying. His breath leaves him in a pained whoosh as he doubles over, and I take advantage of his new position to m my forehead into his nose, just like Azarel taught me.


    The crack of bone is music to my ears.


    ¡®Vryzat!¡¯ he curses in Vrissian, stumbling back against the doorframe. Blood streams from his nose, staining his pristine white shirt crimson.


    I don¡¯t wait around to admire my handiwork. Now I dart past him and sprint for the stairs, my bare feet pping against the cold concrete. Behind me, I hear more creative Vrissian curses echoing off the walls as he stumbles through crates to get to me.


    Clearly, he wasn¡¯t expecting that.


    My heart pounds as I reach the door at the top of the stairs. I yank it open and instantly regret it as blinding sunlight floods my vision. After days in that dark cell, it¡¯s like staring directly into the sun. I throw up my arm to shield my eyes, stumbling forward.


    And nearly collide with something solid.


    Something solid that wolf whistles.


    ¡®Holy shit! Tits!¡¯


    I blink rapidly, trying to clear my vision, and find myself face-to-face with Lex again. Her scarred face splits into a delighted grin as she openly ogles me. Looking down, I realize my robe has fallenpletely open in my mad dash for freedom.


    Ish out at Lex, getting a good swipe in across her face before charging past her, clutching my robe together at the same time. Shapes I know have to be soldiers are surrounding me, chasing me, but I¡¯m faster.


    ¡®Don¡¯t just stand there gawking, you useless fucks!¡¯ Niki¡¯s voice booms from the stairwell, thick with rage and what sounds like a broken nose. ¡®Grab her!¡¯


    Panic surges through me. I don¡¯t stop to think. I just run. My bare feet skid on loose gravel as I dart between two of the shadowy figures that try to block my escape. They¡¯re too shocked to react quickly enough, and I hear their curses fade behind me as I sprint across what feels like a massive open space.


    My vision is still blurry, but my instincts scream at me to keep moving. The sound of boots on gravel tells me they¡¯re in pursuit. My lungs burn as I push myself harder, not daring to look back.


    Then the ground disappears beneath my bare feet.


    I somehow catch myself with a skidding halt at the edge of what appears to be a massive pit, my toes curling over the lip as loose stones cascade down into the darkness below. My heart leaps into my throat as I teeter on the edge, arms windmilling for bnce.


    That¡¯s when I see him.


    At first, I think I must be hallucinating. That the stress and the bright light and the adrenaline have finally broken my mindpletely.


    Because there, standing in the center of the pit and staring up at me with glowing blue eyes, is an impossible figure.


    He¡¯s even more terrifying in the flesh.


    The iron mask fused to his face gleams in the sunlight, but it¡¯s damaged on the edge, revealing razor-sharp teeth and torn, scarred flesh. Those haunting blue eyes lock with mine, and time seems to stop.


    This is it.


    This is what I¡¯ve been dreaming about my whole life.


    The monster who¡¯s been hunting me. This creature of endless hunger and agony that imed me in myst dream, reaching up to me, the de ws on his iron hand glinting as light catches them over the edge of the pit. As I fall forward toward him.


    But I can¡¯t look away from those eyes.


    Something passes between us in that moment.


    Recognition.


    Understanding.


    A connection that feels as inevitable as gravity.


    Then rough hands grab the back of my robe, yanking me back from the edge of the pit, and the moment shatters like ss.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 6

    ¡®<span>Oh, fuck. Not him again.¡¯


    The familiar woman¡¯s voice cuts through the chaos of the cramped underground passageways of my little empire. Candy. One of my best ¡®waitresses.¡¯


    And judging from the pissed tone in her voice, I¡¯m gonna have to break a few bones. Almost noon, so it¡¯s about time.


    Been a slow morning.


    I duck under a low-hanging bundle of contraband electronics beneath the flickering neon signs shing over the shortcut to the bar. The ground here is tacky with spilled synth-booze and old blood.


    Just another Tuesday night in paradise.


    A pair of alphas slink past, eyeing me warily. Smart. One look at me is enough to tell most people not to fuck around. I¡¯m tall even for an alpha in these parts¡ªsix-nine, ording to thest wanted poster¡ªand burlier than the average asshole who haunts these parts, even if there¡¯s nothing particrly shy about my battered leather jacket and denim getup.


    Never been a fan of suits.


    The eye patch probably helps. There was too much fucking damage for a prosthetic, and covering it up results in less annoyingments.


    And I¡¯d rather the odd omega I bed here and there as time permits didn¡¯t puke into my mouth while she¡¯s knotted and riding my dick. Wasn¡¯t exactly an enjoyable experience thest time.


    For either of us.


    Other than that, I don¡¯t give a shit. Anyone who¡¯s survived a little maiming and mayhem in the Outer Reaches has his marks. Sure, mine¡¯s worse than most, but it is what it is.


    What does get to me is that the fucker who took my eye is still walking around with all his significant pieces intact. But these shady assholes don¡¯t know that. I bare my teeth in what could generously be called a smile and they scurry off like rats fleeing a sinking ship.


    I¡¯m not in the mood for trouble tonight.


    I round the corner toward my pride and joy. Pandora¡¯s Box. Pun absolutely intended.


    Well, as much pride as a grimy underground strip club can inspire. But it turns a tidy profit, and more importantly, it¡¯s an endless font of information. Amazing what people will let slip when they¡¯re three sheets to the wind and distracted by a pair of tits bouncing in their face.


    The thumping bass grows louder as I approach, but I still catch a scrap of conversation from Candy and one of my other girls huddled by the staff entrance.


    ¡°Swear to god, if he doesn¡¯t stop bitching about the music, I¡¯m gonna put nightshade in the next scotch he orders.¡¯


    ¡®That creep who grabbed your ass?¡¯ the other girl¡ªBree, I think, but it¡¯s hard to say when this ce is a revolving door¡ªasks.


    My hands curl into fists reflexively. Looks like I might have some bones to break after all. But Candy just snorts.


    ¡®Nah, I handled that asshole myself. Fucker won¡¯t be using that hand for a while.¡¯ There¡¯s a vicious satisfaction in her voice that makes me grin. ¡®I¡¯m actually talking about the pretty one. Keeps crying into his drinks and moaning about some omega who dumped him or something.¡¯


    Well, shit. That piques my interest for an entirely different reason.


    ¡®The one with the angel face and golden hair?¡¯ Candy asks. ¡®Damn, what a waste. I¡¯d climb him like a tree if he wasn¡¯t such a sad sack. I¡¯d be afraid of him crying into my cunt instead. But hey, he tips like royalty.¡¯


    ¡®Honestly, I¡¯m surprised he even likes omegas.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah, but I heard he goes both ways. Wouldn¡¯t mind bein¡¯ the beta sandwiched in between those?¡ª¡¯


    And with that, I¡¯ve heard enough. These girls have no standards. Or maybe I¡¯m just getting older.


    Even before I stride into the dimly lit bar, I know exactly who they¡¯re griping about.


    What I don¡¯t know is why the hell he¡¯s here.


    Even though my sense of smell is fucked, the sickly sweet stench of cheap perfume and sweat still manages to burn my nose as I push my way past a three-sided cage containing a gyrating voluptuous beta and the throng of men trying to stuff bills through the bars. Any other night, I might stop to appreciate the view, but apparently, I¡¯ve gotpany.


    My eye is immediately drawn to the bar. He¡¯s easy enough to spot in this shithole. Like a fairy tale prince wandered out of the pages of his fae fantasy and got lost in an apocalyptic tragedy.


    A familiar cascade of golden hair¡ªnot what you¡¯d expect from his name¡ªspills over broad shoulders, attached to a lean figure slumped over the bar amid a sea of empty sses. Even from here, I can see his hand shaking as he raises his current ss to his lips and throws his head back, amber liquid sloshing over the sides.


    ¡®Another,¡¯ he slurs, waving the now-empty ss at my long-suffering bartender. ¡®I have nothing left to live for.¡¯


    I groan, already feeling a headache building between my temples. I should¡¯ve known things were too peacefultely.


    Too¡ªdare I say it¡ªnormal.


    Raven.


    Mercenary, information broker, and the biggest pain in my ass this side of the Outer Reaches. Also the prettiest, and he knows it, which makes him even more insufferable.


    I stalk over to the bar, snapping at the bartender. ¡®Don¡¯t you dare pour him another drop.¡¯


    The bartender, a burly beta named Brick, looks relieved. ¡®Boss, I swear I was about to cut him off. He¡¯s been here for hours.¡¯


    I wave him off. Not his fault. Raven can be¡­ persuasive when he wants to be.


    Which is most of the time.


    At the sound of my voice, Raven¡¯s head snaps up. His blue eyes, bloodshot and unfocused, lock onto mine and sharpen with recognition.


    ¡®Daddy!¡¯ he shouts loud enough to wake the dead, lunging up from his seat with rming agility for someone who¡¯s ingested enough alcohol to kill an elephant, and his arms are around my neck before I can step back and let him eat floor.


    I stumble backward as Raven¡¯s full weight ms into me, his arms locking around my neck like a vice. Crazy fucker¡¯s stronger than he looks, especially drunk off his ass like this. I can barely smell his usual ritzy cologne over the booze.


    ¡®Son of a fucking whore,¡¯ I growl, shoving him off me. He staggers, nearly toppling over before catching himself on the edge of the bar and giving me a wounded puppy look. ¡®How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? I¡¯m not your fucking father. We¡¯re not even rted.¡¯


    ¡®Maybe not by blood,¡¯ he whines.


    ¡®Or marriage. Or adoption, or any of the other ways to be rted,¡¯ I remind him.


    He slumps back against the bar and pouts as if he¡¯s not the deadliest fucking shot this side of Surhiira. ¡®I¡¯m emotionally devastated. I needed to be around family right now. I need support.¡¯


    He reaches to snatch a ss from another patron who¡¯s walking toward the stage. The man turns back sharply and looks like he¡¯s about to throw down, but then he catches sight of the revolver resting openly on Raven¡¯s hip and thinks better of it.


    I snatch the ss out of Raven¡¯s hand and a drop of liquid sloshes onto the frilly white cor of his open shirt that looks like he just robbed a poet¡¯s corpse. I swear, this fucking lunatic¡¯s gonna be the death of me.


    ¡®Enough of that,¡¯ I snap. ¡®You¡¯re drunk enough.¡¯


    ¡®First I lose the love of my life, now rejected by Daddy,¡± hements, digging a hand into his golden waves. ¡®Life is a cruel mistress.¡¯


    ¡®The love of your life?¡¯ I echo dryly. ¡®You wouldn¡¯t know amitted rtionship if it fucked you in the ass.¡¯


    His eyes narrow sharply. ¡®I¡¯m a changed man, Geo. A Lothario like you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡¯


    ¡°A Lothario? Me?¡± I echo with a dryugh. ¡®That¡¯s riching from you.¡¯


    I catch Brick¡¯s confused nce from behind the bar. Great. Just what I need¡ªmore bullshit rumors floating around about me and this walking disaster.


    Fuck it, I¡¯m clearly not gonna get rid of him anytime soon. I grab Raven¡¯s shoulder and muscle him toward the bar exit. ¡®Come on. We¡¯re taking this to my office. You get an hour, then you¡¯ve gotta go.¡¯


    ¡®Wonderful,¡¯ he says, brightening so quickly I¡¯m starting to wonder if the bereaved lover boy thing was just a mask.


    Who am I kidding?


    Every aspect of his personality is.


    I catch a few stray nces from some of the alphas we pass as we press through the teeming masses packing every inch of thebyrinth that is the ck market. Raven hangs off my arm the whole time, prattling away, but I¡¯m too irritated to hear anything he¡¯s saying. He doesn¡¯t stop when I try in vain to shrug him off, either.


    They¡¯re all going to think I¡¯m fucking him.


    As if I need moreplications in my life.


    Raven finally lets go of me and struts on ahead, picking his way through the crowd with feline grace. He knows his way through these damn corridors better than I do. But when he stops outside the battered metal door to my office and taps in the code, that¡¯s a bridge too far.


    ¡®The fuck?¡¯ I cry. ¡®I never gave you the code.¡¯


    ¡®Are you forgetting I used to live here?¡¯ he asks dryly as the keypad chirps and lights up green. He pushes the door open and strides in like he owns the ce. ¡®FYI, you should keep your codes somewhere more secure than your desk.¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s in a hidden fucking drawer!¡¯ I bellow.


    He ignores me, looking around at the mismatched furniture and picking up a throw pillow with his fingertips, his aquiline nose wrinkling slightly in disdain. ¡®I see you¡¯ve¡­ redecorated.¡¯


    ¡®Your mother ever tell you if you don¡¯t have anything positive to say, you should just shut the fuck up?¡¯ I ask, leaning against the edge of the sofa.


    ¡®Don¡¯t know, closest thing I ever had was a Madame,¡¯ he muses, squinting around the room as if he¡¯s trying to focus. ¡®It¡­ isn¡¯t as sticky as it looks like it would be?¡¯


    I take a deep breath. If that¡¯s his attempt at nice, I¡¯d rather him just be an asshole.


    ¡®Raven, why are you here?¡¯ I demand, lowering my voice. ¡®And what¡¯s all this about you getting dumped by some omega?¡¯


    I¡¯m expecting him to tell me he fell for one of the girls at his club who turned out to have a jealous husband who doesn¡¯t like to share. He¡¯s always had a thing for other alphas. To be fair, he likes omegas, too.


    Anything with a pulse, really. Although he¡¯s been known to check out statues.


    But something¡¯s different this time. The mask slips, and suddenly, the Raven I know with his swagger and sharp edges is gone. In his ce is someone I barely recognize, raw and vulnerable in a way that makes me deeply ufortable.


    I hope he doesn¡¯t cry again.


    Fuck, I¡¯m bad with crying people.


    ¡®She didn¡¯t dump me,¡¯ he says, his voice uncharacteristically soft. ¡®I didn¡¯t even have time to get her name. But she was the most bewitching thing I¡¯ve ever seen.¡¯


    I raise an eyebrow, torn between amusement and concern. ¡®You¡¯re this attached to a woman you haven¡¯t even properly met?¡¯


    Raven sprawls out across the couch, my couch, shiny leather boots and all. ¡®Time has no meaning in the presence of a goddess,¡¯ he deres, his voice rising as he gazes wistfully up at the fluorescent light bulb dangling from the ceiling. ¡®I knew the moment I saw her¡ªno, the moment I caught her scent¡ªit was meant to be.¡¯


    Yeah, continuing this conversation in the office was the right choice. He¡¯s already making a scene.


    ¡®Must¡¯ve been some whiff.¡¯


    ¡®You have no idea,¡¯ he says in a hungry tone I¡¯ve never heard in his voice before. Needy, sure. Horny? Almost always.


    But this is something different.


    Something I¡¯d rather not have happening on my couch.


    ¡®Just tell me what¡¯s going on,¡¯ I say, keeping my voice gruff. ¡®Preferably without the theatrics.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s silent for a long moment, his head lolling to one side. When he finally looks up, his eyes are red-rimmed and ssy.


    ¡®She was right there under my nose,¡¯ he says quietly. Reverently. ¡®The most perfect being I¡¯ve everid eyes on. Silver hair like moonlight, eyes like amethysts. All plush curves and the most glorious ass this world has ever seen.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s real poetic,¡¯ I say tly. ¡®Most of it. But you¡¯re surrounded by beautiful women on a daily basis and god knows enough of them fling themselves at you. What makes this one different if you don¡¯t even know her name?¡¯


    ¡®Her scent,¡¯ he repeats, sitting up and running a hand through his tangled golden hair. There¡¯s an intensity in his gaze that catches me off guard. Shrewd and wolfish. ¡®It was like nothing I¡¯ve ever experienced, and you know I¡¯ve tasted, smelled and touched every manner of debauchery this world has to sell.¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯d better smell like fucking filet mignon if you¡¯re goin¡¯ on this much about it.¡¯


    ¡®Moonlight,¡¯ he answers, and for the first time since he came prancing into my life with a fucking grenadeuncher on his shoulder, he¡¯s stone cold serious.


    Which is funny, considering that¡¯s one of the more ridiculous things he¡¯s ever said. But the re he gives me when I can¡¯t help butugh confirms he¡¯s not joking.


    ¡®Moonlight? You mean her hair, or the way she smells?¡¯ I echo, trying not to sound like an incredulous asshole.


    It¡¯s not going well.


    ¡®You¡¯d understand if you were there,¡¯ he snaps, drifting to that far off ce the next instant. ¡®Or maybe you wouldn¡¯t.¡¯


    I resist the urge to roll my eye and swallow the groan building in my throat. This isn¡¯t just one of his histrionic fits. It¡¯s one of his obsessions, and that¡¯s so much fucking worse.


    Thest one was Niki kov.


    And it damn near killed us both.


    ¡®Alright,¡¯ I say, winding around my desk and dropping into the battered leather chair that¡¯s perfectly worn out. I reach for my key and unlock the desk drawer¡ªhe¡¯s probably got a copy of that somewhere, too¡ªand pull out my not-so-little ck book. ¡®Tell me about this ¡®moonlit goddess¡¯ of yours and we¡¯ll find her.¡¯


    ¡®All I know is that she was with Monty Filch in the Alpha¡¯s Alpha,¡¯ he says, sitting up abruptly. All business now. ¡®At least, I think she was.¡¯


    ¡®Monty Filch? You know he¡¯s?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Dead, I know,¡¯ he interrupts with an impatient wave of his hand. ¡®Courtesy of the Ghosts.¡¯


    The way he spits their name like a curse, I take it things didn¡¯t go well when I sent them his way. Can¡¯t even remember what they wanted now. Something about omegas. A lot of peoplee to me with a lot of bullshit, but the particr brand of bullshit the Ghosts peddle is one I like to shoo out the door as soon as possible.


    ¡®Yeah, no shit. They took out the entire Council and half of Reinmich¡¯s tin soldiers,¡¯ I say, folding my arms. ¡®I hope you¡¯re not trying to tell me the Ghosts took your mystery woman, because if that¡¯s the case, you¡¯re shit outta luck. If you haven¡¯t noticed, they¡¯re a little beyond the pay grade of gutter trash like us these days.¡¯ I snort at the thought and mutter, ¡®If I¡¯d known one of them was the fucking crown prince of Surhiira, I would¡¯ve charged.¡¯


    ¡®Speak for yourself,¡¯ he hisses. ¡®I don¡¯t give a shit if that pretty boy germaphobe is the king of the entire fucking universe. I will have her. With or without your help.¡¯


    I stare at Raven, trying to gauge if this is just another one of his dramatic performances. But there¡¯s an intensity in those blue eyes I¡¯ve rarely seen before. The yful, flirtatious mask has fallen awaypletely, revealing something raw and desperate underneath.


    Fuck.


    He¡¯s actually serious about this.


    Which means he¡¯s gonna get himself killed.


    The thought causes a dull twinge in the pit of my stomach I haven¡¯t felt in long enough it takes me a second to recognize it for sadness.


    Huh. Guess I did get a little attached to the mboyant psychopath after all.


    ¡®Okay,¡¯ I say casually, snapping my ck book shut with a decisive thud. ¡®Without me.¡¯


    The effect is immediate. Raven¡¯s face crumples, his bravado crumbling like a sandcastle hit by a tidal wave.


    ¡®What?¡¯ he croaks, voice cracking. ¡®You can¡¯t! Geo!¡¯


    I push myself up from my chair, already regretting not kicking him out the moment he stumbled into my bar. But Raventches onto my arm, clinging to me like a barnacle as I try to make my way to the door.


    ¡®You¡¯re friends with that serial killer from Vrissia!¡¯ he whines, his nails digging into my arm in desperation. ¡®You have an in that I don¡¯t!¡¯


    I snort, shaking my head. ¡®Saying I¡¯m ¡®friends¡¯ with Valek is a stretch.¡¯


    But Raven isn¡¯t listening. He¡¯s in full meltdown mode now, literally hanging off me as I try to leave my own damn office. I stagger under the unexpected weight as he nts his feet on the cheap tile floor. For someone so lean, he¡¯s surprisingly heavy when he wants to be.


    ¡®I¡¯ll do anything,¡¯ he pleads, his eyes blown wide. ¡®I¡¯ll pay any price.¡¯


    I¡¯ve seen that look of frenzied desperation before. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think he was an addict desperate for his next fix, and I guess he is. He just happened to pick the most dangerous substance there is.


    An omega that belongs to someone even more dangerous than him.


    ¡®I make plenty of money, thanks,¡¯ I growl, trying to pry him off my arm. But he¡¯s like a fucking cracked out octopus, all limbs and desperate grip.


    Raven pauses in his assault, his eyes darting around the cramped office. Even upside-down, I can see the judgment in his gaze. ¡®And you still choose to live like this?¡¯ he asks, doubt dripping from every word.


    Annoyance res hot in my chest. I¡¯ve worked my ass off to build this empire from nothing, carving out a ce for myself in the unforgiving wastnd of the Outer Reaches.


    So it¡¯s a shithole.


    But it¡¯s my shithole.


    I finally manage to dislodge him, dumping him unceremoniously onto the worn sofa. Without a backward nce, I stalk out of the office and into the pulsing heart of the ck market. But of course, Raven follows, stumbling after me like a persistent shadow.


    ¡®I¡¯ll give you a blowjob!¡¯ he calls out, loud enough to turn heads even in this den of depravity.


    That¡¯s it.


    I whirl around, grabbing him by the front of his frilly shirt and yanking him close. ¡®Listen here, you little shit,¡¯ I snarl, my voice low and dangerous. ¡®I didn¡¯t want to fuck you when you came begging me for a job at the brothel years ago, and I sure as fuck don¡¯t want to now. I don¡¯t like alphas, I hate men, and even if I got aplete fucking personality shift and started tomorrow, you¡¯d be thest.¡¯


    Raven has the audacity to look offended. Before his eyes get any ssier, I grumble, ¡®Besides, I thought you said you saw me as a father.¡¯


    ¡®I do,¡¯ he says simply. ¡®I have an Oedipusplex and daddy issues. It¡¯s part of the fun.¡¯ He wrenches himself free of my grip and smooths down his ridiculous shirt. ¡®And for the record, I didn¡¯t beg,¡¯ he says haughtily. ¡®You know damn well I was the best whore this cesspit ever saw. Had the customers lined up around the block.¡¯


    Before I can retort, his eyes light up with mischievous glee. He turns, waving coyly to a pair of men across the market. ¡®Hi, boys,¡¯ he calls out, his voice dripping with honeyed venom.


    One of the men, a burly alpha I vaguely recognize as a regr, blushes furiously, while hispanion looks like he¡¯s trying to melt into the shadows. I roll my eye so hard I¡¯m surprised it doesn¡¯t pop right out of my skull.


    ¡®Power bottoms, both of ¡¯em,¡¯ Raven whispers. ¡®The big one likes having a crowbar shoved up his?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Enough!¡¯ I bellow, throwing my hands up. ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake, Raven, I¡¯m not helping you find that girl. There¡¯s nothing in the whole damn world I want badly enough to get involved with the Ghosts again,¡¯ I say firmly, turning away from Raven¡¯s little show. ¡®Especially now that they¡¯re in bed with Surhiira. I value my fucking peace.¡¯


    I don¡¯t hear him scampering after me, and he¡¯s stopped bitching, so I¡¯m actually starting to entertain the hope that he¡¯s given up when the weasel utters the only words in existence that could make me falter.


    ¡®Not even if I told you I know where you could find the Harbinger¡¯s skull?¡¯


    I freeze, a mere few feet away from the sanctuary of my office.


    From glorious silence.


    From sanity.


    Two things that are always in short supply when Raven is around.


    I turn to fix him with a murderous re over my shoulder. ¡®If you¡¯re shitting me?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Swear on the gods,¡¯ he says, holding up his hands.


    ¡®Coming from you, that doesn¡¯t mean much,¡¯ I say tly.


    A ghost of a smirk tugs at his lips. ¡®Then I swear on my goddess.¡¯ His eyes glint with sincerity as he takes a step closer in the dimly lit corridor. ¡®Help me find her and I¡¯ll get you the macabre little prize you¡¯ve been chasing your whole life.¡¯


    ¡®Not my whole life,¡¯ I grit out.


    Most of it, though.


    Ever since I started my own private museum, I¡¯ve dreamed of owning the skull and antlers of the Harbinger. It was the first irradiated beast to climb out alive from the hollow left by the Judge, which was the cutesy name they gave to thest big nuke that fell in the war. The definitive end of the old world, and a mile marker for the beginning of this shitshow the rest of us have been living in ever since.


    The Harbinger is a legend. Some say it¡¯s just a campfire story and not even real. But it¡¯s the kind of thing any bone collector worth his salt dreams of owning.


    And just about the one thing on this earth that¡¯s out of my reach.


    Raven¡¯s right about one thing. It is a macabre hobby, but when you¡¯ve lived your whole life dancing with death, you either learn to live in fear or you fall in love. There is no in between.


    ¡®If you¡¯re lying, I¡¯ll shoot you dead, peel the skin off your skull and put that on disy instead,¡¯ I say, jabbing a finger at the smirking dickhead in front of me. ¡®Do we have an understanding?¡¯


    ¡®Kinky,¡¯ he purrs. ¡®We do.¡¯


    I grunt an acknowledgment and open my door, holding up a hand when he tries to follow me. ¡®It¡¯ll take me a few days to get in contact with Valek. In the meantime, I want to forget you¡¯re even here.¡¯


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ he says, sulking. ¡®And here I was hoping it could be a family reunion.¡¯


    I m the door on his face to make it clear just what I think about that idea.


    I should just tell him to fuck off while I¡¯m at it.


    There¡¯s no way Raven found the Harbinger¡¯s skull. Hell, as obsessed as I am, even I¡¯m not sure it actually exists.


    But if there¡¯s even a chance¡­


    Well, at least I¡¯ll get to satisfy my curiosity about this omega who¡¯s got Raven drooling like a rabid dog. Usually, his lovers are the ones chasing him.


    And if nothing else, I¡¯ll finally have an excuse to kill him.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 7

    I stare in abject horror as Cosima teeters on the edge of the pit, my heart stopping in my chest. It feels like everything is in slow motion. The Knight reaches up with those lethal ws, and there¡¯s a dull ache somewhere in my chest that feels like those knives are going straight through me.


    It¡¯s a sensation I¡¯ve never felt before. Not a physical sensation, maybe, but every bit as gripping and sharp as the pain I felt when my eye was ripped out, and a thousand times worse.


    This is a hell of a time to have a heart attack.


    Unless¡­


    Is this fear?


    Huh. No wonder Reese is always vomiting. How the fuck do normal people feel this shit on a daily basis and function?


    I lunge forward and grab Cosima¡¯s robe, yanking her back from certain death. She whirls on me immediately like a wild animal, fists and sharp nails flying. My nose is already throbbing from her earlier assault, and now she¡¯s going for my eyes.


    Eye.


    ¡®Would you calm the fuck down?¡¯ I growl, trying to restrain her without hurting her. But the thin fabric of her robe just tears in my hands and she gets free,nding a blow square in the center of my chest. ¡®I just saved your life!¡¯


    She¡¯s stronger than she looks, and despite thrashing in a frenzied rage against me, every swing and swipe is calcted. As I block her so she doesn¡¯t get my other eye, I realize she¡¯s actually pushing me back a little.


    Did someone teach her how to fight?


    And why am I fucking jealous?


    Another thing I¡¯ve never felt in my life. About thirty years and I guess my emotions finally decided to show up to the party. Wonder what¡¯s next.


    Some fucking rxation would be nice.


    Is that an emotion?


    Below us, the Knight lets out an earth-shattering roar that makes my men flinch. But when I nce around, I realize they¡¯re not even looking at the monster. They¡¯re staring at Cosima¡¯s disrobed body with hungry eyes.


    My blood starts boiling.


    I spin us around so I¡¯m blocking their view, ignoring the way she¡¯s still wing at me like a rabid cat and glower over my shoulder. ¡®Anyone who so much as nces in this direction gets thrown in the fucking pit!¡¯


    Suddenly, everyone has urgent business elsewhere. Even Lex makes herself scarce, though not without a final appreciative nce that has me considering if even she needs to join the Knight down there.


    I shrug off my coat, trying to wrap it around Cosima¡¯s shoulders as she continues to struggle. ¡®Would you hold still?¡¯ I snap. ¡®I¡¯m trying to cover you up!¡¯


    She freezes so abruptly it catches me off guard. When I look down at her face, my breath catches in my throat. Tears are streaming down her cheeks as the fight seems to drain out of her all at once.


    ¡®Give me back. He¡¯s here,¡¯ she whispers, her voice hollow and distant. ¡®He found me.¡¯


    She goespletely limp in my arms, her violet eyes zing over as she stares into nothing. The fierce little demon who just broke my nose and nearly escaped¡ªand got herself torn apart in the process¡ªis gone, reced by something fragile and broken.


    This must be what Lex was talking about.


    But what triggered it?


    The Knight?


    Guess even a rabid, unhinged omega has her limits.


    I gather her into my arms, trying not to think about the way her soft curves mold to the hard nes of my chest and arms. Her skin is ice cold, and she¡¯s trembling. Without thinking, I pull her closer, trying to share my warmth.


    All the chaos and sounds of unbridled rageing from that pit probably aren¡¯t helping. Guess Lex was right about that, too. And here I¡¯d thought my newest weapon had lost his spark.


    Apparently, all it took was fresh meat being dangled in front of him to remind him he¡¯s a wild beast.


    ¡®Come on, little psycho,¡¯ I mutter, the endearment slipping out before I can stop it as I shift Cosima in my arms. ¡®Let¡¯s get you somewhere safe.¡¯


    She doesn¡¯t respond, lost in whatever nightmare she¡¯s trapped in, as limp and listless as a doll. The sound of the Knight¡¯s frustrated roars follow us as I carry her back toward thepound, and I swear I can feel those eerie blue eyes burning into my back.


    I shift Cosima¡¯s weight in my arms as I approach the air traffic control tower. My private sanctuary, turned into a fortress worthy of my paranoia. The ss windows thatpletely surround the cylindrical tower at the top of the massive structure reflect the dying sunlight, making it look like the whole thing is on fire.


    Fitting.


    Her words keep echoing in my head like a broken record.


    ¡®Give me back. He¡¯s here. He found me.¡¯


    What the fuck did she mean by that?


    Give her back to her father, or the monster?


    The Knight¡¯s roars have faded to a distant rumble, but I know he¡¯s watching us. I can still feel his eyes. Like a predator that¡¯s caught the scent of its prey.


    And she knows him?


    Or at least she thinks she does.


    The elevator doors slide open with a soft ding that sounds obscenely cheerful given the situation. I step inside, careful not to bump Cosima¡¯s head against the wall. She¡¯s clearly got a few screws loose already. And she¡¯s stillpletely out of it, those violet eyes staring at nothing.


    ¡®You in there?¡¯ I mutter, studying her face for any sign of awareness.


    Nothing.


    Just that thousand-yard stare that makes my chest ufortably tight for reasons I don¡¯t even want to analyze right now. At least the blood dripping from my broken nose makes it easier to think clearly through her scent. The echoes of it linger, though, where they¡¯ve taken hold at something buried deep inside me.


    Maybe I¡¯ve got a few screws loose, too.


    The elevator begins its ascent and I find myself pulling her closer instinctively. She¡¯s so fucking cold. Like holding a corpse, except for the rapid flutter of her pulse where her throat presses against my arm.


    I can¡¯t stop thinking about the way she looked at that monster. There was recognition in her eyes. Fear, yes, but something else too. Something that looked almost like¡­


    Relief?


    What kind of omega looks at an eight-foot-tall killing machine with relief?


    The same kind that headbutts a notorious warlord and tries to castrate him with blunt force trauma, apparently.


    I nce down at her again, taking in the delicate arch of her eyebrows, the soft curve of her lips. She looks so fragile like this. Nothing like the hellcat who nearly escaped.


    And both versions are doing something to my head I don¡¯t particrly like.


    The elevator finally slows to a stop as it reaches the top floor. I shoulder my way through the reinforced door into my private quarters. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of my domain, but I barely notice the sight I usually spend hours brooding over.


    I¡¯m too focused on the woman in my arms¡ªand the growing certainty that I¡¯m in way over my fucking head.


    ¡®Time to wake up,¡¯ I say,ying her gently on the massive bed that dominates one corner of the space. My coat is still wrapped around her, and something possessive stirs in my chest at the sight.


    I push the feeling down. Hard.


    More nkets. I gather every one I can find, which isn¡¯t a lot. Most of the time I don¡¯t even properly go to bed, I just kind of drift off doing something else for a few hours here and there. Never needed more.


    This ce isn¡¯t a home so much as it is a lookout tower. A ce I can get away to plot and n my next scheme. There¡¯s the bed, a leather couch I had my men haul out of an abandoned department store, and a basic kitchen I haven¡¯t touched since I took over this ce and had it remodeled. Other than that, and a cache of some essentials and weapons in case I ever need to get the hell out of dodge, the vast space is pretty much empty.


    The control panels around the perimeter add a certain ambiance, though. I left those. Still not exactly an ideal location to keep a prissy omega, but I guess it¡¯s better than a dank concrete cell.


    She doesn¡¯t stir, doesn¡¯t even blink. Just keeps staring at nothing with those haunting eyes. I¡¯ve seen this kind of thing before. Soldiers who¡¯ve seen too much, their minds checking out when reality bes too much to handle.


    But what could make an omega princess from a privileged background break like this?


    The monster?


    How the fuck would it have even gotten to her when she¡¯s probably spent her whole life in an ivory tower?


    I rake a hand through my hair in frustration, wincing when the back of my hand brushes against my busted nose. Questions pile up like bodies after a firefight, and the one person who could answer them is currently lost in her own world.


    A world that apparently involves a certain iron-masked beast.


    The same beast that tore through twenty-six of my men like they were made of paper. The same beast that¡¯s currently throwing itself against the walls of its prison and wing at the edges, trying to climb out.


    Trying to get to her.


    What are the fucking odds? I don¡¯t believe in coincidences, even less in fate. Only what I can see, hear, and touch.


    But that scent of hers¡­ that was real.


    And so was the fear I felt when she was bncing on the edge of that pit.


    All of it means something. And I¡¯m enough of a realist that I know exactly how fucking dangerous it is. I also know exactly how much shit I¡¯m in if I don¡¯t hand her back when the Ghostse calling.


    For the first time in my life, I¡¯m just not sure rationality is going to win out.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 8

    moon is an omega?


    moon is here?


    moon is¡­ gone


    moon is so small


    so soft


    so human


    almost had her


    almost touched


    song was so loud


    so close


    white-hair has her now


    snarl builds in my throat


    demon in red coat


    like scientists


    his is all blood


    dangerous


    to her?


    took her


    my moonlight


    she was here the whole time


    prisoner


    just like me


    who can keep the moon in a cage?


    must free her


    must touch her


    must consume her


    must do everything she wants


    and more


    but first


    must free myself


    how?


    too far up


    ground crumbles under ws


    cannot grip


    cannot climb


    dirt is too t


    too soft


    cannot jump


    too heavy


    more metal than flesh


    need to get to her


    my moonlight


    my omega


    mine


    roar in frustration


    m iron fist into ground


    earth shakes


    small rocks tumble down


    soldiers yelp like animals


    how dare they share her form


    two arms


    two legs


    a face


    sphemy


    but they are made of meat


    she is made of light


    smells so sweet


    so bright

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 9

    I jolt awake in darkness, still flooded with adrenaline from the grip of the nightmare I just escaped. My hand immediately flies to my neck. It was so real and recent, I¡¯m surprised there¡¯s not a gaping wound torn in my flesh. The dream clings to me like cobwebs, but this time, the monster¡¯s face doesn¡¯t fade with consciousness.


    Because he¡¯s real.


    I saw him.


    Those haunting blue eyes, that iron mask, those lethal ws reaching for me¡­


    I blink, trying to orient myself. I¡¯m in a massive bed, buried under a pile of nkets, and something else. A coat. Blood red and impossibly soft. I inhale without thinking and that scent hits me.


    Blood on steel.


    Niki.


    So different from Azarel¡¯s golden sunlight.


    But they¡¯re alike in one regard. Neither alpha¡¯s scent makes me want to vomit like every other alpha¡¯s does.


    The first time I encountered him, it could have been a fluke, but now¡­ it feels like betrayal somehow.


    Even if Azarel isn¡¯t here.


    Even if, for all I know, he¡¯s abandoned me.


    It¡¯s what I should believe. What the logical part of me is trying to drill into my head to keep me from plummeting into the depths of disappointment once again. But my heart won¡¯t let me ept that ugly possibility. That he worked his way through my defenses and awakened a part of me I thought was long dead only to end up being like every other alpha in my life.


    A fucking traitor.


    Looking around, I realize I¡¯m in some kind of circr room. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround me, revealing the dark expanse of what looks like an airfield below. Blinking lights mark the perimeter, casting an eerie glow.


    Is that where I was earlier?


    Everything after the sun hit my eyes is a blur.


    Against my better judgment, I pull the red coat closer, breathing in that dangerous scent. It shouldn¡¯t beforting. It shouldn¡¯t calm my racing heart or chase away the lingering terror of my nightmare.


    But it does.


    ¡®If you like my scent so much, you could¡¯ve just said so.¡¯


    I jolt at that infuriating voice, catching the glint of red-tinted lenses in the darkness. Niki emerges from the shadows like a wolf creeping out of a den, all lean muscle in his tight ck shirt. His nose is definitely broken, dried blood crusted beneath it, and scratches mar his already marred face. I can¡¯t really remember, but I think I¡¯m the one who put them there.


    Good.


    ¡®I hate your scent,¡¯ I snap, dropping the coat like it¡¯s burned me. ¡®I was using it like smelling salts to wake up properly.¡¯


    He scoffs, moving closer. ¡®Oh yeah? And what do I smell like, little psycho?¡¯


    I bristle at the nickname. ¡®Like piss and ass.¡¯


    It¡¯s a bald-faced lie. He smells fucking incredible.


    But the smugness drops from his face, and even in the dim light from the airfield, I can tell he¡¯s furious from the vein popping out in his temple. ¡®Whatever you need to tell yourself,¡¯ he says with a knowing smirk that makes me want to break his nose again.


    What does he mean by that?


    The cryptic remark makes me uneasy.


    Vulnerable in a way I don¡¯t like.


    ¡®Why do you wear those stupid sses indoors?¡¯ I demand, trying to regain some control over the situation the only way I can.


    His smirk falters slightly. ¡®d to see you¡¯re back to being a prickly psycho instead of a frigid doll. I was starting to worry seeing that thing had somehow lobotomized you.¡¯


    I freeze, ice flooding my veins.


    Back?


    I must have had another episode. They¡¯re happening more often than usual. But I guess that¡¯s to be expected, considering I¡¯ve been off the pills for¡­ how long now?


    Shit. I¡¯m starting to lose track during my lucid times, too.


    But I¡¯ve got bigger concerns now than my own fucked up brain. Like the fact that my captor has been keeping the demon from my nightmares in a pit.


    I don¡¯t remember much before I cked out, but I caught a glimpse of the shock on Niki¡¯s face before he pulled me back from the edge.


    Enough to know he didn¡¯t n this.


    I think I¡¯d almost prefer that, considering the alternative is that fate brought us together.


    ¡®The monster,¡¯ I begin slowly, watching his face for any reaction. ¡®How do you have it?¡¯


    Niki tilts his head, folding his arms across his broad chest as he studies me through those ridiculous red lenses. ¡®You¡¯re not really in a position to be asking questions here,¡¯ he says smoothly. ¡®I think the real question is how do you know it?¡¯


    I grit my teeth, refusing to answer. When he moves closer, I flinch back against the headboard instinctively, pressing myself as far away as I can get.


    To my surprise, he stops.


    ¡®Rx,¡¯ he mutters, raking a hand through his choppy white hair. ¡®I didn¡¯t touch you while you were out, and I¡¯m not nning on it now. I may be many wicked things, but I¡¯m not that kind of monster.¡¯


    I hesitate, considering his words. I don¡¯t feel any evidence of vition. Something deeper, more instinctive, tells me he¡¯s speaking the truth. Something the logical part of my brain refuses to indulge.


    He¡¯s an alpha.


    They¡¯re all the same.


    All but one.


    ¡®No,¡¯ I say bitterly, ¡®you just sell omegas into very to other alphas who will, and then you pocket the proceeds.¡¯


    He scoffs, the sound harsh in the quiet room. ¡®You have a lot of assumptions about me for a spoiled princess. For the record, I¡¯m not selling you to anyone. You¡¯re here because the Ghosts needed an impartial middleman to hold you until your daddy sends someone to pick you up.¡¯


    ¡®You? Impartial?¡¯ I can¡¯t help the derisiveugh that escapes me as I look pointedly around the room. ¡®You have a fuckingir. I don¡¯t even know what you are. Warlord? Mercenary? Mafia?¡¯


    ¡®Right on all three counts, little psycho,¡¯ he says, dragging over a chair and dropping into it backward. He leans on the metal back, watching me. ¡®Trust me, you¡¯re better off with a few dirty ouws than any rat who managed to survive the fall of Reinmich. But I expect you¡¯ll figure that out soon enough.¡¯


    ¡®I know exactly what those rats are capable of,¡¯ I hiss. ¡®Far better than you ever could.¡¯


    I expect Niki to argue, to tell me I don¡¯t know anything about the world outside my gilded cage. But instead, he goes silent, and I find myself unsettled that I can¡¯t read his expression behind those red-tinted lenses. The silence stretches between us like a taut string until he finally breaks it by speaking.


    ¡®Maybe you do.¡¯


    His quiet eptance makes me more ufortable than any argument would have. I press on, desperate to change the subject. ¡®How did you manage to get the monster into that pit?¡¯


    A slight smile curves his lips. ¡®I¡¯ll make you a deal,¡¯ he says, leaning forward on the chair. ¡®You answer my question, I¡¯ll answer yours.¡¯


    I clench my jaw in annoyance, but I know I don¡¯t have much choice here. ¡®You wouldn¡¯t believe me if I told you.¡¯


    ¡®Try me,¡¯ he says with a shrug. ¡®I¡¯m a surprisingly open-minded man.¡¯


    I sigh, pulling my knees up to my chest, his coat still draped over me. I tell myself it¡¯s only for modesty¡¯s sake, and not because of his scent. The man himself is a nuisance, but his scent¡­ it grounds me for reasons I don¡¯t want to even entertain right now.


    The memory of the monster¡¯s haunting blue eyes makes me shiver despite the nkets surrounding me. ¡®I¡¯ve had visions for as long as I can remember. Dreams of it stalking me. Hunting me.¡¯ I wrap my arms around myself tightly. ¡®Devouring me.¡¯


    I wait for him to tell me I¡¯m crazy, just like my father did. That¡¯s how I ended up on the pills in the first ce. Azarel says it in kinder words, but I can tell from the look in his eyes whenever I speak about it that he thinks the same. It doesn¡¯t matter, though. Whenever I fall asleep in Azarel¡¯s arms, it¡¯s the only time I sleep without dreaming.


    But Niki just listens quietly, his head tilted slightly as if he¡¯s considering my words. ¡®How do you know it¡¯s the same monster from your dreams?¡¯ he finally asks.


    I let out a harshugh. ¡®Are you kidding? It¡¯s not like he has amon look.¡¯


    Niki chuckles at that, the sound surprisingly warm. ¡®No,¡¯ he agrees, ¡®I suppose not.¡¯ He shifts in his chair, leaning closer. ¡®Do you know what it is?¡¯


    I hesitate, my fingers ying with the edge of one of the nkets. ¡®No,¡¯ I admit. ¡®But it¡¯s your turn to answer my question. How did you capture it?¡¯


    He nods, epting the deflection. ¡®My men and I ran into it¡ªliterally¡ªon our way to Surhiira. It was walking like it had a mission.¡¯ He pauses, studying me so intently through those red lenses that I feel exposed. ¡®Maybe it did.¡¯


    Terror churns in my stomach at his words. The thought that my nightmares might have been more than just dreams like everyone¡ªeven Azarel¡ªinsists, that the monster was actually searching for me all this time¡­


    I knew he was real.


    But having it confirmed is something else.


    It should terrify me, and it does.


    But a part of me is¡­ relieved?


    Because I¡¯m not crazy. At least, not because of this.


    ¡®It took out more than two dozen of my men before we managed to subdue it,¡¯ Niki continues. ¡®Had to wrap it in chains and drag it here.¡¯


    ¡®And now you¡¯re keeping it in a pit,¡¯ I finish for him, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡®Why?¡¯


    ¡®Ah,¡¯ he says, wagging a finger. ¡®That¡¯s another question. You¡¯ll have to earn that answer.¡¯


    I re at him. ¡®I already told you about my dreams.¡¯


    ¡®And I told you how we caught it,¡¯ he counters. ¡®One truth for one truth. That¡¯s the deal.¡¯


    I want to argue, but exhaustion is starting to creep in again. The familiar fog thates after one of my episodes makes my thoughts feel sluggish and disconnected. ¡®Fine,¡¯ I mutter, sinking back against the pillows. ¡®What do you want to know?¡¯


    ¡®Back there, after I pulled you back from the ledge¡ªyou¡¯re wee, by the way,¡¯ he says pointedly, ¡®You said something about giving you back. Were you talking about the Knight?¡¯


    ¡®The Knight?¡¯ I echo, frowning. ¡®You named it?¡¯


    ¡®No, that¡¯s just what it¡¯s called,¡¯ he says tly. ¡®Answer the question.¡¯


    I sigh. ¡®I don¡¯t know what I was talking about, okay? I¡¯ve been kidnapped, kept in a cramped, dark, tacky, smelly room, and then I almost fell into a pit with the machine-man hybrid who¡¯s been chasing me in my dreams my whole life. I could have been talking about the fucking solstice goose, for all I know.¡¯


    He snorts at that, clearly getting my reference to the old Vrissian folk tale. About time someone did.


    ¡®Fair enough.¡¯ He pauses, growing serious once more. I think I like it better when he¡¯s just an asshole. ¡®You have those episodes often?¡¯


    I bristle at the reminder. It¡¯s a subject my family, even my mother, has always been content¡ªno, determined¡ªto ignore. Like it¡¯ll just go away if we never talk about it.


    And for a while, it did.


    At least for them.


    I just learned to hide it better.


    To say I needed to go to my room because I didn¡¯t feel well, or dismiss the post-fugue haze as the consequences of a bad night¡¯s sleep.


    But that¡¯s the thing about embarrassing secrets. They never stay buried forever. Eventually, they catch up with you.


    They¡¯re a lot like monsters that way.


    ¡®Why do you even care?¡¯ I ask, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. ¡®You¡¯re just the middleman, aren¡¯t you? Either my father wille for me, or you¡¯ll sell me to the highest bidder. What difference does it make to you?¡¯


    He goes rigid, his shoulders tensing. Wish I could see his eyes behind those red lenses. He¡¯s an extra dick for not taking them off when he¡¯s talking to me.


    ¡®I don¡¯t,¡¯ he snaps, but there¡¯s an edge to his voice. He stalks toward the elevator, his movements sharp and agitated. ¡®And the sooner theye to pick you up, the better. I¡¯ve got enough problems without adding Arthur Maybrecht¡¯s spoiled brat to the list.¡¯


    I stumble out of bed to try to follow him on unsteady legs, my muscles protesting after another extended period of disuse. ¡®You can¡¯t just leave me in your fucking evil viinir!¡¯


    ¡®I can, actually,¡¯ he says, hitting the button for the elevator. The doors slide open with a soft ding that feels like mockery. ¡®And if you keepining, I¡¯ll be more than happy to put you back in the basement.¡¯


    ¡®You wouldn¡¯t dare,¡¯ I hiss, but he¡¯s already stepping into the elevator.


    Thest thing I see is his ring face as the doors close between us. I grab the nearest object¡ªa bottle of expensive-looking liquor he was probably saving for some special asion¡ªand hurl it at the elevator doors as they touch. It shatters spectacrly, amber liquid running down the metal like tears.


    I rush to the elevator and jam my fingers into the call button, but nothing happens. The bastard must have a key or some override.


    ¡®Damn it!¡¯ I m my palm against the doors in frustration.


    Defeated, I drag myself back to the massive bed with one foot still asleep and flop back onto the mattress, immediately regretting it when his scent washes over me. It¡¯s everywhere¡ªin the coat, in the nkets, in the very air I breathe. And worst of all, it¡¯s soothing when I want to stay angry.


    I grab his coat, fully intending to shred it to pieces. My nails tear into the expensive fabric with savage satisfaction, but then something strange happens. Instead of continuing to destroy it, I find myself carefully arranging the torn pieces among the other nkets and clothes.


    I catch myself halfway through making what can only be described as a nest and freeze as realization dawns.


    ¡®Oh, fuck,¡¯ I whisper into the empty room.


    I¡¯m nesting.


    The pills my father insisted I take¡ªthe ones that supposedly help with my ¡®episodes¡¯¡ªthey had another purpose. One that Monty always found convenient, unless he was having one of his parties.


    They kept me from going into heat.


    And I haven¡¯t had a dose in over a week, give or take.


    I push away from the bed, from the half-formed nest, my heart racing. This can¡¯t be happening. Not here. Not now. Especially not this close to the monster from my nightmares.


    The Knight.


    That name feels like a cruel kind of irony, but I¡¯m not sure if the joke is on me or him.


    Maybe both.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 10

    ¡®<span>Are we there yet?¡¯ I drawl, propping my boots up on the console of Geo¡¯s beat-up SUV.


    The leather of my shoes is scuffed and worn, much like the rest of me after the past week. I crunch down on another stale cracker I stole from a vending machine at thest gas station we stopped at, savoring the salt on my tongue. It¡¯s not exactly gourmet cuisine, but it¡¯s something to focus on besides the gnawing ache in my chest.


    Geo¡¯s knuckles whiten on the steering wheel and his eye¡ªthe one not hidden beneath that patch that wasn¡¯t there thest time I saw him¡ªnarrows. ¡®I swear to all that¡¯s unholy, Raven, if you ask me that one more time, I¡¯ll stop this car and tie you to the roof.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t tempt me,¡¯ I scoff. ¡®It¡¯s been months since anyone¡¯s tied me up. I¡¯m starting to feel neglected.¡¯


    Geo grimaces, his gaze fixed firmly on the dusty road ahead. ¡®You¡¯re impossible.¡¯


    ¡®So I¡¯ve been told,¡¯ I quip, but my heart¡¯s not really in it.


    My mind keeps drifting back to her. Those violet eyes fluttering open briefly before they rolled back into her head as those mongrels carried her off. I shake my head, trying to focus on the task at hand. Sustaining my weakening body.


    ¡®So, this dream girl of yours,¡¯ Geo resumes after a few minutes. Usually, I¡¯m the one filling the silence. He must be nervous about meeting the Ghosts. ¡®She know about your little¡­ problem?¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re making it sound like I can¡¯t get a fucking erection,¡¯ I snap.


    ¡®More like you¡¯ve had one so long it¡¯s melted yourmon sense.¡¯


    I flip him off.


    He has a point, though. Not about the erection, but my¡­ issues. They¡¯re not exactlymon for an alpha, and there¡¯s a chance she¡¯ll reject me outright when she finds out just how fucked in the head I am, but it doesn¡¯t matter.


    Okay, so it matters and I¡¯ll probably throw myself in a well, but at least she¡¯ll be away from those grungy barbarians.


    ¡®How much longer?¡¯ I ask, suddenly in a mood as sour as the irradiated sky.


    ¡®Soon,¡¯ Geo grunts. ¡®You sure this is worth it? It¡¯ll be five against one.¡¯


    I can¡¯t help but scoff. ¡®No, it won¡¯t. It¡¯ll be two on two.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s brow furrows, confusion etched across his weathered features. ¡®How the hell do you know that?¡¯


    His features are more weathered now with that damn eye patch, but I know if I ask him about it, he¡¯ll be sulking the rest of the trip. He likes to pretend he doesn¡¯t care about that kind of thing, but he does. He likes to pretend he doesn¡¯t care about a lot of things.


    I¡¯m holding my tongue on mentioning the flecks of gray hair he¡¯s getting around his temples and in his short beard, too. Probably thinks it isn¡¯t obvious now that he¡¯s got rakish post-apocalyptic rogue hair. Which just so happens to be styled so a few strands ¡®identally¡¯e down over his eye patch.


    Yep. He cares.


    I sigh, tossing the empty cracker package out the window. A small act of rebellion against a world that¡¯s alreadye to an end. ¡®It¡¯s simple, really. Valek¡¯sing, obviously. He¡¯s an escaped serial killer, so they¡¯re certainly not sending him alone. That soldier¡ªThane, was it?¡ªwill insist on keeping an eye on him. You can tell from his bodynguage he trusts him the least.¡¯


    ¡®And the others?¡¯ Geo presses, his tone wary.


    I roll my eyes. ¡®Please. They wouldn¡¯t risk bringing that scrappy little redhead into the presence of Outer Reaches deviants unnecessarily. The giant one that growls all the time is surgically grafted to her like a shadow, so he¡¯s not going anywhere. I doubt the others would leave her alone with him, either.¡¯


    ¡®Which leaves¡­¡¯


    ¡®The prince and the cute one,¡¯ I finish. ¡®And they¡¯ll want to stick together. One nce back at the Alpha¡¯s Alpha and I knew those two were fucking.¡¯


    Geo does a double-take, swerving a bit. ¡®Wait, which one¡¯s the ¡®cute one¡¯?¡¯


    ¡®Whiskey, of course,¡¯ I reply. ¡®Abs are overrated.¡¯


    Geo just curls his lip back and focuses on the road. Guess he isn¡¯t wild about finding out he¡¯s more of my type than he previously thought.


    I gave up on trying to get into his pants eons ago, and if I¡¯m being honest, the fact that I never could makes him more charming. Not many people in this world who haven¡¯t wanted to use me for something, and Geo is one of them. He¡¯s straight as an arrow¡ªgenuinely straight, not the type that¡¯s possible to bend with enough incentive. Mary or otherwise.


    But he¡¯s fun to fluster. I like when the vein pops out in his forehead because he¡¯s pissed.


    Reminds me of¡­


    No one.


    ¡®You got all that from a ten-minute showdown?¡¯ Geo asks, doubt coloring his gruff voice.


    I shrug, turning to look out the window at the barrenndscape rushing by. ¡®You don¡¯t grow up in a brothel without learning how to read people.¡¯


    Geo falls into an awkward silence, his eye fixed on the road ahead. I can practically see the gears turning in that thick skull of his. Finally, he clears his throat. ¡®How old were you when Niki pulled you out of that shithole, anyway?¡¯


    Ah, there it is. I can¡¯t help the smirk that tugs at my lips. ¡®Your fatherly concern is showing, Daddy.¡¯


    He mutters something that sounds suspiciously like ¡®forget I asked¡¯ and grips the steering wheel tighter. I turn back to the window, watching the destendscape blur past. The silence stretches between us, and eventually, it¡¯s more awkward than the unspoken words.


    ¡®Neen,¡¯ I murmur after a moment, surprising myself with the admission.


    I feel Geo¡¯s gaze on me, searching for something. What, I¡¯m not sure. Pity, maybe? I¡¯ve never been that good at reading him. It¡¯s part of his charm.


    ¡®That¡¯s rough,¡¯ he finally grunts, his knuckles white on the wheel. ¡®Hope he burned that ce to the ground.¡¯


    A small smile ys at my lips as I toy with the ne hidden beneath my shirt. The bronzed remnants of the first match. ¡®We did.¡¯


    The memory washes over me, still vivid and visceral. The stench of smoke and burning flesh, the heat of the mes licking at my skin, Niki¡¯s hand on my shoulder as we watched it all crumble to ash.


    It was the first time I felt truly alive.


    Truly free.


    It¡¯s the only gift he ever gave me, besides a sawed-off shotgun and a lifetime of trust issues. I wonder, briefly, if he kept the gift I gave him. The thought sends a familiar ache through my chest, and I push it away. No use dwelling on the past.


    Not when I have a brand new obsession to crush the remnants of my soul out of existence.


    ¡®That¡¯s it,¡¯ Geo announces, pulling me from my thoughts.


    I look up, blinking away the phantom smell of smoke. We¡¯re approaching a small settlement, and I have to do a double-take. It¡¯s nowhere near shitty enough to be in the Outer Reaches. The buildings are rudimentary but nice, like they¡¯ve been freshly painted over and renovated.


    There¡¯s no fucking way a ce like this has been around more than a week without getting gutted by raiders and mercs.


    ¡®You weren¡¯t kidding about their spa towns,¡¯ I mutter as we pull to a stop. It has Surhiira written all over it. ¡®How did they even have time to do all this?¡¯


    Geo kills the engine and steps out, stretching his massive frame. ¡±New Reinmich¡¯ is just a proxy state for Surhiira now,¡¯ he says with a grimace. ¡®Of course, they¡¯ll be trying to close the gap. Less space for rats like us to scurry around in.¡¯


    He¡¯s probably right, but I¡¯m not worried. My habitat has been burned down before, and I survived.


    I always do.


    I slide out of the SUV, my boots kicking up dust as they hit the ground. The air here smells different. Cleaner. It sets my teeth on edge. I prefer being the gilding on a dirt pile, not the scum at the bottom of a castle.


    ¡®So, where¡¯s this meeting supposed to go down?¡¯ I ask, scanning the area for potential threats. The Surhiiran guards sprinkled around the quiet streets aren¡¯t wearing their usual finery, but they stick out like a sore thumb. Anyone who showers more than once a week in the Outer Reaches has a way of doing that.


    Geo jerks his head toward a nondescript building at the edge of town. ¡®There. Neutral ground, or so they say.¡¯


    I snort. ¡®Neutral. Right. And I¡¯m a virgin goddess.¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re about as far from a virgin or a goddess as it gets,¡¯ Geo mutters, but there¡¯s no real heat behind it.


    We make our way toward the building, and I can¡¯t shake the feeling that we¡¯re being watched. The fact that I can¡¯t see who¡¯s watching us has me even more on edge. My hand drifts to the revolver at my hip, aforting weight against my thigh.


    ¡®You sure about this?¡¯ Geo asks as we approach the door. ¡®Last chance to back out.¡¯


    I think of violet eyes and hair like moonlight.


    Of a scent that haunts my dreams.


    ¡®I¡¯m sure.¡¯


    Geo sighs, reaching for the door handle. ¡®Your funeral.¡¯


    Possibly his, too. But he¡¯s here, for all his protests.


    Probably just for the skull.


    The door swings open, and we step into the dim interior. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust, but when they do, I see them.


    Valek, lounging against the far wall like a coiled snake ready to strike. Instantly recognizable even though he¡¯s wearing a white scarf with little silver patterns on it. And beside him, looking as out of ce as a rose in a garbage dump, is the big surly one with a stick wedged permanently up his ass. Thane. He¡¯s even wearing a white Surhiiran military jacket even though I know for a fact they all recently retired. Maybe they gave him an honorary position to keep him upied. Like when Geo tried to start an employee of the month program at the club.


    That shit went south quick. Literally, considering one of the girls spiked thepetition¡¯s drinks withxatives.


    Good times. I almost miss that ce.


    I nce around casually, but there¡¯s no sign of the others. Looks like I was right after all.


    ¡®Son of a bitch,¡¯ Geo mutters.


    ¡®Told you so,¡¯ I say in a singsong under my breath, before stering on my most charming smile and prancing up to Thane and Valek. ¡®Fancy meeting you boys here.¡¯


    The words have barely left my lips when Valek¡¯s knife appears in his hand, glinting dangerously in the dim light. Beside him, Thane draws his gun, the barrel aimed squarely at my chest.


    Fuck.


    I freeze, feeling Geo tense beside me. This isn¡¯t quite the warm wee I was hoping for, but then again, when has anything in my life ever gone ording to n?


    I raise my hands slowly, adopting an expression of wounded innocence. ¡®Is that any way to greet an old friend?¡¯


    Thane¡¯s eyes narrow, his finger tightening on the trigger. ¡®We¡¯re not friends,¡¯ he growls. ¡®Especially not after you shot at us on our way out of the Alpha¡¯s Alpha.¡¯


    Shit. I was hoping they wouldn¡¯t bring that up so quickly.


    I feel Geo¡¯s furious re burning into the side of my face. The look screams, ¡®You didn¡¯t tell me that,¡¯ louder than any words could. I¡¯ll have to smooth that overter. Assuming we make it out of here alive, of course.


    ¡®It was a misunderstanding,¡¯ I say smoothly, waving a dismissive hand. ¡®A misunderstanding between friends.¡¯


    I turn up the charm, letting a roguish grin spread across my face. It¡¯s the same look that¡¯s gotten me out of¡ªand into¡ªmore trouble than I care to admit. ¡®Yes, I should have mentioned that I owned the club Monty Filch frequents, but you got what you came for, didn¡¯t you?¡¯


    Thane¡¯s jaw clenches, his grip on the gun tightening. ¡®No,¡¯ he says gruffly. ¡®We didn¡¯t.¡¯


    ¡®Oh,¡¯ is all I manage to say.


    I need to recover. Fast.


    ¡®But he¡¯s dead now,¡¯ I say, grasping at straws. ¡®And isn¡¯t that the important thing?¡¯


    The sound of Thane cocking his gun echoes through the room.


    Guess not.


    But I¡¯ve talked my way out of worse situations than this. Hell, talking is what I do best. Well, that and a few other things that probably won¡¯t help me much right now. These two don¡¯t like alphas.


    ¡®Okay, yes, I was purposely vague,¡¯ I admit, the words tumbling out in a rush. ¡®I apologize. But the information I gave you was good, even if it was easier toe by than I implied. And yes, sure, my men shot at you¡ªdespite my orders to the contrary, I might add¡ªbut you also killed quite a few of them, so can¡¯t we just call it even?¡¯ I pause, a sh of inspiration striking. ¡®Well, maybe not quite even, considering you still owe me a favor.¡¯


    Beside me, Geo face-palms so hard I¡¯m surprised he doesn¡¯t knock himself out. ¡®You were on a roll,¡¯ he mutters under his breath.


    ¡®Not like you¡¯re helping,¡¯ I hiss, noticing he hasn¡¯t bothered to reach for his gun.


    ¡®A favor?¡¯ Valek echoes, hisughter sharp and cold. ¡®A favor would be letting you walk out of here in one piece.¡¯


    I feel a bead of sweat trickle down my neck. This isn¡¯t going well.


    Time to change tactics.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ I say, letting a hint of steel creep into my voice. ¡®If the Ghosts have no honor and want to renege on your end of our deal, then I¡¯ll hire you.¡¯


    Thane and Valek exchange a look that speaks volumes. I¡¯ve seen that look before. Usually right before someone tries to put a bullet in me.


    ¡®We¡¯re spec-ops, not fucking gutter mercs for hire,¡¯ Thane says, disgust dripping from every word. ¡®And even if we were, I highly doubt you have more funds than Surhiira.¡¯


    ¡®There are some things in this world money can¡¯t buy,¡¯ I reason. ¡®Good intel is one of them, and in a war, which you happen to have started, information is king.¡¯


    I let my gaze drift over them, taking in the subtle changes since ourst encounter. They look¡­ softer somehow. Not weaker, not by any stretch of the definition. Just a little bit less like the hardened killers I remember and more like men who¡¯ve finally found something worth living for.


    Normally, I¡¯d find it revolting, but having recentlye upon a bit of existential purpose myself, it¡¯s kind of sweet. But it also gives me an angle to exploit. Something tells me they haven¡¯t changed quite enough to let me walk out of here alive without giving them a damn good reason.


    ¡®Considering the fact that the five of you have gone into a cozy retirement with your littledy,¡¯ I continue, watching their reactions carefully, ¡®I¡¯m sure you could benefit from the services of a filthy ¡®gutter merc¡¯ yourselves.¡¯


    For a moment, I think I¡¯ve got them. Thane and Valek look at each other thoughtfully, and I allow myself a flicker of hope.


    Then they burst outughing.


    Dicks.


    Since when do they get along?


    ¡®We have the entire Surhiiran army at our disposal,¡¯ Thane says between chuckles, ¡®and half of what¡¯s left of Reinmich¡¯s. What could you possibly have to offer us?¡¯


    The dismissal in his tone ignites something in me. A spark of anger, of wounded pride. Before I can think better of it, my hand is moving.


    In less than the blink of an eye, I draw my gun. The familiar weight settles in my palm as I take aim. Time seems to slow as I squeeze the trigger.


    The shot rings out, followed by the sound of shattering ss and the dull thud of a bullet embedding itself in wood.


    When the echoes fade, I¡¯m already holstering my pistol with a practiced twirl before either of them has the time to react. By the time Thane and Valek have both drawn their guns, so has Geo.


    Two of them, one aimed at each alpha.


    He always had style when it counted.


    ¡®Rx,¡¯ Geo snarls through his teeth, his voice dropping into the low, gravely tone of his alpha bark. ¡®If he wanted you dead, you would be.¡¯


    I look over at him, unable to hide my shock that he actually drew on the fucking Ghosts. And here I thought he¡¯d step aside while they dragged my bleeding corpse around to the dumpster out back.


    His bark isn¡¯t enough to bring these hardened soldiers to their knees, but it sends a message. And makes me shiver in spite of myself.


    Now is not the fucking time, and my hobby of teasing him aside, I don¡¯t exactly relish Geo¡¯s bark having that affect on me¡ªeven after years of training to render me immune¡ªbut it is what it is. There was a time when I couldn¡¯t even be in the same room with another alpha without being at risk of a bark leaving me powerless to respond to anymand they happened to give.


    Now, it¡¯s more of a nuisance. A little itch in the back of my brain I can choose to ignore until it¡¯s convenient to scratch.


    Except when ites to one alpha, but I¡¯ve spent thest five years avoiding him. I¡¯ve be something of an expert at it.


    And if we ever do cross paths again, well¡­ he may have taught me everything I know, but I¡¯m still a quicker draw than him.


    Thane grabs at his shoulder with a snarl, ripping away the fabric where his epaulette used to be.


    But he isn¡¯t even grazed.


    Across the room, a ss lies in pieces on a nearby table. And there, on the far wall, my bullet sits dead center in the bullseye of a battered dartboard.


    I allow myself a moment to savor the looks of shock on their faces before speaking. ¡®You boys are good,¡¯ I say, unable to keep the sneer from my voice, ¡®but you¡¯re military dogs. You work in a unit. It takes a rat to thrive solo in a gutter like the Outer Reaches.¡¯


    Geo looks like he¡¯s about to be sick, even if he hasn¡¯t lowered his guns, but I press on. This might be my only chance. And it¡¯s both our necks on the line now.


    ¡®You may have New Reinmich, and eventually, you may even be able to take the rest of old Reinmich,¡¯ I continue, weighing each word carefully. ¡®But the Outer Reaches are full of a hundred warring factions, each of which is going to make that task exceedingly difficult. And Surhiira can¡¯t just put up swanky outposts and hope for the best. Not without help. Not without people on the inside. Or outside, as it were.¡¯


    ¡®People?¡¯ Geo grumbles. ¡®Now you¡¯re roping me into this?¡¯


    ¡®You roped yourself in when you drew on ¡¯em, big guy,¡¯ I remind him, blowing a kiss in the air. ¡®I¡¯m touched, by the way.¡¯


    He gives a grimacing eye-roll, but keeps his focused locked on the Ghosts in front of us.


    The silence that follows is deafening. I¡¯veid my cards on the table, shown them exactly what I¡¯m capable of.


    Now it¡¯s their move.


    Thane¡¯s eyes narrow, his gun still trained on me. I can see the wheels turning behind his dark eyes. He¡¯s a soldier, through and through. He understands the value of what I¡¯m offering.


    Valek, on the other hand, looks like he¡¯s trying to decide whether to gut me or apud. With him, it could probably go either way.


    Hope this doesn¡¯t sour his ¡®friendship¡¯ with Geo. I¡¯ll be hearing about that for the next decade.


    I watch Thane¡¯s eyes narrow as he considers my offer. The tension in the room is thick enough to choke on, but I keep my expression neutral. Years of practice have made me a master at that, too.


    Finally, Thane gives a grudging nod to Valek. They both lower their weapons slightly. Geo follows suit, his massive frame rxing marginally beside me.


    I resist the urge to sag with relief.


    That was too fucking close.


    ¡®You still haven¡¯t told us what you want badly enough to risk this little meeting,¡¯ Thane says, his voice gruff with suspicion.


    I can¡¯t help the smile that spreads across my face. ¡®Oh, that¡¯s simple,¡¯ I purr. ¡®I want the omega.¡¯


    Their guns snap back up so fast I barely have time to blink. Fury zes in their eyes, and for a moment, I think I¡¯ve fucked up royally.


    I throw my hands up, panic flooding through me. ¡®Not yours!¡¯ I cry, the words tumbling out in a rush. ¡®The one you took from my club. Silver hair, violet eyes, an ass carved from the clouds of the heavens?¡¯


    Thane and Valek blink, exchanging a look of confusion. ¡®Cosima?¡¯ Thane finally asks, his brow furrowing.


    The name hits me square in the throat. ¡®Cosima,¡¯ I breathe, savoring the way it rolls off my tongue. ¡®What a fitting name for a goddess. Absolute poetry.¡¯


    ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake,¡¯ Valek growls, lowering his gun. ¡®I told you this fucking idiot must¡¯ve caught her scent.¡¯


    Thane gives him an annoyed growl and mutters, ¡®How the fuck was I supposed to know he even liked women, let alone omegas?¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ve given up my goal of fucking and being fucked by every living thing in the wastnd,¡¯ I say brightly, unable to keep the offense from my voice. ¡®I¡¯m a changed man now that I¡¯ve found the one.¡¯


    ¡®The one,¡¯ Thane echoes tly.


    Geo mutters beside me, ¡®He thinks she¡¯s his mate.¡¯


    ¡®She is,¡¯ I snap, whirling on him. I turn back to the Ghosts, desperation wing at my insides. ¡®I want her. I need her. Whatever the price.¡¯


    Theyugh, the sound grating on my nerves. ¡®Get in line,¡¯ Valek sneers. ¡®Your girl is popr.¡¯


    Something dark and possessive rears its head inside me. I feel my expression harden, my mask slipping away. ¡®Who?¡¯ I demand in a voice that doesn¡¯t quite sound like my own.


    ¡®Raven,¡¯ Geo warns, but I ignore him. Even Thane seems uneasy now, his hand tightening on his weapon.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter,¡¯ Thane says, his tone clipped. ¡®She¡¯s being handed back over to her father, Arthur Maybrecht.¡¯


    The name hits me like a punch to the gut. Arthur fucking Maybrecht. One of the only people even I consider morally reprehensible, and that¡¯s saying something. It takes me a moment to process the fact that she¡¯s his daughter.


    But it only exacerbates my need to find her.


    To wrest her from the clutches of these barbarians.


    ¡®You¡¯re not handing her over to that monster,¡¯ I hiss, taking a step forward. Geo¡¯s hand on my arm is the only thing that keeps me from lunging at them. ¡®I thought you Ghosts fancied yourselves heroes. Isn¡¯t that why you started this war in the first ce? To protect omegas?¡¯


    I see a flicker of difort in Thane¡¯s eyes, almost as if there¡¯s something else he wants to say, but he schools his expression quickly. ¡®Cosima will be protected,¡¯ he says firmly. ¡®The rest is none of your concern.¡¯


    Something snaps inside me. I¡¯m about to throw caution to the wind and attack when Geo¡¯s iron grip on my arm tightens. He starts hauling me toward the door, muttering, ¡®Well, that¡¯s that, we tried.¡¯


    I break out of his grasp with a snarl, but I don¡¯t draw.


    Not yet.


    I¡¯ve got onest card to y.


    ¡®You owe me a fucking debt,¡¯ I say, my voice low and dangerous. ¡®And even if honor among Ghosts means nothing, it¡¯s still currency among thieves and rats.¡¯ I bare my teeth in a feral grin. ¡®I was under the impression it meant something to Surhiirans, too, which is probably why your forces have been allowed to traipse around in the Outer Reaches rtively unbothered. But I imagine that would change if the other rats were to learn of the Ghosts¡¯ treachery.¡¯


    Thane¡¯s eyes narrow to slits. ¡®Is that a threat?¡¯


    I meet his gaze unflinchingly. ¡®Absofuckinglutely.¡¯


    The tension in the room ratchets up another notch as we stare each other down. I sense Geo coiled like a spring beside me, ready to go for his gun again at the slightest provocation. My own fingers itch to draw, but I force them to stay still.


    Then, to my surprise, Thane snorts. ¡®Alright,¡¯ he says with what I hope is finally a lick of respect. ¡®A deal¡¯s a deal. You want the girl? I¡¯ll tell you exactly where she is.¡¯


    Hope surges in my chest, but I tamp it down.


    This is too easy.


    There has to be a catch.


    Thane approaches and I feel Geo tense beside me. But the massive alpha just stands toe-to-toe with me. I¡¯m tall even for an alpha, but he¡¯s built like a fucking tank. I have no doubt he could turn my head into a human stress ball, but I remain rooted where I stand, eyes locked on his.


    ¡®Niki kov,¡¯ Thane says.


    And just like that, my world stops spinning.


    Two words.


    That¡¯s all it takes to turn my blood to ice in my veins.


    Thane¡¯s lips curl into a smirk. ¡®There¡¯s your intel. That¡¯s more than you gave us, so consider us fucking even.¡¯


    With that, he and Valek¡ªwhose hyena grin is clear even with his scarf covering part of it¡ªturn to stride out through the door, leaving me frozen in ce.


    Niki.


    Fucking.


    kov.


    The name echoes in my head like a death knell. Memories I¡¯ve spent years burying w their way to the surface. The scent of smoke and blood. The heat of mes licking at my skin. A calloused hand on my shoulder, steadying me as I took my first life.


    Gunmetal gray eyes that looked at me like I was worth something.


    Until thest time.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 11

    Valek¡¯s eyes meet mine as he follows Thane out, and the message is crystal clear.


    I¡¯ve just burned that bridge to ash.


    Not that I me him. Drawing on the Ghosts isn¡¯t exactly good for maintaining professional rtionships.


    Well, good fucking riddance.


    That¡¯s trouble I don¡¯t need.


    Although whenever Raven is around, I seem to find myself knee-deep in it anyway.


    Speaking of trouble, I nce over at my current headache and notice he¡¯s gonepletely still. Like someone hit his off switch the moment Thane dropped Niki¡¯s name. His usual manic energy has drained away, leaving behind something I¡¯ve only seen once before.


    Raw fear.


    As much as I hate to admit it, a part of me is relieved. The threat of another encounter with Niki might be the only thing that could deter this idiot from his suicide quest.


    ¡®Raven,¡¯ I say, trying to snap him out of it. No response. Not even a blink. ¡®Hey. Earth to the fop.¡¯


    Nothing.


    Fuck it.


    I haul back and p him across his perfect face. Hard enough to leave a mark, but not hard enough to break anything. The sound echoes through the empty room like a gunshot.


    That does it.


    His head snaps up, those blue eyes finally focusing as he glowers at me. ¡®My face?¡¯ he demands, touching his reddening cheek. ¡®Did it have to be my fucking face?¡¯


    ¡®Wasn¡¯t gonna be your ass,¡¯ I mutter, already heading for the door. ¡®Come on, let¡¯s go.¡¯


    Through the grimy windows, I catch sight of the ¡®civilians¡¯ watching us. Their pristine clothes and perfect posture screams Surhiiran guards undercover. This whole ce is a paper town. Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the Ghosts had it polished and set up for this very asion.


    To my surprise, he actually follows me without argument. The silence continues as we climb into the SUV, and it stretches on as we pull away from the creepy little town. Hours pass, and still nothing from the man who usually can¡¯t stay quiet for more than thirty seconds.


    I find myself ncing over at him every now and again, just to see if he¡¯s dead, which I always thought was the one thing that could shut him up. He just stares out the window, lost in whatever dark thoughts are guing him. His profile is harsh in the dying light, all sharp angles and mncholy.


    Kid missed his calling not being one of those pretentious assholes who sit in a tower of archived books salvaged from the old world, writing flowery poetry to girls on the side. He¡¯s got too much going on inside his head to be cut out for this shit.


    I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m thinking this, but I actually prefer when he¡¯s being a royal pain in my ass. By the time he finally speaks, we¡¯ve already passed a shoddy stop sign marked ¡®Belvast¡¯ in white paint.


    ¡®You can drop me here,¡¯ he says, his voice rough from disuse. Guess he doesn¡¯t usually go this long without filling the silence. ¡®I¡¯ll pick up a ride the rest of the way.¡¯


    I slow the SUV to a stop, confusion gnawing at me. I¡¯d assumed he¡¯d be hanging around until I kicked him out. Which I don¡¯t have the heart to do right now, not when he looks like someone just gutted him with a spoon.


    ¡®You sure you don¡¯t wannae back to the market?¡¯ I ask, trying to keep my tone gruff and failing. ¡®You can hang around and torture the assholes who harass the strippers like old times.¡¯


    A ghost of his usual smirk flickers across his face, but it doesn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡®As tempting as that sounds, I¡¯ve got my work cut out for me.¡¯


    ¡®Doing what?¡¯ I ask warily as he gathers his gear from the back, dread settling in my gut like a lead weight. ¡®What exactly are you nning?¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯ll take me a while to track down his current base,¡¯ Raven says, slinging his pack over his shoulder as soon as he gets out of the SUV. ¡®That paranoid son of a bitch never stays in one ce more than a few months.¡¯


    It¡¯s probably not paranoid, considering how many people want to kill him¡ªme included¡ªbut I keep that to myself.


    ¡®Fuck.¡¯ I¡¯m out of the car before I realize I¡¯ve moved. I grab his arm, but instead of yanking away from me with a dramatic il like I would¡¯ve expected, he just stands there. ¡®You can¡¯t be serious. You¡¯re willing to cross paths with Niki again for some omega you don¡¯t even know?¡¯


    Raven¡¯s expression shifts, something dangerous flickering in those blue eyes. ¡®No,¡¯ he says quietly, pulling free of my grip. He starts walking past the sign toward Belvast, but tosses over his shoulder, ¡®But I¡¯m willing to do it for my mate.¡¯


    My jaw clenches so hard it hurts. ¡®Niki will fucking kill you. You know that, right?¡¯ I call after him.


    ¡®Not unless I kill him first.¡¯


    The casual way he says it makes my blood run cold. I¡¯ve seen that look in his eyes before. Always immediately before he does the most unhinged, self-destructive, suicidal¡ªand usually homicidal¡ªbullshit a human being could possiblye up with.


    ¡®You and your little army of bouncers?¡¯ I bark out a harshugh. ¡®Are you fucking kidding me? Niki¡¯s army just helped take down Reinmich. You don¡¯t stand a chance.¡¯


    Raven just shrugs, not even bothering to look back. ¡®That¡¯s why I¡¯m going alone.¡¯


    ¡®Alone?¡¯ I echo in disbelief. ¡®That¡¯s even worse!¡¯


    But he keeps walking, his golden hair catching thest rays of sunlight. Like some tragic hero in those books he¡¯s always going on about where the fairy tale prince on a gleaming white horse gets the girl. Except those stories in the real world usually end in blood and death, not a fucking happily ever after.


    ¡®Y¡¯know, if you¡¯re feeling like you wanna die, there are less gruesome ways to go about it,¡¯ I call after Raven¡¯s retreating form. ¡®Because I might as well just pop a cap in your brain pan right here. Clearly nothing left in it!¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t want to die,¡¯ he calls back without stopping. ¡®For the first time in my life, I just care about something more than living.¡¯


    The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Rage and worry war in my chest, making it hard to breathe. ¡®You can quit the melodramatics. I¡¯m not getting killed so you can get some moon-scented strange!¡¯ I roar. ¡®This is as far as I go!¡¯


    Raven finally stops, and the smile he gives me over his shoulder is strange. Nostalgic, almost. ¡®I know,¡¯ he says in a soft tone that scares the fuck out of me. ¡®And I wouldn¡¯t ask you to. But I appreciate what you did back there, putting your neck on the line for me with the Ghosts. It meant a lot.¡¯ His smile widens into something more familiar, but it doesn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡®Hey, look at the bright side¡ªif this goes bad, you won¡¯t have to worry about me bothering you again.¡¯


    With that, he turns and walks past the sign toward Belvast.


    I stand frozen, watching him go, warring with myself. Part of me wants to grab him and drag him back to the market. To lock him in the basement until this madness passes and he finds something else to obsess over.


    But I know it won¡¯t work.


    Nothing ever does with him.


    Fuck it, I¡¯m falling for his bullshit.


    It¡¯s an act. It always is.


    ¡®It¡¯s not gonna work this time, you weaselly little asshole!¡¯ I bellow after him.


    He just waves without looking back, the sun catching the thin gold bracelet on his wrist. ¡®Bye, Geo.¡¯


    I stand there watching his retreating form, my jaw clenched so tight it hurts. What the fuck is wrong with me? I shouldn¡¯t give a shit.


    I don¡¯t have family.


    I don¡¯t have friends.


    That¡¯s how I like it.


    Raven is nobody. Just another stray that wandered into my life looking for scraps. A twenty-something kid who showed up asking for work andtched onto me like a barnacle, trying to forge a bond that wasn¡¯t there because he¡¯s terrified of being alone.


    The one thing I¡¯ve been my whole life.


    The way I prefer to be.


    And yet, the idea of never seeing him again feels like a weight on my chest I can¡¯t shrug off.


    I¡¯m still warring with myself when Raven stops and turns slightly, ncing back at me over his shoulder. ¡®Oh, before I forget¡­¡¯


    Relief floods through me. Maybe he¡¯s finallying to his senses. Or maybe I called his bluff by standing my ground. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time his dramatic exit fell t when no one chased after him. And I still don¡¯t know exactly what went down between him and Niki, but my first andst encounter with the bastard¡ªthe one that took my goddamn eye¡ªleft me with the impression that was how it ended.


    Raven reaches into his pocket and pulls something small out. He tosses it over his shoulder in a high arc toward me. I catch it reflexively and look down at the sh drive now resting in my palm.


    ¡®If this is your freaky porn collection, it can die with you,¡¯ I yell after him, waving it in the air even though he isn¡¯t looking at me anymore.


    Hisugh carries on the wind, but it¡¯s hollow. Empty. ¡®Everything you need to find the Harbinger is on there. Good luck. You earned it.¡¯


    That hits me like a fucking truck.


    He¡¯s not even dangling it as a prize over my head to get me to change my mind. He¡¯s just¡­ giving it to me. Like a goodbye present.


    Like he knows he¡¯s noting back.


    Well, fuck you, too, asshole.


    I stuff the drive into the pocket of my jeans, cursing under my breath as I force myself to stomp back to my SUV. The door creaks as I yank it open, the sound grating on my already frayed nerves.


    The engine roars to life and I floor it, gravel spraying as I execute a sharp U-turn. I need to put as much distance between myself and that lovesick idiot as possible.


    Before I do something stupid.


    Like go after him.


    Like try to save him from himself.


    I could use my alpha bark on him.


    I could make him stop.


    I could make him turn around and get back in the damn car.


    But I feel like the biggest shithead in the fucking universe for even considering the idea for the half-second it enters my head.


    Forcing Raven to listen to me is not an option.


    The first time I made the mistake of using my alpha bark, years ago when he was being particrly insufferable, I learned the hard way about his¡­ condition. The way he reacted¡ªgoingpletely pliant, eyes unfocused, waiting for the nextmand¡ªhaunted me for a long damn time.


    That was when I finally understood why an alpha would choose to work in a brothel. Why he flinches sometimes when other alphas get too close. Why he uses humor and flirtation as armor.


    He¡¯s not just an alpha who likes other alphas.


    He¡¯s an alpha who responds to alphamands like an omega would.


    He wouldn¡¯t tell me much that night after I apologized¡ªhis past is the one subject he won¡¯t ramble on about for hours if given the chance¡ªbut over the years, I¡¯ve managed to piece together enough from the few and far between moments he gets drunk enough to actually let his guard down.


    Whatever he went through in that hellhole before Niki found him, it changed him. Molded him. Made it impossible for him to do anything, eat, drink, sleep, even stand without that bitch¡¯s permission. He was submissive to the point of not being able to function without someone to rule over every mundane aspect of his life, all for the sick pleasure and amusement of the madame¡ªa woman he¡¯s only ever referred to as ¡®her¡¯¡ªand her clients.


    He¡¯s always seen Niki as the one who saved him, but as far as I¡¯m concerned, all that asshole did was to transfer her authority over Raven to himself.


    Niki just gave him a longer leash.


    And I won¡¯t be the third to do that to him.


    The road stretches out ahead of me, empty and deste. Just like it¡¯s always been. Just the way I like it.


    So why does it feel so wrong?

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 12

    I stare up at the air traffic control tower looming against the darkening sky, my feet refusing to carry me any closer. Been avoiding this moment for the better part of a day, throwing myself into coordinating thest of the weapons shipments.


    Making sure everything¡¯s secure.


    Doing my fucking job.


    Not thinking about violet eyes and hair like moonlight.


    Not obsessing over a scent that¡¯s carved itself into my brain.


    I turn away from the tower, my boots crunching on gravel as I head toward the pit instead. The Knight stands motionless in the center, face tilted up toward the sky like always.


    No, I realize.


    Not the sky.


    The tower.


    Has that pit gotten¡­ bigger?


    The edges look more worn down, like something¡¯s been wing at them. And there¡¯s only one something in the pit.


    Before I can look closer, I hear boots plowing through the gravel behind me.


    ¡®Boss, you¡¯re back.¡¯


    Lex¡¯s voice cuts through my thoughts. I turn to find her approaching, that mangy mutt of hers trotting at her heels. The scars around her mouth stretch as she grins.


    ¡®Last shipment¡¯s secure,¡¯ I grunt, trying to focus on business. On the empire I¡¯ve spent years building. The one I¡¯m seriously considering burning to the ground over an omega who can¡¯t stand the sight of me.


    And thinks I smell like ¡®piss and ass,¡¯ apparently.


    What the fuck does that even mean? I hate how much of thest twenty-four hours I¡¯ve spent pondering it.


    ¡®Everything¡¯s in ce.¡¯


    ¡®Good timing,¡¯ Lex says, but there¡¯s something off in her tone. ¡®We¡¯ve got a situation.¡¯


    It just keeps getting better.


    My jaw clenches. ¡®What kind of situation?¡¯


    Lex¡¯s eyes drift up toward the tower, and that uneasy feeling in my gut intensifies. ¡®You should probably see for yourself.¡¯


    ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake,¡¯ I mutter, stalking back toward the tower.


    Might as well get it over with.


    As if it hasn¡¯t taken all my willpower to stay gone.


    There¡¯s already no telling what I¡¯m going to be walking into, considering I left her alone in my home and she hates my fucking guts, but I¡¯m definitely not expecting what awaits me.


    The scent hits me before the elevator doors even open.


    Heat.


    Moonlight with a hint of debauchery.


    Sweet and intoxicating and absolutely fucking terrifying.


    My hands clench into fists and I dig my nails into my palms as I try to breathe through my mouth. It doesn¡¯t help. I can practically taste her scent on my tongue, and that¡¯s making it all even more torturous. Even for an omega, her scent is particrly potent.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I growl, jabbing the button for my floor harder than necessary.


    This is thest thing I need right now. Maybrecht will be sending someone to collect her any day. I should just hand her over. Take my weapons, expand my territory, solidify my power base.


    It¡¯s what I¡¯ve always done.


    What¡¯s kept me alive this long.


    So why does the thought of letting her go make me want to tear someone¡¯s throat out?


    The elevator climbs higher, and with each floor, her scent grows stronger. By the time the doors slide open, I¡¯m practically vibrating with hunger.


    I¡¯ve never wanted anything in my life the way I want her.


    And that¡¯s exactly why I need to stay the fuck away.


    The Ghosts started a fucking war to protect their omega. And while a day ago, I was enough of an egomaniac to think I¡¯m above those kinds of base impulses, Cosima has been a wake-up call.


    A cruel one.


    The elevator doors slide open and her scent hits me like a freight train, nearly knocking me off my feet. Fuck. It¡¯s a hundred times more potent than before, filling the air with notes of moonlight and sex and something wild that makes my mouth water.


    I stumble out of the elevator, drawn forward by some primal instinct I can¡¯t control. My eyes lock onto the source and I freeze, unable to process what I¡¯m seeing.


    Cosima.


    Naked.


    Sprawled out in what looks like a nest made from every scrap of fabric in the entire tower. nkets, pillows, clothes¡ªall piled around her in a haphazard circle. Pretty sure if this ce had curtains, she¡¯d havemandeered those, too.


    And in the center of it all, she¡¯s¡­


    Oh fuck.


    Her legs are spread wide, giving me a perfect view as she fucks herself with desperate abandon. Two fingers plunge in and out of her dripping cunt at a frantic pace while her other hand works her clit. Her head is thrown back, exposing the elegant line of her throat as breathy moans spill from her parted lips.


    I can¡¯t move.


    Can¡¯t think.


    Can¡¯t breathe.


    All I can do is stare, transfixed, as the most beautiful creature I¡¯ve ever seen pleasures herself right in front of me. My cock is instantly, painfully hard, straining against my pants as I drink in the sight of her.


    Her skin is flushed pink, a light sheen of sweat making her glow in the dim light. Those lush curves I¡¯ve been trying so hard not to think about are on full disy, her full breasts bouncing slightly with each thrust of her fingers. The air is thick with the scent of her arousal, sweet and musky and criminally intoxicating.


    I take an involuntary step forward, drawn by her siren song.


    Until she utters a name, and the spell is momentarily broken.


    ¡®Azarel!¡¯


    The growl tears from my throat before I can stop it. I¡¯ve never heard that name in my life, but in an instant, I know I hate the fucker more than I¡¯ve ever hated another living soul.


    Violet eyes fly open, heavy-lidded with pleasure but quickly sharpening with rage as they lock onto mine. Her fingers still as a snarl twists those perfect lips.


    ¡®Get out!¡¯ she hisses, her voice rough with need even as she res daggers at me.


    Before I can react, she¡¯s hurling something at my head. I catch it reflexively¡ªone of the throw pillows from my couch. I can¡¯t help but inhale deeply, her scent clinging to the fabric and making my head spin.


    I should leave. I know I should.


    But I¡¯m rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away from her.


    ¡®Last I checked, this was my ce,¡¯ I drawl, forcing a cocky smirk even as my heart pounds in my temples. I take a few swaggering steps into the room, projecting a confidence I don¡¯t feel. ¡®By all means, don¡¯t let me stop you. Looks like you were just getting to the good part.¡¯


    She snatches up scraps of fabric from the nest, trying to cover herself, but it¡¯s toote. The image of her spread out and fucking herself with her fingers is burned into my retinas. I know I¡¯ll be seeing that in my dreams for the rest of my life.


    As she scrambles to wrap herself in the remnants of nkets and clothes, something catches my eye.


    A sh of familiar crimson fabric.


    I do a double-take, but there¡¯s no mistaking it. The shredded remains of my coat are woven throughout her nest.


    A savage sort of pride surges through me at the sight, matched only by a special kind of rage. She may im to despise me, but some part of her craves my scent. Needs it close to her.


    I clench my jaw so hard I¡¯m surprised my teeth don¡¯t crack. That¡¯s my favorite fucking coat. The anger is a far less troubling emotion, so I choose to focus on it.


    ¡®What the fuck did you do to my coat?¡¯ I snarl, stalking closer to her nest.


    Cosima¡¯s lips curl into a smirk, and I hate how it makes my cock twitch. ¡®Oh, this old thing?¡¯ She runs her fingers over a scrap of the red fabric. ¡®You can have it back if you want.¡¯


    A growl rumbles in my chest. ¡®You could have fucking warned me you were going into heat. I would have brought you proper nesting materials.¡¯


    She scoffs, her violet eyes shing with disdain. ¡®Right. Because you¡¯ve been such a generous host so far.¡¯


    ¡®You have no idea,¡¯ I snap back.


    We re at each other, the air between us crackling with tension. I hate myself for how cute she looks when she¡¯s flustered, cheeks flushed and hair mussed. For how much I want to climb into that nest and join her, to fuck the attitude right out of her until she¡¯s screaming my name instead of that Azarel fucker¡¯s.


    But she hates me, and I hate her.


    I need to.


    I clear my throat, suddenly feeling awkward. ¡®Do you, uh¡­ need anything?¡¯ I mutter hoarsely.


    Surprise flickers across her face, quickly reced by suspicion. ¡®No,¡¯ she says tly. ¡®Your obnoxious sidekick has been bringing me shitty stale food and water bottles full of microstics. I¡¯m just fine.¡¯


    Fucking Lex. She could have warned me about the heat. Though I¡¯m not sure I would have been able to steel myself anyway. The scent of Cosima¡¯s arousal is so thick in the air I can barely think straight.


    A lookes into Cosima¡¯s eyes, something calcting. ¡®Actually,¡¯ she says slowly, ¡®there is one thing I could use.¡¯


    ¡®What?¡¯ I ask, too eager. Fuck.


    Her lips curve into a smile that¡¯s pure sin. ¡®Bring me a toy.¡¯


    I blink. ¡®A toy?¡¯


    ¡®For my heat,¡¯ she rifies, her tone dripping with condescension.


    I bark out augh, but it sounds hollow even to my own ears. ¡®This is the middle of the Outer Reaches, sweetheart. There¡¯s not exactly a sex shop around the corner.¡¯ I lean in closer, lowering my voice. ¡®But if you need relief, I¡¯d be happy to provide it the old-fashioned way.¡¯


    Her eyes narrow dangerously. ¡®I¡¯d rather let the monster in the pit fuck me before I let youy a finger on me.¡¯


    The image that shes through my mind at her words makes me want to put my fist through a wall.


    Her tone turns sharine, dripping with sarcasm. ¡®But if the great Niki cock can¡¯t even find one measly little sex toy, I understand.¡¯


    I bristle. ¡®It¡¯s kov.¡¯


    She sneers, making it obvious she knows damn well what my name is. ¡®Is it? My bad.¡¯


    I turn on my heel and stalk back to the elevator, jabbing the button with more force than necessary. As the doors slide closed, I catch onest glimpse of her sprawled out in that nest, looking like every filthy fantasy I¡¯ve ever hade to life.


    I¡¯m going to find her that stupid fucking toy if it¡¯s thest thing I do.


    The ride down to the ground floor feels like it takes an eternity. My skin is too tight, my cock achingly hard in my pants. As soon as the doors open, I¡¯m striding across the tarmac for the one storage unit that isn¡¯t fully packed with explosives.


    I dig through crates in the storage unit like a man possessed, tossing aside useless junk. My hands are shaking with barely contained rage and other emotions I refuse to acknowledge. The scent of moonlight still clings to me, making it impossible to think clearly.


    ¡®What¡¯cha doin¡¯, boss?¡¯


    I freeze at Mikey¡¯s voice, a rusted pipe clutched in my white-knuckled grip. Reese peers around his massive friend¡¯s shoulder, both of them watching me with open curiosity.


    ¡®Looking for something that could work as¡­ equipment,¡¯ I growl through clenched teeth, not meeting their eyes.


    ¡®Equipment for what?¡¯ Reese asks, his head tilted like a confused puppy.


    I m the crate shut with enough force to make them both jump. ¡®A fucking dildo, alright?¡¯


    Reese¡¯s brow furrows. ¡®Didn¡¯t know there was any other kind.¡¯


    The pipe flies from my hand before I can stop myself. Reese yelps and ducks, the metal nging against the wall behind him.


    ¡®We just didn¡¯t know you were into that sort of thing, boss,¡¯ Mikey says, his cheeks flushing red.


    ¡®Yeah, we always figured you were the one who was railin¡¯¡­ uh¡­ the pretty blond,¡± Reese chimes in.


    ¡®It¡¯s not for me, you absolute fucking morons, it¡¯s for the omega!¡¯ I roar, whirling on them. ¡®And how many times do I have to tell you I never want to hear his fucking name again?¡¯


    ¡®Technically, nobody said his name, boss,¡± Mikey says, raising his hand.


    ¡°We can¡¯t even refer to him now?¡± Reese groans.


    ¡®Shut up!¡¯ I bark, already turning back to another crate. ¡®And if either of you breathe a word of this to anyone, I¡¯ll feed you to the Knight piece by fucking piece.¡¯


    They scramble toply, spreading out to search through the cluttered unit. The silence is broken only by the sound of rummaging and asional thoughtful hums.


    ¡®How about this?¡¯ Mikey holds up a broken gear shaft.


    ¡®No.¡¯


    ¡®This?¡¯ Reese waves a length of rubber hose.


    ¡®No!¡®


    ¡®Oh! What about?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake, she wants somethingfortable, not a medieval torture device!¡¯ I snap, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡®Put that back where you found it and find something shaped like a dick.¡¯


    Lex chooses that moment to walk in, stares in horror at the scene unfolding before her, and walks out without a single damn word.


    ¡®What about this fancy rolling pin?¡¯ Mikey asks hopefully, waving one around like a trophy. ¡®It has stars carved into it. Might have a nice texture.¡¯


    I take a deep breath, counting backward from ten. ¡®Do the world a favor and never go near a vagina for as long as you live.¡¯


    ¡®No problem there,¡¯ Reese mutters under his breath. ¡®Maybe we should check the other units?¡¯


    ¡®Those are full of explosives,¡¯ I remind him. ¡®I¡¯m not giving her anything that might blow up.¡¯


    ¡®Fair point.¡¯


    We continue searching in increasingly desperate silence. My mind keeps drifting back to the tower, to the image of her fucking herself with her fingers.


    Did she file off those damn ws? If not, Mikey¡¯s rolling pin might not be that much worse. Or maybe she¡¯s just a masochist. That would check out, actually.


    I m another crate shut, harder than necessary.


    ¡®You okay, boss?¡¯ Mikey asks carefully.


    ¡®I¡¯m fine,¡¯ I snarl. ¡®This is a waste of fucking time. One of you go out and find something.¡¯


    They exchange a look, like they¡¯re conjoined twins and I just suggested chopping them in half. To be fair, I¡¯m pretty sure they share a single brain cell.


    ¡®Go together,¡¯ I snap. ¡®Just find something she can pleasure herself with that won¡¯t kill her. Go to the ck market if you have to.¡¯


    The closest one just so happens to be run by that asshole, Geo, so it¡¯s not like I can go myself unless I want to ignite a turf war when I¡¯ve already got a looming war with Surhiira and New Reinmich on my hands.


    ¡®You got it, boss,¡¯ Reese says with a grave salute that would be more appropriate if I had sent him off on a suicide mission.


    Then again, if Geo gets wind of who sent him, it might be.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 13

    moon song is different


    sweeter now


    stronger


    makes blood sing beneath skin


    want to climb


    want to reach


    want to touch


    but walls are too smooth


    too high


    too far from her light


    her song


    her scent that fills air


    like honey


    like stars


    like everything good


    mine


    she is mine


    was always mine


    will always be mine


    but white-hair has her


    demon in red


    he reeks of blood and steel


    unworthy


    wrong


    so am i


    but she chose me


    she wanted toe to me


    and he grabbed her from the sky


    roar splits night air


    m iron fist into dirt walls


    again and again


    must get out


    must reach her


    must protect


    must consume


    want to drink her light


    breathe her song


    more humans gather above


    pointing


    whispering


    their words mean nothing


    their fear means nothing


    their meat means nothing


    only she matters


    only moon matters


    only light matters


    m shoulder into wall


    again


    again


    dirt crumbles


    not enough


    never enough


    too deep


    too far


    too trapped


    like before


    in cage of concrete and needles


    but worse now


    because she is here


    because she is so close


    she needs me


    song tells me she needs


    scent tells me she needs


    every broken piece screams to answer


    but cannot reach


    cannot help


    cannot save her


    look around pit


    see what ws have done


    dirt walls crumble everywhere


    tried to break through


    tried to climb


    tried to escape


    but something is different


    pit is wider where ws strike


    strike again


    pit widens


    strike again


    pit widens more


    inch by inch


    toward my moon


    start wing harder


    toward her song


    toward her light


    toward her need


    it fills the air like honey and stars


    drag ws down


    song grows stronger


    sweeter


    can almost taste her need on tongue


    need everything she is


    everything she gives

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 14

    I lean my forehead against the cool ss, watching the chaos unfold below. From my vantage point in this ridiculous tower, I can see everything. Including Niki barking orders at hisckeys before storming off to dig through storage units himself in search of a suitable toy for me.


    I can¡¯t help but smirk. For someone who ims to be such a fearsome warlord, he¡¯s certainly jumping through hoops over a simple request. Though I have to admit, there¡¯s something almost entertaining about watching him frantically search like a man possessed.


    He¡¯s trying so hard to distract himself. I can see the tension in his shoulders even from up here, the way he keeps running his hands through that stark white hair in frustration.


    My amusement fades as my thoughts drift to Azarel.


    Where is he?


    Why hasn¡¯t hee for me yet?


    The rational part of my brain knows there could be countless reasons. Maybe he doesn¡¯t know where I am. Maybe he¡¯s nning some borate rescue.


    Or maybe¡­ he really has abandoned me.


    He certainly hasn¡¯t died.


    I¡¯m sure I would feel that, somehow.


    I shake my head, refusing to follow that train of thought. Instead, I focus on the scene below, my eyes drawn inevitably to the pit where my nightmare has taken physical form.


    Except the pit looks different now.


    Where before it was roughly circr, now one section stretches out like a reaching finger.


    A big fuck you to Niki, perhaps?


    I¡¯m not sure if the monster is even sentient enough for that¡ªI don¡¯t think sentient beings eat omegas, at least not alive¡ªbut I appreciate the artistry, either way. But the Knight isn¡¯t wing at the earth in a random direction.


    He¡¯s working his way steadily toward the tower.


    Toward me.


    Of course he is.


    I press my palm against the ss, watching as those haunting blue eyes lift to meet mine across the distance. Even from here, I can feel the intensity of his gaze. The connection that¡¯s always existed between us, the one I¡¯ve spent years trying to deny.


    Trying to fight.


    ¡®You¡¯re reallying for me, aren¡¯t you?¡¯ I whisper against the ss.


    The thought should terrify me. This is the monster that¡¯s haunted my dreams for so long, the demon that¡¯s torn me apart countless times in my nightmares.


    But there¡¯s something different now. Something has shifted since I saw him in the flesh.


    The terror is still there, yes, but mixed with something else. Something that feels almost like¡­ recognition.


    Like meeting someone you¡¯ve known your whole life for the very first time.


    Which is so fucked up.


    I watch as his metal ws tear into the earth with renewed vigor, and I can¡¯t help but wonder¡­


    Has he been dreaming about me too?


    Amotion below draws my attention back to Niki. He¡¯s thrown something¡ªprobably at one of his men¡ªand is now storming off toward another storage unit.


    Despite myself, I feel my lips twitch.


    For an alpha who ims not to care, he¡¯s certainly working himself into quite a state.


    But my eyes are drawn back to the pit like a ma. To the Knight. To those glowing blue eyes that never seem to leave me. Even if he shouldn¡¯t be able to see me from where he is, through these tinted windows, somehow, it feels like he can.


    I arrange the couch pillows in my makeshift nest, trying to get them just right. Nothing feels right. The fabric is too rough, the stuffing too lumpy.


    But it¡¯s better than nothing, I suppose.


    My skin feels like it¡¯s on fire, every nerve ending screaming for relief. I haven¡¯t had a heat in¡­ how long has it been? The pills my father forced on me kept them at bay for so long, I¡¯d almost forgotten what it feels like. The desperate need, the aching emptiness, the way even the softest fabric feels like sandpaper against my oversensitive skin.


    I nce around the tower room, taking in my surroundings with fresh eyes. It¡¯s not terrible, I have to admit. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of the airfield below, if the memory of long haul travel is your particr kink. And there¡¯s a certain stark beauty to the industrial architecture,plimented by asional salvaged statues and paintings that look like Niki might have taken them from museums. Raiders don¡¯t usually go for art.


    But it¡¯s far from the luxury I¡¯m used to.


    Then again, Monty¡¯s mansion is the height of luxury, with its marble floors and crystal chandeliers, and I hated every moment I spent there. At least here, I don¡¯t have to pretend to be the perfect omega wife, politely epting whatever scraps of attention my ¡®mate¡¯ deigns to give me.


    A wave of need crashes over me, making me gasp. I press my thighs together, trying to find some relief, but it¡¯s useless. My earlier attempts at self-pleasure left me even more frustrated than before.


    Something¡¯s missing.


    And I know exactly what it is.


    Or rather, who.


    But Azarel isn¡¯t here.


    Every hour that passes leaves me wondering if he ever will be.


    The elevator dings, but I barely nce up as Niki strides in. His scent hits me immediately. Blood and steel. I hate how my body responds to it, how it makes the emptiness inside me throb with need.


    ¡®Did you bring what I asked for?¡¯ I ask, deliberately keeping my tone bored as I continue arranging pillows.


    I hear him growl, the sound sending an unwanted shiver down my spine. ¡®I¡¯m working on it,¡¯ he snaps. ¡®This isn¡¯t exactly a shopping district.¡¯


    Finally, I turn to look at him and see he¡¯s carrying an armful of nkets. They look softer than the ones I¡¯ve been working with, at least. Without a word, he dumps them onto the edge of my nest.


    ¡®How thoughtful,¡¯ I say dryly. ¡®The warlord¡¯s version of a care package.¡¯


    His jaw clenches and I catch a glimpse of sharp canines. ¡®You¡¯re wee, princess,¡¯ he growls. ¡®Would you prefer I throw you back in the basement?¡¯


    I blink. ¡®Did you do those yourself?¡¯


    His smug expression drops. ¡®Did I what?¡¯


    ¡®The teeth,¡¯ I say, pointing to my own incisors to show him what I mean. ¡®Did you file them like that?¡¯


    His eyes narrow and I can tell he¡¯s not sure how to respond to that. ¡®So what if I did?¡¯


    I burst outughing before I can stop myself, which only seems to infuriate him more. At least I¡¯mughing too hard to focus on the dull, increasing ache of my heat. ¡®Oh, my god. You can¡¯t be serious.¡¯


    ¡®Fuck off!¡¯ he snaps. ¡®They look good.¡¯


    Now I¡¯mughing so hard I copse on the edge of my nest. ¡®Shit,¡¯ I choke, doubled over. My eyes are brimming with tears, and I can barely see the furious expression on his face. I wipe tears from my eyes as I try to catch my breath between fits ofughter. ¡®I¡¯m picturing you with a nail file, trying to get them even¡­ worrying you¡¯ve gone too far¡­¡¯


    ¡®That¡¯s enough,¡¯ Niki growls, but there¡¯s something different in his tone now. A dangerous edge that should probably make me stop.


    But I can¡¯t help myself. ¡®Did you practice your scary face afterwards? Give yourself a little pep talk about being the big bad alpha?¡¯


    He stalks closer to my nest, his scent growing stronger with each step. ¡®You¡¯re ying with fire, princess.¡¯


    ¡®Am I?¡¯ I challenge, tilting my chin up defiantly. ¡®What are you going to do about it? sh those fangs you worked so hard on?¡¯


    That strikes a nerve. ¡®Careful what you wish for, little psycho. You might find out exactly how sharp they are.¡¯


    ¡®Is that supposed to be a threat or a promise?¡¯ The words slip out before I can stop them, my heat making me reckless.


    The air between us crackles with something I don¡¯t want to dignify by naming. Niki takes another step closer, close enough now that I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact.


    ¡®That depends entirely on you, princess.¡¯


    ¡®On me?¡¯ I echo, hating how breathless I sound.


    His lips curve into a predatory smile that shows off those ridiculous filed fangs. ¡®On whether you keep pushing me until I snap, or if you finally admit that you don¡¯t find me nearly as repulsive as you pretend to.¡¯


    I bare my teeth at him in return. ¡®I¡¯d rather kiss the Knight.¡¯


    ¡®Would you now?¡¯ He leans down, bracing his hands on either side of me. His scent surrounds me, making it hard to think straight. ¡®I think you¡¯re just scared.¡¯


    ¡®Of you?¡¯ Iugh, but ites out shaky.


    ¡®Not of me,¡¯ he purrs. ¡®Of how much you want me. Of how good we could be together if you weren¡¯t such a stuck up?¡ª¡¯


    He cuts himself off when I grab the front of his shirt, fully intending to push him away. But I hold onto him instead. ¡®You¡¯re delusional.¡¯


    ¡®Am I?¡¯ His voice drops lower, rougher. ¡®Then why are you pulling me closer?¡¯


    I freeze, realizing he¡¯s right. Without conscious thought, I¡¯ve been drawing him nearer, until our faces are mere inches apart. I can feel the heat radiating off his body.


    ¡®I hate you,¡¯ I whisper, but the wordsck conviction.


    His smile widens. ¡®Keep telling yourself that. Maybe eventually you¡¯ll believe it.¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re insufferable,¡¯ I snarl, my fingers still twisted in his shirt.


    His lips curve into that infuriating smirk. ¡®And you¡¯re not pushing me away.¡¯


    Something in me snaps. Before I can think better of it, I lunge forward. My teeth catch his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. The taste hits my tongue¡ªmetallic and dangerous, exactly like his scent¡ªand a shock runs through my entire body.


    I freeze, horror washing over me as I realize what I¡¯ve done.


    I just bit him.


    Like some feral animal.


    I bit the most dangerous alpha in the Outer Reaches.


    He¡¯s going to fucking kill me.


    But Niki doesn¡¯t pull away in rage like I expect. Instead, his hand tangles in my hair and he crushes his mouth to mine. The kiss is bruising, desperate, filled with all the fury and frustration that¡¯s been building between us.


    Maybe I should stop this, but I don¡¯t want to. My hands move of their own ord anyway, tearing at his shirt until buttons scatter across the floor. My nails rake down his back, drawing angry red lines across his skin. He hisses against my mouth but doesn¡¯t break the kiss.


    ¡®Careful,¡¯ he growls against my lips. ¡®I just might bite back.¡¯


    When his hands settle on my hips, he pauses to look down at me, his gaze darkening as he takes me in. A hint of curiosity enters it as he brushes his fingertips over my omega mark on my right hip. ¡°I was wondering where this was. Figures the ice princess would have it somewhere unique.¡±


    ¡®Shut up,¡¯ I snarl, dragging my nails up his spine just to spite him.


    The rumble that escapes his chest is more animal than human. His hands grip my hips hard enough to bruise as he presses closer. I can feel how much he wants this¡ªwants me¡ªand the knowledge sends a thrill through me that I refuse to examine too closely.


    ¡®Make me,¡¯ he challenges.


    So I do, capturing his mouth again in another savage kiss. There¡¯s nothing gentle about it. Nothing sweet or romantic. This is a battle, like everything else between us, and I intend to win.


    His hands slide up my sides, cooling everywhere he touches, but only briefly. I arch into his touch without meaning to, and feel his smirk against my lips.


    ¡®Shut up,¡¯ I growl again, even though he hasn¡¯t said anything. His smugness is radiating off him in waves.


    ¡®Still haven¡¯t heard you deny wanting this,¡¯ he purrs.


    I grab his stupid red sses and throw them across the room. ¡®I¡¯m not making out with a man who wears sunsses indoors,¡¯ I say when I see the rage sh in his eyes.


    Well, one of them.


    The other is too ssy and perfect, even if it¡¯s nearly the same exact color as his right. My eyes widen slightly as I realize the extent of the jagged scar that cuts down through his eye and all the way through his mouth on the other side.


    ¡®You have a ss eye?¡¯ I ask, surprised.


    ¡®Anyone ever tell you you suck at forey, princess?¡¯ he asks, pinning my wrists to the bed.


    My breath rushes out as he pins me with his body, too, his hard muscle pressing down on my soft curves. I¡¯m squirming against him in spite of myself, my dripping wet pussy grinding up against him, desperate for more than whatever toy he sent his minions out to procure.


    Not that I¡¯m going to let him have it.


    Alphas take what they want. They¡¯re all the same. Maybe Azarel isn¡¯t, but he¡¯s always been different. Weird. Like he doesn¡¯t even belong on the same. But I like to know where they stand regardless. Up here in his tower, Niki can do whatever he wants to me, and there¡¯s nothing anyone can do to stop him.


    Why the fuck do I want to find out if he¡¯ll stop?


    I know he won¡¯t.


    He¡¯s an alpha.


    ¡®It was an observation, not an insult,¡¯ I say, more breathless than I¡¯d like. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me the infamous Niki kov is sensitive.¡¯


    That hits its mark, too. Good. I want him angry. I want to see that carefully constructed mask of control shatter.


    Before I can taunt him further, his mouth crashes down on mine. The kiss is bruising, punishing. His teeth nip at my lower lip, then my throat, just not hard enough to draw blood. As if he wants to taunt me with control Ick.


    ¡®If you fucking mark me¡ª¡¯ I growl, pulling away.


    He gives me azy grin, shing a sharp fang. ¡®I didn¡¯t.¡¯


    I wrest my hands free from his grip and shove him off me.


    ¡®You¡¯re certainly feisty,¡¯ he says, swiping at the blood on his mouth with the back of his hand.


    My hand flies up to my neck instinctively. Did he bite me that hard? But there¡¯s nothing there. Not on my lips, either.


    ¡°Rx. I didn¡¯t mark you,¡± he mutters, sounding genuinely irritated as he sinks onto the bed beside me. The bulge in his pants is obvious. So why isn¡¯t he being pushier? He¡¯s plenty cocky enough to try.


    ¡®You sure came close,¡¯ I say, checking again.


    Just in case.


    My heart¡¯s hammering in my chest as it sinks in just how close he came. Alphas can take everything else from me, but so far, none have tried toy their mark on me. None have tried to im me.


    Then again, neither has Azarel.


    ¡®I may not have a toy yet, but I could help take the edge off,¡¯ Niki says, watching me like a hungry wolf. A hungry arctic wolf, to be specific.


    ¡®I¡¯d rather wait for the toy,¡¯ I say dryly.


    His eyes narrow slightly, but to my surprise, he doesn¡¯t immediately attack me. Before I can process it, a distant cry echoes through the tower, making us both freeze.


    What the hell was that?


    ¡®Pants!¡¯


    I look up, hearing the frantic shout getting closer, seeminglying from the direction of the elevator.


    ¡®Pants!¡¯


    The sound is closer now, more distinct.


    And desperate.


    Like a ghost rising up the elevator shaft.


    ¡®Is there someone in the fucking elevator?¡¯ I ask, bewildered.


    Niki curses under his breath, leaping off the bed and straightening his rumpled shirt as the elevator doors slide open to reveal Lex, who has her hands dramatically pped over her eyes.


    ¡®PANTS!¡¯ she yells again.


    ¡®Are you fucking serious?¡¯ Niki snarls.


    I grab the nearest nket, wrapping it around myself as I scramble to my feet. The cool air hits my overheated skin, helping clear my head slightly.


    ¡®I tried to warn you I wasing,¡¯ Lex grimaces. ¡®Ew, god, I hope you weren¡¯t?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®I wasn¡¯t,¡¯ he snaps.


    ¡®But you weren¡¯t answering your fucking radio!¡¯ Lex cries.


    Niki lets out a hiss of breath through his teeth and rakes a hand through his disheveled white hair. ¡®What do you want?¡¯ Niki demands. ¡®If you thought we were fucking and you still blew in here, it¡¯d better be the most important news of your life¡ªand by that, I mean more nukes are dropping.¡¯


    Lex gestures hastily toward the window. ¡®We¡¯ve got a code silver.¡¯


    Niki blinks, his brow furrowing in confusion. ¡®What the fuck is that?¡¯


    ¡®See for yourself,¡¯ Lex says grimly.


    Niki stalks over to the window, and I watch as all the color drains from his face at whatever he sees below. ¡®Holy shit,¡¯ he mutters.


    Curiosity gets the better of me and I join him at the window, clutching my makeshift toga closer. It doesn¡¯t take long to realize what they¡¯re freaking out about.


    The Knight is much closer to the tower than before.


    ¡®Wow, he¡¯s made a lot of progress,¡¯ I observe casually.


    Niki spins on me, his mismatched eyes zing. ¡®You knew about this and didn¡¯t say anything?¡¯


    I shrug, affecting an air of innocence. ¡®You didn¡¯t ask.¡¯


    ¡®Didn¡¯t ask?¡¯ he splutters. ¡®How long has he been doing this?¡¯


    ¡®Since this morning, I think?¡¯ I tap my chin thoughtfully. ¡®It¡¯s been entertaining to watch, actually. Not that there¡¯s been anything else to do but look at your shitty art.¡¯


    ¡®Entertaining?¡¯ Niki¡¯s voice rises an octave. ¡®He¡¯s trying to tunnel his way to the tower!¡¯


    ¡®Well, yes, obviously,¡¯ I say, as if exining something to a particrly clueless child. ¡®He¡¯s not digging his way to the market to find a toy for me, is he?¡¯


    I give a satisfied smirk as Niki¡¯s face contorts with barely contained rage. His scent spikes with alpha pheromones, making my head swim despite my best efforts to appear unaffected.


    Fuck, I hate this alpha.


    ¡®We¡¯ll finish thister,¡¯ he growls before grabbing his sses and stalking toward the elevator.


    I¡¯m honestly not sure if he means getting me out of my heat, or him fighting with me for not telling him about the Knight. That¡¯s one thing I never thought I¡¯d do. Fight with an alpha. At least not in an arguing way. They usually just find some other way to shut me up.


    To Niki¡¯s credit, he didn¡¯t hit me.


    It¡¯s bare fucking minimum, but still. Credit.


    I arch an eyebrow, keeping my voice deliberately light. ¡®Will we though?¡¯


    He ignores me, turning to Lex instead. ¡®Are youing or not?¡¯


    Lex takes an exaggerated step back. ¡®I¡¯ll catch the next one. You¡¯re pumping out enough alpha musk to choke a bear, and I just had nachos I¡¯d like to keep down.¡¯


    Niki¡¯s jaw clenches so hard I can hear his teeth grinding. Without another word, he steps into the elevator. As the doors slide closed, I catch onest glimpse of his furious expression.


    An awkward silence falls over the room as the elevator hums, Lex not-so-subtly mashing the call button to the point I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it jams.


    Now that¡¯s a thought.


    I¡¯m acutely aware that I¡¯m still only wearing a nket, and that the entire ce reeks of arousal¡ªboth his and mine. My heat isn¡¯t helping matters, making every nerve ending feel like a live wire.


    Lex clears her throat. ¡®So¡­ sorry about interrupting whatever freaky shit you?¡ª¡¯


    I cut her off by wordlessly pointing at the elevator doors as they slide open again. She takes the hint immediately, slipping inside with onest awkward stare in my direction before the doors close.


    Finally alone, I let out a frustrated growl and throw myself back onto my nest. The impact sends Niki¡¯s scent wafting up from the torn pieces of his coat woven throughout the nkets and pillows, and I have to resist the urge to bury my face in it.


    What the hell was I thinking?


    On one hand, I should be relieved the interruption came when it did. Getting intimate with my captor is probably not the wisest move, especially when said captor is the most dangerous warlord in the Outer Reaches. Not to mention the fact that I hate him.


    My body throbs with unfulfilled need, the ache between my thighs almost unbearable now. I can still taste his blood on my tongue from when I bit him, still feel the ghost of his fangs on my throat.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I groan into the empty room, pressing my thighs together.


    This is torture.


    Part of me hopes the Knight seeds at tearing down the tower and puts me out of my misery, because if I¡¯m actually desperate enough to crave Niki fucking kov¡¯s cock, I¡¯ve passed the point of no return.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 15

    The ground trembles beneath my feet as I storm across the tarmac, my jaw clenched so tight I can feel a muscle twitching. Lex jogs to keep up, that mangy mutt of hers loping alongside her and barking the whole damn time like she¡¯s trying to give me news too.


    ¡®How long has this been going on?¡¯ I snarl, not slowing my pace.


    ¡®Fuck if I know,¡¯ Lex pants. ¡®The pit was fine a few hours ago, then one of the other guys brought it to my attention. Thought it was just throwing another tantrum at first, but then?¡ª¡¯


    A bone-rattling roar cuts her off, and I feel it in my fucking teeth. We round the corner of a storage unit, and I freeze.


    ¡®Holy shit.¡¯


    The pit is¡­ wrong. Misshapen. One side bulges outward like a tumor, the earth churned up and scattered in massive clumps. And there, in the center of the chaos, looms the Knight, head and shoulders above the edge of the goddamn pit.


    The Knight¡¯s massive frame is coated in mud and grime, but those eerie blue eyes still glow with unholy light from the iron mask. As I watch, he ms his metal fist into the outer edge of the part of the pit he¡¯s dug away. The ground shakes and a shower of dirt rains down on him.


    But the fucker isn¡¯t digging, not in any methodical sense. It¡¯s pure, primal rage. Each blow sends more earth cascading down, widening the pit. And with each strike, he¡¯s closer to the tower.


    To her.


    ¡®Boss!¡¯ Diesel¡¯s panicked voice snaps me out of my daze. Hees sprinting up, out of breath and wild-eyed. ¡®We tried to stop it, but?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®You tried?¡¯ I cut him off, my voice dripping with disdain. ¡®What the fuck does that mean? Did you use the chains? The gas? The fucking tranq guns?¡¯


    Diesel shifts nervously. ¡®Well, see, the thing is?¡ª¡¯


    Another ear-splitting roar drowns him out. I whirl back toward the pit just in time to see the Knight lunge upward. His metal ws dig into the loosened earth, and for one heart-stopping moment, I think the fucker¡¯s actually going to haul himself out.


    He¡¯s close, that¡¯s for damn sure.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I mutter, raking a hand through my hair. ¡®Fuck fuck fuck!¡¯


    ¡®My thoughts exactly,¡¯ Lex drawls.


    I round on her, jabbing a finger at her scarred face. ¡®This isn¡¯t a fucking joke. If that thing gets loose?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®If?¡¯ Diesel pipes up, his voice cracking. ¡®Don¡¯t you mean when?¡¯


    I grab him by the front of his shirt, hauling him close. ¡®Choose your next words very carefully,¡¯ I growl.


    His eyes go wide. ¡®I just meant¡­ well, look at it! Nothing¡¯s stopped it so far. Maybe we should, I don¡¯t know, evacuate?¡¯


    I shove him away in disgust. ¡®Evacuate to where, dipshit? In case you haven¡¯t noticed, we¡¯re in the middle of a goddamn wastnd.¡¯


    ¡®What about the bunker?¡¯ Lex suggests hesitantly. ¡®The one under the old?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®We are not abandoning this base,¡¯ I snarl. ¡®Do you have any idea how much firepower we¡¯ve got stockpiled here? How many years I¡¯ve spent building this operation?¡¯


    How much I stand to lose if I walk away now?


    ¡®Okay, so it¡¯s not that we can¡¯t evacuate,¡¯ Diesel points out. ¡®Just that you don¡¯t want to?¡¯


    ¡®He has a point,¡¯ Lex muses.


    ¡®You¡¯re both going into the pit if you say another word,¡¯ I mutter, raking a hand through my hair as my other hand goes instinctively to my pocket for the crumpled pack of synth cigarettes I keep for special asions when I need to calm the fuck down. My hands are already trembling by the time I manage to get one out. It¡¯s bent, but it¡¯ll do.


    I light it and turn back to the pit, taking a long drag and watching as the Knight continues its relentless assault on the walls. Each blow sends tremors through the ground, and I swear I can feel them in my bones.


    ¡®We need to contain it,¡¯ I mutter, more to myself than the idiots around me. ¡®Reinforce the walls, maybe. Or dig the pit deeper.¡¯


    ¡®Uh, boss?¡¯ Diesel¡¯s nervous voice grates on my nerves. ¡®About that¡­¡¯


    I close my eyes, counting backward from ten. ¡®What now?¡¯


    ¡®Well, see, we kinda used up all the concrete mix on that statue Mikey and Lex wanted to make, and?¡ª¡¯


    My eyes snap open. ¡®You did what?¡¯


    The moron in question actually perks up. ¡®Oh yeah! Wanna see it? It¡¯s not quite finished, but I think it really captures your essence.¡¯


    Before I can tell her exactly where they can shove their ¡®art,¡¯ the ground bucks beneath our feet. I stumble, catching myself on the edge of a storage container. When I look up, my heart nearly stops.


    The Knight is climbing.


    He¡¯s found purchase in the loosened earth, those lethal ws digging in as he hauls his massive frame upward. It¡¯s slow, agonizing progress, but it¡¯s working.


    ¡®Get the chains!¡¯ I roar, already sprinting toward the nearest storage unit. ¡®The big ones! And someone find me a fucking rocketuncher!¡¯


    My men scatter, Lex barking orders as they run. I yank open the door to the unit, my hands shaking as I dig through crates of weaponry. Everything¡¯s already turning hazy and violet around the corners of my vision. Maybe taking a goddamn hit off a synth cigarette wasn¡¯t the best idea, but everything going on has me at the verge of mentally snapping and I was running out of fucking options.


    Where the fuck is it?


    A high-pitched scream cuts through the air, and I whirl around. One of the men¡ªsome new recruit whose name I can¡¯t be bothered to remember¡ªis backing away from the pit, his face white as a sheet.


    ¡®It¡¯s looking at me!¡¯ he wails. ¡®Oh god, it saw me!¡¯


    I grab the nearest object¡ªa crowbar¡ªand hurl it at him. It ngs off his helmet and he yelps.


    ¡®Pull yourself together!¡¯ I snarl. ¡®Unless you want to be its first snack when it gets out!¡¯


    Some alpha.


    As if on cue, another roar shakes thepound. I turn back to the pit, and my blood runs cold.


    The Knight is halfway out of the damn pit now. And there¡¯s an intensity in his burning blue gaze that I recognize all too well.


    Hunger.


    Need.


    Mine.


    ¡®Oh, you¡¯ve got to be fucking kidding me,¡¯ I mutter.


    A ng of metal on metal draws my attention. Lex and some other alphas are dragging massive chains toward the pit, each link as thick as my arm. But even as they approach, I know it won¡¯t be enough.


    Nothing will be enough.


    The Knight is going to get out. And when he does, I know he¡¯s going straight for her.


    A flicker of movement on the road leading to thepound catches my eye. A cloud of dust, kicked up by an approaching vehicle.


    What the fuck now?


    I snatch a pair of binocrs from a nearby crate, focusing on the iing threat. It takes me a moment to make out details through the dust and grime, but when I do, a fresh wave of rage washes over me.


    I know that long blond hair streaming in the wind. And I only know one fucker shy enough to ride a golden motorcycle.


    ¡®You have got to be shitting me.¡¯


    Of all the godforsaken times for that preening peacock to show his face, it has to be now? When I¡¯m dealing with a rabid eight-foot killing machine, a heat-crazed omega, and the very real possibility that my entire operation is about to go up in mes?


    I hurl the binocrs aside, not even wincing at the crunch of broken ss. A headache pounds behind my eye, and I can feel a muscle twitching in my jaw.


    ¡®Lex!¡¯ I bark. ¡®You deal with this shit. I¡¯ve got a pretty boy to turn into roadkill.¡¯


    She looks up from where she¡¯s attaching a chain to a massive steel stake, her scarred face twisted in confusion. ¡®But boss, what about?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t care if you have to call in every merc from here to the Capital. Just keep that thing in the fucking pit!¡¯ I snap as I storm toward the plume of dust kicked up by the asshole on the golden bike.


    Maybe I¡¯ll get lucky and he¡¯ll give me an excuse to put a bullet between those pretty blue eyes of his.


    Knowing Raven, it¡¯s only a matter of time.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 16

    Several Hours Earlier


    Itake another long drag on my cigar, savoring the bitter smoke as it fills my lungs. The quiet of my living room is broken only by the low murmur of the TV, some mindless game show I¡¯m not really watching. I know who wins anyway. Just background noise to fill the silence.


    It¡¯s peaceful.


    Calm.


    Exactly what I¡¯ve always wanted.


    So why the fuck does it feel so wrong?


    I grunt in annoyance, reaching for the bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. The amber liquid sloshes as I pour myself another ss, spilling a few drops onto the worn wood.


    Doesn¡¯t matter.


    This ce has seen worse.


    My eye drifts to the empty space on the couch beside me. The spot where that golden-haired menace used to sprawl, prattling on about whatever inane bullshit was upying his mind that day. Always talking. Always moving. A constant whirlwind of chaos and drama.


    And now¡­ nothing.


    Just blessed fucking silence.


    Haven¡¯t missed him since he moved out. Don¡¯t miss him now.


    I knock back the whiskey, relishing the burn as it slides down my throat. This is what I wanted, isn¡¯t it? Peace and quiet. No more headaches. No more cleaning up after Raven¡¯s messes or bailing him out of whatever trouble he¡¯d gotten himself into this time.


    No more¡­


    Fuck.


    The TV drones on, the winner of the game show leaping around in excitement while music res and confetti falls around him because he won a vacation to some ind that¡¯s a mile underwater now. It¡¯s the kind of mindless entertainment I used to crave after a long day of dealing with Raven¡¯s bullshit.


    Now it just feels hollow.


    I catch myself straining to hear the sound of boots on the stairs, that familiar voice calling out some new ridiculous nickname. But there¡¯s nothing. Just the emptiness of my own thoughts echoing in this too-quiet room. And the distant sound of fucking.


    I turn up the game show, the jazz theme song and cheering sting loud enough to drown out the barely audible moans. But all of a sudden, that¡¯s unbearable, too.


    And my eye fucking hurts.


    Or where my eye used to be.


    ¡®Goddammit,¡¯ I mutter, hauling myself to my feet.


    I lumber into the bathroom, the floorboards creaking beneath my boots. The fluorescent light flickers to life, harsh and unforgiving as I stare at my reflection in the cracked mirror.


    One eye stares back at me. The other¡­


    With a grimace, I reach up and peel off the eye patch. The scarred flesh beneath is an angry red, irritated from where the patch has been rubbing against my cheekbone. I fish the small jar of ointment out of the medicine cab, dabbing it gingerly on the bottom edge of the empty socket.


    I try not to look too closely at the ruin of my face. At the jagged scar tissue, the sunken hollow where my eye used to be.


    Raven would have something to say about this. Some smartassment about how I¡¯m being ¡¯emo¡¯ or whatever the fuck. He¡¯d probably try to bedazzle the damn eye patch or some shit. Stick rhinestones on it.


    The thought brings a reluctant smile to my lips before I can stop it.


    ¡®You¡¯re losing it, Geo,¡¯ I growl at my reflection.


    But the wordsck their usual bite. Instead, they just sound¡­ tired. Worn down, like everything else in this godforsaken wastnd.


    I p the eye patch back on, harder than necessary. The sting is a wee distraction from the ache in my chest that I refuse to acknowledge. I should probably let it breathe a little, but I don¡¯t feel like catching a glimpse of it when I¡¯m not expecting it.


    I¡¯m already in a weird-ass mood tonight.


    Back in the living room, I pour myself another drink. The level in the bottle is getting dangerously low. Might need to make a run soon, stock up on supplies.


    Used to be Raven¡¯s job, once upon a time. Little shit always knew where to find the good stuff, even out here in the ass-end of nowhere.


    I sink back onto the couch, letting out a heavy sigh. The TV drones on, but I¡¯m not really seeing it anymore. Instead, my mind keeps drifting back to that day on the road. To Raven¡¯s retreating form, golden hair catching thest rays of sunlight as he walked away.


    Walked to his death.


    Because that¡¯s what this is, isn¡¯t it?


    A suicide mission.


    Going up against Niki fucking kov, all for some omega he doesn¡¯t even know. An omega he caught a single glimpse of once. Guess even the most submissive alpha that walks this earth isn¡¯t immune to the scent of an omega.


    There is one thing I can thank that shithead Niki for. When he carved my eye out of my head, the damage and resulting infection fucked up my sense of smell. Made it tougher for me to be affected by scents. Turned out to be a useful trait considering my line of work.


    Useful enough that I finished the job by injecting acid straight into the cavity through my eye socket where the tear duct used to be.


    I can still get a whiff of particrly strong scents, but in a normal human way. The way humans used to be before all this alpha and omega shit started evolving all over the world as a direct result of just how badly we fucked up the.


    So maybe I just don¡¯t get it.


    Maybe the scent of moon pussy or whatever the fuck Raven said is just so powerful, he really didn¡¯t have a choice but to chase that strange straight into the very bowels of hell. And that¡¯s where he might be right now, for all I know. Throwing the biggest party the literal underworld has ever seen.


    He sure likes to fuck around in my underworld. The one I¡¯ve made myself the lord of. The one he likes to treat like his own personal yground every time he shows up. Always has the worst timing, too. It¡¯s always when things are finally feeling fucking normal.


    And I don¡¯t feel normal often.


    You know what?


    I¡¯m d to be rid of him.


    This calls for celebration, not bitching and moaning and brooding. A little more whiskey and one of the cigars I save for special asions should do the trick. Should make my fucked up face stop hurting, too.


    Peace and quiet is all I¡¯ve ever wanted.


    And this time, it¡¯s permanent.


    So why does it feel like I¡¯ve lost something I didn¡¯t even know I had?


    The whiskey isn¡¯t doing its job anymore. The burn in my throat can¡¯t quite drown out the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. A feeling that¡¯s starting to feel ufortably like¡­


    Guilt.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I mutter, scrubbing a hand over my face.


    I shouldn¡¯t care. Raven made his choice. He may look too innocent for this world, but he¡¯s still a grown-ass man, capable of making his own decisions. Even if those decisions are monumentally stupid and likely to get him killed in horrifically painful ways.


    But I do care.


    Somewhere along the line, that irritating little shit wormed his way past my defenses. Became more than just another stray looking for scraps.


    He became¡­


    Family.


    The word sits heavy in my mind, ufortable and foreign. I¡¯ve spent my whole life avoiding attachments, keeping everyone at arm¡¯s length.


    It¡¯s safer that way.


    Easier.


    Lonelier.


    I grunt in frustration, hauling myself to my feet again. Can¡¯t sit still. Need to move, to do something. Anything to quiet the voice in the back of my head telling me I fucked up. That I should have stopped him, should have dragged his scrawny ass back here and locked him in the basement until thistest obsession passed. And if it never did, so fucking be it. He¡¯d just have to be my prisoner, then.


    He¡¯d probably love being a pet.


    But I didn¡¯t do that.


    I didn¡¯t save him.


    I let him go.


    Watched him walk away, knowing full well he was marching to his death.


    Some ¡®daddy¡¯ I turned out to be.


    No wonder the kid¡¯s so fucked up.


    I find myself pacing the small living room, unable to settle. The silence that used to be soforting now feels oppressive. Suffocating, even. Like the damn walls are closing in around me.


    ¡®Fuck!¡¯ I snarl, mming my fist into the closest wall and leaving a crater behind. The kind of bullshit Raven would hang a frame over to mark the asion where I lost my goddamn temper over him. And he isn¡¯t even here.


    And that¡¯s the fucking problem, isn¡¯t it?


    Raven.


    Isn¡¯t.


    Here.


    I stomp up my stairs, down a few halls, and throw the door open that leads out into the market. The musty but marginally cooler air feels good against my face. Grounds me. Makes me feel like I¡¯m not about to mentally snap. It¡¯s bad enough I punched a wall. I may be a grumpy son of a bitch, but it¡¯s rare for me to actually lose my head like that.


    Then I catch a glimpse of a golden sh in the crowd.


    My heart fucking stops.


    Before I even realize what I¡¯m doing, I¡¯m shoving my way through the press of bodies, my voice ripping from my throat.


    ¡®Raven!¡¯


    The name echoes off the grimy walls of the market, drawing curious stares. I don¡¯t give a shit. My eye is locked on that blond head bobbing through the sea of people. He¡¯s moving away from me, and panic ws at my chest.


    No.


    Not again.


    I¡¯m not letting him walk away this time.


    Peace and quiet be damned.


    I lunge forward, my hand closing around a slim shoulder. With a snarl, I spin the figure around, ready to tear into that smug bastard for daring to show his face here after?¡ª


    It¡¯s not Raven.


    The man staring up at me with wide, terrified eyes is a stranger. Just some run-of-the-mill blond guy, his face pale with shock as he takes in my towering frame and the rage I know is etched into every line of my face.


    ¡®I-I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ he stammers. ¡®I think you have the wrong guy.¡¯


    For a long moment, I can¡¯t move. Can¡¯t speak. I just stare at this poor fucker who had the misfortune of having hair the same shade as the asshole currently driving me to madness.


    With a low growl, I release him. He doesn¡¯t wait for an invitation, bolting into the crowd like his ass is on fire. Smart man.


    I stand there, chest heaving, as the reality of what just happened sinks in. Fuck. I really have lost my mind.


    There¡¯s no reason Raven would be here anyway. I know that. He¡¯d be going straight for Niki, the suicidal little shit. So why the fuck am I seeing his ghost everywhere I look?


    Something dark and ugly twists in my gut.


    An emotion I¡¯m not ready to name.


    Fuck this.


    I start stalking through the market like a man possessed, grabbing random people and demanding information. ¡®Tall, muscr Vrissian asshole,¡¯ I snarl at a trembling beta. ¡®White hair, round red sunsses, scarred face, red coat. Can¡¯t miss him. Ring any bells?¡¯


    Most of them just shake their heads, eyes wide with fear. A few mutter something about not having seen anyone like that. One particrly brave¡ªor stupid¡ªalpha actually has the balls to tell me to fuck off.


    I leave him nursing a broken nose that¡¯ll be dribbling blood and snot for a week.


    As I prowl deeper into the bowels of the market, my frustration mounting with each dead end, I catch a scrap of a conversation. Just a scrap, but it¡¯s enough to make me stop in my tracks.


    ¡®¡ªI¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s the most fucking gorgeous omega I¡¯ve ever seen,¡¯ a big alpha is saying, his eyes zed over like he¡¯s describing a religious experience. ¡®All soft curves, an ass that could turn a man into a wolf?¡ª¡¯


    ¡°Her hair really does look like moonlight,¡¯ the smaller beta at his side finishes dreamily.


    I freeze, my blood turning to ice in my veins.


    Shit.


    That¡¯s her.


    The omega Raven¡¯s chasing.


    Has to be. Which means these idiots must be Niki¡¯s goons.


    In an instant, I¡¯m on them. The alpha yelps in surprise as I grab him by the front of his shirt, mming him up against the nearest wall. ¡®Where the fuck is she?¡¯ I growl, my face inches from his. ¡°And where is Niki kov?¡¯


    The alpha¡¯s eyes go wide, darting to the beta for help. But his buddy¡¯s too busy pissing himself to be much use.


    ¡®I-I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡¯ the alpha stammers.


    Wrong fucking answer.


    I tighten my grip, lifting him until his feet dangle off the ground. ¡®Don¡¯t y dumb with me, you sack of shit. Now tell me where the fuck he is, or I¡¯ll rip your fucking eye out.¡¯


    For emphasis, I tear my eyepatch off.


    He pukes. I flinch, then snarl and m him against the wall to punish him for it.


    A sh of movement in my peripheral vision is all the warning I get. I release the still vomiting alpha with one hand, pivoting to catch the beta¡¯s wrist just as he lunges at me with a knife.


    Fucking amateurs.


    I twist the beta¡¯s arm, bending it at an unnatural angle until I hear the telltale creak of bone and ligament. The beta howls, squirming in my grip as tears stream down his face.


    ¡®Stop! We¡¯re at the old airport!¡¯ the alpha splutters, lunging at me. I swing the beta up by his arm and m him into the alpha like a mace. They both crash to the ground, the alphanding on top of him.


    Hope both of them are covered in puke now.


    ¡®What did you say about the old airport?¡¯ I growl, cocking my gun at them as they both groan.


    The stabby little fucker lifts his head blearily, blinking up at me like he¡¯s staring into the sun. ¡®Holy fuck, your eye?¡ª¡¯


    I snarl and fire a bullet into the dirt in front of him.


    ¡®It¡¯s where we are!¡¯ the alpha yells. ¡®Niki took the tower. The¡­ the control tower. You know, the one that looks like a UFO on a pir, the?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®I know what a goddamn air traffic control tower is,¡¯ I snap. ¡®And what the fuck are you doing in my market?¡¯


    ¡®Looking for dildos!¡¯ the beta blurts out.


    I just stare at them.


    For once, I¡¯m at an absolute loss for words.


    And for a moment, I¡¯m tempted to finish them both off. They¡¯re Niki¡¯s goons. They don¡¯t deserve to lick the dirt off my boots.


    But I¡¯ve got what I need.


    ¡®Get the fuck out of my market,¡¯ I snarl, sticking my gun back in its holster. ¡®And tell your boss if I catch any more of his minions sniffing around here, I¡¯ll send them back to him in pieces.¡¯


    They both scramble to their feet and take off without another damn word. I watch them go, my jaw clenched so tight it aches.


    I can¡¯t believe that arrogant prick had the balls to let hisckeyse here. Hell, he may have even sent them.


    To my turf.


    After everything that¡¯s happened.


    But then, Niki¡¯s never been one for subtlety.


    Or respecting territory and boundaries.


    I need to move. Need to get to that airport before Raven does something even more monumentally stupid than usual.


    Which, knowing him, could be any minute now.


    ¡®Hold on, kid. I¡¯ming,¡¯ I growl as I storm toward the hangar where I keep all my best shit.


    Whether you like it or not.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 17

    The wind whips through my hair as I gun the engine of my golden motorcycle, pushing it to its limits. I¡¯ve been saving it for a special asion, and riding in on a gleaming metal steed to y the degenerate dragon who¡¯s captured my moonlight princess certainly qualifies as that.


    It didn¡¯t take long to suss out Niki¡¯s current location. I have my little birdies keeping an eye on his general whereabouts at any given time¡ªjust to make sure I can steer clear of him¡ªand the Alpha¡¯s Alpha is always a font of information on every seedy dealing going down in the Outer Reaches. But every minute she¡¯s in that brute¡¯s captivity is a minute too long.


    The rmissioned airport looms ahead, a sprawling mess of concrete buildings and steel rising from the barrenndscape like some post-apocalyptic fever dream. And in the distance, sticking out of the dirt like the world¡¯s tackiest dildo, is the air traffic control tower.


    No doubt Niki has turned it into his base. It¡¯s wrapped in three hundred and sixty degrees of gaudy midcentury windows, just perfect for the not-so-discerning paranoiac without a lick of taste.


    I bet he¡¯s still got that psychopathic butch alpha running the ground operation, too. Although, I suppose her one redeeming quality is loyalty. That¡¯s all Niki has ever cared about. Anyone sycophantic or delusional enough to endure his endless litmus tests to weed out any ¡®traitors¡¯ in his midst¡ªAKA anyone with the balls to question him¡ªis the perfect minion.


    Personally, I¡¯ve always preferred to just pay people with good aim and more than two brain cells to rub together, considering the fact that loyalty can always be bought for the right price. But I suppose we all have our different leadership philosophies.


    I¡¯ve imagined this moment a thousand times over the years. Rehearsed what I¡¯d say, how I¡¯d stand, the perfect cutting remark to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he left me with. But now that it¡¯s here, all those carefully crafted scenarios crumble to dust.


    Because nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greets me as I skid to a stop in a cloud of dust and gravel.


    Chaos.


    Pure, unadulterated chaos.


    Men are running in every direction, their faces masks of terror. That asshole Lex is here, barking orders as usual with her dog barking along with her, but it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen genuine fear on her scarred face. And I can¡¯t even take a minute to savor it, considering the ground itself seems to tremble beneath my feet. Lex and the others are hurling massive chains likessos at the armored¡­ monster?


    That¡¯s presently trying to climb out of a¡­


    A pit?


    Good gods, Niki has really fallen apart without me.


    His operation was always a disaster, but a pit monster? Really?


    And I thought the viin tower was bad enough.


    I¡¯m still trying to make out the details of the Pit Monster through the dust when I realize someone ising straight for me.


    Niki fucking kov.


    My lip curls back, an instinctive growl building in the center of my chest. Where the mere sight of him was once enough to make warmth bloom, now it feels more like I¡¯m going to puke. He looks exactly the same andpletely different all at once. That choppy white hair, the tacky red sses¡ªand where¡¯s his signature matching coat? Maybe he finally decided to risk washing the blood off it and ruined it. That would be beautiful.


    But there¡¯s something harder in the set of his jaw, something colder in his slightly mismatched eyes as they lock onto mine behind those lenses.


    Time to face the fucking music.


    Even if it sounds like a death march.


    I kill the engine and swing my leg over the bike, adopting a casual swagger I don¡¯t feel. My hand drifts to the ornate revolver at my hip. I can¡¯t help but smirk when I notice he¡¯s still carrying the golden one I gave him all those years ago.


    ¡®Niko!¡¯ I call out, my voice carrying over the din and dust. I spread my arms wide, a sardonic grin spreading across my face. ¡®Miss me?¡¯


    His eyes narrow, and I see his jaw clench. Perfect. I want him off-bnce. And by the looks of things, I came at exactly the right time.


    Good for me.


    I¡¯ve always had impable timing.


    ¡®What the fuck are you doing here, Raven?¡¯ he snarls, stalking toward me. There¡¯s a tension in his frame I¡¯ve only seen a handful of times before, like a coiled spring ready to snap.


    Once was the day I left.


    Iugh, the sound hollow even to my own ears. ¡®What, no warm wee for an old friend?¡¯ My eyes drift pointedly to the gun at his hip. ¡®I see you kept my little gift. Sentimental of you.¡¯


    Something flickers in his eyes, too quick for me to name. But then it¡¯s gone, reced by that mask of cold indifference I know so well. ¡®I don¡¯t have time for your bullshit,¡¯ he growls, already turning away. ¡®In case you hadn¡¯t noticed, we¡¯re in the middle of a situation here.¡¯


    The dismissal stings more than I care to admit. As if I haven¡¯t been painstakingly avoiding him and his shitshow of an operation for thest five years. My carefully constructed bravado starts crumbling, raw hurt bubbling to the surface.


    ¡®You owe me a duel, you son of a bitch,¡¯ I snap, my hand tightening on the grip of my gun.


    He whirls back to face me from ncing at the pit, where Lex and the rest of his goons are still struggling to restrain that thing¡ªand losing, much to my delight. But he just looks exasperated. ¡®A duel? Are you out of your fucking mind? Look around you, Raven. Does this look like a good time for your theatrics?¡¯


    As if to punctuate his point, an inhuman roar splits the air. I turn toward the sound, my eyes widening. The Pit Monster is climbing out of it, chains be damned. One snaps like it¡¯s made of twine. Guess we don¡¯t share the same affinity for being tied up.


    I swallow hard as I get my first good look at the beast emerging from the pit. His massive frame rises like some ancient god of war, all rippling muscle and gleaming metal grafted together in a way that shouldn¡¯t work but absolutely does. The iron mask covering his face catches the light, and even from here I can see where it¡¯s damaged, revealing glimpses of razor-sharp teeth beneath and a chiseled jawline.


    But it¡¯s not just the obvious weapons that draw my eye. The way the sunlight ys across his scarred torso is almost hypnotic, highlighting every ridge of muscle as he strains against the remaining chains. The rods of metal protruding from his back like broken wings should be grotesque, but there¡¯s something darkly beautiful about the way they catch the light.


    And those arms. One flesh and one metal, both powerful enough to snap chains like they¡¯re made of paper. The mechanical one ends in wicked ws that look like they could tear a man in half, and honestly?


    I¡¯d probably let him.


    I¡¯ve always had questionable taste in men, but this might be a new low.


    Or a new high, depending on how you look at it.


    ¡®Who is that?¡¯ I ask, momentarily forgetting my anger in the face of this new, robust horror. ¡®Tall, metal and gruesome, I mean.¡¯


    ¡®Who else would you fucking be talking about?¡¯ Niki snaps. ¡®And that is why I don¡¯t have time for your bullshit right now.¡¯


    He walks away, barking orders at the few men who haven¡¯t fled. I watch as they scramble to follow hismands, hauling more massive chains toward the pit. But even from here, I can see it¡¯s a losing battle.


    The monster is relentless in his climb. He seems to have given up on breaking the chains, at least for the moment, but those wicked metal ws tear into the earth, sending showers of dirt cascading down to erode even more of the barrier around him. Soon, the chains won¡¯t matter at all.


    Maybe this was bad timing after all.


    I knew I should have taken that left turn out of Belvast and risked dealing with roadblocks. This rescue is going to be far less majestic if I have to fight that thing before getting to my princess.


    I¡¯m assuming Niki has her in the tower. He¡¯s nothing if not predictable. At least she¡¯d be safe from the chaos on the ground. Except that the monster seems to be dead set on going in that exact direction.


    ¡®I don¡¯t give a damn about the little circus you have going on here,¡¯ I say, giving the chaos around us a flippant wave as I follow Niki. ¡®You have something that belongs to me, and I¡¯m not leaving without it.¡¯


    ¡®If you want the shit you left behind, I had Reese take it out to the bonfire the night you left,¡¯ he sneers, still stomping back toward the chaos.


    ¡®I¡¯m not talking about my things,¡¯ I hiss. ¡®I want the girl.¡¯


    Niki nces back to give me a nk stare, finally focusing on me, before barking out augh that has me seeing red. ¡®I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re on about now, but there¡¯s nothing here for you. Now go on and do what you do best. Fuck off.¡¯


    With that, he turns to walk back toward the pit again, but my hand shoots out and I grab his arm.


    ¡®You don¡¯t get to walk away from me,¡¯ I snarl. ¡®Not until we settle this.¡¯


    He shakes me off with a growl, his eyes never leaving the monster now fully climbing out of the pit. ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake, Raven, grow up. The world doesn¡¯t revolve around your wounded pride.¡¯


    ¡®This has nothing to do with my pride!¡¯ He¡¯s ignoring me, already walking toward the others. Son of a fucking bitch. ¡®I know the Ghosts brought her here. Cosima Maybrecht.¡¯


    That gets his attention. He freezes and turns around slowly, his eyes narrowed. ¡®How the fuck do you know that name?¡¯


    I smirk at having finally struck a nerve. ¡®I know everything that goes on in the Outer Reaches, Niko.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t fucking call me that,¡¯ he snaps, closing the distance between us in a few brisk strides. He¡¯s not that much taller than I am, but he looms like a motherfucker regardless. ¡®Who told you about the girl? Who sent you here?¡¯


    ¡®No one,¡¯ I say in a matter-of-fact tone, squaring my shoulders and holding his gaze. He¡¯ll soon learn I¡¯m not the insecure whelp who walked away from him years ago.


    And as long as he doesn¡¯t use his bark, I¡¯m golden.


    That, or we¡¯ll find out how well Geo¡¯s training paid off.


    ¡®I¡¯ve been tracking her for months,¡¯ I add.


    Okay, that¡¯s a lie. But it feels like months. Emotionally. And emotional time is so much more real than chronological time.


    ¡®You have, huh?¡¯ He cocks an eyebrow, his hand drifting closer toward his gun. As if I couldn¡¯t just shoot it right out of his hand. ¡®What¡¯s the bounty?¡¯


    Disgust roils in my gut. Of course that¡¯s all he¡¯d be thinking about. He has the most splendid creature to ever exist locked away in that tower, the raw essence of the moon¡¯s beauty herself, and all he cares about is money.


    ¡®There¡¯s no bounty, you foul oaf!¡¯


    ¡®There¡¯s always a bounty,¡¯ he counters. I tense, ready to shoot if he tries to grab his gun before we¡¯ve even gotten a chance to properly duel. Instead, he gets out his leather wallet and pulls out an obscenely thick wad of bills. He tosses the cash at my feet. ¡®There. Should be more than enough for you to get the fuck out of here and forget her name.¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t want your fucking money!¡¯ I spit, kicking up a cloud of dirt over the stack. ¡®As if I couldn¡¯t buy you, your tacky little operation, and your brain-dead minions and still have plenty left over to celebrate!¡¯


    ¡®Hey!¡¯ Reese bellows at me from across the yard, his voice strained as he uses his full body weight to pull on one of the chains wrapped around the monster¡¯s throat.


    ¡®Hi, Raven!¡¯ Mikey calls, releasing his chain with one of his hands to wave at me. The monster gains headway as a result andshes out, sending one of Niki¡¯s beta minions flying into the sky with a scream.


    I snort. ¡®Oh, yes. I see you¡¯ve really whipped the old army into shape. Very professional. Would have thought they were Council dogs if I didn¡¯t know better.¡¯


    ¡®How long do you spend picking out uniforms for your mercs?¡¯ Niki challenges. ¡®Any of them actually see battle, or do you just select them based on fuckability?¡¯


    ¡®Better that than a band of idiots cobbled together out of sycophants to rece a family that wants nothing to do with me.¡¯


    That hits its mark. His upper lip curls back into a cruel smirk. ¡®At least they¡¯re loyal. A soldier who can be bought and sold is nothing more than a whore. But then, that is what you were always good at. Should¡¯ve stuck with it.¡¯


    Niki¡¯s words cut deep. For a moment, I¡¯m that wounded soul he plucked from the pleasure district again, desperate for approval, for belonging. But I refuse to let him see how much he¡¯s affected me. I¡¯ve spent too many years building myself up, crafting this persona of the carefree, untouchable mercenary. I won¡¯t let him tear it all down with a few well-ced barbs.


    ¡®You¡¯re right,¡¯ I say, my voice dripping with venom. ¡®I was a good whore. It taught me a lot of useful skills. That¡¯s probably how I managed to pretend I respected you for so long.¡¯


    His eyes narrow behind those ridiculous red lenses, and I can see the muscle in his jaw working. Good. He does dumb shit when he¡¯s pissed.


    ¡®I¡¯m not leaving without her,¡¯ I dere, my hand moving to the revolver at my hip. ¡®So unless you want to hand her over like a gentleman, I suggest we settle this the old-fashioned way.¡¯


    Niki¡¯s eyebrows shoot up, a cruel smirk ying at his lips. ¡®And here I thought your ir for the dramatic couldn¡¯t get any more absurd.¡¯


    ¡®Afraid you¡¯ll lose?¡¯ I taunt, drawing my gun with a flourish. The familiar weight settles in my palm, cool metal against feverish skin. ¡®Or have you gone soft without someone to remind you of your mortality?¡¯


    Hisughter is sharp, mocking. It grates against my nerves like sandpaper. ¡®You really haven¡¯t changed a bit, have you? Still thinking life is some grand adventure story. And what role is it you¡¯re ying now? The dashing prince? You were always better at being the damsel in distress.¡¯


    I level the gun at his chest, my aim steady despite the tremor of rage coursing through me. ¡®On the contrary, Niko. I¡¯ve changed quite a bit. For one, I won¡¯t hesitate to put a bullet through that ck heart of yours if you don¡¯t return what¡¯s mine.¡¯


    Something flickers in his eyes. Surprise. Maybe even a hint of respect. But it¡¯s gone as quickly as it appeared, reced by that infuriating smirk. He takes a step forward, then another, until the barrel of my gun is pressed against his broad chest. His steel-toed boots bump against mine, and I have to tilt my head back slightly to maintain eye contact.


    ¡®And here I thought there was a chance you¡¯d changed after all these years,¡¯ he says, his voice low and dangerous. A shiver runs down my spine, and I hate myself for it. ¡®But no. You¡¯re still the same spoiled little boy you always were, throwing tantrums and theatrics to get Daddy¡¯s attention.¡¯


    He looks at me over the gold rim of his crimson sses, and the intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch. His eyes are violent, promising retribution. Both of them, somehow.


    ¡®And you¡¯d better leave before you get it.¡¯


    I swallow hard, hating the way my breath falters. But I force steel into my spine. Into my voice. ¡®I¡¯m not leaving without her.¡¯


    Niki¡¯s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I feel a sh of excitement thinking he might actually draw his own weapon. If he tries to shoot, I¡¯d have an excuse to do what I should have done years ago¡ªtake out the one man in the Outer Reaches who can take me out.


    But before either of us can make another move, screams erupt from the direction of the pit. We both turn to look, and my eyes widen at the sight.


    The monster is out of the pit.


    Niki draws his gun, and for a split second, I think¡ªhope?¡ªthat he¡¯s going to take aim at me.


    Let him shoot.


    I¡¯m faster.


    But instead, his voice drops into that deep, resonant tone that I remember all too well as he turns back to me, his eyes locked on mine. The alpha bark that used to make me weak in the knees.


    ¡®Down, boy.¡®


    Themand hits me like he punched me in the face. I try to resist, every fiber of my being rebelling against thepulsion. But it doesn¡¯t help. Nothing fucking helps. My knees buckle just as easily as they did years ago, and I drop to the ground, my gun ttering beside me.


    Humiliation washes over me in a sickening wave.


    All that training, all those years spent building up a resistance¡­ and it crumbles in an instant at the sound of his voice. A small, traitorous part of me wonders if he did it to protect me from the chaos unfolding around us.


    But I squash that thought as quickly as it forms.


    It¡¯s nothing short of delusional.


    Niki doesn¡¯t spare me another nce. He¡¯s already moving, barking more orders at his men before hauling a grenadeuncher from a nearby crate. The weapon looksically huge, but he hefts it like it¡¯s weightless as he takes aim at the monster.


    The explosion rocks the ground beneath me, and for a moment, I think he¡¯s actually managed to drive the monster back into his prison. But as the dust clears, I see Niki has only managed to blow a few of the iron rods off his back. The monster buckles forward, nting both palms in the dirt as he coughs up ck blood that trickles through the cracks in his iron mask.


    But the monster isn¡¯t down for long before he hauls himself back to his feet with an exhausted groan that sounds strangely human. He nts one foot in front of the other¡ªhe¡¯s wearing iron boots, I notice¡ªand starts heading straight for the tower again.


    ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Niki roars, already reaching for another grenade.


    But before he can load it, a new sound cuts through the chaos. A deep, mechanical rumble that I¡¯d recognize anywhere. My head snaps up, searching for the source through the lingering haze of the bark, and a grin spreads across my face as I spot it in the distance.


    A tank.


    And not just any tank. It¡¯s Geo¡¯s prized possession, a relic from the old world that he¡¯s lovingly restored. He spent hours every day on it while I was staying with him, which gave me ample opportunity to drape across the turret and pester him.


    He even named it.


    Betty.


    I never thought I¡¯d be jealous of a giant hunk of metal, but I never imagined the damn thing would save my life, either.


    The massive vehicle lumbers toward us, crushing everything in its path. And there, sticking out of the top hatch like some post-apocalyptic war hero, is Geo himself.


    And he looks absolutely livid.


    He came?


    For me?


    Niki¡¯s jaw drops. ¡®What the fuck?¡¯


    I scramble to my feet, the effects of Niki¡¯smand finally starting to wear off. At least it didn¡¯tst half as fucking long as usual.


    ¡®Daddy!¡¯ I cry out, unable to keep the glee from my voice as I wave my arms at him across the distance. ¡®You came!¡¯


    Niki gives me a double take, his eyes narrowed in disgust. ¡®The fuck did you call him?¡¯


    I ignore him and start running toward the tank, relief washing over me even though I¡¯m still sluggish. A battered old tank is far from a gleaming golden chariot, but I suppose beggars can¡¯t be choosers.


    Reinforcements have arrived.


    Fucking finally.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 18

    I press my forehead against the cool ss, watching the chaos unfold below like some demented circus performance. The Knight is making steady progress climbing out of his pit, and I have to admit, there¡¯s something darkly amusing about watching Niki¡¯s men scramble around like ants trying in vain to contain him.


    They¡¯re hurling chains at him now, as if that¡¯s going to do anything. Even from up here, I can see how ineffective their efforts are. The Knight just keeps climbing, those haunting blue eyes fixed on the tower.


    Fixed on me.


    I should be freaking out right now. This is the monster that¡¯s haunted my dreams since I can remember. But watching him systematically destroy Niki¡¯s little ant farm still brings a smile to my lips.


    A sh of gold catches my eye and I lean closer to the window. Someone on a motorcycle that looks like it was dipped in liquid sunshine is approaching thepound. As they skid to a stop in a cloud of dust, I can¡¯t help but stare.


    The rider dismounts with the kind of dramatic flourish I haven¡¯t seen since attending ys at the Capital theater. He¡¯s dressed like a fairy tale prince who got lost on his way to the ball and ended up in the wastnd by mistake. The first actually tasteful clothes I¡¯ve seen since I got kidnapped. Even from here, I can tell he¡¯s drop-dead gorgeous with long, golden waves cascading over broad shoulders and a lean, athletic build.


    I watch, fascinated, as he strides toward Niki like he hasn¡¯t just strutted onto a fucking battlefield. I expect him to shoot, or for Niki to go for the equally golden and ostentatious revolver on his hip, but instead, they just¡­


    Bicker.


    A lot.


    There¡¯s history there. I can see it in the way they move around each other, like dancers in a particrly hostile ballet. The pretty neer¡¯s gestures are grand and theatrical, while Niki looks like he¡¯s trying very hard not to strangle him.


    Is this Niki¡¯s jealous ex or something?


    It¡¯s the only exnation that makes sense. The tension between them is thick enough to cut with a knife, and the way they¡¯re bitching at each other reminds me of the old married couples I used to watch fighting in the Capital¡¯s gardens.


    Huh. Maybe it¡¯s just the heat talking, but I wouldn¡¯t mind watching that turn to angry makeup sex under less apocalyptic circumstances.


    A deafening roar draws my attention back to the pit. The Knight has finally broken free. The remaining chains snap like thread as he hauls himself up and out of the pit.


    All hell breaks loose the moment his iron boot hits the ground.


    Men start running in every direction, their screams mixing with the sound of Niki barking orders. I catch glimpses of Lex trying to organize some kind of defense, but it¡¯s clearly futile. The Knight is unstoppable, each heavy step bringing him closer to the tower.


    Closer to me.


    Movement below catches my eye again. The pretty blond man has drawn a gun on Niki¡ªwhich is admirably dramatic but seems like a terrible idea, all things considered¡ªbut before he can fire, something strange happens.


    Niki yells at him.


    And the pretty one just¡­ drops to his knees.


    Niki didn¡¯t shoot him.


    Didn¡¯t even touch him.


    So what the hell just happened?


    I don¡¯t have time to ponder it because a new sound cuts through the chaos. A deep, mechanical rumbling that makes the windows vibrate. I scan the horizon and spot a massive shape emerging from a cloud of dust.


    My heart leaps into my throat as the armor ted vehicle takes shape within the dust, making an unmistakable beeline for the airport.


    ¡®Is that a fucking tank?¡¯ I whisper in disbelief.


    It is.


    It absolutely is.


    A honest-to-god tank, rolling toward the chaos at full throttle like the world¡¯s most aggressive party crasher.


    For a split second, I feel a surge of hope that Azarel has finally showed up to save me from this circus, but I immediately squash that thought.


    Azarel would never be caught dead in a tank.


    He might be a closed book emotionally, but he has style.


    I take a step back from the window, trying to process everything happening at once. The Knight is steadily making his way toward the tower, crushing everything in his path. Niki¡¯s men are either fleeing or being tossed around like ragdolls. The pretty boy is recovering from whatever weird thing just happened to him.


    And now there¡¯s a tank involved.


    A hystericalugh bubbles up from my chest.


    Of all the ways I imagined dying¡ªtorn apart by the monster from my dreams, murdered by my father¡¯s enemies, poisoned by one of Monty¡¯s rivals, or finally deciding enough is enough and taking shit into my own hands¡ªthis has to be the stupidest. Caught in the crossfire between my kidnapper, what appears to be his ex-lover, the demon that¡¯s been hunting me my whole life, and a fucking tank. With Azarel nowhere to be found.


    I always knew my death would be dramatic.


    But did it really have to be so tacky?

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 19

    I lean out of the tank hatch, scanning the chaos unfolding before me. There¡¯s Raven, that golden-haired idiot, stumbling toward me like a newborn colt. His usual grace is gone, reced by a clumsy gait that sets rm bells ringing in my head.


    Shit.


    Something¡¯s wrong.


    Did that fucking dick use his bark on Raven?


    ¡®Get your ass in the tank!¡¯ I bellow, my voice barely carrying over the din of screams and explosions.


    Raven hesitates, his blue eyes wide. ¡®You¡¯re here to help, right?¡¯ he calls back, a note of desperation in his voice that makes my chest tighten.


    But not enough.


    ¡®I¡¯m here to save your ass,¡¯ I growl, already regretting every life choice that led me to this moment. Not that I regreting to save Raven. I regret that this bullshit quest ever started in the first ce.


    But Raven shakes his head and cups his hands around his mouth, that familiar stubborn set to his jaw even though he looks like he¡¯s about to topple over. ¡®No! I need you to help me save my omega!¡¯ he calls back to me.


    Before I can respond, a sneering remark cuts through the air. ¡®At least someone brought something useful.¡¯


    The devil himself.


    Just the sight of him makes my blood boil.


    ¡®Betty isn¡¯t for you, asshole,¡¯ I snarl, ducking back into the tank.


    I need a new angle. A way to grab Raven before he gets himself killed chasing this omega fantasy of his. I hang out the side of the tank, arm outstretched, as I m Betty¡¯s throttle forward with my other hand. The ground trembles beneath her treads as we barrel toward the madness.


    But Raven, the slippery bastard, takes off running.


    Toward the tower.


    Toward certain fucking death.


    ¡®Goddammit!¡¯ I roar, pushing Betty to her limits as I give chase.


    Some kind of gigantic eight-to-ten-foot-tall hulking giant of an alpha that looks like something out of a horror movie is making a beeline for the tower too. His massive frame moves with terrifying speed despite his size and stomping gait.


    A metal fucking arm?


    An iron mask with glowing blue eyes?


    What the fuck is this thing?


    The choppy white hair is distinctly Vrissian. Must be an escaped experiment from one of theirbs. Never thought I¡¯d see one in person. If they¡¯re capable of making alphas like this for their armies, that¡¯s a problem.


    And pretty fucked up.


    ¡®Where the fuck is Lex?¡¯ Niki¡¯s bellow carries over the chaos.


    I catch a glimpse of the butch alpha sprinting for the tower, that mangy mutt of hers yapping at her heels and snapping instinctively at her leather trench coat. Niki¡¯s face contorts with rage. He snarls a stream of Vrissian curses and takes off after them.


    And now Raven¡¯s running alongside Niki.


    Never thought I¡¯d see that, either.


    But I can see it in both their faces. A shared desperation. They¡¯re both trying to stop the monstrous alpha from reaching the tower.


    From reaching whoever¡¯s inside.


    I¡¯m close now, so close. I lean further out of the tank, fingers straining. ¡®Raven!¡¯ I yell. ¡®Grab my fucking hand!¡¯


    He doesn¡¯t even look back. ¡®Make me!¡¯ he shouts, voice raw with defiance.


    For a split second, I consider it. Consider using my alpha bark to force him to safety. But the memory of his zed eyes and his limp form stops me cold, however tempting it is to use that to save him.


    I won¡¯t do that to him.


    So I push Betty harder, gaining ground.


    The monstrous alpha reaches the tower first. His massive metal ws tear into the base of the tower like it¡¯s made of paper, ripping holes big enough for a man to step through. I catch a glimpse of Lex diving into an elevator and a momentter, she starts ascending. I can see her through the ss as she ascends with her dog beside her. The dog¡¯s barking down at the monster with every breath, like that¡¯s gonna help.


    Raven skids to a stop not far from the monster. His gun is in his hand before I can blink, and he fires.


    The sound of the shot is lost in the cacophony, but the effect is immediate. The monster¡¯s head snaps around, blue eyes glowing behind the iron mask locking onto Raven. A snarl rips from the huge alpha¡¯s throat, the sound more animal than human.


    No. No no no.


    I don¡¯t think. I just act.


    I grab the stick that controls Betty¡¯s turret and the main gun swivels, lining up the shot in a heartbeat.


    I fire.


    The st is deafening. It catches the monster square in the back, blowing off the metal rods sticking out of him. Judging by the bleeding gashes in his back, those were thest, but not the only ones. Half his mask was blown off, too, revealing more of his mangled face. Scars and sharp teeth are all I see before a shower of ss and twisted metal rains down from the tower.


    ¡®You moron! My omega is up there!¡¯ Niki roars at me, fury etched into every line of his face.


    His omega?


    The same omega Raven is after?


    Of course it¡¯s the same goddamn omega.


    The universe fucking hates me.


    ¡®Cool,¡¯ I snarl back, already lining up another shot. ¡®And my boy is down here.¡¯


    I¡¯m about to fire again when a blur of golden hair fills my vision. The boy in question. Ravenunches himself into the tank, colliding with me in a tangle of limbs. His fist connects with my jaw, snapping my head back.


    ¡®What the fuck, Raven?¡¯ I growl, grappling with him as Betty rocks beneath us.


    He¡¯s fighting me like a wild thing, all sharp blows and desperate strength. ¡®Stop!¡¯ he yells in my face as I squeeze his wrist hard enough to make the bones creak. For a moment, I think he¡¯s going to punch me in the face again, but instead, he socks me in the gut.


    I wheeze, the air rushing out of my lungs, but it¡¯s not enough to stop me. I may not be as agile as he is, but I¡¯ve got size and strength on my side. I grab his other arm, twisting both of them behind his back as I spin him around. In one fluid motion, I m him face down across the control panel.


    Raven writhes against me with a snarl I¡¯ve never heard from him before, all animal rage and desperation. But I manage to pin him under my bulk, using my weight to keep him trapped. His lean body is no match for my broader frame as I press down on him.


    ¡®Let me go, you fucking brute!¡¯ he snarls, bucking beneath me.


    ¡®Not until you calm the fuck down,¡¯ I growl in his ear.


    He tries to headbutt me, but I see iting. I grab a fistful of that golden hair, wrenching his head back. He gives a sharp gasp of pain in the millisecond it takes him to twist and sink his teeth into my forearm.


    ¡®Son of a fucking bitch!¡¯ I roar, shoving my arm further into his mouth until I feel his jaw pop. He has no choice but to stop biting me, and the moment he does, I shove him back down onto the control panel and bear my full weight down on him, crushing him against the buttons and levers. Every time he squirms and arches beneath me, I press down harder until his breathes in ragged gasps, hot against my arm where he bit me.


    ¡®What the fuck was that?¡¯ I snap at him.


    But before he can answer me, a deafening screech of metal fills thepartment. Like nails on a chalkboard amplified a thousandfold. I risk a nce up and my blood runs cold.


    The monster¡¯s massive metal ws are tearing through Betty¡¯s armor like she¡¯s made of tinfoil.


    Shit.


    Shit.


    Shit!


    I¡¯ve spent years restoring this tank, pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into every inch of her. And now this overgrown science experiment is ripping her apart like a goddamn can opener.


    Raven thrashes beneath me, still trying to break free. I fucking hate that his ass is grinding against my dick. And I can¡¯t risk getting him into a less intimate hold without snapping his fucking neck.


    ¡®Let me go!¡¯ he yells, his voice muffled against the control panel as I press his cheek into the buttons that control the radio. ¡®I can stop him!¡¯


    ¡®The hell you can!¡¯ I shift my weight to keep him pinned beneath my bulk as I grab Betty¡¯s throttle with the hand that isn¡¯t pinning Raven down by the back of his neck like I¡¯m scruffing a rabid feral cat.


    Another screech of metal and sunlight floods the interior of the tank, drowning out the guitar solo now sting from the speakers, courtesy of Raven¡¯s face mashing the buttons. I look up to see the monster staring down at us through the newly created hole, his glowing blue eyes burning with feral rage behind what¡¯s left of the iron mask. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s human, however fucked up he is.


    You and me both, motherfucker.


    I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m feeling a pang of sympathy for this thing. Maybe because if he is from one of those Vrissianbs, his life¡¯s been hell, and there isn¡¯t just rage in that icy stare.


    There¡¯s pain, too.


    Agony, even.


    ¡®Don¡¯t do this,¡¯ I grit out through my teeth, my gaze locking with the huge alpha¡¯s as he looms over us. ¡®I don¡¯t want to have to blow your fuckin¡¯ head off.¡¯


    ¡®I do,¡¯ Raven hisses beneath me, his hips jutting up like he¡¯s trying to crush my balls with his ass.


    The alpha roars in response.


    ¡®Shit,¡¯ I grit out, mming the throttle forward. Betty lurches into motion. The sudden movement throws the huge alpha off bnce. The ws on his metal hand scrape along Betty¡¯s hull as we start to pull away, the sound setting my teeth on edge.


    But he¡¯s not giving up that easily. I hear the heavy thud of his iron boots as he starts to run after us. Holy fuck, I didn¡¯t even know he could run, as big and unwieldy as he is.


    ¡®You¡¯re going the wrong way!¡¯ Raven shouts, twisting his head to re at me with a furious blue eye. ¡®The tower¡¯s back there!¡¯


    ¡®In case you hadn¡¯t noticed,¡¯ I growl, ducking as another swipe of those metal wses dangerously close to taking my head off, ¡®we¡¯ve got bigger problems right now.¡¯


    Raven bucks against me again, and this time he manages to get one arm free. He immediately starts wing at my face, his nails raking across my cheek.


    ¡®Goddammit, Raven!¡¯ I roar, grabbing his wrist and mming it back down onto the control panel, crushing my entire upper body against his back and shoulders even though it means grinding my dick harder against his ass. ¡®I¡¯m trying to save your life, you ungrateful little shit!¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t want you to save my life!¡¯ he snarls back. ¡®I want you to help me save her!¡¯


    The raw desperation in his voice catches me off guard. So does the fact he isn¡¯t making stupid remarks about ourpromising position. I¡¯ve never heard him sound like this before.


    Not even when¡­


    Nope. I¡¯m not going there.


    Another violent shake nearly sends us both flying. The alpha¡¯s relentless assault is taking its toll on Betty. I can hear her engine sputtering, feel the way she¡¯s starting to list to one side. My heart aches for my beautiful war machine, but I push the feeling aside. I need to focus on getting us out of this alive.


    Getting Raven out of this alive.


    ¡®Maybe if you¡¯d gone with something speedier¡ª¡¯ Raven starts, but I cut him off by grabbing a fistful of his golden hair and pressing his face harder against the radio buttons as he snarls in rage. It just makes the music louder, the squealing guitarncing through my aching head. But not so loud I don¡¯t have to listen to the alpha disemboweling my pride and joy.


    ¡®Are you fucking criticizing your rescue vehicle?¡¯ I snap, still struggling with Betty¡¯s throttle as Raven continues trying to squirm out from under me. ¡®You know what? Next time I¡¯ll just leave your ass to die. How¡¯s that sound?¡¯


    Raven has the audacity to look offended. ¡®I¡¯m a Leo-Virgo cusp! I can¡¯t help being critical!¡¯


    ¡®I thought you were just a fucking Leo?¡¯


    Now he looks touched. ¡®You remembered?¡¯


    ¡®You never shut up about it!¡¯


    Another blow rocks the tank. A massive scythe-like w punches through the wall, inches from my face. I roll, pulling Raven with me, and I end up t on my back in the dirt with Raven clutched to my chest as the roaring alpha continues tearing Betty apart like he thinks we¡¯re still inside. Or it¡¯s because his iron ws are stuck in the now ming enginepartment.


    Fan-fucking-tastic.


    Now there¡¯s no rescue vehicle.


    The air explodes from my lungs as Raven¡¯s elbow connects with my sr plexus. My arms go ck and he slips free, scrambling to his feet before I can recover. By the time I suck in a ragged breath, he¡¯s already sprinting toward the tower.


    ¡®Fuck!¡¯ I bellow, struggling to my feet.


    My legs are shaky, muscles protesting after being crammed in that tin can of a tank. But I force them to move, to chase after that golden-haired idiot before he gets himself killed.


    Slippery little shit. He¡¯s always been faster than me. But desperation lends me speed, and I¡¯m slowly gaining ground. The tower looms ahead, impossibly tall. A monument to Niki¡¯s ego.


    I can see the holes the monster tore in the base. They gape like open wounds, jagged metal and shattered concrete spilling out onto the tarmac. Raven¡¯s heading straight for one of them.


    ¡®Raven!¡¯ I roar. ¡®Stop, you fucking moron!¡¯


    He doesn¡¯t even look back. Just keeps running, golden hair streaming behind him like a banner. Like he thinks he¡¯s some kind of hero in one of those stupid stories he¡¯s always going on about.


    But this isn¡¯t a fairy tale. There¡¯s no happily ever after waiting for him in that tower. Just death, if he¡¯s lucky.


    And if he¡¯s not¡­


    I push myself harder, ignoring the burning in my lungs. I¡¯m not built for this kind of sprint. Give me a good brawl any day over this track and field bullshit. But I¡¯ll be damned if I let him get away from me now.


    Not when I came all this way to save his scrawny ass.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 20

    I press closer to the window, unable to tear my eyes away from the carnage below as rms from thest st that hit the tower re through the room. The Knight is methodically dismantling the tank like he¡¯s unwrapping a particrly stubborn gift, his metal ws tearing through armor ting as if it¡¯s paper. The sound of screeching metal carries even through the thick ss.


    A sh of gold catches my eye as two figures tumble out of the tank. The pretty blond one and a much bigger alpha with shaggy dark hair.


    The elevator¡¯s mechanical hum makes me jump. Someone else seeking shelter up here, no doubt. The barks echoing through the shaft, gradually getting closer as the car ascends, give me a hint as to who that someone is.


    As if this tower is going to provide much protection if another st hits it. What kind of absolute barbarian fires at a building with an omega inside anyway?


    These people have no ss.


    When the doors slide open to reveal Lex, her faithful hellhound at her side as always, I can¡¯t help but curl my lip. Speaking of no ss¡­


    ¡®Sorry, Princess,¡¯ she drawls, striding toward me with purpose as her dog darts around the room, sniffing everything she can find. Her dog pauses at a pair of Niki¡¯s fancy leather boots in the corner and sniffs like she¡¯s thinking about pissing on them. ¡®You¡¯reing with me.¡¯


    I dart away from her reaching hands, snatching a gaudymp from a nearby table. ¡®Don¡¯t touch me,¡¯ I snarl, swinging it at her head.


    Themp connects with a satisfying crack, but Lex barely flinches. Before I can retreat, she lunges forward and grabs me, easily subduing my attempts to fight back. In one fluid motion, she hoists me over her shoulder like a sack of grain.


    ¡®Put me down, you mongrel!¡¯ I screech in Vrissian, my nails raking across any part of her I can reach. ¡®I¡¯ll tear your ears off!¡¯


    Bess barks excitedly alongside us, tail wagging furiously like this is just a game of Capture the Omega.


    Lex grunts but doesn¡¯t loosen her grip as she carries me to the elevator. She jabs the button repeatedly, muttering curses under her breath.


    Nothing happens.


    ¡®Shit,¡¯ she growls, shifting my weight on her shoulder. ¡®Gonna have to take the stairs.¡¯


    I freeze mid-struggle. ¡®There have been stairs this whole time?¡¯


    She moves toward what I¡¯d assumed was a broom closet, fishing out a key ring with her free hand. ¡®Where did you think we¡¯d go if the elevator broke down?¡¯


    ¡®I thought this was your boss¡¯s idea of a clever prison!¡¯ I snap, renewing my efforts to break free. ¡®Let me go!¡¯


    ¡®You want me to fling you over the rail, keep squirmin¡¯,¡¯ Lex barks as she adjusts me on her shoulder. If her hand gets any closer to my ass, I¡¯m going to chop it off. ¡®Just ¡¯cause the boss told us to y gentle with you doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m gonna get ripped apart by that thing if I can help it.¡¯


    Those words set off rm bells in my head, other than the actual rms that have been going off incessantly ever since the tank sted this ce.


    I start thrashing and struggling with renewed earnest as a distant explosion rocks the tower, making us stumble. Lex¡¯s grip tightens on me as she steadies herself against the wall and Lex¡¯s dog resumes barking her hollow head off.


    ¡®Your men have shitty aim,¡¯ Iment dryly.


    Lex scowls, picking up the pace.


    Another st, closer this time, sends tremors through the building. Dust rains down from above, and I can hear the ominous sound of ss shattering somewhere above us.


    ¡®Wonderful,¡¯ I mutter. ¡®So instead of being eaten by the monster I¡¯ve been having nightmares about for years, I get to be crushed to death in a stairwell with a woman who smells like motor oil and wet dog.¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re wee,¡¯ Lex says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡®Now shut up and let me concentrate on getting us both out of here alive.¡¯


    I open my mouth to deliver another scathing retort, but the words die in my throat as an inhuman roar echoes from outside. It sounds closer than before.


    Much closer.


    And this asshole is delivering me right to him.


    The sound of boots thundering up the stairwell makes my heart leap into my throat, but the steps are too light to be the Knight¡¯s iron-d stomping. And I doubt he could even fit through it. Not that this is much of a relief, considering I¡¯m still being manhandled and there¡¯s a damn warzone outside.


    When Niki bursts through the door below us, I catch a glimpse of his face straining to look over my shoulder. I¡¯ve never seen him look so enraged. Not even when I broke his nose. His slightly mismatched eyes lock onto us, and his entire body goes rigid.


    ¡®What the fuck are you doing?¡¯ he snarls, his voice echoing off the concrete walls.


    The dog is barking at a hypersonic speed now.


    Lex shifts my weight on her shoulder. ¡®That thing is gonna rip this whole ce apart!¡¯ she bellows down at him. ¡®Take half your army with it! Everything we¡¯ve worked for, everything we¡¯ve built¡ªripped to shreds!¡¯ She lets out a harshugh. ¡®And for what? One little omega?¡¯


    I dig my nails into her back, but she doesn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡®I say we give it what it wants,¡¯ Lex continues, her voice hard. ¡®Cut our losses before?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Put her down.¡¯ Niki¡¯s voice drops dangerously low. ¡®Now.¡¯


    ¡®Boss, be reasonable?¡ª¡¯


    The sound of a gun being cocked cuts through the air. My eyes widen as I crane my neck to see Niki aiming his weapon at Lex as the dog barks savagely between the two alphas, every hair on her neck standing on edge.


    ¡®Are you fucking serious?¡¯ Lex demands, her grip on me tightening. ¡®You¡¯re gonna shoot the only person in this hellscape who¡¯s actually been loyal to you for some moonlight strange?¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re the strange ones!¡¯ I hiss indignantly, thrashing against her hold. ¡®And I would sooner let the Knight fuck me than that tacky criminal!¡¯


    ¡®Do you not know what ¡®strange¡¯ means?¡¯ Lex asks in a baffled tone.


    ¡®Shut up,¡¯ Niki snaps.


    I¡¯m not sure which of us he¡¯s talking to, but just in case he dares to say that to me, my eyes narrow dangerously. ¡®You¡¯d better hope the Knight eats me,¡¯ I spit, ¡®because I¡¯m going to turn your balls into earrings.¡¯


    ¡®In case you haven¡¯t noticed, I¡¯m the one protecting your ass!¡¯ he bellows.


    ¡®Well, you¡¯re doing a bad job!¡¯


    I feel Lex¡¯s muscles tensing as we bicker and her dog barks and barks and fucking barks some more. She¡¯s actually considering defying him.


    Another explosion rocks the tower¡ªbecause apparently, those idiots out there can¡¯t aim even when they¡¯re shooting rocketunchers¡ªsending more dust raining down on us from the stairwell above. Through the narrow windows, I catch glimpses of chaos. Men running, mes licking the sky, and somewhere below, the Knight¡¯s bone-chilling roar.


    ¡®Last chance,¡¯ Niki growls, his finger tightening on the trigger. ¡®Put. Her. Down.¡¯


    The tension in the stairwell is thick enough to choke on. The only sounds are the chaos outside and Bess¡¯s constant barkingncing through my ears.


    For a moment, I think Lex is about toply, but when she moves like she¡¯s going to try to rush past him, the gun fires.


    Lex crumples with a furious snarl and drops me. Luckily onto my ass, but that¡¯s going to leave one hell of a bruise. I catch a glimpse of Lex clutching her bleeding knee as Bess lets out a furious snarl and lunges, sinking her teeth into Niki¡¯s arm. The gun tters to the floor and he snarls, too, grabbing the dog¡¯s scruff and trying in vain to pull her off him as she ravages him through the sleeve.


    I fucking run.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 21

    My lungs burn as I sprint toward the tower, desperation fueling every step. The chaos around me fades to background noise¡ªscreams, explosions, the deafening roar of the monster¡ªall of it meaninglesspared to my singr goal.


    Her.


    Cosima.


    My goddess.


    ¡®Stop firing, you fucking morons!¡¯ I yell at Niki¡¯s men as another rocket whistles past, far too close to the tower forfort. ¡®You¡¯ll bring the whole damn thing down!¡¯


    They ignore me, of course. I¡¯m just another alpha to them, not their precious leader. The one who¡¯s failed spectacrly at keeping my moonlight safe.


    And if I¡¯m being honest, I¡¯ve always been better at controlling other alphas with money and sex than with the rawmanding force thates naturally to most. Just one of many reasons I¡¯m sure my goddess is going to reject me once I get her out of this hellhole.


    But it doesn¡¯t matter. All that matters is getting her away from Niki and the half-metal Superman who¡¯s presently tearing apart Geo¡¯s fucking tank like it¡¯s made of cardboard.


    At least that¡¯s buying us some time. I just hope it¡¯s enough.


    The base of the tower looms before me, scarred and battered from the chaos. Jagged holes gape in the concrete, spilling twisted rebar and shattered ss onto the tarmac. I dodge the debris, my eyes locked on the nearest entrance.


    Just a few more steps.


    Almost there.


    The door flies open.


    Time stops.


    She stands there, silhouetted in the doorway, and I swear my heart forgets how to beat. Silver hair cascades down her back like a waterfall of moonlight, framing a face that puts the finest Surhiiran sculptures to shame. Violet eyes, wide with a mix of fear and confusion, lock onto mine.


    My breath catches in my throat.


    Gods above and below.


    If I thought she was stunning before, that fleeting glimpse in the club¡­ it was nothingpared to this. My memory, vivid as it is, couldn¡¯t do her justice. She¡¯s more than beautiful. She¡¯s ethereal. Otherworldly.


    Divine.


    ¡®My goddess,¡¯ I whisper, the words slipping out unbidden.


    Confusion flickers across her face, quickly reced by wariness as I reach for her. I see her muscles tense, those delicate hands curling into ws. She¡¯s about tosh out, to defend herself from yet another alpha trying to im her.


    I want to tell her I¡¯m different. That I would never hurt her. That I¡¯m here to save her. To worship her. To give her the world if she¡¯ll let me.


    But before I can utter a word, a freight train ms into me from the side.


    The world spins as I¡¯m sent flying, tumbling across the unforgiving tarmac. Gravel bites into my skin, tearing at my clothes. When I finally skid to a stop, I find myself pinned beneath a mountain of muscle and righteous fury.


    Geo.


    ¡®Fuck!¡¯ I snarl, thrashing against his iron grip. He¡¯s got my wrists pinned above my head, his bulk pressing me into the ground. Any other time, this position might be the start of a delightful encounter, but right now, all I can think about is the silver-haired goddess slipping away.


    I crane my neck, trying to see around Geo¡¯s broad shoulders. There¡ªa sh of moonlight. She¡¯s running, fleeing the chaos. Straight for the forest at the edge of thepound.


    Most of the trees have been burned out by the war, and probably a fair share of chaos from Niki¡¯s band of idiots, too, but there¡¯s still plenty for her to disappear into.


    Plenty for her to get lost in.


    ¡®Let me up!¡¯ I demand, bucking against Geo¡¯s weight as panic sets in anew. ¡®She¡¯s getting away! That thing is going to get her!¡¯


    Geo doesn¡¯t budge. If anything, he presses down harder. ¡®Good,¡¯ he growls. ¡®She¡¯ll keep it distracted while we escape.¡¯


    Is he fucking serious?


    Usually, I¡¯m the one pestering him incessantly. I don¡¯t know why he had to choose now to give me a taste of my own medicine.


    ¡®She¡¯s an omega!¡¯ I hiss.


    Geo¡¯s expression doesn¡¯t change. ¡®Am I supposed to give a shit?¡¯


    Something snaps inside me. A snarl rips from my throat, feral and desperate. Too bad it doesn¡¯t trante into the immense physical strength I¡¯d need to throw him off me.


    ¡®She¡¯s my omega!¡¯


    That gets his attention.


    It¡¯s far from the first time I¡¯ve made that assertion, but his reaction leaves me wondering if it¡¯s the first time he¡¯s actually believed me. Geo freezes, his grip on my wrists loosening just a fraction. I see a flicker of¡­ something in his eye. Frustration, certainly. But there¡¯s more to it. Something I can¡¯t quite ce.


    Something that looks almost like?¡ª


    The tower door ms open again, cutting off my train of thought. Niki bursts out, his mismatched eyes wild as he scans the area.


    ¡®Which way did she go?¡¯ he demands.


    I bare my teeth at him, a growl building in my chest. As if I¡¯d tell him anything. As if I¡¯d help him recapture my moonlight goddess.


    But with Geo pinning me, I suppose it¡¯s better someone reaches her. If Niki gets to her first, I can just kill him. It¡¯s better than her being ripped apart by that monster, or anything else that¡¯s lurking in those woods.


    ¡®The forest,¡¯ I hiss, managing to wrench one arm free from Geo¡¯s grasp. I point toward the treeline where Ist saw that silver hair disappearing.


    A whistling sound cuts through the air, followed by a deafening explosion. Heat washes over us as another rocket impacts near the tank. The monster¡¯s enraged roar drowns out even the ringing in my ears.


    ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Niki snarls, whirling toward the source of the st.


    I follow his gaze and spot Diesel, that absolute fucking moron, fumbling with a grenadeuncher. He must have thought he was helping, trying to take out the monster while he was distracted.


    All he¡¯s managed to do is piss the massive alpha off.


    The monster¡¯s head snaps around, those eerie blue eyes locking onto our little group. With most of his mask blown away, revealing his heavily scarred face and razor-sharp teeth, the fury in his burning blue gaze is clear. He abandons the wreckage of the tank, each thunderous step bringing him closer.


    Well, shit.


    ¡®Truce?¡¯ I croak out, still struggling against Geo¡¯s iron grip as he stares at the monster with a dread that¡¯s utterly foreign on his face.


    Niki¡¯s lip curls in disgust, but he gives a curt nod. ¡®Truce.¡¯


    Geo finally releases me and I scramble to my feet. We form a rough semicircle, weapons drawn. It would almost be poetic if it wasn¡¯t so goddamn terrifying. Three alphas who, under any other circumstances, would be at each other¡¯s throats, temporarily united against amon enemy.


    The monster charges.


    We open fire.


    The sound is deafening, a cacophony of gunshots that would drop a small army. Bullets ping off the armor soldered onto the monster¡¯s muscled body, and quite a few sink into his organic flesh, but it¡¯s barely slowing him down.


    What the actual fuck is this thing?


    ¡®Aim for the joints!¡¯ Niki bellows over the din. ¡®Try to slow him down!¡¯


    I adjust my aim, targeting the monster¡¯s knees, abdomen, throat, anywhere that looks like a weak point. But it¡¯s like looking for a hinge in a brick wall. A very angry, very mobile brick wall that wants nothing more than to rend us limb from limb.


    As I watch the monster shrug off our assault like it¡¯s nothing more than a light rain, I start to understand why Niki was keeping him in that pit. He¡¯s not just another escaped experiment or irradiated monstrosity.


    He¡¯s a weapon.


    A perfect killing machine.


    And knowing Niki, that¡¯s exactly what he saw. How he sees everything and everyone. Tools to be used. Weapons to be wielded.


    It¡¯s probably how he sees Cosima, too.


    Just another asset to be exploited.


    Over my dead fucking body.


    I grit my teeth, emptying another clip into the monster¡¯s face. The bullets ricochet off the remnants of his iron mask, barely leaving a scratch. This isn¡¯t working. We need a new n, and fast.


    That¡¯s when I realize Geo is gone.


    I risk a nce around, my heart sinking when I spot him sprinting toward one of the abandoned vehicles at the edge of thepound. So much for loyalty. So much foring to my rescue. In the end, he¡¯s doing what he always does¡ªlooking out for himself.


    I tell myself I¡¯m relieved. That it¡¯s better this way. One lessplication to deal with.


    So why does it feel like my chest is caving in?


    ¡®Looks like your new boyfriend ditched you,¡¯ Niki sneers, his voice dripping with mockery even as we struggle to hold off the advancing monster. ¡®Or ¡®Daddy.¡±


    I bare my teeth at him, shoving down the hurt and focusing on the anger. It¡¯s easier. Always has been.


    ¡®He¡¯s more reliable than you,¡¯ I snap back. ¡®At least he didn¡¯t lose the one thing he was supposed to protect. Tell me, Niko, how does it feel to let a single omega slip through your fingers?¡¯


    Niki¡¯s eyes narrow dangerously. ¡®I¡¯d like to see you try to hold onto her,¡¯ he snarls.


    Before I can retort, a familiar rumble cuts through the chaos. An engine, growing louder by the second. I whip my head around, searching for the source.


    My jaw drops.


    There, barreling across the tarmac at breakneck speed, is one of Niki¡¯s armored vehicles. And behind the wheel, his face set in a mask of grim determination, is Geo.


    My heart does a little flip in my chest.


    He didn¡¯t abandon me after all.


    He¡¯s got the pedal to the floor, the massive vehicle kicking up a cloud of dust as it hurtles straight for the monster. It¡¯s a crazy n. Suicidal, even.


    It¡¯s exactly the kind of batshit insane thing I would do.


    A hystericalugh bubbles up from my chest. ¡®You sexy, crazy bastard,¡¯ I mutter, a grin spreading across my face despite the dire situation.


    Niki curses beside me, but I barely hear him. My eyes are locked on Geo as he closes the distance. The monster turns, sensing the new threat, but it¡¯s toote.


    The armored vehicle ms into him with the force of a freight train.


    The impact is thunderous, metal screaming against metal as the beast is sent flying. He crashes into a stack of shipping containers, the whole pile copsing around him in an avnche of twisted steel.


    For a moment, everything goes quiet.


    Then Geo¡¯s voice rings out. ¡®Get your ass in the car!¡¯


    Hope he realizes I¡¯m just going to hijack the damn thing if he tries to drive away from Cosima and not toward her. I sprint for the vehicle, but I¡¯m barely within reach of the armored door when I catch a glimpse of Niki making a mad dash for the forest in the direction my omega ran in.


    The sound of metal straining tells me Niki¡¯s monster is far from down for the count. And he¡¯s abandoning us to deal with the fallout.


    ¡®That son of a bitch,¡¯ I seethe.


    But before I can take so much as a step to go after him, two shots fire off in quick session. Close enough that for a few seconds, all I can hear is ringing and the sound of my own heartbeat.


    Time seems to slow down as I turn around and see the smoking gun in Geo¡¯s hand as he aims out the window toward the forest. My head whips around just as Niki drops to his knees, two deep red splotches forming on the back of his shirt, right through the upper middle of his back.


    ¡®No!¡¯ The scream tears from my throat, raw and guttural as I take off running. I hear a car door m behind me, but I don¡¯t stop. I can¡¯t stop. Not until I reach him.


    For years, I¡¯ve fantasized about putting a bullet in Niki¡¯s heart. But now that it¡¯s finally happened, I don¡¯t feel relief or triumph or any of the other things I imagined I would.


    All I feel is empty.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 22

    I lower my smoking gun, watching with smug satisfaction as Niki crumples to his knees. Two red stains blossom on the back of his shirt, spreading like spilled wine. For a moment, everything goes still. The chaos around us fades to white noise as I stare at the man I¡¯ve wanted dead for so long.


    Raven¡¯s scream shatters the silence.


    ¡®No!¡¯


    The raw anguish in his voice catches me off guard. I watch, stunned, as he takes off running toward Niki¡¯s fallen form.


    What the fuck?


    I shake off my confusion and climb out of the vehicle, my boots hitting the ground with a dull thud. Raven¡¯s frozen now, staring at Niki in clear shock.


    Good. Makes my job easier.


    I stride forward, gun still in hand. Time to finish this. I¡¯ve dreamed of this moment for years, imagined all the ways I¡¯d make that bastard suffer. But in the end, a clean double tap will have to do. No time for theatrics with that giant fucking alpha about to resume kicking our asses.


    As I raise my gun, aiming for Niki¡¯s head, a blur of gold fills my vision. Raven throws himself between us, arms outstretched. My finger tightens on the trigger reflexively, and for a heart-stopping moment, I think I¡¯m going to shoot the idiot by ident.


    I jerk the gun up at thest second, the shot going wide. ¡®What the fuck, Raven?¡¯ I snarl.


    But he¡¯s not listening. He grabs my forearm with both hands, hanging off it with all his strength. Tears stream down his face as he begs incoherently. It takes me a moment to make sense of his words.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ he chokes out. ¡®Please don¡¯t kill him. I¡¯m begging you, Geo. Don¡¯t do this.¡¯


    I stare down at him, incredulous. Is this the same alpha who¡¯s spent years plotting his revenge?


    ¡®Have you lost your fucking mind?¡¯ I demand, trying to shake him off. But he clings tighter, his nails digging into my skin. ¡®Get off me!¡¯


    ¡®I can¡¯t let you do this,¡¯ Raven pleads. ¡®Please, Geo. I¡¯ll do anything. Just¡­ don¡¯t kill him.¡¯


    Well, shit.


    He¡¯s calling me by my name instead of ¡®Daddy.¡¯


    He¡¯s dead serious.


    Something ugly twists in my gut. I¡¯ve seen Raven in all sorts of states¡ªdrunk, high, manic, depressed¡ªbut never like this.


    Never so¡­ broken. Even back then.


    And for some reason, it makes me want to kill the motherfucker even more. Now I really don¡¯t just want to double tap him. I have half the mind to throw his dying ass to the goddamn mutant alpha waking up under the busted shipping containers. Turn him into chow.


    ¡®Why?¡¯ I growl, grabbing a fistful of Raven¡¯s shirt and hauling him up to eye level. ¡®Give me one good reason why I shouldn¡¯t put a bullet in that bastard¡¯s head right now.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s blue eyes are wild, unfocused. He shakes his head frantically. ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ he whispers. ¡®I don¡¯t know, I just¡­ please. Please, Geo.¡¯


    I want to shake Raven. Want to p some sense into him. But looking at him now, I know I won¡¯t get anything coherent out of him.


    Fuck!


    I lower my gun, shoving Raven aside. He stumbles, falling to his knees beside Niki¡¯s prone form. I watch as he reaches out with trembling hands, hesitating just short of touching him.


    A growl builds in my chest. I should just shoot this motherfucker and be done with it.


    But¡­


    I grind my teeth, weighing my options. As much as I want Niki dead, keeping him alive might be more useful.


    And a hell of a lot more entertaining.


    Best of all, Raven won¡¯t fucking shatter. Because that¡¯s a possibility, apparently.


    A deafening crash draws our attention. The mutant alpha bursts free from the pile of shipping containers, shaking off debris like a dog shaking off water. He looks like hell. More of his mask has crumbled away, revealing a face that¡¯s more scars than skin. If it weren¡¯t for the stark silhouette of his nose, I¡¯d think he didn¡¯t have a face at all. ck blood oozes like ink from dozens of wounds.


    But he¡¯s still standing.


    Still a threat.


    I raise my gun, ready for round two, but something strange happens. The huge alpha pauses, lifting his head to scent the air. Those eerie blue eyes narrow, and suddenly he¡¯s moving. Not toward us, but toward the forest.


    In the same direction Cosima ran.


    ¡®No!¡¯ Raven cries out, scrambling to his feet. ¡®Cosima!¡¯


    He takes off running after the beast, and something in me snaps. I¡¯ve had e-fucking-nough of this bullshit.


    I lunge forward, wrapping my arm around Raven¡¯s throat in a chokehold. He thrashes against me, wing at my arm, but I¡¯ve got size and strength on my side. I tighten my grip, cutting off the blood flow to his apparently empty head.


    ¡®Shh,¡¯ I mutter as he struggles. ¡®Just go to sleep, you little shit.¡¯


    It takes longer than I¡¯d like, but eventually, Raven¡¯s arms drop and he goes floppy and boneless against my chest. I hoist him over my shoulder, grunting at the dead weight. Fucker¡¯s heavier than he looks.


    I carry him back to the armored vehicle, fishing a roll of duct tape out of the glovepartment. It takes some maneuvering because he¡¯s so limp, but I manage to tape his wrists behind his back for good measure.


    There. That ought to hold him for a while.


    Now for the other problem.


    I turn back to where Niki lies bleeding on the ground. Part of me still wants to put a bullet in his head and be done with it. And it¡¯s a big fucking part. But another part¡­ another part wants answers.


    And maybe a little payback.


    I grab more tape and some rope from the vehicle. By the time I¡¯m done, Niki looks like a mummy wrapped in silver. I¡¯m none too gentle as I haul him to the trunk, taking a perverse satisfaction in the way his head thunks against the metal.


    ¡®Sweet dreams, asshole,¡¯ I mutter as I m the trunk shut.


    I know an alpha¡¯s healing factor means he¡¯s not likely to die from those wounds anytime soon. Which means there¡¯s a chance he could wake up mid-transport.


    Better make this quick.


    On my way back to the driver¡¯s side door, I spot Niki¡¯s precious red sunsses in the dirt. The ones he uses to hide his fucky eye. I¡¯m about to stomp on them and crush them to bits beneath my boot when I decide it¡¯d be more fun to taunt him with them. I stick them in my pocket instead.


    Oh, yeah. We¡¯re going to have loads of fun.


    I climb into the driver¡¯s seat, sparing a nce at Raven¡¯s unconscious form beside me. His face is peaceful in sleep, almost angelic, all that manic energy finally stilled.


    It¡¯s almost unnerving.


    I start the engine, the familiar rumble afort in the chaos. Niki¡¯s men are still scrambling to regroup, tending to their wounded. Including Lex, who took a bullet to the knee. Guess that¡¯s gonna put a damper on her adventuring days.


    Not my fucking problem.


    I throw the vehicle into gear and peel out, kicking up a cloud of dust and gravel. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel as I point us toward home. Toward the rtive safety of my underground empire.


    What the fuck have I gotten myself into?


    The events of the past hour y on repeat in my mind as I drive. The giant fucking mutant alpha. The omega. Niki.


    And Raven¡­


    I nce over at him again, a muscle in my jaw twitching. I¡¯ve known the kid for years, thought I had him pretty well figured out. But this? This is something else entirely.


    The way he begged for Niki¡¯s life¡­


    I shake my head, forcing my attention back to the road. One problem at a time. Right now, I need to focus on getting us the hell out of here before?¡ª


    A bullet pings off the side mirror, making me curse. I check the rearview mirror and see a couple of Niki¡¯s goons in hot pursuit.


    Persistent fuckers.


    ¡®Alright,¡¯ I growl, ¡®you want to y?¡¯


    I lean out the window, gun in hand. It takes some tricky maneuvering, but I manage to pop a couple of their tires. The vehicle behind us swerves wildly before spinning out.


    Amateur hour.


    I settle back into my seat, a grim smile tugging at my lips. Without Niki or Lex to lead them, these idiots don¡¯t stand a chance.


    A groan from beside me draws my attention. Raven¡¯s starting toe around, his eyelids fluttering.


    Great. Just what I need.


    ¡®Rise and shine, sleeping beauty,¡¯ I mutter as his eyes finally open.


    It takes him a moment to get his bearings, but when he does, all hell breaks loose.


    ¡®What the fuck?¡¯ he snarls, thrashing against his bonds. ¡®Let me go, you son of a bitch! We have to go back! Cosima?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Cosima this, Cosima that,¡¯ I cut him off. ¡®In case you hadn¡¯t noticed, your precious omega is long gone. Took off into the woods like a bat out of hell. Hope she runs and runs and never looks back.¡¯


    The look he gives me could melt steel. ¡®How dare you,¡¯ he hisses. ¡®Turn this fucking car around right now or I swear to all the gods?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯ll what?¡¯ I sneer. ¡®Annoy me to death? Cry on me? Face it, kiddo. You¡¯re not exactly in a position to make demands.¡¯


    He lets out a wordless scream of rage, throwing himself against the tape. For a moment, I think he might actually break free. But the duct tape holds, and eventually he slumps back, panting.


    ¡®I hate you,¡¯ he spits.


    Ouch.


    ¡®Yeah, yeah. The feeling¡¯s mutual, believe me.¡¯ I reach for the radio, cranking up the volume. Disco. Oddly fitting for this crazy fucking day. Staying alive indeed. ¡®Now shut the fuck up before I change my mind about duct taping your mouth shut, too.¡¯


    ¡®You wouldn¡¯t dare,¡¯ he snarls.


    I arch an eyebrow at him. ¡®Try me.¡¯


    He opens his mouth, no doubt to unleash another tirade, but I cut him off. ¡®One more word and I¡¯ll throw you in the trunk with Niki.¡¯


    That shuts him up faster than I expected. His eyes go wide, darting to the back of the vehicle.


    ¡®Niki¡¯s back there?¡¯


    ¡®Yup.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s face goes through a series of emotions too quickly for me to track. Shock, fear, hope, anger¡­ it¡¯s like watching a slot machine of fucked-up feelings.


    Finally, he settles on a re that could strip paint.


    I can tell he¡¯s still thinking, no doubting up with a n to fuck me over and get back to chasing his omega across the goddamn wastnd. But he knows he isn¡¯t going anywhere anytime soon, so for once, he keeps his mouth shut. The vehicle falls into blessed silence.


    Small victories.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 23

    My bare feet pound against the frozen earth as I run deeper into the burned-out forest, my lungs burning with each desperate breath. Behind me, the sounds of chaos at the airport grow fainter. Explosions, gunfire, and inhuman roars gradually fading into the distance.


    I don¡¯t stop running.


    I can¡¯t stop running.


    Not until I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve lost them all. Niki, his men, the tank, that pretty blond alpha, and¡­


    The Knight.


    A shudder runs through me at the memory of those glowing blue eyes, that iron mask, those wicked metal ws. But I push the thought away, focusing only on putting one foot in front of the other.


    The thin fabric of my robe snags on ckened branches, tearing further with each step. My feet are raw and bloody from the rough terrain, leaving a trail of crimson footprints in my wake, marking my path. But the pain barely registers through the haze of adrenaline and desperate need to escape.


    Finally, when my legs feel like they¡¯re made of lead and jelly at the same time, I spot a massive fallen tree. Its roots have been torn from the earth, creating a natural shelter beneath the twisted tangle of wood and dirt.


    Perfect.


    I copse into the hollow space, wedging myself as far back as I can get. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, each inhale burning like fire in my throat. I press my forehead against my knees, willing my racing heart to slow.


    I made it.


    I actually made it.


    A hystericalugh bubbles up from my chest, but I mp my hand over my mouth to stifle it.


    I can¡¯t risk making any noise.


    Not yet.


    Not until I¡¯m absolutely sure I¡¯m?¡ª


    The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.


    I know that feeling anywhere.


    I¡¯m being watched.


    Slowly, I lift my head, and my blood turns to ice in my veins.


    The Knight.


    He looms between the burned trees, the scene straight out of my darkest nightmares. His massive frame heaves slowly with every growling breath, blocking out what little sunlight filters through the dead branches above. He¡¯s bleeding from dozens of wounds, blue-ck blood dripping from his arms¡ªmetal and otherwise. The iron rods that used to jut out of his upper back are gone, leaving his silhouette more human than before.


    He looks like he¡¯s barely standing.


    But he isn¡¯t attacking me.


    He just stares at me.


    Like he¡¯s memorizing every detail of my face.


    Like he¡¯s afraid I¡¯ll disappear if he blinks.


    Slowly, carefully, I crawl out from beneath the roots. My muscles scream in protest as I force myself to stand on trembling legs. The Knight doesn¡¯t move, but a deeper, rattling growl rumbles from his chest. A sound of pain as much as menace.


    I take a step backward.


    He takes a stumbling step forward.


    I take another step back.


    He follows, swaying like a tree in a strong wind.


    We continue our strange dance through the forest, neither of us looking away from the other. Every few steps, he stumbles, catching himself against charred tree trunks that creak ominously under his weight. The growling never stops, but it¡¯s punctuated by soft, ragged breaths of agony that sound disturbingly human.


    The sound of running water reaches my ears. I risk a nce behind me and spot a murky river cutting through the forest, the sloped bank not far from my feet. When I look back, the Knight has stopped moving, watching me with those intense blue eyes. They glow with a dimmer light than usual in the shadows shrouding his face.


    Testing a theory, I take two steps to the left and back.


    He mirrors me, but slower. Clumsier.


    Three steps to the right and back.


    Again, he follows, but I can see he¡¯s fading fast.


    I edge toward the river, picking my way carefully across the slippery rocks. The murky water is numbingly cold against my feet as I wade into it, but I barely notice. I¡¯m too focused on the massive figure shadowing my movements.


    The Knight follows me into the river.


    I keep backing up without looking away from him, reaching behind me until I feel the dead, dry grass on the other side of the river. I dig my fingers into the dirt and haul myself up, scooting back up the slope until I¡¯m just out of reach.


    My heart pounds in my chest as I watch the Knight lumber after me through the frigid water. His movements are sluggish, uncoordinated. Nothing like the unstoppable force that tore through Niki¡¯s men. Blue-ck blood mingles with the murky river, swirling around his legs in grotesque patterns.


    He¡¯s dying.


    The realization hits me. This creature that¡¯s haunted my dreams for as long as I can remember, this demon that¡¯s devoured me countless times in my nightmares¡­


    He¡¯s mortal after all.


    The Knight reaches the bank, his massive frame looming over me even though he¡¯s still standing in the river and I¡¯m up on the steep bank. He could easily grab me, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯d be able to move in time. I brace myself for the attack, for those metal ws to tear me limb from limb.


    But it doesn¡¯te.


    He just¡­ stands there.


    His broad shoulders heave with each ragged breath, the sound rattling in his chest. He¡¯s so weak, he can¡¯t even lift his head to meet my gaze, his hair covering his face as it hangs in limp tangles.


    It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever noticed his hair. Beneath the blood and dirt, it¡¯s a stark silver-white.


    Vrissian?


    The thought catches me off guard. I¡¯ve never considered the Knight might have a nationality, an origin beyond my own fevered imagination. But that hair¡­ it¡¯s unmistakably familiar.


    Like mine.


    Like my mother¡¯s.


    He¡¯s not just mortal.


    He¡¯s¡­ human.


    Before I can process anything, the Knight lets out a slow, deep breath and copses forward.


    I try to scramble back, but I¡¯m not fast enough. His massive metal arm falls across me, pinning me to the slope. The weight is crushing, driving the air from my lungs in a pained gasp. Panic ws at my throat as I struggle to breathe, to move, to do anything.


    But I¡¯m trapped.


    Trapped beneath the very monster I¡¯ve spent my entire life running from.


    I can¡¯t breathe. The Knight¡¯s massive metal arm crushes down on my chest, pinning me to the muddy slope. Panic ws at my throat as I struggle for air, my lungs burning. This can¡¯t be how it ends. Not after everything I¡¯ve been through, everything I¡¯ve survived.


    Gritting my teeth, I force myself to focus. To think. The weight of his arm is immense, but he¡¯s unconscious. Unmoving.


    If I can just¡­


    I wiggle my body, inching to the side millimeter by agonizing millimeter. The mud helps, slick and cool against my skin. I feel a rush of air as I manage to slide my torso out from under the crushing metal.


    Gasping, I scramble the rest of the way free, my nails digging into the earth as I w my way up the bank. My heart pounds so hard I feel it in my temples, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I should run. Every instinct screams at me to flee, to put as much distance between myself and this monster as possible.


    But I don¡¯t.


    I can¡¯t.


    Crying changes nothing, mylita, my mother¡¯s voice whispers in my head. But kindness? Kindness changes everything.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I mutter, already turning back.


    The fallen Knight lies motionless, half in the river and half on the bank. His legs are submerged in the murky water, the current tugging gently at his massive frame. If it weren¡¯t for the slow rise and fall of his muscled back, I¡¯d think he was dead.


    He¡¯s even bigger up close. At least eight feet tall, maybe more, and every inch of him is solid muscle. The ting grafted to his right shoulder and upper back, the foundation for the metal arm that resembles a knight¡¯s armor all the way down to the wed gauntlet that serves as his hand, gleams dully in the filtered sunlight.


    It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen his face, too, visible now that so much of his iron mask has been blown away. I¡¯ve caught glimpses of it in my nightmares, shes of teeth and exposed muscle, but never like this.


    One blue eye is mostly closed, at least as much as it can close with his eyelids so badly damaged, while the other glows faintly through what remains of his iron mask. Like his body, the exposed portions of his face are a roadmap of scarsyered upon scars, leaving barely any unmarred skin. But beneath the destruction, I can tell he¡¯s a man.


    That¡¯s what shocks me the most.


    Only his mouth is truly monstrous. He has no lips or cheeks, only exposed muscle¡ªa dull, grayish purple¡ªand sinew holding his jaws together. His razor-sharp teeth are permanently bared in a terrifying grin like some kind of nightmare beast. I¡¯ve felt those teeth sink into my throat enough times in my dreams to know exactly how lethal they are.


    What kind of torture did he endure to be this? What sort of monsters would do this to another living being?


    Unconscious and bleeding, he looks less like a demon than before. He looks almost¡­ vulnerable.


    The thought is absurd.


    This creature has terrorized me my entire life. He¡¯s torn me apart in my nightmares more times than I can count. I should be running as far and as fast as I can.


    Instead, I find myself reaching out with trembling fingers. I hesitate, my hand hovering over his blood-drenched hair. His head is warm beneath my palm when I finally make contact. Warmer than it should be even through his hair, like he¡¯s burning with fever.


    Why am I touching him?


    A low, exhausted growl rumbles in his chest at my touch, but he doesn¡¯t stir as the questions pile up in my mind. Each scar tells a story of unimaginable pain. Surgical scars, burn marks, ces where it looks like flesh was simply carved away and reced with metal. These aren¡¯t all battle injuries.


    Someone did this to him on purpose.


    ¡®What did they do to you?¡¯ I whisper, more to myself than to him.


    His visible eye flutters beneath its lid, and I snatch my hand back. But he remains unconscious, his breathingbored and shallow. The blue-ck blood continues to seep from his wounds, darkening the already murky water around his submerged legs.


    I should leave him here. Let the river take him, or wait for exposure and blood loss to finish what Niki¡¯s men started.


    It would be the smart thing to do.


    The safe thing.


    But I can¡¯t.


    Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m tired of running. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m curious about the connection between us. Why he¡¯s haunted my dreams all these years, why he came looking for me.


    Or maybe I¡¯m just losing my fucking mind.


    It wouldn¡¯t be the first time.


    Either way, I need to do something. Fast.


    Looking around the deste forest, I spot patches of scraggly weeds and herbs growing between the charred trees. My mother¡¯s voice echoes in my memory, teaching me which nts can heal and which can harm. It wasn¡¯t proper for an omega of my station to learn such things, but she insisted. Said someday I might need to know.


    I never thought that day woulde while trying to save the monster from my nightmares.


    My bare feet are numb as I pick my way through the underbrush, gathering what I can find. Most of the nts are twisted and mutated from radiation, but I can still make out what they once were. Yarrow for bleeding. Feverfew for his burning skin. Even some wild garlic, though it looks more like tentacles than bulbs now.


    The sun sinks lower as I work, and my fingers tremble from the cold as I tear strips from my robe to make bandages. I use the cleanest scraps I can find from his tattered gray pants too, though there isn¡¯t much salvageable material. It¡¯ll have to do. I mash up the herbs with river stones and squash the pulp mixture into the makeshift bandages before packing them into the Knight¡¯s wounds.


    Cleaning his wounds isn¡¯t possible here. Not with the only water source being the color of piss. Some of the Knight¡¯s gashes are deep, especially where the metal rods were blown from his back. The herb-treated fabric soaks through almost immediately wherever I stuff it into the wounds, but it¡¯s better than nothing.


    He lets out a low growling moan. This has to hurt, but he doesn¡¯t wake up, even as his metal hand twitches and those wicked ws dig furrows in the mud.


    ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ I mumble to him as I work, meaning it for some reason.


    I must be insane.


    Absolutely, certifiably insane.


    In sleep, his face loses some of its ferocity. The permanent snarl of exposed teeth seems less threatening somehow. More tragic than terrifying. Like everything else about him, it speaks of vition. Of someone or something trying to turn him into a weapon, a monster, by literally tearing away his humanity.


    But I¡¯ve seen real monsters.


    My father.


    Monty.


    Alphas who wear pleasant faces.


    This creature¡­ for all his terrifying appearance, there¡¯s something almost innocent about him. The way he followed me through the forest, not attacking, just watching me. Like he couldn¡¯t quite believe I was real.


    Like he¡¯s been looking for me as long as I¡¯ve been running from him.


    ¡®Why me?¡¯ I murmur, knowing I won¡¯t get an answer. ¡®Why have you been hunting me all these years?¡¯


    His back rises and falls with each ragged breath, but otherwise, he remains still. The glow from the eye hidden by his mask¡ªit must still be open somehow, maybe because it¡¯s damaged like the rest of him¡ªhas dimmed further, barely visible now.


    Even unconscious, he radiates heat like a furnace. His skin burns wherever I touch it, fever raging through his massive frame. It¡¯s like being near a campfire. Good for me, I guess, but bad news for him.


    I sit back on my heels, surveying my handiwork. The makeshift bandages aren¡¯t a long-term solution, but they might buy him some time. Though for what, I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s not like I can drag him anywhere. He must weigh as much as a car with his massive height and all that metal grafted to him.


    And even if I could move him, where would I take him?


    Back to Niki¡¯spound?


    Into the wilderness to die slowly instead of quickly?


    A distant explosion makes me jump. The sound carries across the water, reminding me that chaos still reigns beyond the forest.


    Sooner orter, someone wille looking. Whether it¡¯s Niki¡¯s men, that pretty blond alpha and his tank-driving friend, or someone else entirely, I can¡¯t stay here.


    But I can¡¯t seem to make myself leave, either.


    I press my palm against the Knight¡¯s forehead, or what I can reach of it around the mask. At least his fever seems marginally better after I managed to get some of the feverfew tincture into him, though getting anything past those razor teeth was terrifying. But his breathing has grown morebored, each exhale ending in a wet rattle that can¡¯t be good.


    ¡®Don¡¯t you dare die on me,¡¯ I find myself muttering. ¡®Not now. Not when I finally have a chance to understand what¡¯s happening between us.¡¯


    He doesn¡¯t respond, of course. But something shifts in his breathing¡ªbes less ragged, more even.


    Like even unconscious, he heard me.


    Like he¡¯s trying to do what I ask.


    I gather fallen branches and start constructing a crude shrine near us, weaving dried grasses and herbs into a small doll. It¡¯s a poor offering to the moon goddess my mother taught me to pray to, but it¡¯s all I have.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ I murmur in Vrissian, bending toward the doll on my palms and knees and pressing my forehead to the cold earth. ¡®Please protect us both. Guide us through this night.¡¯


    The words feel strange on my tongue after so long. Father forbade us from practicing our old ways, and the consequences for disobeying him were always dire. But out here, with death breathing down our necks, propriety seems meaningless.


    A howl echoes in the distance. Whether from a wolf or something worse, I can¡¯t tell. The Knight¡¯s metal arm twitches at the sound. Even unconscious, he¡¯s ready to fight.


    To protect.


    The thought startles me.


    When the hell did I start thinking of him as a protector rather than a threat?


    Another violent shiver racks my body as thest rays of sunlight fade. The moon rises, full and bright, casting everything in silver. Including him. The light catches on his mask, on the metal grafted to his flesh, making him look almost beautiful in a tragic way.


    I have no choice. I¡¯m going to freeze to death if I don¡¯t get warm soon.


    ¡®Don¡¯t eat me,¡¯ I mutter as I carefully wedge myself between his massive arm and his fever-hot side. ¡®I just got done patching you up. It would be rude.¡¯


    His skin burns against mine through what little is left of my robe. This close, I can smell him. Metal and blood and wilderness, like a wounded and armored wolf.


    And alpha.


    It¡¯s strangely familiar, but not in a nightmarish way. I don¡¯t remember catching his scent in my dreams. Then again, they never ended this way. Never ended with me curled up against him.


    But as his warmth seeps into my frozen limbs and his massive frame blocks the bitter wind, I feel safe, somehow.


    Protected.


    Like nothing in this wastnd would daree near us.


    Thest thing I notice before I finally sumb to exhaustion is a bright star I¡¯ve never noticed before twinkling in the night sky, outshone only by the silver light of the moon.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 24

    moonlight


    close now


    so close


    can feel her warmth against my side


    strange


    thought i would have to chase


    thought i would have to hunt


    thought i would have to take


    but she came to me


    touched me


    no one touches monster


    no one touches beast


    only scientists with needles


    only handlers with chains


    but she touched my head


    gentle


    soft


    like clouds touching earth


    like stars falling into my hands


    want to consume her


    need to consume her


    that is what she wants


    that is what she has always wanted


    her song tells me so


    e to me¡¯


    ¡®find me¡¯


    ¡®consume me¡¯


    but body is weak


    broken


    bleeding


    cannot even lift head


    pathetic


    useless


    failure


    she deserves better feast than this


    deservesplete devotion


    total surrender to her light


    maybe after rest


    maybe after healing


    but¡­


    something is wrong


    do not want to hurt her


    do not want to tear moonlight


    she curls closer


    seeking warmth


    hair spills across my skin


    silver silk


    just like in dreams


    should pull away


    should protect her from me


    but cannot move


    cannot think


    can only feel her pressed against me


    small


    fragile


    precious


    most precious thing that exists


    want to wrap around her


    shield her from world


    but arms will not move


    too weak


    too broken


    a failure


    she smells different


    a stronger smell


    a sweeter smell


    a smell that reminds me I do not deserve this


    do not deserve to be so close to her


    do not deserve to even taste her

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 25

    The rumble of the engine and the crunch of gravel under the tires are the only sounds that fill the tense silence as we speed away from the chaos. My wrists ache where they¡¯re bound behind my back, the duct tape digging into my skin with every bump and jostle of the armored vehicle. But the physical difort is nothingpared to the storm raging in my head.


    Cosima.


    My mate.


    She¡¯s out there somewhere, alone and vulnerable in a wastnd that would tear her apart without a second thought. The image of her moonlight-silver hair disappearing into the treeline haunts me, ying on repeat behind my eyes.


    I should be out there, tracking her down, keeping her safe. Instead, I¡¯m trussed up like a turkey in the passenger seat of Geo¡¯s stolen ride, helpless and useless.


    I want to fucking scream. But I know it would be pointless. Geo¡¯s always been stubborn as an irradiated mule, and right now, he thinks he¡¯s doing what¡¯s best for me. Protecting me from myself.


    That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m only plotting to escape and not plotting to put a bullet in that double-ted skull of his.


    But even as fear and worry gnaw at me, there¡¯s something else. A certainty, bone-deep and unshakable, that she¡¯s okay.


    That she¡¯s alive.


    I can¡¯t exin it, can¡¯t put it into words that wouldn¡¯t sound utterly insane. But I know, with every fiber of my being, that if something had happened to her¡ªif she was hurt, or gods forbid, worse¡ªI would feel it.


    It doesn¡¯t make me want to find her any less, though.


    I close my eyes, trying to focus on that connection, that inexplicable bond.


    She¡¯s clever, my moonlight goddess. If she¡¯s survived this long in the cesspool that is the Outer Reaches, she¡¯s got more than just a pretty face.


    Run, I think, willing her to hear me somehow. Run and don¡¯t look back. I¡¯ll find you. I swear I¡¯ll find you.


    The vehicle slows, and I open my eyes to see we¡¯ve arrived at the market. Or rather, the unremarkable patch of wastnd that hides Geo¡¯s underground empire. To the untrained eye, it¡¯s just more dead earth and scrub brush. But I know better. Beneath our feet lies abyrinth of tunnels and chambers, a haven for every kind of criminal and degenerate the Outer Reaches has to offer.


    Home sweet fucking home.


    Geo kills the engine and climbs out, leaving me alone with my thoughts for a moment. I hear him barking orders, his gruff voice carrying easily through the armored walls of the vehicle.


    ¡®You two! Yeah, you. Stop pretending you¡¯re not on duty and help me unload the piece of shit in the trunk. Take him down to the basement and make sure he¡¯s secured.¡¯


    My heart rate picks up.


    Niki must have survived the trip.


    Geo is right about one thing. That shouldn¡¯t be a relief. I came to his hideout nning on putting a bullet in the bastard myself, so why the fuck did I put myself in the line of fire to make sure Geo couldn¡¯t?


    I don¡¯t have all that long to contemte it before Geo rips open the passenger side door.


    ¡®He needs a doctor,¡¯ I mutter, not meeting Geo¡¯s eye.


    Geo¡¯s expression hardens. ¡®You¡¯re not calling the shots anymore, kid,¡¯ he growls, reaching in to grab me.


    I try to squirm away, but with my arms bound, there¡¯s not much I can do. When he tears the tape off that secures me to the seat, I lunge to bite him and end up facedown in the dirt. Geo grabs me by the back of my shirt and hauls me to my feet.


    I spit in his face.


    He stares at me in dangerous silence for what feels like a small eternity before wiping my spit off his cheek with the back of his hand and a low growl.


    ¡®I know you didn¡¯t just fucking spit in my face.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll do it again,¡¯ I warn him.


    He shoves me up against the side of the vehicle, sticking his finger in my face. ¡®You fucking listen to me, and you listen good. You¡¯re the one who involved me in all this bullshit, so I don¡¯t want to hear a goddamn word about how I¡¯m not doing things ording to your half-baked n. I just saved your ass, and nothing and no one made me do it. I came to your rescue¡ªagain¡ªbecause I do give a shit. Don¡¯t make me regret it.¡¯


    I give a bitterugh. ¡®I didn¡¯t ask you to care.¡¯


    ¡®Is that what you¡¯re doing, then?¡¯ he asks, his gaze hardening. ¡®Trying to piss me off until I stop caring about you? Because that might work on everyone else, but it won¡¯t work on me. Trust me, you¡¯ve already pushed every button you could possibly push, and I¡¯m still here.¡¯


    For once, I have no fucking idea what to say.


    But I don¡¯t have long to dwell on it before he grabs me again and slings me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The sudden shift in position makes my head spin, and I can¡¯t help the undignified yelp that escapes me.


    ¡®Put me down, you fucking Neanderthal!¡¯ I snarl, thrashing uselessly. ¡®I¡¯m not a child!¡¯


    ¡®Could¡¯ve fooled me, the way you¡¯re actingtely,¡¯ Geo mutters, already striding toward the hidden entrance to his undergroundir.


    As we descend into the dimly lit tunnels, a hystericalugh bubbles up in my throat. How many times have I imagined Geo manhandling me like this? Carrying me off to his private chambers for a night of debauchery? But this is about as far from those fantasies as it gets.


    Be careful what you wish for, I guess.


    Geo throws a nce over his shoulder, and I don¡¯t need to see his face to know he¡¯s looking at me like he can read my damn mind. Like I¡¯ve lost it.


    Maybe I have.


    It¡¯s only when we pass the turn that would lead to Geo¡¯s living quarters that I start to get nervous. ¡®Where are we going?¡¯ I demand, craning my neck to try to see where he¡¯s taking me.


    Geo doesn¡¯t answer, but the pit in my stomach grows as I realize we¡¯re heading deeper into theplex. Toward the area I know he keeps for ¡®special guests.¡¯


    Oh, fuck no.


    ¡®Geo,¡¯ I say, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡®Geo,e on. This isn¡¯t funny. What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡¯


    ¡®Giving myself a break from your constant whining and pestering,¡¯ he grunts, shifting my weight on his shoulder. His big, burly hand is closer to my ass than he probably realizes, and I¡¯m too fucking pissed to even enjoy it. ¡®You need some time to cool off and get your head straight.¡¯


    We round a corner, and my blood runs cold as I see the heavy metal door at the end of the hall. Geo¡¯s infamous ¡®guest room.¡¯


    AKA his personal dungeon.


    The sight of the door stirs a renewed panic within me. If he puts me in there, there¡¯s no escape. ¡®You¡¯ve made your point,¡¯ I hiss. ¡®Let me go!¡¯


    But my pleas fall on deaf ears. Geo shoulders open the door and hauls me down the stairs into the dark concrete room that¡¯s part fallout shelter and part prison for anyone who gets too unruly upstairs. He unceremoniously dumps me onto a cot pushed up against one wall. Ind with a grunt, the wind knocked out of me for a moment. As I struggle to catch my breath, my eyes dart around the room, taking in the details.


    The bare concrete walls. The single flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling. The ominous metal rings set into the walls at regr intervals. And there, slumped against the far wall¡­


    Niki.


    He¡¯s still unconscious, his white hair matted with blood and dirt. A thick iron cor encircles his neck, chained to the wall behind him. The sight makes my stomach churn, memories I¡¯ve tried so hard to bury wing their way to the surface.


    I¡¯m so distracted by Niki that I almost miss Geo reaching for something on the wall beside me. The rattle of chains snaps me back to reality, and I look up to see him holding another cor.


    My eyes go wide. ¡®Don¡¯t you fucking dare,¡¯ I snap, trying to scoot away despite my bound arms. ¡®Geo, I swear to all the gods, if you try to put that thing on me?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯ll what?¡¯ Geo cuts me off, his voice hard. ¡®Give me dirty looks? Make more empty threats?¡¯ He reaches for me, and I try to duck away, but there¡¯s only so far I can go. His fingers tangle in my hair, yanking my head back as I snarl in indignation more than pain.


    Infuriatingly enough, I can tell he¡¯s trying to be gentle. Like coring a feral kitten he doesn¡¯t want to get bitten by.


    ¡®Stop!¡¯ I cry, my voice cracking in spite of my rage. ¡®Geo, please. You don¡¯t have to do this. I promise I¡¯ll behave. I¡¯ll stay put. Just¡­ not like this. Please.¡¯


    For a moment, I think I see a flicker of hesitation in Geo¡¯s eye. Of that softness that¡¯s always been there, no matter how manyyers of concrete wrapped in barbed wire he tries to hide it behind.


    But then his expression hardens, and I know I¡¯ve lost. The cor snaps shut around my neck with a final-sounding click, and just like that, I¡¯m chained to the wall like a damn dog.


    Geo steps back, studying me with an unreadable expression. ¡®You¡¯ve lost your damn mind,¡¯ he says, his voice low and rough, but there¡¯s a hint of sadness to it that really tells me I¡¯m fucked. Sadness and resignation. ¡®And clearly, you¡¯re not thinking with an ounce of self-preservation. So you can have a little time out down here until ites back to you.¡¯ His lips twist in a bitter smile. ¡®And as a bonus, you can spend some quality time remembering why you fucking hate that asshole.¡¯ He jerks his head toward Niki¡¯s unconscious form.


    ¡®Geo,¡¯ I try onest time, hating how small my voice sounds. ¡®Please don¡¯t leave me down here.¡¯


    He pauses at the door, and for a heartbeat, I think he might change his mind. But then he just sighs, running a hand through his shaggy dark hair. ¡®I tried,¡¯ he says quietly. ¡®I really did. But today¡­ today was proof it didn¡¯t work. I¡¯m sorry.¡¯


    I freeze, because I can¡¯t remember thest time I¡¯ve heard Geo say those words. It takes me a while to work out what he even means by them, but then it hits me.


    Niki¡¯smand.


    Geo¡¯s training.


    He mes himself.


    I¡¯m so furious at him, it shouldn¡¯t bother me, but it does. I clench my jaw, gritting the next words out like my throat is made of sandpaper. ¡®It¡¯s not¡­ it wasn¡¯t you. It¡¯s me. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s fucked up. It wasn¡¯t your job to fix me.¡¯


    ¡®I said I would all the same.¡¯ There¡¯s a bite in his voice again, but somehow, I can tell it¡¯s not directed at me. ¡®And I failed you. But that¡¯s not gonna happen again. I don¡¯t give my word often, but when I do, I follow it through. We¡¯ll just have to figure something else out.¡¯


    I feel a surge of panic as I realize what he¡¯s getting at. ¡®You can¡¯t do this,¡¯ I hiss. ¡®You can¡¯t keep me prisoner in the name of unbrainwashing me, Geo! That¡¯s not what this is about.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll send a doctor down soon,¡¯ he mutters, ignoring me. ¡®To patch you both up and take off the tape. Once you¡¯ve settled down a bit.¡¯


    And then he¡¯s gone, the heavy door mming shut behind him with a resounding thud.


    For a long moment, I just sit there, staring at the closed door in disbelief.


    This can¡¯t be happening.


    It has to be some kind of fucked up nightmare.


    Maybe I hit my head during the chaos at the airfield.


    Maybe I¡¯m still unconscious, and any minute now I¡¯ll wake up¡­


    But the cold metal of the cor around my neck is all too real. The ache in my shoulders from having my arms bound for so long. The throb of bruises I don¡¯t remember getting, courtesy of that monster batting the tank around like a cat with a damn ball of string.


    This is real.


    And I¡¯m fucked.


    So is Niki if that doctor doesn¡¯t get here sooner thanter. I find my gaze darting over to his corner more often than I¡¯d like.


    He¡¯s still breathing. For now.


    That realization brings me more relief than it has any right to.


    Maybe Geo is right about that, too. Maybe I¡¯m still just that brainwashed whelp Niki plucked out of the brothel all those years ago.


    My head drops back against the wall as the silence wraps around me like a vice, forcing me face to face with the one old nemesis I¡¯ll do anything in my power to avoid.


    My memories.<hr>


    The hazy scent of cigar smoke fills my nostrils as Madame takes another long drag, her ruby red lips pursed around the expensive cigar smuggled in from Reinmich. Her eyes, cold and calcting behind perfectly winged eyeliner, bore into me.


    ¡®Kneel,¡¯ shemands, her voice like velvet over steel.


    I drop to my knees without hesitation, the polished hardwood floor unforgiving against my bones. I¡¯m vaguely aware of eyes on me, the quiet murmur of conversation from the gathered crowd watching from the shadows, but my focus is solely on her. Even though she¡¯s not using her bark at the moment, my ears are still ringing from thestmand she gave me, ensuring I¡¯d be good for her little demonstration.


    As if I need more than the metal cor around my neck as a constant reminder of my ce here.


    ¡®Look up,¡¯ Madame orders, and I obey instantly.


    She ces one stiletto boot on the low table in front of me, the patent leather gleaming under the chandelier¡¯s light. A perfect match for the tattered leather pants I¡¯m wearing, paired with nothing more than the chains dangling from my cor to form a loose mantle over my shoulders. ¡®Clean it.¡¯


    Without question or pause, I lean forward and start licking her boot. The taste of leather and polish fills my mouth, but I don¡¯t stop. I can¡¯t stop. Not until she tells me to.


    Chuckles ripple through the crowd of wealthy alphas, omegas, and betas gathered to watch Madame show off the training of her favorite ¡®pet.¡¯ I hear footsteps approach, and a man¡¯s voice speaks up, tinged with awe and a hint of disgust.


    ¡®Remarkable,¡¯ he says. ¡®I¡¯ve never seen a submissive alpha before.¡¯


    Madame¡¯sugh is like broken ss. ¡®He¡¯s my finest project,¡¯ she purrs, and I can hear the pride in her voice. It makes my chest ache with a desperate need for her approval. ¡®He responds to alphamands just like an omega would.¡¯


    I bristle at the reminder that while she¡¯s my whole world, I¡¯m nothing more than an object to her. A toy to show off. But I don¡¯t stop licking her boot. She hasn¡¯t told me to stop, and I know well what the consequences are for even the most idental disobedience.


    She finally gives a snap of her fingers and I stop, sitting back in a kneeling position with my hands on my thighs and my head downcast, awaiting her nextmand.


    ¡®I saw his potential in the rough years ago,¡¯ Madame continues, her voice taking on that bragging tone she uses when discussing her ¡®projects.¡¯ ¡®Now he¡¯s been molded into a diamond. He can¡¯t do anything without my permission. Eating, sleeping¡­ I even tell him when to piss,¡¯ she adds with a chuckle.


    Moreughter from the crowd. I squeeze my eyes shut, shame burning through me, but I keep my expression neutral, my gaze on the floor.


    ¡®Is he submissive to betas and omegas too?¡¯ a woman¡¯s voice asks, curiosity evident in her tone.


    ¡®Oh yes,¡¯ Madame replies. I can hear the smirk in her voice. ¡®But you have to watch out. He gets a bit jealous when he¡¯s not the center of attention.¡¯


    Moreughter. I want to crawl into the hole in the baseboard across the room and live there like the rats do.


    ¡®Even his ruts are unusual,¡¯ Madame goes on, as casually as if she were discussing the weather. ¡®He gets needy, and sometimes he even tries to nest. Like an omega in heat.¡¯


    As she speaks, I feel her fingers card through my hair. Despite everything, I lean into her touch, craving any scrap of affection she¡¯ll give me. I hate myself for it. For melting at her touch the way I do. For being so pathetically grateful for even the smallest bit of attention.


    ¡®Fascinating,¡¯ another voice chimes in. Male, alpha. ¡®May I give him amand?¡¯


    There¡¯s a pause, and I tense, waiting for Madame¡¯s response. ¡®Of course,¡¯ she says finally. ¡®Be my guest.¡¯


    I look up warily as footsteps approach. The alpha who steps into view isn¡¯t particrlyrge, but there¡¯s a cruel glint in his eyes that makes my stomach churn. I¡¯ve gotten good at reading people over the years. It¡¯s a survival skill in this ce.


    And everything about this man screams danger.


    He grabs my face roughly, fingers digging into my jaw. ¡®Look at me,¡¯ he demands.


    I meet his gaze, but it¡¯s a struggle. I¡¯ve never been able to hold eye contact with alphas for long. It feels wrong, like I¡¯m challenging them. When I try to look away, the alpha¡¯s voice drops into that resonant tone that bypasses all rational thought.


    ¡®Keep looking at me.¡®


    The bark hits me like a physical blow. I feel bile rising in my throat as I¡¯m forced to maintain eye contact. The alpha reaches into his pocket, pulling something out, but I can¡¯t look away to see what it is. Soft gasps ripple through the room.


    ¡®Hold out your hand,¡¯ the alphamands.


    I do, and feel something heavy and cold pressed into my palm. Metal. My heart starts racing, but I still can¡¯t look away from those cruel eyes.


    ¡®Look down.¡¯


    The moment the words leave his lips, my gaze drops to my hand. My breath catches in my throat as I see what I¡¯m holding.


    A gun.


    I freeze, unable to move, unable to breathe. The weapon feels impossibly heavy in my trembling hand.


    The alpha¡¯s voice is taunting when he speaks again. ¡®Ever seen one of those before, boy?¡¯


    I manage to stutter out a response. ¡®N-no.¡¯


    He chuckles, the sound sending ice through my veins. ¡®Well, you¡¯re going to learn to shoot today. This¡¯ll be fun.¡¯


    Panic ws at my chest. I tear my gaze away from the gun, looking desperately to Madame for help. But even though there¡¯s a flicker of unease in her eyes, she just smirks, her red lips curving cruelly.


    ¡®Don¡¯t embarrass me in front of my guests, pet,¡¯ she says coolly.


    I swallow hard, my throat tight. I know what happens when I embarrass her. The punishments are¡­ creative. And always, always painful.


    ¡®Point the gun at yourself,¡¯ the alpha orders.


    I hesitate, my hand shaking so badly I can barely keep hold of the weapon. The alpha¡¯s eyes narrow, and his voice drops into thatmanding tone again.


    ¡®Point it at your lips. Now.¡®


    My arm moves of its own ord, the barrel of the guning to rest against my temple. Tears blur my vision, but I can¡¯t wipe them away. I can¡¯t move at all unless he tells me to.


    ¡®Good boy,¡¯ the alpha croons. ¡®Now, lick it.¡¯


    A whimper escapes me as I obey, my tongue sliding along the cold metal of the barrel. The taste makes me gag, but I can¡¯t stop.


    ¡®Put your finger on the trigger.¡¯


    Tears are streaming down my face now. The instinct to obey wars with the instinct to survive that, until this very moment, I wasn¡¯t sure was still there. The conflict makes my hands tremble so violently, I can barely hold onto the gun, but no matter how much I wish it would, it never quite slips from my hand.


    I want to scream, to run, to do anything but obey.


    But I can¡¯t.


    I can¡¯t.


    I look to Madame again, silently begging her to put a stop to this. For a moment, I think I see conflict in her eyes. But then she nods, her voice cold when she speaks.


    ¡®Do as he says.¡¯


    My finger slides onto the trigger.


    I can smell the excitementing off the other alpha. This is a show for him. A game. I always knew the men and women who came through these doors saw me as less than human.


    But this is new.


    ¡®Put the gun in your mouth,¡¯ the alphamands, his voice dripping with sadistic glee. ¡®And pull the trigger.¡¯


    Oh, gods.


    I¡¯m going to die.


    The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I¡¯m going to die here, on my knees, with a gun in my mouth and a room full of strangers watching. I¡¯m going to die without ever having lived a day of my own life.


    And the worst part?


    The most fucked up, twisted part of it all?


    My only wish isn¡¯t for freedom. Freedom is terrifying, more frightening than anything that happens within these walls.


    Even this.


    No, my only wish, my only regret is that I never got the chance to belong to someone who sees me as worth something.


    Anything.


    I sob as I raise the gun to my lips. The metal is cold against my tongue, and I can barely breathe around it. But for once, fear overrides thepulsion to obey. My finger rests on the trigger, but I can¡¯t make myself pull it.


    I¡­ can¡¯t obey him.


    The alpha¡¯s eyes narrow. ¡®Pull the trigger,¡¯ he barks.


    And just like that, my control shatters.


    My finger squeezes.


    Click.


    For a moment, there¡¯s nothing but silence. Thenughter erupts around the room as I copse in a heap, the gun ttering to the floor beside me. Harsh, mockingughter that cuts through me like knives.


    I curl in on myself, sobbing so hard I can barely breathe.


    I¡¯m alive.


    I¡¯m alive, but am I?


    Have I ever really been?


    ¡®Well,¡¯ the alpha¡¯s cold voice cuts through the noise. ¡®I must admit, your work is certainly remarkable. But really¡­ who wants a pathetic alpha like that?¡¯


    Through my tears, I see Madame¡¯s stilettos approach. Her handes to rest on my head, stroking my hair like I¡¯m a dog who¡¯s performed a particrly entertaining trick.


    ¡®Oh, you¡¯d be surprised,¡¯ she purrs, and I can hear the smile in her voice. ¡®Now, shall we adjourn to the parlor? I believe it¡¯s time for refreshments.¡¯


    As the sounds of footsteps and conversation fade, I¡¯m left alone on the floor.


    Broken.


    Humiliated.


    Empty.


    I don¡¯t know how long Iy there, trembling and crying. Time loses all meaning. But eventually, Madame¡¯s assistant, Wyatt,es to collect me. I¡¯m barely even aware of myself as he goes through the motions of scrubbing me down and rendering me presentable for whichever client she¡¯s offering me to this evening. I¡¯d hoped she would give me an evening to recover, but that would require her seeing me as something more than a doll to be used and discarded when it ceases to be convenient.


    All I can do is hope, desperately, it¡¯s not the alpha from earlier. Anyone but him.


    Whoever it is, he¡¯s warranted himself an evening in the Royal Suite. It¡¯s a joke of a name in a shithole like this, no matter how luxurious the veneer may be, but it¡¯s a rare honor for the patrons who pass through the brothel all the same.


    Wyatt, who doubles as my warden, nods to me as we stand outside the blood red doors.


    I smooth down the new outfit I¡¯ve been changed into and push open the doors, walking inside. I can¡¯t make out the man seated in an armchair by the bed, since his upper half is concealed in shadow, but I notice the blood red coat that nearly brushes the floor by his well-worn leather boots. A tremor runs through me at the sight of the gun on his hip after my recent encounter.


    The man drums his fingertips on the curved wooden arm of the chair, watching me with what feels like bored interest as Wyatt closes the doors behind me. I jolt at the sound in the otherwise silent room.


    ¡®Nervous?¡¯ the man asks, his tone knowing. There¡¯s something in his thick Vrissian ent that makes my skin prickle. A rough edge that speaks of authority and danger. But it¡¯s his scent that makes me freeze where I stand.


    I¡¯m more attuned to other alphas¡¯ scents than most alphas are. I¡¯ve never felt the immediate rage and territoriality that seems to affect the others. It varies from alpha to alpha, but in general, I find other alphas¡¯ scents as pleasant as an omega¡¯s. Just different.


    This alpha is very different.


    I¡¯ve never smelled anything like him.


    He smells like¡­


    Blood.


    And metal.


    It shouldn¡¯t be pleasant, especially in light of the coppery taste lingering on my tongue from earlier, but it¡¯s intriguing in its own right.


    And dangerous.


    I push that all aside and put on my usual mask of charm and submission, letting a practiced smile curve my lips even as my heart pounds. ¡®No, sir.¡¯


    ¡®Come closer,¡¯ he orders, and Iply, moving forward with carefully measured steps. But I stop while still maintaining what I hope is a safe distance from the chair, lowering my head submissively and folding my arms behind my back, waiting for him tomand me. It doesn¡¯t usually take long, but some snakes like ying with their food first.


    ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ he asks, a note of curiosity in his voice.


    ¡®Waiting for permission, sir,¡¯ I reply softly, keeping my gaze fixed on the ornate carpet beneath my feet.


    ¡®Permission for what?¡¯ The question holds an edge of amusement now.


    I hesitate, resisting the urge to look up at his face. It¡¯s still shrouded in shadow. My throat feels tight as I force out the words I¡¯ve said countless times before: ¡®Permission to serve you however you see fit, sir.¡¯


    The silence that follows feels heavy. The man shifts in his chair, leather creaking beneath him. I tense, waiting for whateveres next, but maintain my submissive pose.


    ¡®Is it true what that hag said earlier?¡¯ he finally asks. ¡®That you respond to an alpha¡¯smands like an omega?¡¯


    My blood runs cold as I realize he must have been one of the observers watching from the shadows during Madame¡¯s earlier demonstration. Fresh shame burns through me.


    ¡®Or was that little show just a stunt?¡¯ he adds, his tone casual but probing.


    I clench my jaw, warring with myself. Anger and embarrassment fight against bone-deep fear as I force out my answer. ¡®It¡¯s true.¡¯


    He leans forward then, elbowsing to rest on his knees as he emerges from the shadows into the dimmplight.


    My breath catches in my throat.


    He¡¯s younger than I expected, likely not much older than I am, and devastatingly beautiful in a way that makes my heart stutter. Stark white hair falls in choppyyers around a face that looks carved from marble, save for the jagged scar all the way from his left eyebrow, down over his eye, and across to the right side of his mouth, tugging his lips up slightly into a perpetual smirk.


    Nearly every merc and ouw in the Outer Reaches has his share of scars¡ªand usually a few missing digits, too¡ªbut this one seems exceptionally vicious. And yet, it¡¯s his eyes that hold me transfixed behind red circr lenses. Gunmetal gray, and so intense, I feel like he¡¯s staring straight through to my soul.


    Except¡­ Something is off about the left one. It¡¯s not quite as bright as the right. Is it real?


    ¡®Interesting,¡¯ he murmurs, studying me with that piercing gaze.


    I can¡¯t look away. Can¡¯t even breathe properly. Old stories from one of the kinder guards float through my mind. Tales of avenging angels descending from the heavens with ming swords to deliver divine justice. This man, with his otherworldly beauty and dangerous grace, seems too intense to be merely human.


    ¡®Are you an angel?¡¯ The question slips out before I can stop it, barely more than a whisper.


    He throws his head back andughs, the sound rich and dark like aged whiskey. Not the cruel mockery I¡¯m used to, but genuine amusement that transforms his severe features into something even more striking.


    ¡®Now, why would you ask that?¡¯ he questions once hisughter subsides, that one gray eye sparkling with curiosity. The other doesn¡¯t.


    I find myself fidgeting under his gaze, dropping my eyes to the carpet again. ¡®You look like one,¡¯ I mumble, heat rising to my cheeks. ¡®I thought¡­ maybe you were here to save me.¡¯


    The words sound even more stupid and childish out loud than they did in my head.


    I stare at the man, waiting for the mockingughter that usually follows any disy of vulnerability on my part. But it doesn¡¯te. Instead, he leans forward in his chair, those mismatched eyes glinting with something unreadable.


    ¡®What¡¯s your name?¡¯ he asks, his voice surprisingly gentle.


    I hesitate, my throat tight.


    ¡®Robin,¡¯ I finally whisper.


    It¡¯s not my real name¡ªI don¡¯t even know if I ever had one¡ªbut it¡¯s the one Madame gave me.


    ¡®Robin,¡¯ he murmurs, his lip curling in distaste. ¡®Robin is a shit name for a boy. Even a pretty one.¡¯


    Indignation that surprises me res in me. Even though it¡¯s not my real name, it¡¯s mine.


    The only thing in this world that is.


    A grin spreads across his face, transforming those severe features. ¡®There it is,¡¯ he says, satisfaction evident in his tone.


    ¡®What?¡¯ I ask warily, unsure what game he¡¯s ying. I thought I¡¯d learned them all by this point.


    ¡®The spark she hasn¡¯t managed to kill yet.¡¯ His voice is soft now but filled with something that sounds almost like pride.


    I don¡¯t know what to say to that. No one has ever looked at me like this before. No one has ever talked to me for this long without giving me amand.


    It¡¯s fucking terrifying.


    He stands suddenly, and I fight the instinct to flinch away. For some reason I can¡¯t exin, I want to hold his gaze. Want to be an alpha in his presence, not the broken thing Madame has made me.


    ¡®Do you want to be rescued, kid?¡¯ he asks, studying me intently. ¡®Or do you want to save yourself?¡¯


    The question catches me off guard. It¡¯s the first real choice anyone has offered me in¡­ I can¡¯t even remember how long. And the answer that rises to my lips surprises me.


    ¡®I want to save myself,¡¯ I whisper, the words feeling foreign on my tongue.


    He nods as if this is exactly what he expected, then strides to the window. With one fluid motion, he throws it open, gesturing to the night beyond.


    ¡®There you go. There¡¯s your way out. Nothing¡¯s stopping you.¡¯


    I stare at the open window, my heart pounding in my chest. The cool night air carries the scents of the city. Smoke and garbage and¡­ freedom. Terror and longing war inside me at the same time as I take a hesitant step forward.


    But then I freeze.


    Where would I go?


    What would I do?


    I can¡¯t remember a time before Madame, before the cor around my neck and themands that shape my every moment. The world outside these walls might as well be another.


    The man watches me, his expression unreadable.


    ¡®You¡¯re afraid,¡¯ he says.


    It¡¯s not a question.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know how to be free,¡¯ I admit, the words barely audible. ¡®I don¡¯t know who I am without¡­ her.¡¯


    He takes a step closer, and I notice he moves like a predator. All contained power and deadly grace.


    But for some reason, I¡¯m not afraid of him.


    Not the way I should be.


    I feel more shame in this moment than I did with that gun in my mouth earlier. The raw strength radiating from this man makes my weakness feel even more pathetic. His jagged scar speaks of battles survived, of a resilience I can¡¯t even imagine. I expect to see disgust in his gaze when he looks at me¡ªanother alpha who¡¯s nothing but a broken toy.


    But he surprises me. His fingers find my chin, tilting it up with unexpected gentleness. He doesn¡¯t force me to meet his gaze like so many others have. Instead, he offers the choice.


    ¡®I can show you,¡¯ he says, his voice low and certain.


    My heart skips. ¡®Show me what?¡¯


    ¡®How to be free.¡¯ He gestures to the open window. ¡®If you don¡¯t want to fly, we¡¯ll have to take the door. But I warn you¡ªit¡¯s going to be a bloody, ugly night. The first of many.¡¯


    I swallow hard, understanding the weight of what he¡¯s offering. ¡®And if I choose the door?¡¯


    ¡®There¡¯s no turning back,¡¯ he says, brutal honesty in every word. ¡®Unfortunately for you, kid, I¡¯m no one¡¯s guardian angel. And if you want the devil toe to your rescue, it¡¯s going to cost your soul.¡¯


    A shiver runs through me, but not of fear. His honesty is exhrating after years of pretty lies and false promises. And I¡¯m sure he means it as a warning.


    But it sounds like a promise.


    Belong to someone other than her?


    Someone like him?


    It¡¯s more than I ever dared to dream of.


    ¡®I¡¯ll do whatever you ask,¡¯ I whisper. ¡®Just¡­ please. Take me with you.¡¯


    A predatory grin spreads across his face. He reaches for the revolver at his hip, and I can¡¯t help flinching as he ces it in my trembling hands. The metal is warm from his body heat, so different from the cold gun from earlier. But the image of me on that floor, my hands trembling as I fought against pulling the trigger, shes in my mind.


    His breath ghosts across my ear as he whispers. ¡®If you want to walk out of your prison, the first thing you have to do is kill the warden. Can you do that, little bird?¡¯


    I hesitate, the weight of the gun suddenly overwhelming. But before I can answer, he¡¯s striding to the door and throwing it open.


    Wyatt stands there, eyes widening as he takes in the scene. Me with the gun, the stranger with his dangerous smile. ¡®What the f?¡ª¡¯


    My hands shake as I realize I have less than a second to ask and Wyatt is already reaching for his gun. If I hesitate, we¡¯ll both be dead. Worse, this chance at not-quite-freedom will slip away forever.


    The gun fires before I even realize I¡¯ve pulled the trigger.


    The sound is deafening in the enclosed space. Wyatt crumples, a look of shock frozen on his face as bright red sshes from his throat. He hits the floor with a dull thud that seems to echo through my bones.


    I stare at the body, unable to process what I¡¯ve just done. The gun slips from my numb fingers, but the stranger catches it before it can tter to the floor.


    I¡¯ve just killed a man.


    I¡¯ve just taken my first step toward freedom.


    And somehow, watching the blood pool beneath Wyatt¡¯s body, I feel more alive than I ever have before.


    ¡®Not bad,¡¯ the stranger purrs, twirling the gun into a better grip in his gloved hand. ¡®You¡¯re a natural. Next time you¡¯re that close, aim right between the eyes. Cleaner that way.¡¯


    Without missing a beat, he fires another shot right into Wyatt¡¯s forehead even though he¡¯s already dead.


    ¡®Never forget to double tap,¡¯ he calls, already at the end of the hallway. When he realizes I¡¯m still standing by Wyatt¡¯s body, frozen, he stops and looks back. ¡®Are youing or not?¡¯


    As if broken out of a trance, my feet start moving again. I step over the corpse and put one foot in front of the other, my hesitation melting away with each step.


    In this moment, I know.


    I¡¯ll follow my avenging demon anywhere.


    Even into hell itself.


    And that night, as we leave a pile of bodies and the brothel burning in our wake, the innocent survivors¡¯ screams piercing the night air as they flee, I do just that. I tell myself I¡¯ll never look back, and I don¡¯t.


    Not until I realize the one truth I somehow have just enough innocence left to deny.


    The devil is a fucking liar.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 26

    I wake with a start, my eyes flying open. For a moment, I¡¯m disoriented, unsure where I am or how I got here. Then it alles rushing back¡ªthe chaos at the airport, my desperate flight into the forest, finding the Knight¡­


    The Knight.


    My breath catches in my throat as I realize I¡¯m still curled against his massive frame.


    And he¡¯s awake.


    Those eerie blue eyes are fixed on me, glowing faintly in the pre-dawn gloom. The weight of his gaze is heavy and intent. My heart flutters and pounds against my ribs as I wait for him to move, to attack, to finish what he started in so many of my nightmares.


    But he doesn¡¯t.


    He just¡­ watches me.


    Slowly, carefully, I push myself up into a sitting position. My muscles protest, stiff from sleeping on the cold, hard ground. A violent shiver wracks my body as the bitter morning air hits my skin. Without the Knight¡¯s fever-hot bulk pressed against me, I¡¯m immediately aware of just how frigid it is.


    That¡¯s probably the only thing keeping my heat at bay. It¡¯s still there, still lurking beneath the surface, but it¡¯s tough for me to feel anything but ¡®freezing my fucking ass off¡¯ right now.


    I wrap my arms around myself, teeth chattering. My breath puffs out in little clouds as I take stock of our surroundings. The forest is eerily quiet, the silence broken only by the soft gurgle of the nearby river. A thinyer of frost coats the dead leaves and branches scattered around us, glittering faintly in the weak light filtering through the skeletal trees.


    It¡¯s beautiful, in a deste sort of way.


    And deadly, if we don¡¯t find better shelter soon.


    At least for me. Not sure about him.


    I turn my attention back to the Knight. He hasn¡¯t moved, those glowing eyes still fixed on me. But there¡¯s something different about his gaze now. It¡¯s less predatory, somehow. Almost curious.


    ¡®Can you understand me?¡¯ I ask, my voice rough from sleep and cold.


    He doesn¡¯t respond.


    I need to get him up. Need to get us both moving before we die out here. But how do Imunicate with a creature I¡¯m not even sure is fully sapient? Maybe not even sentient.


    Wincing at the way my joints crack, I rise to my feet. ¡®Up,¡¯ I say firmly, making an upward gesture with my hands. ¡®We need to get up now.¡¯


    For a long time, nothing happens. Then, slowly,boriously, the Knight begins to move. I step back, giving him space as he struggles to his feet.


    Even hunched over as he is, clearly weak from his injuries, he towers over me. I have to crane my neck to look up at him, and for a moment, that old fear threatens to overwhelm me.


    But I push it down.


    He hasn¡¯t hurt me.


    He saved me, in a way, by providing warmth and protection through the night.


    And right now, he¡¯s all I¡¯ve got.


    ¡®Good,¡¯ I say, trying to keep my voice steady and encouraging. ¡®That¡¯s good. Now we need to walk. Find shelter.¡¯


    I take a few steps, then turn back to see if he¡¯s following. He is, but his movements are slow and unsteady. Blue-ck blood oozes from some of his wounds where my makeshift bandages and herb packs havee loose. His breathing isbored, each exhale ending in a wet rattle that can¡¯t be good.


    But we¡¯re on our own out here.


    And I doubt anyone would try to help him.


    I lead the way deeper into the forest, picking my way carefully over fallen logs and through tangles of dead underbrush. The Knight follows, his heavy footsteps crunching through the frost-covered ground. Every so often I nce back, making sure he¡¯s still with me.


    He always is, those glowing eyes never leaving me.


    As we walk, I try to recall everything my mother taught me about wilderness survival. I wonder if she ever imagined a scenario quite like this.


    First priority, shelter, her voice echoes in my head. You can survive three hours in extreme temperatures, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Find something to keep you out of the elements.


    I scan our surroundings, looking for anything that might serve as a temporary refuge. A cave would be ideal, but those are hard toe by in this type of forest. A fallen tree, maybe? Or we could try to construct a lean-to¡­


    My eyesnd on a massive oak tree not far ahead, its thick branches reaching toward the pale sky. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯ll have to do.


    ¡®This way,¡¯ I say, gesturing toward the tree. I¡¯m not sure if he understands me, but talking helps. It makes this whole surreal situation feel a little more normal. ¡®We can use the branches for shelter.¡¯


    As we approach the oak, I start gathering fallen branches and dead leaves. My fingers are numb with cold, making it difficult to grip anything, but I force myself to keep working. The Knight watches me in unnerving silence. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s confused or just observing.


    ¡®Here,¡¯ I say, holding out a branch to him. ¡®Can you help?¡¯


    He stares at the branch for a long moment, then slowly reaches out. His fingers¡ªnot the metal ws¡ªbrush against mine as he takes it, and I¡¯m struck by how warm he is, even now. He examines the branch, turning it over in his massive hand.


    ¡®Good,¡¯ I nod, encouraged. ¡®We need more like that. As many as you can find.¡¯


    To my surprise, he seems to understand. Or at least, he starts mimicking my actions, gathering branches and piling them near the base of the tree. His movements are clumsy, but he¡¯s trying. It¡¯s more than I expected.


    As we work, I keep stealing nces at him. The silver rays of pale morning light catch on his exposed skin, highlighting every ridge of scar tissue, every ce where metal meets flesh in crude surgical seams. Most of the ting is concentrated on his right shoulder, upper right chest, and upper right back, supporting his wed iron arm.


    It looks¡­ painful.


    So does his face. The iron mask that haunted my nightmares for so long sits broken, revealing glimpses of the man beneath. He¡¯s mangled to the point of having more scars than unmarked skin, but the structure is there. A strong jaw. Cheekbones. A straight nose. He¡¯d be handsome if it weren¡¯t for his lips and cheeks being torn away, exposing his razor-sharp teeth, muscle, and jawbone in a terrifying grin.


    His messy, bloodied white hair is long enough to cover most of the damage, and if I don¡¯t pay attention to his spine, he looks like a normal alpha. Just insanely tall and muscr. The rods and ting that were blown off have bared a steel reinforced spine that resembles the exoskeletons I¡¯ve seen spec-ops soldiers wearing.


    Only his doesn¡¯te off.


    He still scares the shit out of me, sure. But his movementsck the predatory menace of my dreams. The closer he is to me, the slower he moves. Like he¡¯s deliberately trying not to scare me more than his presence already does.


    I find myself wondering, and not for the first time, what kind of monster would do this to another living being?


    What purpose could such cruelty possibly serve?


    I shake my head, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand.


    Shelter first.


    Existential questionster.


    Once we¡¯ve gathered enough materials, I start constructing a simple lean-to against the trunk of the oak. My mother¡¯s voice guides me, memories of long-ago lessons floating to the surface about building on high ground to avoid flooding.


    I position the shelter carefully, angling it to protect us from the wind. The Knight watches me work, asionally handing me branches when I reach for them. It¡¯s an oddly domestic scene, considering the circumstances.


    ¡®This will keep us dry if it rains,¡¯ I exin as I work, more for my own benefit than his. ¡®And it¡¯ll block some of the wind. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s better than nothing.¡¯


    He makes a low rumbling sound in his chest that I choose to interpret as agreement.


    As I finish securing thest of the branches, I step back to survey our handiwork. It¡¯s not pretty, but it should hold. At least for a night or two. Long enough for us to¡­


    To what?


    What exactly is my n here?


    I nce at the Knight, who¡¯s staring at the shelter with an unreadable expression. What am I supposed to do with him? I can¡¯t exactly waltz back into civilization with an eight-foot-tall killing machine in tow.


    But I also can¡¯t leave him here to die.


    Which is fucking ridiculous, considering how many years I¡¯ve spent living in terror just at the idea of him finding me. How many nights Azarel spent holding me against his chest as I sobbed and shook, traumatized by yet another nightmare as he promised to protect me even though I was pretty sure he thought I was nuts and was just humoring me.


    But it isn¡¯t the Knight¡¯s fault he¡¯s a monster.


    The shelter is crude, but it¡¯ll have to do. I eye our handiwork critically, already cataloging improvements we can make if we end up staying here longer than a night or two. Which is looking increasingly likely, given the Knight¡¯s condition. He may be a hulking mass of metal and muscle, but even he has limits. The low rattling growl in his chest when he breathes concerns me more than I care to admit.


    But shelter is only the first step. We need food, and soon. My stomach clenches painfully, reminding me that it¡¯s been far too long since I¡¯ve eaten anything substantial. The ¡®food¡¯ Niki¡¯sckeys brought me in that godforsaken tower feels like a lifetime ago.


    I turn to the Knight, who¡¯s still watching me with that unnervingly intense gaze. ¡®We need to find food,¡¯ I say, gesturing to my stomach. ¡®Food. Eat. You understand?¡¯


    He just stares at me.


    Again.


    Zero indication whether he understands or not.


    I sigh, running a hand through my tangled hair. ¡®Right. Well, let¡¯s see what we can find.¡¯


    I walk down the slope, scanning the surrounding area and looking for anything edible. Most of the vegetation is dead or dying, victims of the harsh climate and lingering radiation.


    The Knight is a constant silent shadow at my side. His presence is still unnerving, but I¡¯m starting to get used to it. Like having an oversized, mutated guard dog.


    Finally, I spot what I¡¯m looking for. A cluster of bushes, their branches heavy with small, dark berries. I approach cautiously, examining the fruit. ckberries. I pluck one, rolling it between my fingers.


    ¡®These should be safe,¡¯ I murmur, more to myself than to the Knight. I pop the berry into my mouth, savoring the burst of tart sweetness on my tongue. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s something.


    I start gathering handfuls of berries, wishing I had something to carry them in. The remnants of my robe are barely holding together as it is. The Knight watches for a moment, then to my surprise, he starts mimicking my actions. His metal hand is too clumsy, the sharp ws destroying the delicate fruit, but his human hand is able to collect more than I can hold in both hands.


    We work in silence, the only sounds the soft rustle of leaves and the asional frustrated growl from the Knight when he identally crushes a berry. Before long, we¡¯ve stripped the bushes bare.


    I turn to the Knight, holding out a handful of berries. ¡®Here,¡¯ I say. ¡®You should eat too.¡¯


    He stares at the offered fruit, then back at me. There¡¯s an intelligence in those glowing eyes that unnerves me. He understands more than he lets on, I¡¯m sure of it. But he makes no move to take the berries.


    ¡®Come on,¡¯ I coax, feeling ridiculous. I¡¯m trying to hand-feed berries to a giant mutated alpha with monster jaws. What has my life be? ¡®You need to keep up your strength.¡¯


    Still nothing.


    I frown, a new thought urring to me. Maybe he can¡¯t eat them. Those razor-sharp teeth certainly look more suited to tearing into meat than delicate berries. A shudder runs through me as I remember the way those teeth sank into my neck in my dreams, the phantom pain so real I have to resist the urge to check for wounds.


    What if he only eats¡­


    I swallow hard, pushing the thought away.


    Nope. Can¡¯t think about that. Not now.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ I say, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡®More for me, I guess.¡¯


    I retreat to our makeshift shelter, settling down on a bed of leaves I¡¯d gathered earlier. The Knight follows, ducking his massive frame to fit under the lean-to. He sits across from me, those eerie blue eyes never leaving my face as I eat.


    The berries are a poor excuse for a meal, but they take the edge off my hunger. As I eat, I try to n our next move. We need more substantial food, and soon. But I have nothing to make snares with, and even if I did, I haven¡¯t seen any signs of wild animals. This part of the forest seems eerily devoid of life.


    Another problem. Fire.


    The nights are bitterly cold, and while the Knight seems to radiate heat like a furnace, we need something better in case he decides to wander off. And I¡¯m sure he¡¯s cold, too, however warm his skin is.


    ¡®We need to gather wood for a fire,¡¯ I announce, brushing berry juice from my hands. ¡®Dry wood, if we can find any.¡¯


    I stand, ducking out of the shelter. The Knight follows again, a looming presence at my back. Together, we scour the surrounding area for suitable firewood. It¡¯s slow going¡ªmost of the fallen branches are damp or rotting¡ªbut eventually, we gather a decent pile.


    I arrange the wood into a small pyramid, stuffing the center with dry leaves and smaller twigs for tinder. Nowes the tricky part. I¡¯ve never actually had to start a fire from scratch before. In the Capital, everything was automated. Fireces lit themselves with the push of a button.


    Mom taught me how, but I¡¯m not sure about the finer details of this particr lesson. How hard can it be, though?


    Very hard, as it turns out.


    I spend what feels like hours rubbing two sticks together, trying to create enough friction to spark a me. My hands are raw and blistered, my arms aching from the repetitive motion. Sweat beads on my forehead despite the chill in the air.


    ¡®Come on,¡¯ I mutter through gritted teeth. ¡®Just fucking light already.¡¯


    The Knight watches in silence.


    I re at him, blowing a strand of hair out of my face.


    ¡®Don¡¯t suppose you have any hidden talents for firestarting?¡¯ I snap.


    He tilts his head, and for a moment, I think he might actually respond. But he doesn¡¯t. I¡¯m actually not sure he can talk with his jaws like that. He can sure as hell roar and snarl and growl.


    I turn back to my task with renewed determination. I will not be defeated by two sticks and some leaves. I am Cosima fucking Maybrecht.


    Just as I¡¯m about to give up and resign myself to a cold night, a tiny spark catches in the tinder. I freeze, hardly daring to breathe as I nurture the fragile me. Slowly, carefully, I add more kindling, coaxing the fire to life.


    ¡®Ha!¡¯ I cry triumphantly as the mes grow stronger, licking at therger pieces of wood. ¡®Take that, nature!¡¯


    I sit back on my heels, admiring my handiwork. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s a fire. Warmth and light in the gathering gloom of evening. I hold my hands out, savoring the heat against my chilled skin.


    It takes me a moment to realize the Knight has moved way, way back from the fire, watching it like it¡¯s going to bite him. Is he afraid of it? Interesting. I¡¯m having a hard time imagining him being afraid of anything at all


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I say gently, feeling again like I¡¯m trying to reason with a wild beast. I hold my palm out to the fire, letting it warm my hand without getting close enough for it to burn me. ¡®See?¡¯


    The Knight inches closer, drawn by the mes. He reaches out with his human hand, and for a heart-stopping moment, I think he¡¯s going to plunge it into the fire. But he stops just short, palm hovering over the dancing mes like I just did.


    As if sensing my concern, he turns those glowing blue eyes on me. They¡¯re just as intense and feral as ever, but they¡¯re fractionally softer than they were before.


    He shifts, his massive frame blocking out what little remaining daylight filters through the trees. As he moves, his arm brushes against mine.


    And just like that, everything changes.


    Heat floods through me, sudden and overwhelming. But it¡¯s not from the fire. This heates from within, molten and insistent. My skin feels too tight, every nerve ending hypersensitive. The tattered remains of my robe rasp against my nipples, sending jolts of sensation straight to my core.


    Oh shit.


    This can¡¯t be happening.


    But there¡¯s no denying it. My heat, held at bay by adrenaline and the bitter cold,es roaring back with a vengeance.


    I scramble backward, putting as much distance between myself and the Knight as the small shelter allows. My breathes in short, sharp pants. I clench my thighs together, trying to ignore the slick warmth gathering there.


    The Knight goes very, very still. Those glowing eyes fix on me withser-like intensity as a low growl builds in his chest. Does he know what¡¯s happening? Can he sense the change in my scent?


    Of course he can.


    He¡¯s an alpha, no matter how twisted and changed.


    And I¡¯m an omega in heat.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 27

    moonlight


    so close now


    her scent changes


    sweeter


    stronger


    song shifts


    no longer calling me to consume


    to devour


    to tear apart


    but something else


    something new


    do not understand


    have always known what she wanted


    what she needed


    her song told me


    hunt me


    eat me


    but now¡­


    now song is different


    confusing


    body responds in new way


    heat builds beneath skin


    blood rushes


    heart pounds


    want to touch


    to taste


    to im


    but not with teeth


    not with ws


    instinct screams to pin her down


    to mount


    to breed


    but cannot


    i am unworthy of her light


    her song


    her touch


    she patched wounds


    gave warmth


    saved me


    even though i am a failure


    a useless broken thing


    cannot give her what she wants


    what her new song begs for


    growl builds in throat


    frustrated


    angry


    at self


    at makers


    at world that turned me into this


    maybe in another life


    i would deserve to be near her


    to walk the same earth as her


    she deserves better


    deserves a whole alpha


    not this abomination


    her scent fills air


    it is maddening


    makes thoughts hazy


    makes control slip


    want to grab her


    to hold her


    to¡­


    to what?


    have no words for this new hunger


    this new need


    ws dig into earth


    tearing up soil


    must stay still


    must not move


    must not hurt her


    but gods


    how I want to


    her breathes faster now


    chest heaving


    scent sweetening


    want to speak


    to tell her¡­


    what?


    that I am sorry?


    that I wish I could be what she needs?


    that I would give anything?


    jaws open


    but only snarls pour out

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 28

    I press myself against the rough bark of the tree trunk, my heart hammering in my chest. The Knight watches me with those intense glowing eyes, his massive frame rigid with tension.


    I expect him to lunge at any moment, to pin me down and take what he wants like every other alpha I¡¯ve ever known except for Azarel. And I guess Niki, as loathe as I am to give him credit for having even a shred of decency.


    But he doesn¡¯t move.


    He just stares.


    When I make eye contact with him, he snarls low in his chest and raises his huge hands¡ªboth the metal and the organic one¡ªbut still stares at me through his fingers, growling dangerously the entire time.


    I avert my gaze and he goes quiet, his hands slowly lowering. A quick nce back at his face and the snarling starts up again. His hands move up, too. Why doesn¡¯t he just turn away? Is it because he doesn¡¯t want to let me out of his sight, even for a moment?


    Whatever¡¯s going on, it¡¯s clear he does not like it when I look at him. That¡¯s fine. I can respect that. It¡¯s easy enough to look at everything else. He may be terrifying, but he¡¯s fucking jacked, his strong muscles tense beneath his scarred skin. I¡¯ve never seen a set of eight pack abs in person before, but here we are.


    If he¡¯s used to wearing a mask all the time, maybe I can figure out how to rece the half-broken one. There have to be more aesthetic masks than a crude metal b with eye holes in it. Maybe something that makes him look more like his namesake. Obviously not right now, butter.


    Am I really thinking aboutter?


    What the hell am I going to do, leash him and lead him back to Azarel? I¡¯m sure he would love that. ¡®Oh, hi, Az, long time no see! Remember when you said I can¡¯t have one of those adorable mutated three-headed puppies? Well, I have great news! I¡¯m never going to ask again because now I have a giant mutated alpha instead! And he¡¯ll even eat our enemies!¡®


    Nope. Not happening.


    But this isn¡¯t just any giant mutated alpha. He¡¯s the giant mutated alpha I¡¯ve had the same damn dream about since I can remember.


    Yeah. I really have lost it.


    But he¡¯s clearly affected by me, too. The low growl continuously rumbling from him¡ªjust not the same as the snarling one he lets out when I look at his face¡ªtells me that much. And yet he stays perfectly still, as if afraid any movement might shatter this fragile moment between us.


    Even though he¡¯s tense and growling, the longer I study him, the more certain I be that he isn¡¯t going to attack me.


    Which allows me to focus on an entirely different problem.


    My heat is building, bing impossible to ignore. And even though we¡¯re in the middle of nowhere, my scent could attract other alphas for miles around. Never mind the physical distress.


    I¡¯m not safe here.


    Being in full-blown heat out here could prove deadly. And even if my legs weren¡¯t going to jelly and I could go off to find something, I¡¯m not fucking myself with a splintery stick to try to take the edge off.


    ¡®Well,¡¯ I mutter dryly, ¡®this is awkward, isn¡¯t it?¡¯


    I find myself moving toward him before I fully realize what I¡¯m doing. My hands shake slightly as I press them against his massive chest. The Knight goespletely still. Even his breathing stops.


    Is he afraid of me?


    Or afraid he¡¯s going to scare me?


    I can¡¯t help butugh softly at the absurdity of it. This enormous killing machine, terrified of a tiny omega¡¯s touch.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I murmur, running my hands over the nes of his chest. ¡®I just want to try something.¡¯


    A low sound rumbles through him, vibrating beneath my palms. The purr is such a normal alpha response that it catches me off guard. I let my hands drift lower, and the purr intensifies.


    ¡®Maybe we can help each other,¡¯ I whisper, taking a deep breath as I risk a nce up at his mangled face. He snarls again. I stop and look down.


    Take a deep breath, Cosima.


    Perhaps this isn¡¯t just about getting through my heat. Maybe I can tame this beast, turn him from the nightmare that¡¯s haunted me into something¡­ else. Something that devours me in an entirely different way.


    He hasn¡¯t actually done anything to me. He hasn¡¯t attacked me, at least not outside my nightmares. And it isn¡¯t his fault he¡¯s terrifying. He can¡¯t help being what he is or the way he looks.


    Yeah. We¡¯re doing this.


    I tell myself it¡¯s because I just need to get out of my damn heat, but I know the truth. The truth is¡­ I want this. I want him. Hell, I¡¯d rather it be him than Niki. At least the Knight doesn¡¯t run his mouth.


    ¡®You need to be gentle, though,¡¯ I tell him warily. ¡®And let me take the lead. Do you understand?¡¯


    He just stares at me, as inscrutable as ever.


    Then, slowly but clearly, he nods.


    My hands tremble slightly as I run them over the Knight¡¯s scarred chest, marveling at the contrast between smooth¡ªalbeit scarred¡ªskin and the jagged metal that forms the foundation for his mechanical arm. Every inch of him is a testament to the cruelty he¡¯s endured. But beneath it all, I feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat. A reminder that despite everything, he¡¯s still human.


    I let my fingers trail lower, tracing the defined muscles of his abdomen and going lower, lower. Even through the tattered remains of his gray pants, heat radiates from his skin. My breath catches in my throat as my hand brushes against something substantial.


    Oh.


    Oh.


    I freeze, my eyes widening as I realize just how¡­ proportionate the Knight is.


    Who am I kidding? His cock is like a fucking tree trunk. My fingers twitch involuntarily, and I have to resist the urge to attempt to wrap my hand around him fully to see if it¡¯s even possible. I sincerely doubt it.


    He¡¯s massive.


    Intimidatingly so.


    The thought sends fresh fear through me, but there¡¯s a thrilling spike of heat, too. This is dangerous. Insanely dangerous. The omega in me is railing against the idea of allowing this alpha¡¯s massive cock anywhere near my pussy, but there¡¯s an entirely fucked up part of me that¡¯s genuinely interested.


    And not just as a way of getting out of my heat.


    A low growl rumbles through the Knight¡¯s chest, startling me out of my thoughts. I jerk my head up, half-expecting to see rage in those glowing blue eyes. But there¡¯s only confusion there.


    And beneath that¡­ hunger.


    He¡¯s a typical alpha in that regard, at least.


    He doesn¡¯t attack, though. Doesn¡¯t move at all except for the rise and fall of his broad chest. Taking that as permission to continue, considering it¡¯s not like he speaks, I slowly begin to rub him through the fabric of his gray pants.


    ¡®I¡¯m going to make you feel good,¡¯ I murmur, trying to keep my voice steady despite the way my heart is pounding.


    The Knight makes a low sound somewhere between a growl and a moan. His hips buck involuntarily into my touch, seeking more friction. I almostugh. Here he is, this terrifying creature of my nightmares, and he¡¯s reacting just like any other man would.


    But he¡¯s still holding back.


    Afraid to hurt me.


    Afraid to touch me.


    ¡®That¡¯s it,¡¯ I purr, using my free hand to gently push him back against the trunk of the tree holding up our shelter. ¡®Just rx.¡¯


    He goes willingly, allowing me to maneuver his massive frame. He¡¯s so tense, like he can¡¯t believe what¡¯s happening. That makes two of us. If someone had told me yesterday that I¡¯d be jerking off the monster from my nightmares, I¡¯d haveughed in their face.


    But here we are.


    My hands tremble as I reach for the waistband of the Knight¡¯s pants. Part of me still can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this. But my heat is in full force now, overriding any remaining hesitation.


    My fingers fumble with the worn fabric of his pants as I tug them down his hips. His cock springs free, and I can¡¯t help the small gasp that escapes my lips.


    I knew he was big¡ªI could feel it through his clothes¡ªbut seeing his cock is something else entirely. His massive knot is already swollen at the base, and I realize with equal parts awe and hesitation that I would need both hands just to wrap around itpletely. His shaft, too.


    And I guess today is the day of giving in to all my intrusive thoughts, because I actually fucking do it.


    I wrap both hands around the Knight¡¯s shaft. He gives a low, hungry growl even as the confusion in those blue eyes intensifies. My fingers barely meet as I encircle his girth. The heat radiating from him is incredible, like he has hot coals burning in his ribcage instead of the beating heart I just felt moments before.


    Curious, I trace the prominent vein along the underside, following its path up to the crown. Pre glistens at the tip, and as my fingers brush against it, the Knight¡¯s entire body jerks. A strangled growl rumbles from his chest, his metal ws digging furrows into the earth.


    He¡¯s still trying not to lose control, I realize with a start. Even now, with me touching him so intimately, he¡¯s holding himself back. It¡¯s oddly endearing, in a terrifying sort of way.


    My mouth waters as I stare at his cock, my heat raging through me with renewed intensity. Before I can talk myself out of it, I lean forward and flick my tongue against the tip, tasting him.


    The vor of him explodes across my tongue, salty and musky. A fresh surge of slick pools between my thighs and I find myself licking again, eager for more.


    He bucks his hips, a guttural moan tearing from his throat. His metal ws dig deeper into the ground, tearing up chunks of earth and grass.


    ¡®Shh,¡¯ I murmur, cing a steadying hand on his thigh. ¡®Hold still.¡¯


    To my surprise, he obeys, though I can see the tension thrumming through his massive frame. He¡¯s trembling with the effort of restraining himself.


    I turn my attention back to his cock, realizing quickly that there¡¯s no way I could fit even the crown in my mouth. He¡¯s simply too big. Instead, I focus on licking long stripes up his length, using my hands to stroke what my mouth can¡¯t reach.


    The Knight pants heavily above me, his chest heaving with each ragged breath. The feeling of having this much power over a beast so much stronger than me sends a rush straight to my head. Definitely not used to feeling like that. Usually, I¡¯m the one alphas have power over.


    I redouble my efforts, alternating between long licks and gentle suction on the sensitive head of his cock. My heat builds as I pleasure him, slick now trickling down the insides of my thighs. Almost unconsciously, I reach down with one hand, slipping it beneath my tattered robe to touch myself. I¡¯m so wet, my fingers gliding easily through my folds.


    Suddenly, the Knight goes rigid. He breathes in sharply and I realize he¡¯s scented my arousal. Before I can react, his hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist. Fortunately, it isn¡¯t the metal one, but panic still res in my chest.


    This is it, I think wildly.


    He¡¯s going to devour me after all.


    But instead of attacking me, he brings my hand toward his face, inhaling deeply. He freezes and growls when he catches me staring up at him, and I look away immediately, but not before I get a glimpse of a long tongue slipping out from between his sharp teeth. Slowly, deliberately, he licks my arousal from my fingers.


    Even out of the corner of my eye, the sight is terrifying¡ªthose razor-sharp teeth so close to my skin¡ªbut it¡¯s making me even hornier for some bizarre reason. My breath catches in my throat as he cleans every trace of my slick from my hand, his tongue hot against my skin.


    When he¡¯s done, he releases my wrist, but the hungry look in his eyes remains. Startled by the intensity there, I fall back, my legs parting as Ind on the soft leaves covering the ground.


    The Knight¡¯s eyes immediately lock onto my exposed pussy. I should close my legs. I should run. But instead, I find myself spreading them wider, offering him an unobstructed view of my most intimate parts.


    What the fuck am I doing?


    Those teeth are sharp.


    So. Fucking. Sharp.


    The more logical part of my mind is yelling at me to close my legs, kick him in the head, and run for my fucking life, heat be damned. I shouldn¡¯t let this feral, monstrous alpha with jaws full of razor-sharp teeth designed for rending flesh from bone anywhere near my pussy.


    Near any part of me, actually.


    But that tongue¡­


    Memories of my nightmares sh through my mind. His teeth sinking into my flesh, tearing me apart. But the Knight before me now isn¡¯t the same as the rabid, mindless monster from my dreams. He stares at me, hungry, yes, but also¡­ reverent. Fascinated.


    Slowly, I bring my hand back between my legs. ¡®Do you like my scent?¡¯ I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I start touching myself again.


    The Knight lets out a broken purr of approval, the sound rumbling through his chest. Other than when he nodded a few minutes ago, it¡¯s the closest thing to verbalmunication I¡¯ve seen from him.


    He draws closer as if he¡¯s being drawn in by a trance, his massive frame looming over me. My heart races as he positions himself between my spread legs, his bone-white hair falling forward over his scarred face like a curtain, the tips of the strands brushing against my throbbing pussy. I can¡¯t help but squirm.


    ¡°Do you want a taste?¡± The words slip out before I can think better of it.


    He lunges forward with a guttural snarl, but I manage to stop him, my foot pressing against his shoulder. He freezes, going still as a statue, and growls again. This time, it isn¡¯t an aggressive growl. He sounds more confused than anything, like he isn¡¯t sure what the fuck I want if it¡¯s not ¡®eat my pussy like a peach.¡¯


    Well, okay, that is what I want.


    But not in the way he seems to think I was asking.


    ¡®Wait,¡¯ I gasp. ¡®No teeth. Tongue only. Understand?¡¯


    I¡¯m not sure he does, but he rumbles with another growling purr, a sound that vibrates through my entire body. When I lower my foot shakily, he lowers himself fully between my legs.


    The first swipe of his long tongue along my slit sends shockwaves of insane pleasure through me. I cry out, my back arching as heps at me hungrily. His tongue is huge, rough, and so, so hot. It feels like nothing I¡¯ve ever experienced before.


    His growling takes on a curious pitch as his tongue identally slips inside me. The slight pration makes me shudder, my heat ring even hotter.


    ¡®Yes,¡¯ I pant, tangling my fingers in his hair. ¡®Fuck, more of that.¡¯


    Taking my words as encouragement, he pushes his tongue deeper. The stretch is incredible. He¡¯s so big, filling me in a way I never thought possible from a tongue. The cool metal remnants of the upper part of his mask press against my sensitive mound as his tongue delves deeper and heated rushes of breath coat my entrance with his ragged panting.


    It¡¯s too much, too soon, and Ie with a startled cry, my body clenching around the writhing intrusion. My hips buck wildly as pleasure courses through me, and that long tongue withdraws, leaving me feeling empty and cold inside.


    When the aftershocks finally subside, I open my eyes to find the Knight has pulled back. There¡¯s worry in his normally ferocious blue gaze. It¡¯s surreal, seeing such human emotions on such a terrifying face that¡¯s starred in more nightmares than I can count.


    I realize with a start that he thinks he¡¯s hurt me.


    Any remaining inhibitions I had crumble in that moment.


    This supposed monster I¡¯ve feared for so long is concerned about my well-being. It¡¯s almost too much to process. I¡¯m not used to this from alphas. Not used to this at all. Then again, should I really be that surprised? All the monsters I¡¯ve ever encountered have appeared perfectly normal.


    ¡®It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s okay,¡¯ I murmur, reaching out to stroke his hair. ¡®You didn¡¯t hurt me. That felt¡­ good.¡¯


    His visible eye flutters shut at my touch and the blue glow marking the other behind what remains of his mask flickers, too. He leans into my hand like a giant cat seeking affection. A lion, maybe. I¡¯m struck by how much he seems to crave this simple contact. Even more than the sexual touches from before.


    I continue petting him, marveling at the softness of his stark white hair. It¡¯s such a contrast to the hard edges and ruinous scars that make up the rest of him.


    ¡®Do you want to do more?¡¯ I ask softly.


    He pulls back slightly, waiting for my lead just as I instructed earlier. Emboldened, I guide him onto his back. He follows through willingly, watching me as I straddle his muscr thighs. My hands roam over his body again, tracing the patchwork of scars and metal. When I wrap my fingers around his cock once more, he lets out a low moan that I feel more than hear.


    I lift myself up, positioning his massive length between my legs. The heat of him against my sensitive flesh makes me gasp. Slowly, I lower myself, pressing my thighs together around his cock.


    The Knight¡¯s hips jerk upward, a strangled growl escaping him. I can feel every twitch, every pulse of his cock between my thighs. I start to move, rocking back and forth, his cock not quite prating me yet. His pre mingles with my own wetness as his massive handse to rest on my hips, steadying me as I ride him. They easily span my waist, both the human hand and the one with ws sharp enough to rend flesh from bone.


    Part of me still can¡¯t believe this is happening. But as I look down at him¡ªat the way he watches me with such reverence, such awe¡ªI realize that maybe this was always meant to happen. Maybe we were always meant to find each other like this.


    The Knight matches my rhythm, his hips rising to meet mine with each downward stroke. I¡¯m close again, thebination of friction and my heat pushing me rapidly toward the edge.


    But I want more.


    Need more.


    With trembling hands, I lift myself up. The Knight growls louder at the loss of contact, his hips chasing mine. But I have other ns.


    Slowly, carefully, I position myself fully over his cock. The crown presses hard against my entrance, and I have to bite back a moan at how good it feels to have something so huge brushing against my slick folds. He¡¯s twice as big as anyone and anything I¡¯ve ever taken, maybe more, and I¡¯m not shy with my toys.


    But I hesitate, suddenly uncertain.


    He¡¯s so big.


    Too big, maybe.


    What if this is a mistake?


    As if sensing my sudden fear, the Knight goespletely still beneath me. I don¡¯t have to risk another nce at him¡ªhe clearly hates that¡ªto feel his patient confusion through whatever strange bond is building between us.


    He understands what we¡¯re doing, even though I have no idea what level of experience he has. Maybe even none. He might be going on pure alpha instinct. But he¡¯s still not sure why I¡¯m doing this. I¡¯ve never sensed this hesitation from any other alpha.


    It¡¯s not just that he isn¡¯t sure why I want him to fuck me.


    He isn¡¯t sure why I¡¯d want him at all.


    The thought bothers me more than it should.


    He¡¯s waiting for me. Giving me the choice. After all these years pursuing me in my dreams, he isn¡¯t just taking what he could so easily take. He¡¯s letting me decide what I want from him.


    Taking a deep breath, I start to lower myself onto him.


    The stretch is immediate and intense. I gasp from the sharp pain when his crown seals itself inside me and I have to stop there. I lift myself off him immediately and fall back against his muscr thighs, realizing it¡¯s still too much, too fast, no matter how aroused I am. No matter what his tongue was already doing to me.


    And yet, I still feel that familiar ache deep in my core. The throbbing emptiness begging to be filled.


    This position isn¡¯t going to work.


    But maybe¡­


    ¡®Wait,¡¯ I murmur, gently pushing against his chest. ¡®Let¡¯s try something else.¡¯


    The Knight goes still immediately.


    I take a deep breath, steeling myself. ¡®I¡¯m going to lie down,¡¯ I tell him, keeping my voice steady. ¡®And you¡¯re going to be on top. But you have to be gentle, okay? Very, very gentle. You could really hurt me. I mean it.¡¯


    A low rumble builds in his chest. It¡¯s not quite a growl or a purr, more like¡­ acknowledgment? I hope so, anyway. I don¡¯t think he can otherwise verballymunicate that he understands. He¡¯s more or lesspletely feral, and it can¡¯t be easy to make words with those jaws.


    Slowly, I lower myself onto my back, the leaves beneath me crackling with the movement. I spread my legs, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.


    And yet, as the Knight moves over me, his massive frame blocking out what little light filters through our crude shelter, I can¡¯t bring myself to stop. My heat rages through me, every nerve ending on fire.


    I need this.


    Need to be fucked by him specifically.


    Gods help me.


    He positions himself carefully between my legs, his movements slow and deliberate. His cock hangs heavy between his thighs, the crown glistening with the pre dripping onto the leaves beneath us.


    ¡®Okay,¡¯ I breathe, forcing myself to rx. ¡®Just¡­ just rub against me for now. Don¡¯t try to enter yet.¡¯


    The Knight lets out a soft purr, the sound vibrating through his entire body as heplies. It¡¯s strangely soothing even though it sounds like a damn enginepared to the purrs I¡¯ve heard from the far more normal alphas I¡¯ve been with.


    It¡¯s as much a test to see what he understands as anything, and it turns out he understands me perfectly. He lowers his hips, the hot length of his cock pressing against my slick folds, but not actually prating me. The contact sends a jolt through me, and I can¡¯t hold back the moan that¡¯s been building in my throat.


    He starts to move, sliding himself along my slit in a slow, torturous rhythm. Each pass of his shaft over my clit sends sparks of sensation shooting through me. I arch into him, my body begging for more even as my mind races with doubt.


    Can I really do this?


    Can I actually take him?


    The thought of being knotted by him is terrifying and thrilling in equal measure. But right now, with the heated friction of his cock against me, it¡¯s hard to think of anything else.


    I¡¯m afraid to look at him and make him freeze up or panic again, so I try to get a glimpse through my eyshes without setting him off. The brief sliver of his face I manage to catch in my line of sight tells me everything. He¡¯s watching me carefully, gauging my reactions, trying to figure out what I like.


    Augh bubbles up from my chest, surprising us both. The Knight pauses, his growl lifting slightly, almost like he¡¯s asking me what the fuck I¡¯mughing about.


    ¡®Sorry,¡¯ I say, reaching up to stroke his hair. He goes rigid again before rxing slightly and leaning into my palm, letting me caress the white strands. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you¡¯re a better lover than most alphas. And that¡¯s, um, kind of surprising.¡±


    He just stares at me.


    ¡®Ignore me,¡¯ I tell him, shaking my head. ¡®Unless I¡¯m telling you to slow down. Then definitely don¡¯t ignore that.¡¯


    He presses his forehead against my hand with a low sigh, the gesture surprisingly tender. It¡¯s such a contrast to his fearsome appearance that it makes my chest ache. What did they do to him? How much of the man is left beneath the monster they tried to create?


    More than I thought, apparently.


    I push the thoughts aside. Now isn¡¯t the time for the philosophical bullshit I usually distract myself with when I¡¯m nervous. Now is the time for¡­ well, for fucking my brains out with the giant cock of my own personal guardian demon.


    When did this be my life?


    Taking a deep breath, I reach between us. My fingers brush against his length, and he lets out a low growl that I feel more than hear. ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I murmur. ¡®I¡¯m just going to guide you in.¡¯


    I position the head of his cock at my entrance, trying to rx as much as possible. ¡®Okay,¡¯ I say, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡®Push in. Slowly.¡¯


    He obeys, pressing forward with agonizing gentleness. The pressure builds, my body resisting the intrusion. For a moment, I think it¡¯s not going to work, that he¡¯s simply too big. But then, with a sudden give, the head of his cock pops inside me.


    I gasp, my back arching at the intense stretch. The Knight freezes above me, not even daring to breathe. His entire body is trembling with the effort of holding still.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I pant, reaching up to stroke his ravaged cheek. ¡®You¡¯re doing good. Just¡­ give me a minute.¡¯


    He jerks away from my touch with a much angrier growl than anything I¡¯ve heard from him so far, and I wince, expecting pain. But somehow, he managed to only turn his face and not his entire body.


    Thank fuck, because this is the most precarious position I¡¯ve ever been in.


    I focus on breathing instead of pissing off the feral alpha attached to the monster cock stretching me open. As I rx around the thick intrusion, it burns, but not as badly as I feared. My body is producing slick at an almost rming rate, easing the way.


    Slowly, the difort fades, reced by a deep, throbbing ache. I need more. Need all of him.


    ¡®Okay,¡¯ I say, spreading my legs wider. ¡®A little more. Slowly.¡¯


    He pushes in further, and I have to bite my lip to keep from screaming and bing a beacon for every horny alpha in the wastnd. The stretch is intense, almost agonizingly painful, but there¡¯s pleasure there too. A deep, primal satisfaction as my body yields to him.


    I try not to think about where exactly his cock is inside me, but it¡¯s hard to ignore. I can feel him so deep, pressing against ces I didn¡¯t even know existed. At first, I think it¡¯s just my imagination, but no. My stomach actually bulges slightly with each gradual thrust.


    And because I¡¯m fucking nuts, apparently, the sight of how my body is being affected by the sheer size of this alpha turns me on even more.


    ¡®Stop,¡¯ I gasp when I feel the beginning swell of his knot pressing against me. ¡®Not yet. Not the knot.¡¯


    He stills immediately, another questioning rumble vibrating through him.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I assure him, running my hand down his massive muscr shoulder. ¡®You can move. Just¡­ not the knot yet.¡¯ I freeze when I realize he probably doesn¡¯t even know what I¡¯m talking about. I doubt wherever he came from taught him much about anatomy, even though he clearly has more natural instinct about how to please an omega than virtually any other alpha on the.


    I reach between us, my fingers brushing over the swollen knot at the base of his cock and give it a light squeeze. ¡®This is the knot. Don¡¯t push that into me yet.¡¯


    I¡¯m going to need him to if I want to get all the way out of my heat, but that¡¯s a problem for Future Cosima.


    He gives me another jerky nod, like he isn¡¯t used tomunicating that way. Ormunicating at all. He starts to thrust, shallow at first, then deeper as I adjust to his size. The feeling is indescribable. I¡¯ve never been so full, sopletely and utterly imed. Each movement sends shockwaves of pleasure through me, building and building until I¡¯m trembling on the edge.


    ¡®Harder,¡¯ I moan, my nails digging into his shoulders. ¡®Please, harder!¡¯


    He obliges, his hips snapping forward with more force. The change in angle has him dragging against my spot with every thrust, and it¡¯s too much. Ie with a scream I just barely manage to muffle in time by biting my palm, my body clenching around him in rhythmic pulses.


    The Knight lets out a satisfied snarl, clearly enjoying the sensation of my climax now that he knows I¡¯m not dying. He doesn¡¯t stop moving, fucking me through the aftershocks until I¡¯m a quivering mess beneath him.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I pant when I can finally form words again, my limbs and spine boneless beneath him. ¡®That was¡­ intense. You¡¯ve got good endurance,¡¯ I tell him with a breathlessugh, carding my fingers through his hair. It looks like moonlight, too. ¡®Most alphas would have popped their knot by now.¡¯


    He lets out a rough, harsh growl that sounds sort of like his own kind ofugh, but I¡¯m not really sure. It should freak me out that his knot is bumping insistently against my entrance as he continues to move inside me, building me toward another peak, but I find I don¡¯t really care.


    All that matters is this moment.


    This connection.


    The heat between us, the way our bodies fit together like we were made for each other. Okay, more like I¡¯m about half a dozen sizes too small for him, but close enough.


    My next orgasm crashes over me unexpectedly, leaving me gasping and wing at his back. Metal and skin. This time, when I feel his knot pressing against me, I don¡¯t tell him to stop.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ I whimper, trying to angle my hips to take him deeper. ¡®I need it. I need your knot.¡¯


    He growls, the sound primal and hungry. His thrusts be more forceful, each one bringing his knot closer to breaching me. The pressure is intense, almost too much to handle, but I need it too much to tap out now.


    And it isn¡¯t even just about getting out of my damn heat anymore.


    The Knight¡¯s eyes light with an intensity I haven¡¯t seen since he was chasing me through the forests in my dreams. The fiercest growl yet builds in his chest.


    For a moment, I¡¯m terrified all over again.


    But instead of attacking me, his human handes to rest on my lower stomach, pinning my hips to the ground with surprising gentleness.


    I whimper at the pressure of his palm pressing down on my stomach, suddenly hyper-aware of just how deep he is inside me. It feels like he¡¯s rearranging my insides, like I can feel him all the way up in my throat even though I know that¡¯s impossible.


    ¡®Oh fuck,¡¯ I gasp, squirming despite his restraining hand.


    He lets out a low, approving growl, his hips rocking forward in tiny, controlled movements. Each one brings his knot closer to locking inside me, stretching me wider than I thought possible.


    I¡¯m torn between the desperate need to be filled and the very real fear that he might actually split me in two. If I panic and squirm, I¡¯m pretty sure that fear could be a reality. But with his hand on my stomach, holding me still, I realize I¡¯m not really in control anymore.


    He is.


    And that¡¯s probably the only reason I didn¡¯t split myself open earlier in my desperation to take a knot and end this damned heat.


    The thought should make me panic.


    But instead, I feel¡­ safe. Protected. Cherished, even.


    His knot presses against me with each thrust, swelling more by the second. The pressure borders on unbearable. I pant, trying to rx, to open myself up to him. If I don¡¯t take him now, before his knot swells to its full girth, I won¡¯t be able to take him at all.


    And then I¡¯ll be at the mercy of unbridled heat.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ I whimper.


    With a final, powerful thrust, his knot breaches me fully. I scream, my back arching off the ground as much as I can beneath the pressure of his massive palm as my body struggles to amodate his girth.


    And then, just when I think I can¡¯t take anymore, something inside me gives way. His knot locks in ce and a tidal wave crashes over me. Ie harder than I ever have in my life, my vision whiting out as my body convulses around him. Slick¡ªand probably a decent amount of blood¡ªtrickles down the insides of my thighs as heat surges in my core, peaking like mes licking at all my nerve endings all at once.


    Through the haze of my orgasm, I feel him start to move again. Short, sharp thrusts that have his knot tugging at my entrance with each movement. The sensation is indescribable and I start spiraling into another orgasm immediately.


    I¡¯m stilling when I feel him swell evenrger inside me. A roar tears from his throat as he starts toe, too. The flood of his seed is hot and copious, filling me so much, I swear it¡¯s warming me from the inside.


    The pressure, the fullness, the rhythmic pulses of his cock inside me¡­ it¡¯s too much. Ie again, each wave bleeding into the next until I lose all sense of time and self. There¡¯s nothing but ecstasy, nothing but the two of us joined together in the most primal way possible.


    I don¡¯t know how long we stay locked together. It could be minutes, it could be hours. All I know is that when I finallye back to myself, I¡¯m trembling and covered in a fine sheen of sweat.


    The Knight is still inside me, his knot keeping us joined. He¡¯s lowered himself carefully onto his elbows, his massive frame curled protectively around me without crushing me under the weight of his solid body. His face is buried in the crook of my neck, soft purrs rumbling through his chest.


    And those teeth¡­ those impossibly sharp teeth are resting so delicately against my neck, my jugr, where they¡¯ve been a thousand times over in my dreams.


    One wrong move is all it would take, and yet¡­


    I reach up with shaking hands, stroking his hair. ¡®That¡­ that was¡­¡¯ I trail off, unable to find words adequate to describe what just happened.


    He lifts his head slightly, just enough for those blue eyes to meet mine. Carefully, so I can¡¯t see the rest of his scarred face. There¡¯s something different in his gaze now. Something softer, almost¡­ worshipful. The rage and animalistic hunger is gone.


    He looks so human like this.


    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ I whisper, surprising myself with the sincerity of the words. ¡®For being so gentle.¡¯


    At least, as gentle as an eight-foot-tall monster alpha with an equally monster-sized cock can be.


    He nuzzles against my throat with a contented, sighing purr that reverberates through my entire body. It¡¯s not quite words, but I swear I can almost understand him.


    Almost hear him saying, ¡®Mine.¡¯


    And right now, I can¡¯t think of a reason to argue.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 29

    moonlight sleeps beside me


    her hair spills across my scarred chest


    like starfall


    where she belongs


    cannot stop staring


    cannot look away


    even though looking at beauty hurts


    like looking at sun


    but she is more than sun


    more than stars


    more than moon itself


    she is everything


    she is the center of the universe


    all orbits around my moonlight


    my goddess


    mine


    still cannot believe what happened


    what she let me do


    how she gave herself to me


    me


    a monster


    a beast


    a broken thing


    but she touched me


    touched the scars


    touched the metal


    touched every ruined part


    and did not run


    did not scream


    did not faint


    like all the others


    instead she guided me


    my guiding moonlight


    showed me how to please her


    how to worship her properly


    with more than blood and death


    remember way she arched beneath me


    way she cried out my name


    even though i have no name


    just designation


    3686


    experiment


    weapon


    monster


    but she made me feel¡­


    human


    whole


    worthy


    her body still joined with mine


    knot keeping us locked together


    as it should be


    as nature demands


    can feel her pulse


    smell her scent


    taste her skin


    where my sharp teeth rest against throat


    teeth that have torn


    teeth that have killed


    teeth that have feasted


    on so many others


    but not her


    never her


    would rather die


    would tear myself apart first


    she stirs in sleep


    makes soft sound


    like music


    like song that drew me to her


    shift carefully


    try not to wake her


    try not to disturb her rest


    she needs it after what we did


    after i imed her


    marked every inch inside her as mine


    should feel guilty


    should feel shame


    should feel like the beast I am


    for taking something so pure


    but cannot


    will not


    refuse to regret


    what she freely gave


    her hand moves in sleep


    fingers brush my chest


    right over heart


    that beats only for her


    broken purr builds


    cannot help it


    sound too big for throat


    too raw for beast voice


    she smiles


    still sleeping


    still dreaming


    still mine


    want to keep her


    want to hide her


    want to guard her


    forever


    but know I cannot


    know I must not


    know this cannotst


    beyond this night


    she deserves better


    deserves whole alpha


    deserves mate who can speak


    can smile


    can kiss


    not this


    not me


    but for now


    for this moment


    will hold her


    will guard her


    will cherish her


    while she sleeps


    memorize every detail


    burn into mind


    save forter


    save for dark moonless nights


    softness of skin


    silk of hair


    curve of breast


    arch of throat


    sound of breath


    beat of heart


    scent of heaven


    all mine


    for now


    for this night


    even if she only wants me this once


    i will keep her safe forever


    nuzzle closer


    breathe her in


    let her scent fill lungs


    let her warmth seep into bones


    let her presence calm rage


    that always burns inside


    for first time since birth in hell


    i feel something else


    i feel quiet


    this must be peace

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 30

    I pace in my office, unable to shake the image of Raven¡¯s face as I locked him in that cell. The betrayal in those blue eyes haunts me with every step, cutting deeper than any de ever could. My boots scuff against the concrete floor as I wear a path back and forth, back and forth, like a caged animal.


    Which is fucking ironic, considering I¡¯m not the one in a cage.


    The weight of my decisions sits heavy in my gut, but I keep telling myself it¡¯s for the best. Raven¡¯s lost his damn mind over some omega he barely even saw. Running off into the wastnd after her would be suicide.


    He¡¯s always been impulsive, but this is different. This is a whole new level of self-destructive behavior.


    And Niki¡­


    I nce at the security feed showing his unconscious form slumped against the wall. Those bullets I put in his back weren¡¯t enough to kill him. I know better than to think an alpha of his caliber would go down that easy.


    The bastard¡¯s survived worse.


    Much worse.


    The memory of ourst encounter shes through my mind. My hand drifts unconsciously to my eye patch, fingers tracing the edge where the leather meets scarred flesh.


    Fucking Raven.


    Of course he had to stop me with his big blue puppy eyes right when I finally had the chance to end that psychotic bastard once and for all. After everything Niki¡¯s done, after all the pain he¡¯s caused¡­ he deserves far worse than a quick death.


    But no. Raven had to get in the way.


    Had to protect the very man who¡­


    I cut that thought off before it can fully form. No point dwelling on the past.


    What¡¯s done is done.


    With a growl of frustration, I grab my radio. ¡®Dr. Ryefield,e in.¡¯


    Static crackles for a moment before a familiar voice responds. ¡®What is it now, Geo? Another stripper with a backwards ass imnt?¡¯


    ¡®I need you to treat two patients,¡¯ I say, ignoring his attempt at humor. ¡®In the secure basement level. One¡¯s in rough shape.¡¯


    There¡¯s a long pause. ¡®The secure basement?¡¯ Ryefield¡¯s voice drips with disbelief. ¡®You mean your personal dungeon? Who the hell did you lock up this time?¡¯


    I grind my teeth, my patience wearing thin. The doctor¡¯s always been a smartass, but right now I¡¯m not in the mood. ¡®Niki kov.¡¯


    Another pause, longer this time. ¡®¡­ Are you fucking with me?¡¯


    ¡®Do I sound like I¡¯m fucking with you?¡¯ I snarl into the radio, my grip tightening until the stic creaks.


    ¡®Holy shit,¡¯ Ryefield mutters. ¡®You actually caught him? Do I even want to know how you managed that?¡¯


    ¡®Shot him in the back,¡¯ I say tly. ¡®Twice. But the bastard¡¯s still kicking.¡¯


    ¡®Of course he is,¡¯ Ryefield sighs. ¡®And the other patient?¡¯


    I hesitate, my eye fixed on the second screen showing Raven huddled in the corner of his cell. He hasn¡¯t moved since I left him there, curled in on himself like a wounded animal. The sight makes my chest tighten up.


    Goddamn it.


    ¡®Raven.¡¯


    ¡®What?¡¯ Ryefield¡¯s voice rises an octave. ¡®You locked up your own?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®He¡¯s not my anything,¡¯ I snap, cutting him off. The words taste like ash in my mouth. ¡®And he needs to be kept safe until he gets his head straight.¡¯


    ¡®Safe from what?¡¯ There¡¯s an edge to Ryefield¡¯s voice I don¡¯t like. A knowing tone that sets my teeth on edge. ¡®Or should I ask safe from whom?¡¯


    ¡®Are you going to help or not?¡¯ I growl, already regretting calling him. But he¡¯s the only doctor I trust not to immediately sell this information to the highest bidder. Or to just run his mouth for the hell of it over drinks.


    Another sigh crackles through the radio. ¡®Fine. But I want hazard pay for this one. Double my usual rate.¡¯


    ¡®Triple it if you keep your mouth shut about who¡¯s down there,¡¯ I counter. Money¡¯s never been an issue, but if he knows I can afford to give him whatever the hell he demands, he¡¯ll turn into the second biggest pain in the ass I¡¯ve ever had.


    ¡®Deal.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll page you in through the security door,¡¯ I finish. ¡®Don¡¯t try any heroics. They¡¯re both chained, but Niki¡¯s still dangerous even half-dead.¡¯


    ¡®And Raven isn¡¯t?¡¯


    The question catches me off guard. ¡®What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡¯


    ¡®Nothing,¡¯ Ryefield says quickly. Too quickly. ¡®I¡¯ll grab my supplies and head down.¡¯


    The radio goes silent, leaving me alone with my thoughts again. I turn back to the security feeds, watching as Ryefield makes his way through the tunnels toward the secure area. The doctor¡¯s words nag at me, stirring up doubts I¡¯ve been trying to ignore.


    Keeping them both down there is risky.


    Especially given their history.


    A history I still don¡¯t fully understand and will never grasp in its entirety, despite years of drunken half-confessions and stories from Raven. Stories that always seemed to stop just short of the full truth, trailing off into silence or deflected with a joke. Stories I¡¯d rather not hear, so I¡¯m sure that means I¡¯ve tuned out plenty of the more important details.


    But what choice do I have?


    I can¡¯t let Raven run off to his death chasing some omega fantasy. And I can¡¯t kill Niki, not when it would break something in Raven that might never heal. The look in his eyes when he begged me to spare that bastard¡¯s life¡­ I¡¯ve never seen him like that before.


    Never seen him so desperate.


    So broken.


    He¡¯s damn good at escaping and thwarting me, which is why he¡¯s safer in there. Where I can watch his every move, even if he somehow manages to find a way to get through the door. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he¡¯s the one person who can pull that off.


    After all, he learned all his tricks from Niki kov himself.


    Movement on one of the screens catches my attention. Raven has finally stirred, lifting his head to stare directly at the camera. Even through the grainy ck and white footage, I feel the burning weight of his gaze. Those eyes that usually sparkle with mischief and mirth are dull now, empty in a way that makes my stomach churn.


    He knows I¡¯m watching.


    He can feel it.


    Something ufortably close to regret gnaws at my conscience. The lost, broken look in his eyes when I cored him¡­ it wasn¡¯t just betrayal. It was something deeper.


    Something that spoke of old wounds being torn open.


    I remember the first time I discovered how much like an omega he is, even in regard to how he reacts to alpha barks. I¡¯d sworn then and there never to use that power over him. Never to be another alpha who took advantage of his unique vulnerability.


    And yet here I am, keeping him chained up ¡®for his own good.¡¯


    How is that any better than using my bark on him? Am I any better than the son of a bitch chained on the opposite wall?


    But I push the feeling aside.


    Sometimes being cruel is the only way to be kind.


    I¡¯ve learned that lesson the hard way, watching too many people I cared about die because I wasn¡¯t willing to do what needed to be done. Because I let sentiment cloud my judgment.


    Not this time.


    The radio crackles to life again. ¡®I¡¯m at the security door,¡¯ Ryefield announces.


    I key in the ess code, watching on the monitors as the heavy metal door slides open with a hiss. Ryefield steps through, medical bag in hand. He pauses at the top of the stairs, taking in the scene below.


    ¡®Shit,¡¯ he mutters, just loud enough for the radio to pick up.


    I watch as he makes his way down the steps, his footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. He approaches Niki first, which is smart. The bastard¡¯s wounds need immediate attention if we want to keep him alive for questioning.


    And oh, do I have questions.


    Starting with why the fuck he¡¯s so interested in the same omega Raven¡¯s apparently willing to die for. There has to be more to this.


    And I don¡¯t like it one fucking bit.


    Especially because I know in my gut how this is all going to turn out. If the mystery moon omega is still alive¡ªwhich I sincerely doubt, since even omegas who aren¡¯t being chased by monster alphas neverst long alone in this world¡ªI¡¯m going to end up hunting her down and bringing her home for Raven.


    How do I know this?


    Because the son of a bitch has had me wrapped around his pretty little pinkie since the day we first met. And he knows it. All he has to do is smile and bat his goddamn eyshes and my heart melts straight through the iron defenses I¡¯ve built around it.


    It happens again and again and again.


    My eye drifts back to Raven¡¯s feed. He¡¯s watching Ryefield work on Niki. The cor around his neck gleams dully in the low light, and I have to suppress another wave of guilt.


    This is necessary, I tell myself again.


    This is for his own good.


    But as I watch him curl in on himself again, head dropping to rest on his knees, I wonder who I¡¯m really trying to convince. Maybe thinking about how I can at least try to make things right, how I can try to make Raven happy if I can find this doomed omega who¡¯s almost certainly long dead, is just me trying to make myself feel better about what I need to do.


    It doesn¡¯t matter that it¡¯s for his own protection. Because I know it doesn¡¯t matter to him.


    I pull Niki¡¯s red sunsses from my pocket, turning them over in my hands. The lenses catch the light from the monitors, reflecting my own distorted image back at me.


    One eye, just like him.


    Fucker wanted to make sure we match, but little did he know we already match. And in a much worse way.


    We¡¯re both terrible for Raven.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 31

    Pain.


    That¡¯s the first thing I register as consciousness creeps back in. Every breath sends fire shooting through my back. My head feels like it¡¯s been stuffed with broken ss. I try to move, but my limbs are heavy, uncoordinated.


    Where the fuck am I?


    Images sh through my mind in disjointed fragments. The airfield. The chaos. The Knight tearing through my men like they were made of paper. The sound of chains snapping, of screams, of¡­


    Cosima.


    The name tears from my throat in a ragged moan before I can stop it. I remember her now. Silver hair streaming behind her as she ran into the forest.


    And the Knight¡­


    That fucking monstrosity was going after her.


    I have to get up. Have to find her before?¡ª


    ¡®She¡¯s not here.¡¯


    The voicees from somewhere to my left, quiet and hollow. Familiar in a way that makes my chest tighten with emotions I¡¯ve spent years drowning in vodka and blood.


    Chief among them is fucking rage.


    My vision swims as I force my eyes open. The room graduallyes into focus. Concrete walls, dim fluorescent lighting, the lingering scent of antiseptic. Some kind of cell or holding area.


    And there, across the room, is Raven.


    He¡¯s slumped against the wall, golden hair falling in his face. He looks¡­ wrong. Broken. The usual manic energy that radiates off him like sunlight is gone.


    A metal cor gleams around his neck, chain trailing to a ring set into the wall behind him. The sight takes me back to the day I found him all those years ago. Has to be about a decade now, but I¡¯ve never been the sentimental type who keeps track of that shit.


    He wore a cor then, too. A shier one, but the sight still pisses me the fuck off more than it has any right to.


    All that running and this is where you ended up, huh, little bird?


    I shift, trying to get a better look at him, and feel cold metal against my own throat. My hand flies up, fingers brushing against an identical cor. Except mine is covered in rust. Guess Geo was hoping if the gunshots didn¡¯t finish me off, the tetanus would do the job eventually.


    That bastard cored us both. And he took my goddamn sses.


    ¡®Your psycho boyfriend finally tied you up too, huh?¡¯ I croak, my voice rough from disuse. How long was I out?


    Raven¡¯s lips twist into a bitter smile. ¡®He¡¯s not my boyfriend. He¡¯s my Daddy.¡¯


    I can¡¯t help the harshugh that escapes me, even though it sends fresh pain shooting through my back. ¡®Is there a difference?¡¯


    ¡®Yes.¡¯ Raven¡¯s voice is sharp, brittle. ¡®Thetter is always a colossal fucking disappointment.¡¯


    I snort, trying to push myself up again. This time, I manage, but my arms are still bound and I¡¯m too fucking weak to do shit about it. It¡¯s not just the gunshots. I can tell I¡¯ve been drugged. Probably by whatever quack Geo got to patch me up,


    But that was a lifetime ago.


    ¡®How long have we been here?¡¯ I mutter.


    Raven shrugs, the movement making his chain rattle. ¡®Hard to tell. The doctores and goes. You were out for most of it.¡¯


    Holy shit.


    She¡¯s out there without me. Without protection.


    With that thing.


    ¡®She¡¯s not dead,¡¯ Raven says as if he¡¯s reading my mind in that listless tone that makes his voice sound foreign and so unlike the one that mocks me in my dreams.


    ¡®And how would you fucking know?¡¯ I demand, propping myself against the wall behind me, ignoring the agony that burns through my chest.


    ¡®Because she¡¯s my mate,¡¯ he says in a matter-of-fact tone.


    I scoff, the sound harsh in the concrete cell. ¡®Your mate? Either the stress of living on your own in the Outer Reaches has finally cooked your egg, or you¡¯re an even bigger liar than you were before.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not lying,¡¯ he snaps, some of that familiar fire finally returning to his voice. ¡®I felt it the moment I saw her.¡¯


    ¡®Right. Just like you ¡®felt it¡¯ with the beta twins in Belvast. And that Reinmichian guard who?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®That was different!¡¯ Raven cuts me off, his chain rattling as he sits up straighter. ¡®This is real. I know it is.¡¯


    ¡®Like I said. You¡¯re either delusional,¡¯ I drawl, ¡®or you¡¯re just using her as an excuse to get my attention again. Which is it, little bird?¡¯


    That sets him off. He lunges forward as far as his chain will allow, teeth bared in a snarl that would be more impressive if it was on literally anyone else¡¯s face. ¡®Don¡¯t you dare call me that,¡¯ he hisses. ¡®And how are you so sure she isn¡¯t my mate? What makes you such a fucking expert, you soulless warlord?¡¯


    ¡®Because she¡¯s mine!¡¯


    The words tear from my throat before I can stop them, echoing off the concrete walls. Silence instantly falls between us. Raven stares at me, his blue eyes wide with shock. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head as he processes what I¡¯ve just said.


    ¡®You¡¯re fucking lying,¡¯ he finally whispers.


    I let out a bitterugh. ¡®Seems like we¡¯re at a standoff then, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯


    Raven falls silent again, his gaze distant as he mulls over this new information. I can see the exact moment it really sinks in. His jaw clenches and he lifts his chin in a defiant little tilt.


    ¡®No,¡¯ he says, shaking his head. ¡®No, that¡¯s impossible. Someone as pure and elegant as Cosima could never be destined to be with such a¡­ barbarian. It¡¯s a fate too cruel.¡¯


    I can¡¯t help it. I throw my head back andugh even though the movement sends fresh pain shooting through my back. It¡¯s worth it for the way Raven¡¯s face contorts with indignation.


    ¡®Pure?¡¯ I wheeze through myughter. ¡®Have you even met her? She¡¯s more of a psycho than either one of us.¡¯


    And I mean it as apliment. She¡¯s everything I never imagined an omega could be.


    Raven¡¯s fists grip the bars that separate our cells. ¡®I¡¯ll cut out your tongue if I ever hear you sullying her name like that again,¡¯ he snarls.


    ¡®It was apliment, you anthropomorphic feather boa.¡¯


    ¡®What the fuck is that supposed to mean?¡¯


    ¡®You know exactly what it means, fop.¡¯


    ¡®Mongrel!¡¯


    ¡®Spoiled brat.¡¯


    ¡®Irradiated psychopath!¡¯


    ¡®Neurotic whore!¡¯


    ¡®Illegitimate mafia trash!¡¯


    That one hits harder than I¡¯d like to admit. My lip curls back in a snarl, ready to remind him exactly who pulled him out of that brothel, who taught him everything he knows about survival. But before I can unleash the venom building on my tongue, the heavy door at the top of the stairs creaks open.


    Raven and I exchange a look, an unspoken truce passing between us as footsteps echo down the concrete steps. We immediately fall back into old rules that haven¡¯t bound us for years, but still chafe against the thought of outsiders seeing us at each other¡¯s throats.


    That¡¯s private.


    Family business.


    A tall man in a white doctor¡¯s coat I can only assume is the one who patched me up appears at the bottom of the stairs, medical bag in hand. He looks between us warily, no doubt sensing the tension in the air.


    ¡®Well,¡¯ he says dryly, ¡®at least you¡¯re both conscious this time.¡¯


    ¡®Ryefield,¡¯ Raven says bitterly.


    I take it they know each other.


    I eye the doctor warily as he approaches my cell, keys jingling in his hand. He¡¯s tall andnky, with graying hair at his temples and wire-rimmed sses perched on his nose. The kind of guy who probably would have had a cushy job in some fancy hospital before the world went to shit. Instead, he¡¯s patching up criminals in an underground dungeon.


    Funny how life works out.


    ¡®How are you feeling?¡¯ he asks, his tone clinical as he unlocks my cell door.


    ¡®Like I¡¯ve been shot in the back,¡¯ I drawl. ¡®Twice.¡¯


    He gives me an unimpressed look as he kneels beside me, pulling various instruments from his bag. ¡®Your sense of humor remains intact, I see. That¡¯s a good sign.¡¯


    ¡®I aim to please,¡¯ I say with a sharp grin. ¡®Speaking of aiming, where¡¯s your boss? Still nursing his wounded pride after shooting a man who was walking away from him?¡¯


    ¡®Geo is¡­ upied,¡¯ the doctor says carefully, pressing a stethoscope to my chest. ¡®Deep breath.¡¯


    Iply, wincing at the sharp stabbing sensation that feels like fresh bullets going straight through me. ¡®upied with what? Brooding in front of his security monitors?¡¯


    His lips twitch. ¡®Something like that.¡¯ He moves the stethoscope, listening intently. ¡®Your lung function is improving. The transfusion seems to have helped.¡¯


    That gets my attention. ¡®Transfusion?¡¯ I ask sharply. ¡®Whose fucking blood did you give me?¡¯


    From across the room, Raven raises his hand and wiggles his fingers at me with a smirk. ¡®O-negative. You¡¯re wee.¡¯


    I grimace, my lip curling in disgust. ¡®Great. Just what I needed. I better not turn into a weretwink.¡¯


    ¡®Toote for that,¡¯ Raven says sweetly. ¡®The transformation begins at midnight. Hope you like glitter and lip gloss.¡¯


    I try to catch his scent, to verify if he¡¯s telling the truth, but my sinuses are still fucked from when Cosima broke my nose. A little parting gift from my omega. All I can smell is the lingering antiseptic and the musty concrete of the cell.


    The doctor ignores our bickering, checking my vitals with practiced efficiency. ¡®Well, you¡¯re healing remarkably well,¡¯ he says finally, sitting back on his heels. ¡®Which means it¡¯s time for another dose of sedative.¡¯


    My muscles tense instinctively. Even with my arms bound, I might be able to take him down. He¡¯s not exactly built forbat, and if I can just get those keys¡­


    A soft whimper from across the room draws my attention. Raven is pressed against the bars of his cell, his face twisted in what looks like pain.


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ the doctor asks, frowning as he turns toward him.


    ¡®I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t feel well,¡¯ Raven says, his voice weak and trembling. ¡®I¡¯m so hot¡­¡¯


    The doctor¡¯s frown deepens. ¡®The temperature in here is perfectly regted.¡¯


    ¡®No, it¡¯s not that,¡¯ Raven pants, pressing himself closer to the bars. His face is convincingly flushed, his eyes heavy lidded in a look I remember well. ¡®It¡¯s¡­ uhm¡­¡¯


    ¡®Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake,¡¯ the doctor mutters. ¡®Again?¡¯


    I have to bite back augh as I realize what¡¯s happening. Raven is putting on quite the show, pretending to go into heat. Or rather, his version of it. Just like his weakness to alphamands, his former madame¡¯s brainwashing had some fucked up side effects. His ruts manifest more like an omega¡¯s heat than a typical alpha¡¯s rut.


    Looks like that hasn¡¯t changed.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ Raven whimpers, and there¡¯s that unmistakable whine in his voice. It¡¯s not quite the same as an omega¡¯s whine, but it pulls at my chest in an unmistakable way all the same. ¡®Can¡¯t you give me something? Anything to take the edge off?¡¯


    The doctor shifts ufortably. ¡®Give me a minute?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®It hurts,¡¯ Raven cuts him off with another intive whimper, and damn if I¡¯d forgotten how convincing he can be. Even knowing it¡¯s an act, I feel that old protective instinct stirring. It¡¯s like nature¡¯s own little fuck you to bnce out his susceptibility tomands¡ªthe ability to turn those instincts right back on other alphas.


    It made half my men ufortable enough to fuck right off whenever it happened, which was a royal pain in the ass when it came to finding someone for guard duty.


    The other half, well¡­


    They knew what would happen if they touched him, much to Raven¡¯s chagrin. And they¡¯re still telling stories about the one fucker who ever tried.


    The doctor nces at me, clearly torn. I keep my expression neutral, though inside I¡¯m grudgingly impressed. Raven hasn¡¯t lost his touch.


    Who¡¯s the real psychopath here?


    Then Raven nces at the doctor¡¯s crotch and licks his lips with a little moan, and the doctor grabs his bag in a hurry and stands up, muttering under his breath. ¡®I told Geo keeping him in here was a bad idea¡­¡¯


    I wonder if he means keeping Raven in here with me specifically, but I decide not to think about it.


    ¡®I¡¯ll be right back,¡¯ the doctor says, already heading for the stairs. ¡®Don¡¯t¡­ just stay put.¡¯


    As soon as his footsteps fade, Raven¡¯s demeanor changespletely. He straightens up, all traces of distress vanishing as he shes me a triumphant grin.


    ¡®Still got it,¡¯ he says with a wink.


    I roll my eyes, but I can¡¯t quite suppress my own smirk. ¡®You always were good at manipting alphas¡¯ protective instincts. Though I seem to remember you being more subtle about it.¡¯


    ¡®Subtlety takes too long,¡¯ he says with a dismissive wave. ¡®And time isn¡¯t exactly on our side, is it?¡¯


    My amusement fades as reality crashes back in. He¡¯s right. Every minute we waste in here is another minute Cosima is out there alone¡ªand with that beast hunting her.


    ¡®You really think she¡¯s still alive?¡¯ I ask before I can stop myself.


    Something flickers in Raven¡¯s eyes. Pain, maybe, or fear. But his voice is steady when he answers. ¡®I know she is. I can feel it.¡¯


    ¡®Right,¡¯ I scoff. ¡®Your mystical mate bond.¡¯


    ¡®Mock all you want,¡¯ he says, lifting his chin defiantly. ¡®But I know what I felt when I saw her. And apparently, you felt it, too.¡¯


    I bare my teeth at him in a snarl. ¡®You don¡¯t know shit about what I felt.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t I?¡¯ He tilts his head, studying me with those too-perceptive eyes. ¡®Because the old you would have been gone the moment that monster escaped. You would¡¯ve cut your losses and your men and bailed, but you didn¡¯t. You stood and you fought something you couldn¡¯t possibly win against. For her.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t act like you know me,¡¯ I snap. ¡®Not anymore.¡¯


    Not when you¡¯re the one who left.


    Before he can respond, footsteps echo from above. Raven¡¯s eyes widen and he presses a finger to his lips. ¡®Follow my lead,¡¯ he whispers. ¡®I was just pretending you threw me into pseudoheat, by the way, so don¡¯t get ttered.¡¯


    I roll my eyes. ¡®Yeah, I got that part already. And trust me, I wouldn¡¯t be ttered.¡¯


    ¡®Shut up. I¡¯m going to take the doctor down and get the keys.¡¯


    My chains rattle as I shift position, trying to find a morefortable way to sit with two bullet holes in my back. ¡®You¡¯d better not leave me here.¡¯


    The look he gives me is genuinely offended. ¡®Who the fuck do you think convinced Geo not to finish you off?¡¯


    The words hit me like a truck. Before I can process their implications, the door slides open upstairs. Raven immediately slumps against the cot on the far side of his cell, one hand drifting down to palm himself through his pants as he lets out a breathy moan.


    The sight stirs something in me I thought I¡¯d buried years ago. I tell myself it¡¯s just the drugs Ryefield¡¯s been pumping into me,bined with the blue balls from being interrupted with Cosima. Nothing more.


    The doctor appears at the bottom of the stairs, his face flushed and flustered as he mutters something decidedly obscene under his breath. He pauses outside Raven¡¯s cell, keys clutched in his white-knuckled grip.


    ¡®I¡¯ll help you,¡¯ he says, his voice strained. ¡®But only if you agree to let me use amand to ensure yourpliance. And Geo can¡¯t know about this. Deal?¡¯


    Fuck.


    My muscles tense instinctively. Raven won¡¯t be able to resist an alphamand. Not with his condition. This is going to blow up in our faces.


    But to my surprise, Raven nods eagerly. ¡®Fine, whatever. I won¡¯t tell. Just hurry.¡¯


    The doctor¡¯s voice drops into that resonant tone that bypasses all rational thought for an omega. And the one alpha across the room. ¡®Kneel and stay.¡®


    I watch in helpless rage as themand takes hold. Raven¡¯s eyes ze over as he sinks to his knees on the floor, waiting obediently for whateveres next. My bound hands clench into fists, nails digging into my palms until I feel blood trickle between my fingers.


    The sight of another alphamanding him like this¡­ it sets something primal and violent churning in my gut. An old protective instinct I thought I¡¯d burned out of myself years ago.


    The doctor enters Raven¡¯s cell, medical bag in hand,pletely oblivious to the murderous thoughts racing through my mind. If these chains weren¡¯t holding me back¡­


    But they are.


    And all I can do is watch.


    For now.


    I watch as the doctor approaches Raven¡¯s kneeling form, syringe in hand. The sight of him looming over Raven makes my blood boil.


    Raven¡¯s eyes are zed over, his body rxed and submissive under themand. Just like old times. Just like the day I met him. The day I saw that pervert toying with his head like he was a fucking marite.


    The doctor leans down, reaching for Raven¡¯s arm. ¡®This will help with the?¡ª¡¯


    He never finishes the sentence.


    Raven explodes into motion, tackling the doctor against the bars with enough force to rattle the whole cell. The syringe tters to the floor as they grapple, the doctor¡¯s eyes wide with shock and betrayal.


    ¡®You little shit!¡¯ he snarls, his voice dropping into thatmanding tone again. ¡®Stop?¡ª¡®


    But Raven is faster. He wraps his chain around the doctor¡¯s throat, cutting off both air andmand. The doctor thrashes, wing at the metal links crushing his windpipe, but Raven holds firm.


    ¡®Shhh,¡¯ he whispers, his voice eerily calm. ¡®Just go to sleep. This¡¯ll all be over in time for your shows.¡¯


    I watch with grudging admiration as Raven maintains the chokehold. His technique has improved since Ist saw him fight. Even if I did teach him everything he knows. The doctor¡¯s struggles grow weaker until finally, his eyes roll back and he goes limp.


    I guess he can resistmands after all.


    Some of them, at least.


    Raven releases him, letting him slump to the floor. He rifles through the medical bag, pulling out a vial and another syringe.


    ¡®This should keep you nice and quiet,¡¯ he mutters, injecting the sedative into the doctor¡¯s neck.


    ¡®Just kill him,¡¯ I say, my voice rough. ¡®He¡¯ll raise the rm the moment he wakes up.¡¯


    Raven res at me, and for a moment, I see a sh of that wounded boy who used to follow me around like a lost puppy all those years ago. ¡®I¡¯m not killing him,¡¯ he snaps. ¡®He does crossword puzzles, for fuck¡¯s sake.¡¯


    I stare at him, baffled. ¡®What the fuck does that have to do with anything?¡¯


    ¡®I see your human decency has somehow atrophied while I¡¯ve been away,¡¯ he says, rolling his eyes as he searches the doctor¡¯s pockets.


    Been away.


    As if he just went on fucking vacation.


    ¡®Decency doesn¡¯t keep you alive in this world,¡¯ I remind him, watching as he finds the keys. ¡®Or have you forgotten everything I taught you?¡¯


    He approaches my cell, keys jingling in his hand. But instead of unlocking the door, he just stands there, studying me with those too-bright eyes.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ he finally says, that old mischief dancing in his eyes. ¡®The indecent way it is.¡¯


    I clench my jaw in irritation. I don¡¯t have time for this shit. ¡®What do you want, Raven?¡¯


    ¡®An answer to two questions.¡¯ His voice is light, but there¡¯s steel beneath the surface. ¡®A small price to pay for freedom, don¡¯t you think?¡¯


    ¡®We don¡¯t have time for this.¡¯


    ¡®First question,¡¯ he continues as if I hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡®Is Cosima actually your mate?¡¯


    ¡®Of course she fucking is,¡¯ I snap. ¡®Why would I lie about that?¡¯


    He considers this, head tilted slightly. Then he says, ¡®Second question. The day I left, you told me something. Do you remember what it was?¡¯


    ¡®Was it ¡®don¡¯t let the door hit you where the gods split you¡¯?¡¯ I sneer, but my heart is pounding in my ears. I know exactly what he¡¯s talking about.


    His expression doesn¡¯t change. ¡®You told me if I walked out that door, I should keep going and never look back. Because you wouldn¡¯t waste another moment of your life thinking about me.¡¯ He leans closer, his voice dropping to a rasp. ¡®Is that true, Niki? Did you think about me?¡¯


    The question knocks the wind out of me for a moment, even if it shouldn¡¯t. Even if it should be easy to answer. But nothing is ever easy when ites to Raven. That¡¯s the great irony of it all.


    My hands tighten on the bars until my knuckles turn white, close enough to his that our fingers brush. The contact sends a jolt through me that I refuse to acknowledge.


    Of course I thought about him.


    Every fucking day.


    Every time I caught a glimpse of golden hair in a crowd. Every time someone made a smartassment that would have made himugh. Every time I walked past his old room in thepound, still exactly as he left it because I couldn¡¯t bring myself to change a goddamned thing.


    But I look him dead in the eye and lie.


    ¡®No,¡¯ I say, my voice cold. ¡®Not even once.¡¯


    I see the hurt sh across his face before he can hide it. For a moment, I think he¡¯s going to leave me here. Part of me hopes he does. It would prove I was right all these years, every time I sessfully resisted the urge to hunt him down and drag him back home.


    Instead, he turns and drops the keys into my cell. Theynd at my feet with a metallic tter that echoes in the sudden silence.


    Then he walks away.


    Again.


    Just like before.


    And just like before, I feel the irrational sting of betrayal¡ªeven though this time, I know I have only myself to me.


    If I¡¯m being honest, maybe it was my fault then, too.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 32

    As I drift up throughyers of exhaustion and soreness, I find myself still curled against the Knight¡¯s massive frame. His arm is draped protectively over me, metal ws glinting in the early morning light. The memories of the past twenty-four hours flood back, making my cheeks flush.


    Well.


    That happened.


    My heat has finally broken, leaving me wrung out but clear-headed for the first time in days. The Knight¡¯s fever seems to have broken too. His skin is still warmer than a normal human¡¯s, but no longer burning hot to the touch.


    Another realization hits me.


    It¡¯s the first night I didn¡¯t dream about him.


    I try to sit up, but my muscles scream in protest. Everything hurts. ces I didn¡¯t even know could hurt are letting me know exactly how they feel about taking this beast of an alpha¡¯s knot.


    The Knight stirs at my movement.


    ¡®Morning,¡¯ I mutter, not sure what else to say after he fucked me through my heat.


    He just watches me, silent as ever. Though his deep, broken purring picks up as I stretch, working out the kinks in my muscles.


    ¡®We need to get moving,¡¯ I tell him, trying to ignore how the sound makes my chest feel warm. ¡®It¡¯s not safe to stay in one ce too long.¡¯


    Back when I was trapped in that tower, I¡¯d heard about the ck market a few hours away. It¡¯s our best bet for supplies, and more importantly, for emergency contraceptive pills. My life is alreadyplicated enough without worrying about getting impregnated by a giant mutated alpha. Pretty sure that would be deadly.


    Those pills are non-negotiable.


    First priority.


    The Knight follows my lead as I start gathering what little we have. He moves with surprising grace for someone so massive, though I notice he keeps his distance now. Almost like he¡¯s afraid to touch me.


    Like he thinks I¡¯ll shatter if he gets too close.


    We need clothes. The remnants of my robe barely qualify as fabric at this point, and the Knight¡¯s tattered pants aren¡¯t much better.


    Plus, his face¡­


    He keeps turning away whenever I look at him directly, obviously ufortable with that, but I don¡¯t have to see his face again to remember he doesn¡¯t exactly look human.


    I scan our surroundings, trying to get my bearings. The river flows north to south, and I remember hearing that the ck market lies somewhere to the northeast. If we follow the river north for a while, we should be able to find it.


    Assuming we don¡¯t get killed first.


    We¡¯ve been walking for maybe an hour when I hear them. Engines. The rumble of motorcycles approaching fast. The Knight tenses beside me, a low growl building in his chest.


    ¡®Hide,¡¯ I hiss, already looking for cover.


    But it¡¯s toote.


    Three bikes burst through the trees, their riders whooping and hollering as they circle us. Raiders. Because of fucking course. The Knight moves in front of me, his growl deepening until my bones vibrate.


    ¡®Well, well,¡¯ one of the raiders calls out, cutting his engine. ¡®What do we have here?¡¯


    Hispanions kill their engines too, dismounting with predatory grins and whistles. They¡¯re all alphas, of course. Big, ugly brutes with more muscle than sense. Guess that¡¯s why they don¡¯t realize all those leather straps and spikes make them look like they just stepped out of the world¡¯s worst BDSM club.


    I take a step back, behind the Knight. My heart¡¯s hammering instinctively in my chest even though I doubt I¡¯m in danger from three shitty raiders. Not after what I saw the Knight do to Niki¡¯s men.


    A second raider, a huge guy with a tacky leather trench coat, does a double take when he tears his gaze away from my tits and sees the Knight¡¯s face for what¡¯s clearly the first time. ¡®Is that a giant fucking zombie?¡¯ he asks in a weak voice, nching.


    The Knight¡¯s growl intensifies.


    ¡®Zombies ain¡¯t real,¡¯ sneers the third raider, the one with a bald eagle tattooed over the entire upper left quadrant of his face. ¡®Kill it and take the bitch.¡¯


    ¡®Who are you calling a bitch, bird brain?¡¯ I growl, ready to w his eyes out if he even tries, but the Knight explodes into action first. He moves faster than an alpha his size should be able to, crossing the distance to the first raider in two massive strides. His metal hand closes around the man¡¯s throat and¡­ squeezes.


    The wet crunch of bone and cartge being pulverized makes me gag.


    The other raiders open fire, but their bullets might as well be raindrops for all the good they do. The Knight throws the first man¡¯s corpse aside and lunges for the second, metal ws raking across his chest. Blood sprays in an arc as the raider screams.


    I¡¯ve never seen the inside of a ribcage before.


    Neat.


    Hope it¡¯s thest time.


    The third raider turns to run, but he doesn¡¯t make it three steps before those ws punch through his back and out his chest. The Knight lifts him off his feet, studying him for a moment before ripping him in half like he¡¯s tearing a piece of paper.


    It¡¯s over in seconds.


    The forest falls silent except for the Knight¡¯s heavy breathing and the drip of blood from his ws. He nces back at me over his shoulder, his white hair obscuring his face, but I catch a glimpse of his blue gaze.


    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ I say quietly.


    He doesn¡¯t move or acknowledge me, but I swear he dips his head a little.


    Sighing, I nce over the shredded raiders. ¡®Waste not, want not,¡¯ I mutter under my breath, my stomach coiling at the idea of touching the corpses. But the raiders¡¯ clothes are mostly intact, if a bit bloody. The biggest raider¡¯s tattered ck jeans fit the Knight when I have him tear them off at the knees, and the trench coat works like a cloak with the sleeves tied around his broad shoulders.


    Sort of.


    He¡¯s beyond huge, even inparison to that brick wall of a raider. I¡¯m almost impressed with myself for taking his cockst night without dying. Especially when I let my mind wander back to what I just saw him do with those ws. Good thing he isn¡¯tpletely feral and is clearly aware he could filet me like a damn fish without much effort.


    For myself, I grab a rtively clean pair of pants¡ªthe other pair had piss in them¡ªand a shirt that¡¯s way too big but better than nothing. Tied around my waist with a belt, it¡¯s sort of a dress. It¡¯s sure better than the robe.


    I¡¯m surprised clothes stolen from the corpses of raiders isn¡¯t a trendy style yet. Maybe I¡¯ll be a fashion pioneer when I get back to my normal life.


    When I turn back around, the Knight is gazing at me like I¡¯m the most beautiful thing he¡¯s ever seen. Which is¡­ strangely endearing, considering I know I¡¯ve never looked like more of a mess in my life. But when I offer him a little smile, he looks away quickly so I can¡¯t see his face. My heart sinks.


    ¡®Wait here,¡¯ I tell him before going over to one of the bikes.


    Raiders always have saddlebags full of useful shit. Sure enough, I find what I¡¯m looking for. A long scarf, probably stolen from some merchant caravan. It¡¯s dark gray and surprisingly clean. Although my standards for ¡®clean¡¯ have admittedly droppedtely.


    ¡®This¡¯ll work,¡¯ I say, turning around just in time to see him picking up one of the dismembered arms like he¡¯s about to take a bite out of a chicken wing. His long tongue curls out through his sharp teeth.


    ¡®Hey!¡¯ I yell.


    The Knight freezes.


    ¡®Leave it! Unless you never want to lick my pussy again.¡¯


    He drops the arm into the dirt with a low growl, slouching in clear shame. I feel a twinge of guilt, but after digging through raider corpses for food, I can¡¯t stomach him taking ¡®waste not, want not¡¯ to that level. If he wants to eat raiders, he can do it when I¡¯m not watching.


    Once I¡¯m sure I¡¯m not going to get sick, I hold up the scarf. ¡®Come here.¡¯


    The Knight approaches cautiously. I have to gesture for him to bend down so I can reach, but once he does, I carefully wrap the scarf around his head and face, covering everything except his eyes and what remains of the upper corner of his mask. The fabric settles over his lower face, hiding the worst of the damage.


    ¡®There,¡¯ I say, stepping back to examine my work. ¡®That should help. At least until we can find you a new mask.¡¯


    He reaches up to touch the scarf with his human hand, something almost like wonder in his eyes. Then he dips his head again, but this time it feels less like hiding and more like he¡¯s grateful for some reason. Why? Because I¡¯m being nice to him and treating him like a person?


    ¡®Don¡¯t mention it,¡¯ I mutter, suddenly ufortable with the intensity of his gaze. ¡®We should get moving. Someone might have heard the gunshots.¡¯


    I eye the motorcycles, but they¡¯re too small for the Knight¡¯s massive frame. Plus, the noise would just draw more attention. On foot it is.


    I grab a few more supplies from the saddlebags. All the money the raiders had on them, a sk of water, some dried meat jerky that looks edible and hopefully isn¡¯t human, and most importantly, a bottle of what appears to be the world¡¯s most offensive cologne. The scent makes my eyes water, but that¡¯s the point. Combined with the Knight¡¯s alpha musk all over me, it should help mask my omega scent.


    I douse myself in the cologne, grimacing at the smell. ¡®Sorry about this,¡¯ I tell the Knight when he recoils slightly, looking like I¡¯ve done something grievously offensive to him on a personal level. ¡®But it¡¯s better than advertising my presence to every alpha within ten miles.¡¯


    He makes a sound that might be agreement, or might just be disgust at the cologne. Hard to tell.


    We start walking again, following the river north. The Knight stays close, but not too close, like he¡¯s trying to give me space while still being near enough to protect me if needed. It should be weird, having the monster I¡¯ve always been terrified of acting as my personal bodyguard.


    But somehow, it just feels¡­ right.


    Like this is how it was always supposed to be.


    My legs and feet are killing me, but I¡¯m trying not to make it too obvious so he doesn¡¯t worry. Can¡¯tin, really, when the Knight is trudging along beside me without a word despite his injuries.


    Some of the bandages I applied yesterday havee loose or fallen off entirely. The wounds beneath are already starting to heal, but they still look painful. His incredible healing factor seems to be working overtime. Injuries that should have killed him are now just angry red cuts and dents in his skin.


    I wonder what other modifications they made to him, besides the obvious metal parts. How much of him is still human? How much was changed in whatever facility made him this way?


    And what happens when we reach the ck market?


    I can¡¯t exactly walk around with an eight-foot-tall killing machine forever. Someone¡¯s bound to recognize him eventually. And then what? Do we fight our way out? Run again?


    Or maybe¡­


    Maybe he¡¯ll just disappear.


    Like my nightmares always do when dawnes.


    The thought makes my chest tight in a way I don¡¯t want to examine too closely. I push it aside, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. We¡¯ll cross that bridge when wee to it.


    For now, we just need to survive.


    I nce at the Knight, watching as he scans our surroundings with predatory focus. His metal arm gleams in the sunlight filtering through the gray clouds, a constant reminder of what was done to him. What he is.


    But also what he isn¡¯t.


    He isn¡¯t a mindless beast anymore. He¡¯s something else. Something that chose to protect rather than destroy. Something that held me through my heat with a gentleness I never would have thought possible from hands made for killing.


    Something that makes me feel safe in a world that¡¯s anything but.


    I don¡¯t know what that means.


    I¡¯m not sure I want to know.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 33

    I stand motionless as the wind whips around me, my military-issue gray scarf snapping in the bitter gusts that kick up clouds of reddish dust. The dying man at my feet clutches his stomach as his blood soaks into the parched earth, turning the dust a deeper crimson.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ he begs, blood bubbling at the corners of his mouth. ¡®I¡¯ll tell you anything you want to know. Anything! Just¡­ let me live.¡¯


    I study him with detached curiosity. This is thest one. The final Council loyalist that Arthur Maybrecht sent me to hunt down in the Outer Reaches.


    The only thing standing between me and Cosima.


    I¡¯ve tracked him across three territories, following the trail of bodies and bribes he left in his wake. Now, as he bleeds out at my feet, I find myself oddly disappointed. For someone who managed to evade capture for so long, his end is remarkably¡­ mundane.


    ¡®There is no more information needed,¡¯ I say calmly, my voice carrying easily over the howling wind. ¡®We already know everything.¡¯


    And we do.


    Every safehouse, every weapons cache, every dirty little secret the Council tried to hide. We¡¯ve spent months dismantling their power structure, long before the Ghosts unwittingly did the rest of Maybrecht¡¯s dirty work, piece by piece.


    This man is just the final loose end.


    ¡®There has to be something!¡¯ he protests, his voice rising with panic. ¡®Money! I have ess to weapons caches! Military-grade stuff, pre-war tech?¡ª¡¯


    I continue staring at him nkly, utterly disinterested in his desperate offerings. My silence seems to unnerve him more than any threat could. I¡¯ve found that people tend to fill silence with their own fears, their own guilt.


    The wind picks up, carrying with it the stench of radiation and decay that permeates everything in the Outer Reaches. My coat whips around my legs as I watch him squirm, wondering if he knows just how thoroughly we¡¯ve already stripped the Council of their power. How pointless it all was.


    ¡®You¡¯re working for that snake, Maybrecht, aren¡¯t you?¡¯ he spits suddenly, blood spraying from his lips. ¡®He¡¯ll turn on you the moment you¡¯re no longer useful!¡¯


    A faint smile tugs at my lips. ¡®Of course he will.¡¯


    My gun fires before he can respond. His body slumps to the ground, a neat hole between his eyes. Another body for the wastnd to im. Another piece removed from the chessboard.


    I pull out a monogrammed handkerchief¡ªa gift from another lifetime¡ªand carefully wipe the blood spray from my face. The white silk is already stained with countless simr cleanings, but I maintain the ritual regardless. Some habits die harder than others.


    The man¡¯s final words echo in my mind as I holster my weapon. He wasn¡¯t wrong about Arthur Maybrecht. The financier is a snake, coiled and waiting to strike at the first sign of weakness.


    But what he failed to understand is that I¡¯m counting on it.


    I turn away from the corpse, my boots crunching through the rust-colored dust as I make my way back to my vehicle. The heavily armored transport sits like a sleeping beast against the destendscape, its dark metal absorbing what little sunlight filters through the perpetually clouded sky.


    Everything is proceeding ording to n.


    The Council¡¯s power structure has been systematically dismantled. Their weapons seized, their safehouses burned, their secrets exposed.


    All that remains is to find Cosima.


    But first¡­ penance.


    I take off my coat, the fabric rasping against my skin as I expose my right forearm. The metal cilice wrapped around it glints dully in the weak light filtering through the perpetual haze. My fingers find the chain attached to the spiked band, and I pull.


    The avian bone barbs dig into my flesh and muscle with familiar brutality. Blood wells up around the metal teeth, but I keep pulling, tightening the chain until stars dance at the edges of my vision. A groan builds in my chest, but I swallow it down.


    Movement catches my eye. There, hovering over the corpse I left cooling in the dust, a familiar shape takes form. The white ibis spreads her wings over the dead man, her feathers glowing with an otherworldly light that cuts through the perpetual gloom.


    ¡®Purifying,¡¯ I whisper, watching as she performs her sacred duty. Cleansing the violence I¡¯ve wrought. Making it holy.


    The vision turns her head toward me, those ancient eyes seeing straight through to my soul. Then, like smoke in the wind, she¡¯s gone.


    My fingers release the chain and I slump back against the driver¡¯s seat. Blood trickles down my arm, staining my white shirt crimson. The pain radiates through me in waves, clearing my mind of everything except what matters most.


    Perhaps I¡¯ve earned this small mercy.


    And there she is.


    Cosima herself materializes before me, as vivid as the day I left her. Silver hair catching the light like moonbeams. Violet eyes filled with trust I don¡¯t deserve. She reaches for me with delicate hands that have never known true violence.


    ¡®I¡¯ming,¡¯ I whisper to the apparition. ¡®I¡¯ming for you, my love.¡¯


    Blood continues to seep from beneath the cilice, but I make no move to stem the flow. The physical pain grounds me, keeps me focused on my mission.


    On my sins.


    On what I must do to atone.


    To be worthy.


    The ghost of Cosima fades too soon, as always, leaving me alone with the weight of my choices. The body outside will be found eventually, another victim of the wastnd¡¯s endless violence. No one will question it. No one will care.


    Except the ibis.


    She always knows.


    Always watches. Always judges.


    But I¡¯ve simply done everything Cosima¡¯s father asked. I¡¯ve stained my hands with more blood, both wicked and innocent.


    By all rights, even his, the omega is mine.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 34

    I m my fist against the steering wheel of my armored SUV in frustration as I scan the endless expanse of dead trees stretching out before me. I¡¯ve been driving in circles for hours, but so far I¡¯ve found jack shit.


    No silver-haired omega.


    No giant mutant alpha.


    If I hadn¡¯t seen her myself, I¡¯d think Raven was hallucinating her.


    Just miles of nothing but radiation-twisted vegetation and the asional pack of feral dogs and drunken raiders picking through the ruins of the old world.


    The engine growls as I push the SUV harder, tires crunching over the uneven terrain. The suspension groans in protest as I hit another pothole, but I ignore it.


    ¡®Where the fuck are you?¡¯ I mutter, scanning the horizon.


    My fucked up sense of smell isn¡¯t helping matters.


    Most alphas can track by scent for miles. But thanks to Niki¡¯s little ¡®gift¡¯ and my own modifications afterward, I can barely smell anything stronger than rotting meat or fresh blood. Usually an advantage in my line of work.


    Right now, though? It¡¯s a fucking liability.


    I slow the vehicle as something catches my eye. Deep gouges in the earth, like massive w marks from a beast that stumbled and fell. Too big to be from any normal predator. My hands tighten on the steering wheel as I follow the tracks with my gaze.


    They lead toward the river.


    ¡®Gotcha,¡¯ I growl, throwing the SUV into gear.


    The tracks are fresh, maybe a few hours old at most. They weave through the trees, sometimes apanied by smaller footprints that could belong to an omega. Are they¡­ traveling together? My heart rate picks up despite myself.


    If I can find her¡­


    If I can bring her back¡­


    Maybe Raven will forgive me.


    Maybe things can go back to normal.


    Whatever the fuck ¡®normal¡¯ means for us.


    I follow the trail until it opens into a small clearing. And there, scattered across the blood-soaked ground, are three mangled corpses. What¡¯s left of them, anyway.


    ¡®Well, shit.¡¯


    I climb out of the SUV, boots crunching on frost-covered leaves as I approach the carnage. The bodies have been torn apart. Limbs scattered across the frozen earth. The work of that mutated alpha, no doubt.


    Raiders, judging by their leather getups. Or what¡¯s left of them. Good riddance. But some of their clothes are missing. Someone¡¯s been scavenging.


    Smart girl.


    A glint of metal catches my eye. I reach down and pick up a small piece of what looks like iron ting. Simr to what I saw grafted onto that monster¡¯s body back at the airfield. Must have broken off during the fight.


    ¡®The fuck did they do to you?¡¯ I mutter, turning the metal over in my hands.


    The craftsmanship is impressive, I¡¯ll give them that. The way the metal has been fused with organic material, designed to interface with flesh and bone¡­ it¡¯s beyond anything I¡¯ve seen before. Even the Council¡¯s best tech isn¡¯t this advanced.


    I pocket the piece of ting. Might be usefulter.


    If not, it can join my collection.


    Standing, I survey the scene again. The tracks lead north, through a river. Hope the omega didn¡¯t drink any of that shit. Raven would be disappointed if I brought her home with multiple arms and eyes.


    Then again, he¡¯s always been a freak, so maybe not.


    I climb back into the SUV, a grim smile tugging at my lips. Finally, a solid lead. If that¡¯s the direction they¡¯re headed, they must be going toward the ck market. Makes sense. It¡¯s all that remains of civilization for miles.


    She may be resourceful, but she¡¯s still on foot in hostile territory. All territory out here is hostile toward omegas, really. Her best chance of survival is blending in somewhere more densely packed.


    I just hope I find them before someone else does.


    Or before that mutated alpha gets hungry.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 35

    My feet are freaking killing me.


    Each step sends jolts of pain shooting up my legs, but I grit my teeth and keep walking. The Knight¡¯s heavy footsteps behind me are steady and unwavering despite his injuries. I try not to limp, but after hours of trudging through the wastnd in stolen boots that don¡¯t quite fit, my body betrays me.


    A particrly sharp rock makes me stumble, but massive hands scoop me up before I hit the ground. I tense instinctively as the Knight¡¯s metal ws prick my skin through the raider clothes, but his grip is surprisingly gentle. He cradles me against his broad chest like I¡¯m made of ss.


    And I might as well bepared to him.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ I mumble, letting myself rx against his scarred chest. His warmth is already seeping into my aching muscles. ¡®But only because my feet hurt.¡¯


    He rumbles in response, the sound vibrating through his chest and into my bones. The rhythmic sway of his stride is almost hypnotic, and I find myself drifting, feeling oddly safe in the arms of my former nightmare.


    When the first signs of civilization appear on the horizon¡ªscattered lights amidst ruins and the distant hum of generators¡ªI tap his chest. ¡®Put me down. We¡¯re getting close.¡¯


    He sets me on my feet with surprising care. A rusted metal hatch juts up from the scorched earth ahead. The entrance to what must be the ck market¡¯s undergroundwork of tunnels. Even from here, I catch glimpses of light seeping through the cracks.


    I approach the hatch cautiously, my eyes scanning for any signs of guards or security measures. The metal is corroded and weather-beaten, covered in a fineyer of rust-colored dust that seems to coat everything in the Outer Reaches.


    Gritting my teeth, I wrap my fingers around the edge of the hatch and pull. The metal is rough against my palms, kes of rusting away like dead skin. I strain, muscles trembling with the effort, but the damn thing won¡¯t budge.


    ¡®Shit,¡¯ I mutter, wiping my hands on my stolen pants. I nce at the Knight, who¡¯s hanging back in the shadows of a burned-out building. ¡®I don¡¯t suppose you could?¡ª¡¯


    Before I can finish the thought, he¡¯s already moving. His massive frame emerges into the sunlight, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. The way the light catches on his scars, on the metal grafted to his flesh¡­ he looks like something out of an old world myth. A fallen god of war and violence.


    He reaches past me, metal ws gleaming as they dig into the edge of the hatch. With one fluid motion, he lifts the heavy metal door as if it weighs nothing at all. The hinges screech in protest, the sound echoing across the wastnd.


    I find myself staring up at him, transfixed. The sun zes behind him, transforming his white hair into a silver halo and casting his scarred face in dramatic shadow. Those haunting blue eyes lock onto mine, glowing with an intensity that makes my heart skip.


    For a split second, I see him as he might have been before they turned him into this. Before the scars, before the metal, before the pain. Just a man, looking down at me with something that feels dangerously close to devotion.


    Then he growls¡ªa low, warning sound that vibrates through my chest¡ªand the moment shatters.


    Right.


    Don¡¯t look at him.


    We¡¯re not here to stare at each other like lovesick kids, anyway. However long I¡¯ve been dreaming about him.


    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ I say softly, ducking under his arm to peer into the darkness below. The tunnel stretches deep underground, lit sporadically by flickering electric lights. The air wafting up smells like sweat and motor oil.


    Gross.


    That shitty alpha must be from here. Lux? Lax? I¡¯ve already forgotten, and I don¡¯t care. Kind of hope she¡¯s in pieces right now with the rest of those assholes.


    The Knight makes another sound, this one questioning. When I nce back, he¡¯s studying the tunnel with obvious wariness.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I tell him, though I¡¯m not entirely sure it is. ¡®Just¡­ try not to kill anyone unless they attack first. And maybe not even then, depending on who it is. We don¡¯t want to draw attention.¡¯


    I swear I see confusion in those glowing eyes. Like the concept of not immediately murdering potential threats is foreign to him.


    Which, given what little I know about his origins, it probably is.


    ¡®Look,¡¯ I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡®I know this isn¡¯t ideal. But we need supplies, and this is the only ce for miles that might have what we need. Just¡­ follow my lead, okay?¡¯


    To my surprise, he nods. The gesture is still jerky, unpracticed, but it¡¯s there.


    I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. ¡®Right. Let¡¯s do this.¡¯


    The metal stairs leading down into the darkness look sturdy enough, though they creak ominously under the Knight¡¯s weight as he follows me. Each step echoes off the concrete walls, announcing our presence to anyone listening.


    So much for stealth.


    But as we descend deeper into the underground market, I can¡¯t shake the feeling that we¡¯re being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and beside me, the Knight lets out a low, continuous growl.


    I lead the way into the crowded tunnels, grateful for the Knight¡¯s looming presence behind me. Most people give us a wide berth, their eyes widening at his massive frame before quickly looking away. The stolen raider clothes and lingering cologne mask my omega scent well enough, but I still feel exposed.


    A merchant catches my eye. Well-dressed, pockets bulging with what¡¯s probably a decent stack of currency. I sh him my most seductive smile, swaying my hips as I approach. ¡®Looking forpany?¡¯ I purr, channeling every ounce of omega allure I can muster through the cologne.


    His eyes rake over me hungrily.


    Perfect.


    The merchant¡¯s eyes darken with interest as I sway closer, making sure to entuate my curves. His gaze lingers on my chest, then drops lower, exactly as I¡¯d hoped. Men are so predictable.


    ¡®How much?¡¯ he asks, his voice husky.


    I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I trail my fingers down his arm, leaning in close. ¡®Why don¡¯t we discuss that somewhere more¡­ private?¡¯


    He nods eagerly, already reaching for his coin purse as he follows me into an alley. Just a few more seconds and I can?¡ª


    His hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist in a bruising grip. ¡®Actually,¡¯ he growls, yanking me against him, ¡®I think right here is fine.¡¯


    Shit.


    This isn¡¯t going ording to n.


    I try to twist away, but he¡¯s stronger than he looks. His other hand grabs my hip, fingers digging in painfully as he shoves me against the wall. The impact knocks the breath from my lungs.


    ¡®Let go,¡¯ I snarl, abandoning the seductive act. My nails rake across his face, drawing blood.


    He justughs, pressing closer. His alcohol-soured breath washes over me as he leans in. ¡®Feisty. I like that.¡¯


    Before I can knee him in the balls and turn him into a permanent soprano, something dark and massive moves in the shadows behind him.


    The merchant freezes as an inhuman growl fills the narrow tunnel. His eyes go wide with terror as he slowly turns his head.


    The Knight emerges from the darkness like a demon straight from hell, his blue eyes zing with murderous fury. Before the merchant can even scream, the Knight¡¯s massive hand closes around his throat. The Knight lifts him off his feet like he weighs nothing, mming him against the wall hard enough to crack the concrete.


    ¡®Holy shit,¡¯ I breathe, watching as the merchant¡¯s face turns purple. His feet kick uselessly at the air as he ws at the hand crushing his windpipe.


    The Knight¡¯s growl deepens, bing something primal and terrifying. His other hand¡ªthe metal onees up, razor-sharp ws poised to tear the merchant¡¯s face off.


    ¡®Wait!¡¯ I grab his arm, and those burning blue eyes snap to me. ¡®No killing, remember?¡¯


    The Knight pauses as if considering. Then he loosens his grip just enough for the merchant to gasp in a desperate breath.


    ¡®P-please,¡¯ the merchant wheezes. ¡®I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t know she was yours!¡¯


    The Knight¡¯s growl rises to a roar that shakes dust from the ceiling. I wince at the sound. And at the implication that I belong to anyone.


    ¡®Give me your money,¡¯ I tell the merchant, keeping my hand on the Knight¡¯s arm. ¡®All of it. And maybe my friend here won¡¯t redecorate these walls with your insides.¡¯


    The merchant fumbles for his coin purse with trembling hands, nearly dropping it in his panic. I snatch it from him, weighing it in my palm. Heavy. Good.


    ¡®Now your rings,¡¯ I add, noticing the gold bands glinting on his fingers. ¡®And that fancy watch.¡¯


    He strips off his jewelry without hesitation, practically throwing the items at me. Smart man. The Knight¡¯s growl hasn¡¯t lessened, and those metal ws are still hovering inches from the merchant¡¯s face.


    ¡®No killing,¡¯ I remind him again in a singsong voice once I¡¯ve pocketed everything valuable. ¡®You can stuff him in that dumpster over there.¡¯


    The Knight¡¯s growl deepens. Pretty sure he¡¯d rather go for the bloodier solution. But when I shake my head firmly, he settles for mming the man against the wall again. The merchant¡¯s head cracks against the concrete and his eyes roll back. His body goes limp in the Knight¡¯s grasp.


    ¡®The dumpster,¡¯ I remind him, pointing to the rusted metal container.


    The Knight trudges over and unceremoniously drops the merchant into the dumpster with the rest of the trash. The unconscious body disappears into the darkness with a satisfying thud.


    I count our newly acquired funds, pleased with the weight of the coin purse. ¡®Come on,¡¯ I tell him. ¡®Let¡¯s find somewhere to clean up.¡¯


    The market¡¯s maze of tunnels eventually leads us to a clothing merchant¡¯s stall. The beta woman running it barely bats an eye at the Knight¡¯s towering presence, too focused on the coins I ce on her counter. She helps me pick out sturdy traveling clothes that aren¡¯t stained with raider blood. And for the Knight, I find a massive hooded cloak that actually fits his frame.


    But when we leave, it¡¯s the mask in a ss disy box at the stall next door that really catches my eye. Even among what resembles a veritable dragon¡¯s hoard of trinkets and treasures, the mask stands out. The masculine features have a serene nobility to them, like the statues of ancient kings I used to study in my father¡¯s library.


    It¡¯s perfect for the Knight¡¯s namesake.


    The merchant, an elderly woman with a weathered face framed by a floral headscarf, hobbles up to me to take the mask out of the disy case. ¡®That¡¯s pre-war, from some noble¡¯s private collection,¡¯ she says, thrusting the mask into my hands and tapping it with a brightly painted fingernail. The gold bangles on her wrist jingle with the motion. ¡®A thousand years old. Belonged to a Surhiiran leper king.¡¯


    For once, I believe the sales pitch. Whoever made this was an artist. As I turn the mask in my hands, the intricate filigree patterns carved into the mask¡¯s silver surface catch and gleam in the neon light.


    ¡®I¡¯m sure it¡¯s out of my price range if it¡¯s that old,¡¯ I admit with a dryugh. Not words I¡¯m used to saying, but I doubt I have anywhere near enough. Maybe if Ipletely drained my pockets and risked not having enough for more vital supplies. I can guess from the way she¡¯s talking that she isn¡¯t going to let it go for a reasonable price.


    The merchant¡¯s pale eyes drift past me to the Knight, her gaze sweeping over his towering frame and scarred face. What she can see of it despite the hood now shadowing his features and the thick scarf covering the rest, at least. He backs away with a soft warning growl, clearly ufortable with the scrutiny.


    ¡®Is it for him?¡¯ she asks, gesturing to the mask still in my hands.


    ¡®Yes,¡¯ I murmur, running my fingers over the intricate details. ¡®He needs a new one.¡¯


    The merchant studies the Knight again, but this time, her gaze is gentler, almost maternal. The Knight shifts uneasily behind me, another low growl building in his chest. I reach back without thinking, my hand finding his arm. The growl subsides slightly at my touch, though his massive frame remains tense.


    But the merchant doesn¡¯t seem afraid of him. If anything, she looks¡­ sad. ¡®Poor wretched beast needs it more than I do,¡¯ she says decisively. ¡®And it suits him. Take it. It¡¯s just using up space anyway.¡¯


    I blink in surprise. ¡®Are you sure? This is?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Save your money for shit that¡¯ll keep you alive,¡¯ she says, cutting me off. ¡®Some things are worth more than money anyway. Like kindness.¡¯ She gives me a stiff smile. ¡®The world could use more of that these days, don¡¯t you think?¡¯


    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ I say sincerely, clutching the mask to my chest. ¡®You have no idea what this means.¡¯


    She waves me off, her bangles jingling again. ¡®Don¡¯t get all sappy on me or I¡¯ll change my mind,¡¯ she mutters, already disappearing into the piles of treasures in the back of her stall.


    I hold the mask reverently in my hands, still stunned by the merchant¡¯s unexpected kindness. ¡®We should find somewhere private,¡¯ I murmur, ncing around at the crowded market.


    The Knight rumbles in agreement, falling into step behind me as I weave through the throngs of people. Virtually everyone gives us a wide berth, their eyes widening at his towering presence before quickly looking away. Even with the hood and scarf concealing most of his face, he¡¯s an intimidating sight.


    We eventually find a quiet alley tucked away from the main thoroughfare. I turn to face the Knight, who looms in the entrance like a sentinel.


    ¡®Stand guard while I change first,¡¯ I tell him, clutching my new clothes to my chest. ¡®Then we¡¯ll deal with your mask.¡¯


    He nods jerkily and turns his back, positioning himself to block the alley entrance. His massive frame fills the spacepletely, ensuring no one can peek in. I change quickly, grateful to be rid of the blood-stained raider clothes. The new outfit fits well enough. Sturdy pants, a thick sweater, and boots that actually fit my raw feet.


    ¡®Okay,¡¯ I say once I¡¯m dressed. ¡®Your turn.¡¯


    The Knight turns back to me, and I¡¯m struck again by how imposing he is. Even hunched slightly to avoid scraping his head on the low ceiling, he towers over me.


    ¡®Here, let me help you get that off so you can wear your new mask,¡¯ I say, cautiously reaching for the broken metal.


    He jerks back with a warning growl that echoes off the alley walls.


    ¡®Okay, okay,¡¯ I mutter, holding up my hands and taking a step back. ¡®You do it then.¡¯


    He turns away from me, reaching up with those lethal ws to tear away what¡¯s left of the iron mask. I catch glimpses of fresh blood trickling down his jaw where the metal has cut into his flesh. It clearly hurts, but he doesn¡¯t make a sound.


    ¡®Let me see,¡¯ I say softly when he¡¯s done. ¡®I can help clean?¡ª¡¯


    Another snarl cuts me off, deeper this time. A clear warning.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ I sigh. ¡®Stay turned around then. Just¡­ crouch down for me. I don¡¯t have the energy to climb you like a tree.¡¯


    However much I still want to, even though I¡¯m not in heat anymore.


    To my surprise, he drops to one knee in the alley, bowing his head. The position makes him eye-level with me, though he¡¯s still massive even kneeling. I step behind him, carefully lifting the ornate mask.


    ¡®Hold still,¡¯ I murmur as I position it over his face. I take my time fastening the straps behind his head, making sure they¡¯refortable, then gently smooth his bone-white hair free where it¡¯s caught. It¡¯s long enough that the strands brush against his broad shoulders.


    ¡®Turn around,¡¯ I say softly. ¡®Let me see how it fits.¡¯


    The Knight hesitates, his massive frame tensing up again. Even kneeling, his shoulders are nearly at my eye level. Finally, slowly, he turns to face me.


    My breath catches in my throat. With this new ornate mask, the Knight looks¡­ regal. Dangerous still, but in a different way. Less like a beast and more like some fallen warrior king.


    I find myself staring longer than I should, remembering how those massive hands can be so gentle. How carefully he touched me during my heat. How he cradles me like I¡¯m made of ss even though he could tear me apart without effort.


    What is happening to me?


    Unable to help myself, I press a soft kiss to his masked cheek. ¡®There. You look nice.¡¯


    His human handes up to touch the spot where my lips brushed the mask. A low rumbling purr vibrates through his chest.


    ¡®Well, well. If it isn¡¯t the infamous moonlight omega.¡¯


    I whirl around at the voice, my heart leaping into my throat. A broad-shouldered man with a leather eyepatch and shaggy dark hair stands blocking the entrance¡ªand exit¡ªto the alley. His remaining eye widens slightly as the Knight straightens to his full height, looming over him.


    He looks vaguely familiar. Was he the one who tackled that blond weirdo? Not that I stuck around long enough to get a good look.


    The Knight¡¯s growl reverberates through the narrow tunnel, making dust fall from the walls.


    ¡®Well, shit,¡¯ the stranger mutters. He holds up his palms in a cating gesture. ¡®Easy there, big guy. I¡¯m not here to cause trouble. Name¡¯s Geo. I run this ce.¡¯


    I shift closer to the Knight instinctively, my hand finding his arm in a gesture that feels oddly natural after everything that¡¯s happened between us. I smooth my fingers down his arm through the wool of his cloak like I¡¯m stroking the fur of a massive bristling guard dog.


    ¡®What do you want?¡¯ I demand, keeping my voice cold and steady despite the way my heart pounds.


    ¡®To help,¡¯ Geo says, but his eye is fixed warily on the Knight. ¡®You¡¯ve got quite the bodyguard there.¡¯


    ¡®I do,¡¯ I reply icily. ¡®And we¡¯re leaving.¡¯


    I knew I should have gotten those fucking meds first. Even if we were walking red gs in those old clothes.


    ¡®I wouldn¡¯t rmend that,¡¯ Geo replies, nodding toward the end of the tunnel.


    My heart sinks as I spot several armed guards materializing from the shadows, their weapons trained on us. Shit. The Knight¡¯s growl deepens to a pitch that makes my teeth ache. Beneath my touch, his muscles tense, and I know he¡¯s ready to tear through these men like paper at the slightest provocation.


    ¡®Someone¡¯s been looking for you,¡¯ Geo continues, his voice casual despite the mounting tension.


    Well, that could be anyone.


    I weigh our options quickly. The Knight could probably kill everyone in this tunnel before they could get off more than a few shots. But if this guy really does run the ck market, making an enemy of him would be¡­ problematic, to say the least. And even if we did survive, I really need to make sure I don¡¯t get pregnant.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ I finally say, squeezing the Knight¡¯s arm in what I hope is a calming gesture. ¡®We¡¯ll talk. But the Knight stays with me.¡¯


    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t dream of separating you,¡¯ Geo says with a grin that doesn¡¯t reach his eye. ¡®Follow me. And try to keep your pet monster from eating my men, would you? Good help is hard to find these days.¡¯


    The Knight¡¯s growl rises in volume at the word ¡®pet,¡¯ and I have to press my whole body against his arm to keep him from lunging. ¡®He¡¯s not a pet,¡¯ I snap. ¡®And your men better keep their distance if they want to keep all their limbs attached.¡¯


    Geo just chuckles, turning to lead us deeper into the tunnels. ¡®Noted. This way, if you please.¡¯


    I follow him reluctantly, keeping close to the Knight¡¯s side. His massive frame dwarfs everyone else in the tunnel, and I can¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction at the way the guards scramble to get out of his way.


    But something about this situation sets my teeth on edge. The way Geo said someone is looking for me¡­


    I¡¯m afraid to hope, but could it be?


    Has Azarel finally found me?

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 36

    I lead them through the winding tunnels toward my office, hyper-aware of the massive alpha¡¯s heavy footsteps behind me. The sound echoes off the concrete walls, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Every instinct I have screams at me not to turn my back on something that dangerous.


    But I keep walking.


    The omega¡ªCosima¡ªstays close to the mutant¡¯s side, her delicate hand resting on his arm like she¡¯s trying to keep him calm.


    Beauty and the beast.


    It would be almost cute if he wasn¡¯t capable of tearing through my entire security force without breaking a sweat.


    I catch vague whiffs of some godawful cologne clearly meant to mask her omega scent, but that¡¯s about all I can catch with my sense of smell thoroughly fucked. Not that it matters. Even without being able to scent her, I can see why Raven¡¯s so obsessed.


    She¡¯s the most stunning omega I¡¯ve ever seen.


    All lush curves and moonlight-silver hair, with striking violet eyes that seem to pierce right through you. Right now, those eyes are boring holes in my back while she rapidly whispers something angry under her breath that sounds suspiciously like a goddamn curse.


    She¡¯s definitely Vrissian¡ªthe muted ent when she speaks confirms it¡ªso for all I know, she¡¯s casting some ancient folk magic passed down through the generations on me. I¡¯ve always found that ent sexy as hell, but it sounds a little different when I¡¯m pretty sure she¡¯s trying to turn me into a toad.


    Good thing I¡¯m not superstitious.


    We reach my office and I unlock the heavy metal door, gesturing for them to enter. ¡®After you.¡¯


    Cosima eyes me warily but steps inside, the mutant alpha ducking his massive frame to follow. His new ornate mask catches the light as he moves, and I have to admit it¡¯s an improvement over the crude iron b I glimpsed at the airfield. Almost makes him look noble instead of nightmarish.


    Almost.


    I close the door behind us and move to sit behind my desk, trying to project an air of casual authority despite the way my pulse picks up when those feral blue eyes fix on me. ¡®Please, have a seat.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll stand,¡¯ Cosima says coldly.


    The alpha rumbles in agreement, positioning himself slightly in front of her. Protective. Possessive, even.


    Interesting.


    ¡®Suit yourself,¡¯ I say with a shrug, leaning back in my chair. ¡®I¡¯ll get straight to the point then. Someone very important to me has been looking for you.¡¯


    Her spine straightens, hope flickering in her eyes. ¡®Who?¡¯


    ¡®His name is Raven. Pretty alpha, long blond hair, dramatic as fuck?¡¯ I watch her face carefully. ¡®Ring any bells?¡¯


    The hope in her eyes dims immediately. Whoever she was expecting, it wasn¡¯t him. ¡®The one you tackled at the airfield?¡¯ she asks sarcastically, and I notice her ent gets stronger when she¡¯s annoyed.


    ¡®That¡¯s the one.¡¯


    She studies me for a moment, head tilted slightly. ¡®Is he your mate?¡¯


    The question catches mepletely off guard. Takes me a moment to realize she¡¯s dead serious. ¡®What? No, he¡¯s not my fucking mate. What the hell are you talking about?¡¯


    She just shrugs, but I can tell she doesn¡¯t believe me.


    ¡®Look,¡¯ I growl, trying to get this conversation back on track even though I¡¯m plenty annoyed myself now. ¡®The point is, I can¡¯t let you leave.¡¯


    The mutant alpha¡¯s own growl fills the room instantly, making the pens on my desk rattle. There¡¯s fresh blood on his metal ws. Probably from the half-dead merchant my men found stuffed in a dumpster earlier. A particrly important merchant, too.


    Today¡¯s just full of fucking headaches.


    I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡®If your pet mutant tries anything, my men won¡¯t let either of you leave alive. They¡¯ll shoot first and ask questionster. I¡¯d rather not have to exin to Raven why I had to put down his omega, but I will if I have to.¡¯


    ¡®I am not his omega,¡¯ Cosima snarls, her ent thick with rage. ¡®And if you think your men¡¯s bullets will do anything against the Knight, you¡¯re delusional.¡¯


    The Knight? Is that what she calls him?


    ¡®Maybe not,¡¯ I concede. ¡®But they might slow him down long enough for the gas to kick in. The vents in here aren¡¯t just for show.¡¯


    Her eyes narrow dangerously. ¡®You have no idea who you¡¯re dealing with.¡¯


    I stare at the omega across my desk, unmoved by her attempts at intimidation. She¡¯s got fire, I¡¯ll give her that. Most omegas would be cowering by now. But she just res at me with that fierce gaze, chin raised defiantly.


    ¡®My father will have your head for this,¡¯ she hisses. ¡®He¡¯ll burn this entire shitty market of yours to the ground.¡¯


    I can¡¯t help butugh. ¡®Arthur Maybrecht? Please. That snake doesn¡¯t give a shit about anything but his own ass. Why do you think he had the Ghosts snatch you in the first ce?¡¯


    Of course Raven had to go and imprint like a fucking baby bird on the daughter of one of the most important¡ªand infamous¡ªalphas in Reinmich. He can never do anything halfway.


    Her eyes widen slightly before narrowing again. ¡®How do you know about that?¡¯


    ¡®I make it my business to know things,¡¯ I say with a shrug, leaning back in my chair. Especially when those things intersect with the one person I still give a shit about, despite my best attempts. ¡®Information is power out here in the Outer Reaches. And right now, the most valuable piece of information I have is that you¡¯re exactly where you need to be.¡¯


    Cosima¡¯s lip curls in disgust. ¡®And where is that? Your little dungeon? Are you going to keep me as a pet for your pretty boyfriend?¡¯


    ¡®Raven is not my fucking boyfriend,¡¯ I growl, my patience wearing thin. ¡®And this isn¡¯t a dungeon. Think of it more as¡­ protective custody.¡¯


    The Knight shifts beside her. The contrast between the serene features of his noble mask and the burning rage in the scarred blue eyes behind it is nothing short of disturbing, even by my standards. His metal ws flex as he growls, gouging the shit out of my concrete wall with an ominous screech that sets my teeth on edge.


    Great. Another repair bill.


    ¡®I don¡¯t need your protection,¡¯ Cosima spits. ¡®And I certainly don¡¯t need to be kept like some prized pet for your pet.¡¯


    ¡®Look, princess,¡¯ I say, trying to keep my voice level. She curls her lip at me in clear agitation. ¡®I get that you¡¯re not thrilled about the situation. But Raven is convinced you¡¯re his mate, and until I can figure out what the fuck is going on, you¡¯re staying put.¡¯


    Sheughs, the sound sharp and bitter. ¡®Is this how all alphas court their supposed mates out here? Through kidnapping and imprisonment?¡¯


    ¡®No one¡¯s imprisoning you,¡¯ I protest, even though that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m doing. And the answer to her question is yes, that usually is how it goes out here. Pretty much anywhere other than Surhiira, where the favored method is an endless stream of progressively over-the-top gifts and love poems. ¡®I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯refortable. You¡¯ll have everything you need.¡¯


    ¡®Everything I need?¡¯ she repeats incredulously. ¡®Like what? Your boyfriend¡¯s dick?¡¯


    ¡®For thest fucking time, he¡¯s not my boyfriend!¡¯ I snarl, mming my fist on the desk. The pens rattle. So does the Knight¡¯s deepening growl. It makes my head throb. This is one hell of a migraine I¡¯ve got brewing, emanating from my eye socket. ¡®And this isn¡¯t about ¡®iming¡¯ anyone,¡¯ I say through my teeth. ¡®This is about keeping everyone alive long enough to sort this mess out.¡¯


    Cosima crosses her arms, looking thoroughly unimpressed. ¡®Right. Because locking me up is clearly the best way to handle this situation. Tell me, does your not-boyfriend often send you to kidnap omegas for him?¡¯


    ¡®You don¡¯t know what the fuck you¡¯re talking about,¡¯ I growl, rising from my chair. The Knight immediately steps forward, but Cosima ces a restraining hand on his arm. ¡®Raven is¡­plicated. But he¡¯s not just some random alpha. He¡¯s family.¡¯


    ¡®Family?¡¯ She arches one perfect silver eyebrow. ¡®Is that what they¡¯re calling it these days? Is this a Daddy-sh-boy situation?¡¯


    I bristle because her words are too damn close tofort, considering what Raven calls me, but I remind myself there¡¯s no way she could know that.


    Hopefully.


    Before I can respond, a sharp beeping cuts through the tension. The security monitor on my desk shes red and my blood runs cold as I read the alert.


    SECURITY BREACH


    PRISONERS ESCAPED


    ALERT LEVEL: CRITICAL


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I mutter, already reaching for my gun.


    My radio crackles to life. ¡®Boss!¡¯ One of my guards¡¯ panicked voice fills the room. ¡®The prisoners¡­ they¡¯re gone! Both of them!¡¯


    Of course they are.


    Because nothing in my life can ever be simple when ites to that golden-haired menace.


    Or Niki fucking kov.


    And now they¡¯re together.


    Again.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 37

    I try to ignore the hollow ache in my chest as I sprint through the tunnels, focusing instead on finding my way out of thisbyrinth. Geo¡¯s security system is good, but I know all its weaknesses. I helped design half of them, after all.


    Not even once.


    Niki¡¯s words echo in my head, cutting deeper than they have any right to. I grit my teeth, pushing the memory aside. It doesn¡¯t matter. None of it matters except finding Cosima.


    My moonlight goddess.


    My mate.


    She¡¯s close. I can feel it. The same inexplicable pull that drew me to her at the airfield is stronger now, tugging at something deep in my chest. Logic tells me it¡¯s impossible, but rationality isn¡¯t a sin I¡¯ve ever had on my conscience.


    Heavy footsteps echo behind me. Niki must finally be catching up after freeing himself. Imagining how much of a dumbass he probably looked like when he had to reach for those keys with his arms still bound soothes the sting of my own humiliation, but only a little.


    Asshole.


    Movement ahead catches my eye. One of Geo¡¯s guards rounds the corner, gun raised. ¡®Freeze!¡¯ he shouts, but his hands are shaking. Poor bastard probably drew the short straw.


    ¡®Sorry,¡¯ I mutter beforeunching myself at him.


    The confusion barely has time to register in his expression before I duck under his arm and drive my knee into his stomach, following up with an elbow to the back of his head as he doubles over. He drops like a sack of potatoes.


    ¡®Still pulling your punches, I see,¡¯ Niki drawls from behind me while I¡¯m picking a gun off the unconscious guard¡¯s body. He quickly snatches the second one out of the holster under the guard¡¯s shoulder.


    I spin around just as another guard appears. Before I can react, Niki¡¯s stolen gun barks twice. The guard crumples, red blooming across his chest.


    ¡®What the fuck?¡¯ I snarl, rounding on him. ¡®You didn¡¯t have to kill him!¡¯


    Niki arches an eyebrow, that infuriating smirk ying at his lips. ¡®You¡¯re wee.¡¯


    ¡®Geo would have ordered them not to use lethal force,¡¯ I snap.


    Before he can reply, three more guards appear, guns zing. Niki curses and dives for cover as bullets pepper the wall where his head was a moment ago.


    ¡®Yeah, maybe not on you!¡¯ he shouts over the gunfire.


    Shit.


    He¡¯s right.


    I spot a metal pipe running along the ceiling, probably part of the venttion system. Without thinking, I leap up and grab it, using my momentum to swing forward and kick the nearest guard in the chest. He goes down hard, his gun skittering across the concrete floor.


    The second guard turns his weapon on me, because apparently he didn¡¯t get the memo about the princess treatment, but I¡¯m already moving. I drop from the pipe and roll,ing up inside his guard. A quick strike to his throat has him choking and stumbling backward.


    The third guard takes aim at Niki, who¡¯s pinned down behind a stack of crates. I grab the fallen guard¡¯s gun and throw it, catching the man in the temple. He drops with a satisfying thud.


    ¡®Now we¡¯re even,¡¯ I call out to Niki. I brush the gunpowder off my shirt and turn to keep going. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him emerging from cover.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t need your help,¡¯ he growls.


    ¡®Right,¡¯ I drawl. ¡®You had itpletely under control.¡¯


    His eyes narrow dangerously. ¡®I did.¡¯


    I weave through the familiar tunnels, my boots barely making a sound on the concrete floor. The path to Geo¡¯s office is burned into my memory from countlesste nights spent wandering these halls when I couldn¡¯t sleep, but I try not to think about that.


    Just like I try not to think about the other alpha following close behind me.


    ¡®Left here,¡¯ I mutter, more to myself than him.


    ¡®You seem to know your way around,¡¯ Niki remarks, his voice dripping with that infuriating smugness I remember all too well.


    I roll my eyes, not bothering to look back at him. ¡®Of course I do. I lived here.¡¯


    ¡®Ah, right.¡¯ His tone sharpens. ¡®You left my operation for this dump.¡¯


    ¡®Better than your tacky superviinirs and your merry little band of degenerates,¡¯ I snap, ducking around a corner just as gunfire erupts behind us from one of the other corridors.


    Niki dives after me, returning fire with practiced ease. ¡®At least my men can shoot straight,¡¯ he sneers as two guards drop.


    ¡®They¡¯re under orders not to kill me, you insufferable prick.¡¯ I grab a piece of pipe from a nearby maintenance cart and hurl it at another approaching guard. It catches him in the throat, sending him sprawling. ¡®Unlike yours, who¡¯d shoot their own mothers for a pat on the head.¡¯


    ¡®Some people value loyalty,¡¯ he shoots back. ¡®And once upon a time, you put a high premium on my approval. Does that grumpy old bastard know you¡¯re going to turn on him eventually, too?¡¯


    ¡®Shut up,¡¯ I snarl, my fingers itching to wrap around his throat. Or maybe just shoot him. Starting to think Geo had the right idea about that all along. ¡®You don¡¯t get to talk about him.¡¯


    But Niki, being the insufferable bastard he is, just smirks. ¡®Then again, he betrayed you first, didn¡¯t he?¡¯ His voice drips with mock sympathy that makes my blood boil. ¡®Locked you up and even cored you. Just like old times, wasn¡¯t it?¡¯


    I whirl on him, shoving him against the wall hard enough to make his wounds bleed through his shirt. ¡®Geo is trying to protect me in his own obnoxious way,¡¯ I snap, getting right in his face. ¡®At least he doesn¡¯t use his bark to control me.¡¯


    Something dangerously close to guilt flickers in his eye, but I know better than to think he¡¯s capable of that. It¡¯s gone in an instant, anyway. ¡®You made your choice,¡¯ he says bitterly. ¡®I just helped you along. Face it, little bird. You traded one cage for another.¡¯


    My fist connects with his jaw before I can stop myself. The impact sends pain shooting through my knuckles, but it¡¯s worth it for the way his head snaps back. Blood trickles from his split lip and I feel a surge of savage satisfaction.


    ¡®Don¡¯t you fucking dare call me that,¡¯ I seethe. ¡®And you don¡¯t get topare yourself to him. Not when he¡¯s the one who helped put the pieces you left me in back together. If Geo wanted to control me, he wouldn¡¯t have trained me to resist other alphas¡¯mands.¡¯


    ¡®Did he?¡¯ His eyes glitter viciously. ¡®Then why did you drop like a good little omega when Imanded you at the airfield? Seems like all that training he gave you didn¡¯t take.¡¯


    His words are like a p across my face. Because he¡¯s right. All those years spent building up resistance, all Geo¡¯s careful work¡­ and I still folded like wet paper the moment Niki used his bark.


    I thought I had backslidpletely, but I was able to withstand the doctor¡¯smand easily enough.


    So why the fuck is Niki the exception?


    But before I can respond, gunfire erupts from the end of the tunnel. We both dive for cover behind a stack of crates as bullets pepper the wall where we were standing.


    ¡®We don¡¯t have time for this shit,¡¯ I growl, checking my ammunition.


    Three rounds left.


    Fucking fantastic.


    Niki peers around the corner, returning fire with his stolen gun. ¡®For once, we agree on something.¡¯


    We agree on more than that.


    Omegas, too, apparently.


    Because fate isn¡¯t done fucking with me.


    More guards pour into the tunnel, their boots thundering against the concrete. I risk a nce and count at least six of them. Not great odds, even for us.


    ¡®There¡¯s a maintenance shaft two corridors over,¡¯ I tell him, already plotting our escape route. ¡®It leads straight to the upper levels.¡¯


    ¡®After you,¡¯ he says with mock courtesy.


    I flip him off before darting out from cover,ying down suppressing fire with myst few rounds as I sprint for the next tunnel. I¡¯m better at killing people than intentionally trying not to hit them, but thest thing I need is to hear Geo bitching for the next ten years that I took out a favorite guard.


    I¡¯m pissed, but not quite that pissed.


    Niki follows close behind, his presence at my back both familiar and unsettling.


    Just like old times.


    And that¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t it?


    Everything about this feels like stepping back in time. Running through hostile territory with him at my side, trading barbs and bullets in equal measure. It would be so easy to fall back into old patterns.


    But I¡¯m not that person anymore.


    I¡¯m not his little bird, desperate for approval and affection he¡¯d sooner die than give in full. I have someone who actually cares about me now. Even if he shows it in the most aggravating ways possible.


    And I have my mate.


    Even if she doesn¡¯t know it yet.


    ¡®This way,¡¯ I call out, skidding around another corner. The maintenance shaft is just ahead, its rusty grate barely visible in the dim lighting.


    But as we approach, I hear voices echoing from above. Familiar voices.


    And a familiar scent. The same one that¡¯s been guiding me throughout this whole chaotic, suicidal quest.


    My heart stops.


    ¡®That¡¯s her,¡¯ I breathe, already changing course. ¡®She¡¯s in Geo¡¯s office.¡¯


    Niki freezes, his eyes narrowing. ¡®That¡¯s impossible.¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t smell moonlight?¡¯ I challenge. ¡®That¡¯s her scent.¡¯


    He hesitates, then his eyes go wide as he scents the air. ¡®Fuck. What the hell is she doing here?¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ I mutter, turning to head in thest direction we should be going. But if Cosima is here, I¡¯m not leaving without her.


    And something tells me Niki won¡¯t, either.


    Before I can even make it to the end of the hall, armed guards block the route and I have no choice but to halt in my tracks, fresh out of bullets. But despite Niki standing right beside me, none of them fire.


    When the guards part to make room for the man who signs their checks, I realize why.


    ¡®Geo,¡¯ I seethe.


    He looks at me, then at Niki with a sneering twist of his mouth. Then he looks back to me. ¡®So you slipped your cage. Should¡¯ve known better than to send in a fucking alpha,¡¯ he mutters with a sigh, dragging a hand down his face and shaking his head.


    My heart nearly stops as Niki raises his gun, but I don¡¯t hesitate. I throw myself between him and Geo before he can pull the trigger. The cold metal of the barrel presses against my back as I spread my arms wide, making myself as big a target as possible so neither side can fire without going through me.


    ¡®Move,¡¯ Niki snarls¡ªalmost a bark¡ªbut I can hear the strain in his voice. The slight tremor that tells me I was right. He won¡¯t shoot through me. Or bark. Interesting.


    Guess that risk paid off.


    ¡®No,¡¯ I say firmly, meeting Geo¡¯s eye over the sights of the guns trained on us. ¡®I¡¯m fucking done with this bullshit. All of it.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s expression darkens. ¡®Behave yourself,¡¯ he growls. ¡®Or you won¡¯t get your present.¡¯


    I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. ¡®Present?¡¯ The wordes out more hopeful than I intend. ¡®Cosima? You brought her here?¡¯


    So my nose wasn¡¯t lying to me out of desperation.


    ¡®It¡¯splicated,¡¯ Geo says dryly. His remaining eye studies me with that infuriating mix of exasperation and fondness I know so well. ¡®Do you want to see her or not?¡¯


    The gun barrel digs harder into my spine as Niki tenses behind me, but I feel the subtle click of the safety going back in ce and hear him cursing softly in Vrissian.


    ¡®You know I do,¡¯ I mutter. ¡®Call off your dogs first.¡¯


    Something in Geo¡¯s expression shifts. He stares at me for a few moments before heaving a beleaguered sigh. ¡®Stand down,¡¯ he orders his men. Then, to Niki, ¡®You too, kov. Take the gun off my boy, or this reunion¡¯s over before it starts.¡¯


    My boy.


    Even though I know he means it in the boring, non-kinky sense, it makes my spine go all tingly and for a moment, I almost forget how fucking enraged I am at him for coring me and putting me in a cage.


    Almost.


    For a long moment, no one moves. I hold my breath, hoping I haven¡¯t miscalcted. Hoping that Niki¡¯s hatred for Geo doesn¡¯t outweigh the same obsession for Cosima I feel, if we really did somehow both end up matched with the same omega.


    Finally, slowly, the pressure against my back eases.


    The gun tters to the floor.


    Geo¡¯s men move forward immediately to retrieve the weapon. When they reach for Niki¡¯s wrists with cuffs, though, I step between them.


    ¡®No,¡¯ I say firmly. ¡®No restraints.¡¯


    The guards look between me and Geo. He works his jaw in frustration, but he shrugs it off and turns back the way he came. ¡®She¡¯s this way,¡¯ he grumbles. ¡®Unless her pet monster¡¯s chewed through my men in the time I¡¯ve been gone.¡¯


    I stumble slightly. ¡®Pet¡­ monster?¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯s with the Knight?¡¯ Niki demands, his voice sharp with disbelief. ¡®That thing didn¡¯t eat her?¡¯


    Geo barks out a harshugh. ¡®Eat her? She¡¯s got the damn beast on a leash. Does whatever she says.¡¯


    I exchange a bewildered look with Niki, momentarily forgetting our mutual animosity. The memory of that massive, terrifying alpha tearing through Niki¡¯s men shes through my mind.


    And my moonlight goddess has him with her?


    This is going to be interesting.


    Or deadly.


    Probably both, like everything else.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 38

    I pace restlessly in Geo¡¯s office, trying to ignore the way my feet still ache in these new boots. The Knight looms in the corner like a particrly murderous shadow, his new mask catching the dim light. The silver looks almost alive in the flickering fluorescent glow.


    He looks good. Really good.


    Which¡­ sounds fucking insane. But he does. I¡¯ve always had a thing for longer hair, though, and the way his bone-white hair frames that silver mask¡ªand his burning blue eyes, which are tracking my every movement¡ªis making it impossible to regret letting him get me through my heat.


    I probably should, but I don¡¯t.


    Guess I¡¯m crazy.


    When the door opens, I tense immediately, and the Knight growls in response, stepping forward to get between me and whoever¡¯s there. But it¡¯s just one of Geo¡¯s guards, a nervous-looking beta whose face goes pale when his eyes lock on the Knight.


    ¡®G-Geo requests your presence in his private quarters,¡¯ the guard stammers, clearly trying very hard not to piss himself as the Knight¡¯s rumbling growl fills the room.


    I ce a calming hand on the Knight¡¯s arm. ¡®It¡¯s fine,¡¯ I tell him softly. Though honestly, I¡¯m not sure it is. But what choice do we have? We¡¯re deep in Geo¡¯s territory now, surrounded by his men.


    The guard leads us through a maze of tunnels that gradually be less industrial and more¡­ lived in. The concrete walls give way to actual paneling in ces, and I spot proper furniture instead of milk crates and stolen office chairs.


    This isn¡¯t just some underground ck market, I realize. This is an empire.


    We pass more guards. Some are lounging in what appears to be a break room, others are patrolling and giving us wary nces. They¡¯re a scruffy bunch, but there¡¯s no mistaking the military training in their movements. Or the quality of their weapons.


    The guard stops before an ornate wooden door that looks like it was salvaged from some pre-war mansion. ¡®Through here,¡¯ he says, gesturing for us to enter.


    I step into what can only be described as a living room, though that seems too mundane a word for the space. Rich carpets cover the concrete floor, and actual paintings hang on the walls. A massive firece dominates one wall, the warm light from the crackling fire lighting up thefortable-looking furniture and a freaking piano. And there¡¯s an absolutely massive animal skull mounted above the firece.


    I don¡¯t even know what the hell that thing was in life, but it was huge and it had horns. Lots of horns.


    But it¡¯s the people in the room that make me freeze.


    Geo leans against the mantel, his one eye fixed on us and his muscr arms folded over his broad chest. Niki stands near a window¡ªa fucking window, underground?¡ªhis eyes widening as they lock onto me. And there, practically vibrating with excitement, is the pretty blond alpha from the airfield.


    The Knight¡¯s growl deepens to a pitch that makes my teeth ache, almost snarling. His massive frame tenses beside me.


    ¡®Sorry,¡¯ I drawl, rolling my eyes. ¡®He¡¯s a little alpha-aggressive.¡¯


    Whatever stupor hase over Niki evaporates in an instant. ¡®Get away from that thing!¡¯ he snaps, taking a step forward. ¡®It¡¯ll tear you apart!¡¯


    I can¡¯t help butugh. ¡®Please. I¡¯d take him over you any day.¡¯ I pause, putting a finger on my lips. ¡®Actually¡­ I did.¡¯ The wordse out dripping with venom, and I take savage satisfaction in the way Niki¡¯s eyes narrow.


    I can tell he wants to know if that¡¯s why I¡¯m not in heat anymore. For all he knows, I got my hands on pills that got me out of it. Or maybe I let an alpha in the underground fuck me. And I can practically see the gears turning behind his eyes as he tries to figure out if I mean I literally chose the Knight over him.


    Joke¡¯s on him.


    I¡¯ll let him wonder forever.


    The blond alpha moves then, approaching me with an expression of pure adoration that seems utterly out of ce, considering I¡¯ve never even met him. ¡®My goddess,¡¯ he breathes, reaching for my hand. ¡®Atst?¡ª¡¯


    The Knight¡¯s snarl cuts through the room like a thunderp. The blond alpha stumbles back, his pupils blowing wide until the blue in his pretty eyes is a thin ring.


    ¡®No. Touching,¡¯ I snap, stepping closer to the Knight¡¯s protective bulk and wrapping my arms around his non-metal arm. Even with my hands just resting near the arteries beneath his scarred skin, I can feel his normally slow, steady pulse thundering like a war drum. ¡®Who the hell are you, anyway?¡¯


    I know Geo said he thinks he¡¯s my mate, but that¡¯s utterly fucking ridiculous.


    Even if he does smell¡­


    Huh.


    Kind of good, actually. Better than good. He smells like honey, rich and golden and clean. Nothing like the acrid scent of alpha that usually repels me.


    And then, I find myself wondering what the odds are that I happen to be standing in a room with four alphas who are all somehow exceptions to my strange little rule.


    Azarel was the first. I assumed he was the only alpha who would ever smell good to me. That it was a sign from the universe we were meant to be together.


    But if that¡¯s true, the same would apply to Niki. And that¡¯s a pill that¡¯s way too big and bitter to swallow. Even Geo smells dangerously pleasant, like stone and leather and those expensive cigars he likes.


    I¡¯m too tired for this shit.


    ¡®My name is Raven, and I¡¯m your mate,¡¯ the blond says, his smooth voice wavering slightly as he gives me puppy dog eyes.


    Raven¡¯s an odd name for an alpha with hair like spun sunlight. Then again, they do like shiny shit.


    And this is the shiniest fucking alpha I¡¯ve ever seen.


    I¡¯m starting to see why the big brute with the eyepatch would clearly do anything for him, even if it makes him infinitely more of a pain in my ass. His confidence seems to grow as he takes another step forward, ignoring¡ªor maybe just in spite of¡ªthe Knight¡¯s warning growl.


    ¡®I felt it the moment I saw you at the Alpha¡¯s Alpha,¡¯ Raven continues. ¡®Surely you felt it, too?¡¯


    ¡®The Alpha¡¯s Alpha?¡¯ My nose wrinkles as I remember the incense and scent maskers pumped through those vents at that ce Monty dragged me to so I could watch him get his rocks off with all his freaky little fetishes. ¡®That tacky sex club?¡¯


    Raven¡¯s expression goes nk and Geo runs a hand over his face. Niki barks out augh.


    ¡®Tacky?¡¯ Raven croaks, sounding like I just took a sledgehammer to the gravestones of every asshole that came before him.


    ¡®Yes, tacky. Like those,¡¯ I say, pointing at Niki¡¯s crimson leather boots just to shut him up. Hisughter dries up immediately and he gives me a re that could peel the polish off them.


    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s time to redecorate,¡¯ Raven says, his smile wavering.


    I blink. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re the owner.¡¯


    ¡®Guilty,¡¯ Raven says with a sigh. ¡®And I¡¯ll happily raze it to the ground if you like, but it will always hold a special ce in my heart for being the ce where I firstid eyes on you.¡¯


    I blink, realizing he¡¯s dead serious.


    About all of it.


    The weary look on Geo¡¯s face is confirmation enough of that.


    ¡®I don¡¯t remember seeing you there,¡¯ I say tly. Then again, I tend to tune out when Monty is doing his bullshit. At least when a female alpha has him gagged and half choked to death, I don¡¯t have to listen to his incessant whining.


    ¡®You were unconscious,¡¯ Raven says, his eyes narrowing dangerously. ¡®Those barbarians absconded with you before I could stop them.¡¯


    ¡®The Ghosts?¡¯ I ask. It seems like that all happened a lifetime ago. It might as well have. I¡¯m not sure even Azarel would recognize me now. Traipsing around the Outer Reaches in secondhand clothing, covered in raider blood, unmoisturized.


    How far I¡¯ve fallen.


    Then again, the blond alpha looks pretty put together. Maybe he has some actual shampoo I can use. Gods, what I would give for a hot bath.


    ¡®Yes, them,¡¯ Raven says with a curl of his lip. ¡®That¡¯s how I found out you were being held hostage by Niki.¡¯


    ¡®I wasn¡¯t holding her hostage. I was the middleman keeping her for ransom,¡¯ Niki corrects him.


    ¡®Is there a difference?¡¯ Raven hisses. ¡®The poor girl is probably traumatized all the same! You have no idea how to treat an omega.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah, got me there, considering you practically are one,¡¯ Niki counters.


    That makes the blond snap. He actually lunges and wraps his hands around Niki¡¯s neck with a snarl. The Knight tenses and steps in front of me with a heavy stomp that shakes the room, but Raven doesn¡¯t even seem to notice.


    I watch with both irritation and amusement as Raven and Niki grapple. For all his delicate features and dramatic ir, Raven¡¯s clearly no stranger to fighting dirty. His kneees up sharply, aiming for Niki¡¯s groin, but therger alpha blocks it easily.


    ¡®Are they always like this?¡¯ I ask Geo, who looks about as done with this situation as I feel.


    He pinches the bridge of his nose, his eye closed in obvious frustration. ¡®More or less.¡¯


    Beside me, the Knight shifts restlessly, another low growl building in his chest. I stroke his arm to try to calm him down, but honestly, I¡¯m tempted to just let him loose.


    It would certainly solve several of my problems at once.


    ¡®Enough!¡¯ Geo finally barks, though it isn¡¯t quite a full-blown alpha bark, striding forward to separate them. He grabs Raven by the back of his shirt and hauls him away from Niki with surprising ease. ¡®You¡¯re the one who made me spare this asshole¡¯s life, so what was the point if you¡¯re just going to strangle him now?¡¯


    Raven smooths down his rumpled clothes, shooting Niki a venomous re. ¡®Clearly, that was an error in judgment.¡¯


    ¡®Fuck off, princess,¡¯ Niki snaps, rubbing his throat where Raven¡¯s fingers left red marks.


    ¡®I hate to interrupt whatever¡­ this is,¡¯ I say, gesturing vaguely at the testosterone-fueled drama unfolding before me, ¡®but I really need to be going.¡¯ I pause, considering. ¡®Though I wouldn¡¯t say no to a shower first.¡¯


    The reaction is immediate and almostical. All three alphas tense, exchanging panicked looks.


    ¡®You can¡¯t leave,¡¯ Niki says firmly.


    ¡®Absolutely not,¡¯ Raven agrees. From the shocked look Geo gives him, it¡¯s probably the first andst time they¡¯ll ever be on the same page about anything.


    ¡®Look,¡¯ I say with a tired sigh, crossing my arms. ¡®I¡¯ve been held captive more than enough for a hundred lifetimes, and I¡¯m fucking done with it. So unless you want me to feed you to myrge and very carnivorous bodyguard¡ªwho¡¯s feeling quite peckish since I wouldn¡¯t let him eat thest few assholes who tried to take me against my will¡ªI suggest you choose the easy way.¡¯


    The Knight¡¯s growl deepens right on cue, as if backing me up. I have to bite back a smile at how perfectly he¡¯s ying along.


    I¡¯m definitely keeping him.


    Azarel owes me that much, at least.


    After everything I¡¯ve been through? He can deal with sharing me with a giant mutated alpha. And maybe the Knight will even eat Monty, assuming that bastard¡¯s still alive.


    Win-win.


    ¡®Well, kid, ya tried,¡¯ Geo says, pping Raven on the shoulder. He turns to me with a resigned shrug. ¡®You¡¯re wee to make a pit stop in the bathroom down the hall. You can even use the nice hand towels I save for my most esteemed guests.¡¯


    I scoff. ¡®How generous.¡¯


    ¡®Wait!¡¯ Raven steps forward, those big blue eyes practically sparkling with desperation. ¡®There must be something you want. Something that can convince you to stay.¡¯


    I open my mouth to tell him exactly where he can shove his offers, but then I pause. These men are clearly well-connected in the criminal underworld. They probably know things. Have ess to informationworks I could never tap into on my own.


    ¡®There is something,¡¯ I say slowly.


    Raven perks up immediately. ¡®Name it.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m looking for someone.¡¯ I watch their faces carefully. ¡®His name is Azarel, but he could be going by any number of aliases. He¡¯s a Surhiiranmander in Reinmich¡¯s army. Ring any bells?¡¯


    I can tell by their nk expressions it doesn¡¯t.


    ¡®Not off the top of my head,¡¯ Raven says carefully, ¡®but I can find out. I can find anyone.¡¯


    There¡¯s no mistaking the confidence in his voice, but he could be full of shit. I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯d say anything to get me to stay here.


    And I sure as fuck don¡¯t trust Niki.


    I hesitate, ncing at Geo. ¡®Is that true?¡¯


    His expression sours slightly, like he¡¯s tasting something bitter. ¡®Yeah,¡¯ he says with a grudging scowl.


    Well. Considering he¡¯s clearly about as happy about us being here as I am, that reluctant admission carries more weight than any of Raven¡¯s eager promises.


    ¡®Alright,¡¯ I say, drawing myself up to my full height. Which isn¡¯t particrly impressive next to these towering alphas, but the Knight¡¯s hulking presence at my back more than makes up for it. ¡®Here¡¯s the deal. I¡¯ll stay for forty-eight hours. If you don¡¯t have something for me by then, I¡¯m leaving. And if any of you fuckers tries to stop me¡­¡¯


    I trail off, hoping the Knight and I are on the same frequency. He growls loud enough that I can feel the vibrations in the floorboards at the perfect moment.


    Someone¡¯s getting a handjob tonight.


    And I¡¯m getting a shower.


    Talk about another win-win.


    ¡®I ept your terms,¡¯ Raven says, so worked up I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s about to turn into a fine mist. His golden hair catches the light as he shifts like he¡¯s trying to resist pouncing on me in his excitement. Which would be a deadly mistake long before the Knight¡¯s ws could even sink into him. ¡®I¡¯ll have my contacts searching within the hour. No one knows the Outer Reaches like I do.¡¯


    I catch Niki¡¯s slight sneer from the corner of my eye. His mismatched gaze is calcting, and I make a mental note to watch him closely.


    He¡¯s nning something.


    Probably how to use this situation to his advantage so whatever the Ghosts paid him doesn¡¯t go to waste. Typical alpha behavior.


    Then again, Raven thinks I¡¯m his mate.


    Which makes him even more dangerous.


    Still, what choice do I have? The Outer Reaches are vast and unforgiving. For all I know, Azarel isn¡¯t even out here looking for me. He could be searching the Capital, or maybe my father sent him on some other mission. If Raven can actually find him, or at least get a message to him¡­


    Forty-eight hours is a small price to pay for potentially saving myself weeks or months of aimless wandering. Even with the Knight at my side, it¡¯s a journey from hell, and I¡¯d be lucky if I survived.


    ¡®You must be exhausted,¡¯ Raven says, his voice softening with concern that seems oddly genuine. ¡®And starving. When¡¯s thest time you had a proper meal? I¡¯m sure what this beast was feeding you wouldn¡¯t qualify as scraps for a dog.¡¯ He shoots Niki a sneering look.


    ¡®Oh, fuck off, drama queen,¡¯ Niki snaps.


    My stomach growls traitorously at the mention of food. The berries from the forest feel like a lifetime ago, and I haven¡¯t exactly been prioritizing regr meals while running for my life.


    ¡®I need meds, too,¡¯ I add. ¡®Meds to keep me from getting pregnant. I had some help getting out of my heatst night, and I¡¯m pretty sure if anythinges of it, I¡¯ll¡­ uh¡­ die.¡¯


    Niki stares at me, then at the Knight, then back at me again.


    I smirk at him.


    ¡®On it,¡¯ Raven says immediately, already moving toward the door. ¡®I¡¯ll show you to the guest room. You can get cleaned up and rest. I¡¯ll bring you food.¡¯ He pauses, ncing at the Knight. ¡®And, ah, perhaps some oil for your friend¡¯s¡­ de hands?¡¯


    The Knight¡¯s growl is intense enough that it rattles my teeth. I have to bite back augh. Even with the ornate mask hiding his face, which is too heavily scarred to have much of an expression anyway, I can tell he¡¯s deeply offended.


    ¡®Sure, sure,¡¯ Geo mutters from his spot in the armchair by the firece. ¡®Make yourselves at home. No need to ask me. I just own the fucking ce.¡¯


    Raven ignores himpletely, gesturing for me to follow him through the door. ¡®This way, my goddess.¡¯


    Goddess, huh? Maybe I won¡¯t have the Knight turn this one into hamburger meat. If he follows through on the information about Azarel.


    I hesitate for a moment, ncing between the remaining alphas. Niki¡¯s expression is unreadable, but the tension in his jaw speaks volumes. Geo just looks exhausted and fed up with it all.


    Good. Maybe he¡¯ll keep Niki in line if he gets any ideas about keeping me here.


    Come to think of it, why is Niki here?


    In all the chaos, I forgot to ask.


    It takes me all of two seconds to decide I really don¡¯t give a fuck. Not when there¡¯s a shower and real food calling my name.


    Maybe an actual bed, too.


    The Knight¡¯s massive presence at my back is constant as I follow Raven into the hallway. His heavy footsteps echo off the walls, and I notice with amusement that his gait is even louder than usual. Probably still pissed about the oilment.


    ¡®The guest wing is just through here,¡¯ Raven exins as we walk. ¡®It¡¯s not exactly the Capital, but it¡¯sfortable enough. The water pressure in the shower is divine¡ªI made sure of that myself.¡¯


    I perk up at the mention of a proper shower. ¡®Hot water?¡¯


    ¡®Scalding,¡¯ he promises with a grin. ¡®And I¡¯m sure I left some of my products here. Geo never gets rid of anything.¡¯


    ¡®You live here?¡¯ I ask doubtfully. He seems a bit¡­ fancy for this ce. For all its additions, it¡¯s still essentially a series of tunnels in the Outer Reaches.


    ¡®Oh. Well, I used to,¡¯ he corrects quickly. ¡®It¡¯s a long story and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re too tired to hear it all. But there will be plenty of time to get to know each otherter.¡¯


    ¡®We¡¯ll see,¡¯ I say sharply. ¡®If you follow through on what you promised.¡¯


    His smile doesn¡¯t falter. ¡®Of course. Ady who demands results. I respect that.¡¯


    I snort. ¡®You are a strange alpha, Raven.¡¯


    A strange man, period.


    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t be the first time I¡¯ve heard that,¡¯ he muses,ing to a stop near the end of the hallway.


    We reach an ornate wooden door that looks like it was salvaged from some pre-war mansion. Raven produces a brass key from below the doormat with a shake of his head, as if he can¡¯t believe it¡¯s there, and unlocks the door to reveal a surprisingly luxurious suite.


    ¡®Your sanctuary awaits,¡¯ he says with an borate bow. ¡®The bathroom is through there, and I¡¯ll have food sent up shortly. Is there anything specific you¡¯d like?¡¯


    I eye the massive bed longingly, wondering just how desperate I am for a shower. The exhaustion I¡¯ve been fighting suddenly hits me all at once. When was thest time I slept in an actual bed? The tower doesn¡¯t count. I was too terrified to really rest there.


    Even if there is a traitorous¡ªand apparently, clinically insane¡ªpart of me that misses the nest I made with Niki¡¯s scent all over it.


    I¡¯ve been out here too damn long. The radiation is starting to get to me.


    ¡®Anything that isn¡¯t irradiated or previously owned by raiders will do,¡¯ I say dryly.


    Raven¡¯s face lights up. ¡®I know just the thing. Give me twenty minutes.¡¯ He pauses in the doorway, his expression softening. ¡®I know you have no reason to believe me yet, but I¡¯m so d I found you. And I promise, you¡¯re safe here.¡¯ He pauses, ncing up at the Knight. ¡®You and the¡­ gentleman.¡¯


    Before I can respond, he¡¯s gone in a swirl of golden hair and expensive cologne, leaving me alone in the opulent room.


    Well, not exactly alone.


    The Knight¡¯s gaze drifts down to me, and I feel my own bewilderment echoed in those intense blue eyes.


    ¡®Tell me about it,¡¯ I mumble, gesturing for him toe into the room with me. ¡®But it¡¯s a chance to rest and recover, and you have my permission to eat anyone who gets out of line. Care to make sure it¡¯s above board?¡¯


    The Knight moves to inspect every corner of the room, his growl a constant low rumble as he looks for any sign of¡­ well, I¡¯m not sure what he¡¯s looking for, but I guess he¡¯ll know when he finds it. I let him do his sweep before he gives me a stiff nod I¡¯m pretty sure means it¡¯s safe toe in.


    I make a beeline for the bathroom and my breath catches at the sight of the massive wfoot tub. An actual bathtub. With actual hot water.


    I haven¡¯t had a proper bath since¡­


    Since before the Ghosts took me.


    That frigid shower in Niki¡¯s tower does not count.


    I waste no time stripping out of my clothes, deciding I really don¡¯t give a shit if there are invisible cameras somewhere the Knight missed. Let them have a fucking show as long as the damn water heater doesn¡¯t give out.


    I twist the taps and nearly cry when steaming water gushes out. There¡¯s an impressive array of bottles lined up on a shelf. Soaps, shampoos, oils, all clearly expensive. Raven wasn¡¯t lying about having the good stuff.


    As I sink into the hot water, I can¡¯t help the moan that escapes me. The Knight¡¯s growl takes on a different note at the sound, and I remember exactly what he¡¯s capable of. What that long tongue can do.


    But now isn¡¯t the time for that.


    Is it?


    ¡®We¡¯re going to have to figure out a way to get you in here,¡¯ I tell him. ¡®You¡¯re covered in dirt.¡¯


    He looks down at his new cloak in what appears to be confusion.


    ¡®Maybe one limb at a time,¡¯ I muse, sinking into the water. I blow bubbles up to the top, my hair swirling around me. I¡¯m going to have to empty this tub a few times before I feel remotely clean, but it¡¯s a start.


    A luxurious one, at that. Even if I do have to deal with a few strange and overbearing alphas in the meantime.


    Gods know I¡¯ve dealt with worse.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 39

    water


    do not like water


    avoid unless bloody


    which is often


    water is cold


    it is wet


    it is wrong


    spray in theb was better


    did not sprinkle


    did not smell like flowers


    alphas should not smell like flowers


    maybe the loud alpha with yellow hair


    but not me


    but moonlight goddess wants it


    so i endure


    sheughs when i shake off like a beast


    droplets scatter across stone floor


    butugh is not cruel


    is gentle


    like her hands


    when she strokes my soaked hair


    when she washes blood from my skin


    from my metal ws


    moonlight approaches now


    holds soft cloth


    reaches up to dry my hair


    i must bend down so she can reach


    always so small


    so fragile


    want to wrap around her


    shield her from everything that can harm her


    but how, when i could harm her too?


    ¡®hold still,¡¯ shemands


    voice like silk


    like starlight


    obey without thought


    would obey anything she asks


    even this


    her fingers work through tangles in my hair


    touch gentle


    always gentle


    no one has ever touched with gentleness


    only pain


    only purpose


    only orders


    but she touches like i am worth something


    like i am more than weapon


    more than beast


    more than monster


    purr builds in chest without permission


    cannot help response to her touch


    to her scent


    even through stinging flower soap smell


    can still catch sweetness beneath


    like moonflowers


    like night air


    like home


    she smiles up at me


    violet eyes bright


    ¡®There,¡¯ she says. ¡®Much better.¡¯


    i want to speak


    to tell her¡­


    what?


    that she is everything?


    that she is only thing that matters?


    that i would die to keep her safe?


    that i would bring the whole world to its knees?


    but words will note


    nevere


    only growls


    only sounds of beast i am


    i try to speak


    i should be able to


    being with her has cleared my mind


    has made it easier to think


    to form whole thoughts


    but no wordse out


    just more growls


    she does not seem to mind


    understands anyway


    somehow


    always understands


    runs fingers through damp hair again


    checking work


    touch lingers on temple


    brush against a big scar there


    ¡®Does it hurt?¡¯ she asks softly


    shake head


    lies are bitter


    but truth would make her sad


    do not want her sad


    rather bear pain in silence


    she sees through lie anyway


    clever moonlight


    always sees


    fingers trace edge of mask


    where metal meets mutted flesh


    i flinch back


    a low growl tells her no


    not a threat


    but a plea


    she pauses


    lowers her hands


    ¡®I won¡¯t take it off,¡¯ she promises.


    i pause


    i wait


    she reaches up again


    touch so light


    barely there


    but burns


    everything burns


    except her


    she is cool


    is soothing


    is peace


    have never known peace before her


    stone walls press in


    too close


    too dark


    cannot see sky here


    cannot see real moon


    but have my moonlight


    here


    with me


    it is enough


    ¡®What are you thinking about?¡¯


    such a sweet sound, her voice


    lean into her touch without thought


    like beast seeking affection


    pathetic


    weak


    but cannot help


    need her touch like air


    like blood


    like life itself


    like i needed her out there


    needed to be inside her


    with her


    and only her


    ¡®You don¡¯t like it down here, do you?¡¯


    shake my head


    no


    do not like stone walls


    do not like being trapped


    like pit


    like cage


    likeboratory


    the worst part is other alphas


    hate them all


    they want my moon


    she is mine


    and only mine


    but for now, she is here


    she is with me only


    so will endure


    will protect


    will keep safe


    growl builds in chest at thought


    ¡®Hey,¡¯ she murmurs. ¡®It¡¯s okay. We won¡¯t stay long.¡¯


    lean into touch again


    want to tell her


    want to exin


    want to make her understand


    danger


    threat


    but words stay trapped


    she pets my hair again


    gesture meant to soothe


    and it does


    tension bleeds from shoulders


    from spine


    from soul


    ¡®Just two days,¡¯ she promises. ¡®Then we¡¯ll leave. Find somewhere with a view of the sky. I know you don¡¯t like being trapped inside.¡¯


    does she think i want the false god in the sky?


    i know better now


    my moon is here on earth


    not up there


    but i nod


    she smiles


    likes when i nod


    don¡¯t know why


    ¡®You need better clothes. The cloak is okay, but I¡¯m sure Raven can find something somewhere that would fit you. Lots of guards here. Someone has to be almost as big as you.¡¯


    pauses, looks at me


    isn¡¯t sure


    growl builds at other alpha¡¯s name


    of golden one who looks at her with hunger


    he is a sun


    sun and moon are enemies in the sky


    he wants her


    wants to im her


    i will kill him first


    but she ces hand on arm


    touch gentle


    always gentle


    ¡®None of that,¡¯ she scolds. ¡®He¡¯s useful. For now.¡¯


    useful


    yes


    can help find her mate


    Azarel


    must be, if he is searching


    a proper mate


    not broken like me


    chest aches at thought


    but push feeling away


    does not matter what i want


    only her


    only moonlight


    only everything


    she yawns


    exhaustion clear in delicate features


    in violet eyes


    in way she sways slightly


    ¡®We should get some sleep.¡¯


    she moves to massive bed


    sinks into soft nkets


    nkets like clouds epting moon


    ¡®You¡¯ll stay?¡¯ she asks


    voice small


    uncertain


    as if i could ever leave


    as if anything could tear me from her side


    so i nod


    move to corner


    where can see door


    where can stay in shadows


    see threats from here


    she frowns


    ¡®No,¡¯ she says. ¡®Here.¡¯


    pats space beside her


    cannot


    must not


    am not worthy


    ¡®Please?¡¯


    one word


    one word breaks all resistance


    move carefully to bed


    pause at the edge


    rest metal ws on edge


    they tear the nket


    fluffy feathers puff up


    i jerk away


    my moonlight just giggles


    a musical sound


    a perfect sound


    ¡®Come here,¡¯ she insists, taking my hand


    my human hand


    i loom over the bed


    press my knee against it


    it creaks


    i pause


    she pulls me gently


    pulls me forward


    she has no strength to move me


    but i still let her do it


    try not to take up too much space


    impossible task


    when am twice her size


    three times, four times, maybe


    but she does not seem to mind


    curls against my side like belongs there


    like i am not a monster


    purr builds again


    cannot stop purring


    do not want to stop purring


    wrap human arm around her


    must be careful


    she is precious


    ¡®Good night,¡¯ she murmurs


    already half asleep


    safe


    protected


    trusting


    press face into her hair


    breathe in scent of moonlight


    of home


    of peace


    she sighs


    content


    happy


    because of me?


    it cannot be


    she has already given me so much


    would give anything in return


    everything


    but have nothing to give


    except protection


    except devotion


    except self


    broken as it is


    she seems to want anyway


    cannot understand why


    but will not question


    will simply ept


    like everything else with her


    it is a gift

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 40

    The pristine white walls of the Surhiiran outpost rise from the stone that stretches on for miles around me, the wind whipping my dark gray military coat around my legs.


    It¡¯s clear I don¡¯t belong here.


    Not anymore.


    Two guards in Surhiiran white approach, their rifles held at casual ready. Their steps falter when they get close enough to see my face clearly. To recognize I¡¯m one of them. Perhaps a few even recognize who I am.


    Who I was.


    ¡®Halt,¡¯ onemands in Surhiiran, though his voice wavers. ¡®State your business.¡¯


    ¡®I am here for the omega being held in your custody,¡¯ I reply in the same tongue, my ent wless despite years away. Years of muting it and bending it around Reinmich¡¯s harsher tongue. ¡®The one delivered by Prince Hamsa.¡¯


    They exchange nervous nces. ¡®There is no omega here,¡¯ the second guard says carefully.


    The words make my skin prickle with rage, but I keep my expression neutral. Years of practice make it easy to hide the fury building in my chest. The goddess knows Arthur Maybrecht has given me enough opportunities.


    ¡®Exin.¡¯


    Another exchange of nces at my t demand. More nervous shifting. These men know who I am. What I am capable of. What I have done.


    ¡®The omega was here,¡¯ the first guard admits. ¡®But she was moved somewhere more secure.¡¯


    ¡®Moved.¡¯ The word tastes like ash on my tongue. I scoff. ¡®Somewhere more secure than a Surhiiran military facility?¡¯


    ¡®It was a direct order,¡¯ he continues, sweat beading on his brow despite the chilly wind.


    ¡°Whose order?¡¯ I demand.


    His silence speaks volumes. So does the fact that he¡¯s unwilling to meet my eyes.


    My hand moves to my gun before I consciously make the decision. Both guards tense, but they don¡¯t raise their weapons. They know better.


    ¡®Take me inside,¡¯ Imand. ¡®Now.¡¯


    ¡®We cannot allow you entry,¡¯ the first guard says, his voice shaking slightly. ¡®You know this.¡¯


    ¡®Why?¡¯ I ask calmly, though I already know the answer. Can see it in the way they look at me, with that fear and disgust reserved for traitors.


    The second guard¡¯s lip curls. ¡®Because you are no longer a member of the Surhiiran army,¡¯ he mutters.


    ¡®And?¡¯ I prompt, taking a step closer. The first guard shifts nervously, but the second meets my gaze with open hostility.


    ¡®Because you¡¯re a traitor,¡¯ he spits. The word echoes off the pristine walls.


    ¡®What was that?¡¯ My voice drops dangerously low. ¡®I didn¡¯t quite catch it.¡¯


    The first guard tries to intervene. ¡®Sir, perhaps we should?¡ª¡¯


    But the second guard cuts him off, shoulders squaring as he stares me down. ¡®I said you¡¯re a traitor to your own people. Everyone knows the story of the traitor prince who sold out his own blood. His own country.¡¯


    Augh bubbles up from my chest, harsh and cold. Both guards tense at the sound.


    Good. They should be afraid.


    ¡®That is correct,¡¯ I say, taking another step forward. ¡®I am a traitor. My allegiance lies with something far greater than country or crown. And I will not hesitate to snuff out the life of any fool who stands between me and what I am owed. What Prince Hamsa promised me. A regent¡¯s promise is his bond¡ªwhether it is given to a traitor or not.¡¯


    Their riflese up in unison, but I¡¯m already moving. My gun barks twice before they can squeeze their triggers. They crumple, white uniforms blossoming red.


    More guards pour from the gates, drawn by the gunfire. Their bright uniforms make them easy targets. Each shot finds its mark. The first wave falls before they can even ready their weapons.


    The second wave is more cautious, taking cover behind pirs and barricades. But I know this ce. I helped design these defenses, after all. Their tactics are predictable, their movements telegraphed by years of the same drills.


    I nk them easily, my boots silent on the polished stone. The first guard doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m there until my knife finds his throat. His blood sprays across the pristine wall in an arc of crimson, marking my path.


    His fellow guard turns at the gurgling sound, eyes widening in recognition and terror when he sees me. ¡®You?¡ª¡¯


    My de silences him mid-sentence. More bodies join the others littering the courtyard. More white uniforms bloom crimson like desert roses after a long rain.


    I¡¯m not surprised by my brother¡¯s betrayal. After all, I betrayed him first.


    Blood demands blood.


    It is one of the goddess¡¯s most sacred ts.


    But that simple truth will offer him no absolution. No salvation.


    The holding cells are eerily quiet when I reach them. My boots echo off the polished floors as I move from cell to cell, tearing doors open with increasing violence.


    Empty.


    All of them empty.


    My rage builds with each door until I¡¯m practically tearing the doors from their hinges. The metal screams in protest, but I barely notice the strain in my muscles. The pain is nothingpared to the burning bloodlust coursing through my veins.


    A drunk cowers in one of the cells, scrambling away from me in terror. His ragged clothes mark him as an outsider. Probably caught scrounging around by the walls. I barely spare him a nce as I continue my search.


    Then I catch it.


    The faintest trace of her scent.


    Moonlight.


    I feel as if I¡¯m in a dream as I follow that scent to an empty cell, lifting a discarded nket from the narrow bed. I¡¯m already inhaling deeply as I bring it to my face. The scent of her fills my lungs, makes my heart stutter in my chest.


    She was here.


    But not recently.


    Not for a long time.


    The nket tears in my grip as fresh rage res up in my chest. How dare they move her? How dare they take what is mine?


    ¡®I will find you,¡¯ I promise, my voice raw and rough with emotions I haven¡¯t allowed myself to feel in years. The words echo off the empty cells, a vow and a threat wrapped into one.


    Because it¡¯s not just her I¡¯ll find.


    I¡¯ll find my brother, too.


    gue.


    And he will pay the price in blood.


    I let the shredded nket fall from my hands. It drifts to the floor like snow, like the ash that covered the Capital after I burned it to the damn ground.


    For her.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 41

    My boots are wearing a path in the expensive carpet as I pace back and forth across Geo¡¯s living room. My mind races, reying Cosima¡¯s words over and over.


    ¡®Actually¡­ I did.¡¯


    The implication is clear.


    That monster got her through her heat.


    My mate.


    My omega.


    I take a hand through my hair, tugging at the white strands in frustration. The gesture pulls at the wounds in my back, making me wince. Not that the physical pain even registerspared to the rage burning in my chest.


    She let the Knight touch her.


    Let him¡­


    A growl builds in my throat as I imagine those metal ws on her skin. Those razor-sharp teeth anywhere near her throat. Her pussy. The way she holds his damn arm, the way she caresses his skin with sincere affection. Not just to calm him down.


    Like she wants him, and only him.


    ¡®If you scuff my carpet, you¡¯re buying me a new one,¡¯ Geo growls from his spot by the firece. When the fuck did he evene in? ¡®And I have expensive taste.¡¯


    I bare my teeth at him. ¡®Fuck your carpet. And fuck you.¡¯


    ¡®Original,¡¯ he drawls. ¡®Did you spend all these yearsing up with that one? Or did it just pop into your head?¡¯


    ¡®About as long as it took you to pick out that eyepatch,¡¯ I sneer. ¡®Though I have to say, the leather really brings out the wastnd bastard aesthetic you have going on.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s remaining eye narrows dangerously. He rises from his chair with deadly grace, and for a moment, I think he¡¯s actually going to try to kill me.


    Again.


    ¡®If you two are going to murder each other, kindly do it outside,¡¯ Raven calls out as he breezes through the room, his arms full of¡­ throw pillows? ¡®I want everything perfect when my goddess wakes up, and blood is such a pain to get out of upholstery,¡¯ he says with the certainty of someone who speaks from experience. Plenty of it.


    I watch in disbelief as he carefully arranges the pillows on the couch. ¡®Where the fuck did you even find those?¡¯


    ¡®I sent someone on an emergency errand for less tacky decor,¡¯ he says primly. ¡®This ce looks like a serial killer¡¯s summer home.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s jaw clenches. ¡®It looks fucking fine. It looks how I want it,¡¯ he adds pointedly.


    ¡®It looks like you raided a haunted house,¡¯ Raven counters, fluffing another pillow. ¡®And not one of the good ones.¡¯


    I can¡¯t help but notice the pillows are in shades of silver and violet. Like Cosima¡¯s hair and eyes. Subtle.


    ¡®Speaking of tacky,¡¯ I drawl. ¡®You still recovering from her little burn about your ce of business?¡¯


    Raven whirls on me, blue eyes shing. ¡®At least I¡¯m trying to make herfortable instead of keeping her locked in a tower like some discount fairy tale viin!¡¯


    ¡®No, you¡¯re just helping your sugar daddy keep her prisoner underground,¡¯ I shoot back. ¡®Much better.¡¯


    ¡®He¡¯s not my sugar daddy. I have more money than he does.¡¯


    ¡®Debatable,¡¯ Geo growls. ¡®Would both of you just shut the fuck up before I throw you out on your asses? Some of us have actual work to do.¡¯


    Iugh harshly. ¡®Right. ¡®Work.¡¯ Is that what you call running this cesspool?¡¯


    Geo¡¯s hand twitches toward his gun, but Raven is at his side in an instant, his hand resting on the burly alpha¡¯s arm. ¡®Would you please be a dear and listen out for the delivery?¡¯ he asks in a syrupy tone I know all too well, like he¡¯s the trophy wife of a mob boss. Huh¡­ guess he kind of is. ¡®I need to go meet with my intel about this Azarel she¡¯s looking for.¡¯


    I bristle at the reminder, but keep my expression neutral. Thest thing I need is Raven peppering me with questions about the guy I¡¯m pretty fucking sure Cosima is in love with.


    Just another fucker I have to kill.


    The list is getting too damn long, even for me. And my fingers start to itch if I haven¡¯t pulled a trigger for a while, so that is certainly saying something.


    ¡®What delivery?¡¯ Geo asks, clearly annoyed at how his underground fortress is being taken over by Raven¡¯stest obsession.


    ¡®The suppressants, Daddy,¡¯ Raven says, looking up at Geo from beneath his lightshes with that infuriating sweetness in his voice. The sweetness he uses when he wants something. ¡®I ordered them rush delivery from my most trusted supplier. No offense to your market, of course.¡¯


    Geo grunts. ¡®Fine. But hurry back. I¡¯m not dealing with your omega and her tin man on my own.¡¯


    I bristle at Cosima being referred to as ¡®Raven¡¯s omega,¡¯ but I have bigger issues to deal with right now. Like how the fuck I¡¯m going to get her out of here.


    And the Knight¡­ that¡¯s another problem entirely. Though maybe not as big of one as I initially thought. If she can actually control him, maybe it¡¯s a blessing in disguise.


    After all, thest time I saw him, he was wiping out my men and destroying my air field. Now, all it takes is a single touch from her to soothe the savage beast?


    I wanted to turn him into a weapon in the first ce. I just never thought my mate would be the key to controlling that one-man army. But first, I need to get her alone. Need to talk some sense into her.


    Raven practically floats out of the room, leaving Geo grumbling something that sounds like, ¡®Darling, my ass,¡¯ under his breath. The moment he¡¯s gone, Geo¡¯s eye fixes on me withser focus.


    ¡®What was that about?¡¯ he asks, his voice deceptively casual.


    ¡®What was what about?¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t y dumb,¡¯ he growls. ¡®Your reaction when Raven mentioned Azarel. You know something.¡¯


    Fuck. He¡¯s too damn perceptive.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡¯ I say, keeping my voice level.


    Geo¡¯s lip curls. ¡®It was in as day in your expression, kov. You¡¯ve heard that name before.¡¯


    ¡®Maybe I should have taken your other eye, too,¡¯ I sneer. ¡®Then you wouldn¡¯t be so observant.¡¯


    In an instant, Geo¡¯s gun is in his hand, trained steadily on my chest. ¡®Raven¡¯s not around to bitch about it now,¡¯ he says coldly, flicking the safety off.


    ¡®You think he would forgive you?¡¯ I sneer. ¡®His opinion of you seems more important than you¡¯d like to let on.¡¯


    He scoffs. ¡®I could always say you made a run for the girl. That would dry his tears up quick enough.¡¯ His finger tightens on the trigger. ¡®So talk.¡¯


    I weigh my options. The wounds in my back are still fresh, limiting my movement. Even at my best, Geo¡¯s not an opponent to take lightly. I learned that the day I took his eye¡ªand the first day he nearly took my life.


    And he¡¯s right.


    Raven¡¯s not here to stop him this time.


    ¡®Fine,¡¯ I growl. ¡®Yes, I¡¯ve heard the name before.¡¯


    ¡®From who?¡¯


    ¡®From Cosima,¡¯ I answer. ¡®She spoke it in her sleep.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s eye narrows as he considers this new information. I watch an array of emotions sh across his face.


    Confusion.


    Irritation.


    Concern.


    On Raven¡¯s behalf, I can only imagine.


    But before he can respond, there¡¯s a knock at the door. He keeps his gun trained on me as he calls out, ¡®Enter.¡¯


    A nervous-looking beta courier steps in, holding a small package. ¡®Rush delivery for Mr¡­ Raven,¡¯ he stammers. He¡¯s not pissing himself, though, so I imagine this is far from an unusual situation he¡¯s walked in on.


    Geo sighs heavily, finally lowering his weapon to sign for the package. He examines the suppressants with a scowl before turning back to me. ¡®Now, where were we?¡¯


    But the words die in his throat as footsteps approach from the hallway. I turn and my heart stops.


    Cosima stands in the doorway wearing what must be one of Raven¡¯s robes. Once she steps into the room, I catch his scent lingering on her.


    That fucker did that on purpose.


    The silk clings to her curves, still damp from her shower. Her silver hair falls in wet waves around her shoulders, and without the dirt and blood, she looks even more ethereal than before.


    Like moonlight given form.


    Her violet eyes drift to the gun still in Geo¡¯s hand, but she doesn¡¯t look afraid. To be fair, I hate his guts and even I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯d never draw on an omega.


    Especially not one his ¡®boy¡¯ is so obsessed with.


    And of course, that makes them both thorns in my side all the more.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 42

    The world¡¯s gone to shit, but some things never change.


    Like the way an omega can drive even the most hardened alpha to distraction.


    I catch myself staring as Cosima glides into the room, all ethereal grace wrapped in borrowed silk. Her silver hair falls in damp waves, framing features that wouldn¡¯t look out of ce on an old-world goddess.


    For a moment, I forget to breathe.


    It¡¯s not often something catches me off guard these days. When you¡¯ve seen as much blood and brutality as I have, you develop a certain¡­ numbness. A protective shell of cynicism and disinterest.


    But right now, watching this slip of a womanmand the attention of every alpha in the room without even trying, I feel that shell crack just a little.


    I shake my head, trying to clear it.


    This is ridiculous.


    I¡¯m Geo, for fuck¡¯s sake.


    I¡¯ve stared down warlords and drug kingpins without blinking. I sure as hell shouldn¡¯t be getting flustered over some omega, no matter how pretty.


    But there¡¯s something about her. Something beyond just looks. A presence, a gravity that pulls at me despite my best efforts to resist.


    Is this what Raven¡¯s always going on about? I try to catch that ¡®moonlight scent¡¯ he waxes poetic about all the damn time, but all I get is the faintest hint of¡­ something likevender, maybe?


    It¡¯s frustrating, like trying to grasp smoke.


    My sense of smell is fucked. Half because of the white-haired smug jackass I¡¯m still itching to shoot, half because I finished the job myself. I¡¯ve never regretted that, but right now¡­ it¡¯d be nice to actually smell what has Raven and Niki ready to tear each other apart like old times.


    I realize I¡¯m still holding the gun, pointed vaguely in Niki¡¯s direction. Cosima¡¯s gaze flicks to it, but there¡¯s no fear in her eyes. Just a cool assessment.


    I tuck it back into its holster. ¡®Rest well?¡¯ I ask, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile.


    She tilts her head, considering. ¡®Well enough, considering the circumstances.¡¯ Her voice is low and melodic. Fuck, that¡¯s a pretty ent, even muted. ¡®Though I¡¯d sleep better knowing my medication was on its way.¡¯


    Ah. Right to business then. I can respect that.


    I hold up the package the courier just delivered. ¡®Rush order, straight from Raven¡¯s most trusted supplier. Should have everything you need to keep your¡­ biology¡­ under control.¡¯


    She nods, relief evident in the slight rxation of her shoulders. ¡®Thank you.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t thank me,¡¯ I growl, suddenly irritated. ¡®Thank Raven. He¡¯s the one bending over backwards to y nurse.¡¯


    Something shes in her eyes¡ªamusement, maybe¡ªbefore it¡¯s quickly hidden behind a mask of indifference. ¡®Of course. I¡¯ll be sure to express my appreciation when he returns.¡¯


    I toss her the package. She catches it with surprising grace, those delicate fingers already working to open it. The robe slips a little as she moves, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of skin.


    I force my gaze away, only to find Niki ring daggers at me.


    Right. Possessive alpha bullshit.


    Because that¡¯s exactly what we need right now.


    ¡®How¡¯s our other¡­ guest?¡¯ I ask.


    Cosima¡¯s expression softens. ¡®Exhausted, I think.¡¯


    ¡®Good,¡¯ I grumble. ¡®Less of a threat that way.¡¯


    She meets my gaze steadily. ¡®He won¡¯t hurt me.¡¯


    I don¡¯t miss the emphasis on me.


    ¡®Can you take a look at him?¡¯ she asks, ncing back in the direction she came from. ¡®I think he¡¯ll let you if I¡¯m there.¡¯


    ¡®You think?¡¯ I echo pointedly.


    She just nods, watching me again.


    Shit. I¡¯m melting under her gaze. Like putty in her damn hands. I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡®Fine. I¡¯ll take a look.¡¯


    Not like there are any other options, considering whatever the fuck these idiots injected my in-house doctor with hasn¡¯t fully worn off yet.


    Niki bristles. ¡®I¡¯ll go with you.¡¯


    ¡®Like hell you will,¡¯ I growl, already stomping off toward the guest suite where the most likely cause of my death is resting. ¡®Last thing I need is you two getting in a pissing match and tearing my house apart. You stay here and¡­ I don¡¯t know, brood menacingly or whatever it is you do when you¡¯re not actively making my life difficult.¡¯


    Niki bares his teeth in what might charitably be called a smile. Are his canines pointed now? When the fuck did he get fangs? Shit, maybe he always had them. ¡°Whatever you say, old man.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not old, kid,¡¯ I retort on my way out of the room. ¡®Sit your ass down and try not to break anything while I¡¯m gone.¡¯


    He says something I can¡¯t make out, but I don¡¯t give a shit. Cosima follows me without a word, but I catch a glimpse of her vaguely amused smirk.


    If the Knight isn¡¯t the death of me, it¡¯ll be this stupid fucking pack assembling around me.


    No.


    Assembling around Cosima.


    Mercurials orbiting around their moon instead of the other way around.


    And what the fuck am I, then? As much inconvenience as it causes me, I have a bond with Raven. A bond that feels like it¡¯s tightening around me by the minute.


    Goddammit.


    As we enter the opulent guest suite, Cosima¡¯s steps quicken. Her bare feet make no sound on the thick carpeting. The silk robe Raven lent her ripples like water against her lush curves with each graceful movement.


    I catch myself watching the hypnotic sway of her wide hips and force my gaze elsewhere.


    Focus, you fucking fool.


    ¡®Just be careful. He¡¯s weakened, but don¡¯t piss him off,¡¯ she says when we reach the ornate door leading to where she left the Knight. Even from the hall, I can hear him growling softly with nearly every breath, like a dozing beast.


    Careful isn¡¯t exactly my strong suit. ¡®Weak or not, he¡¯s still dangerous. Stay behind me.¡¯


    I draw my sidearm before pushing the door open. The hinges whisper silently. I keep everything well-maintained down here. Can¡¯t have squeaky doors giving shit away.


    The Knight lies sprawled across the king-sized bed, his massive frame making the furniture look almostically small. His broad chest rises and falls in slow breaths. The silver mask Cosima found for him is still firmly in ce, his choppy white hair spilling onto the bed like a halo.


    With the mask and all the blood washed out of his hair and off his muscled body, he looks less like a wastnd monster and more like a scarred war god.


    A war god that¡¯s awake.


    And watching us.


    His feral blue gaze flicks to Cosima, then to me again. A lower, deeper growl that makes my teeth ache rumbles in his chest.


    ¡®Quite the house guest you¡¯ve brought me,¡¯ I mutter, keeping my gun trained on him. Even asleep, he radiates menace.


    ¡®Put your gun down,¡¯ Cosima mutters. She moves past me before I can stop her, approaching the bed with no apparent fear.


    I tighten my grip on the gun. ¡®You sure about that, princess?¡¯


    She ignores me, perching delicately on the edge of the bed. One small hand reaches out to rest on the Knight¡¯s human arm. The growling cuts off abruptly.


    ¡®See?¡¯ She nces back at me. ¡®He¡¯s perfectly safe.¡¯


    As if to prove her wrong, the Knight suddenly lunges upright with shocking speed. Those razor-sharp talonssh out.


    Not at Cosima, but at me.


    I barely manage to dodge backward, his metal ws whistling past my face close enough to stir the air. My back hits the wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs.


    ¡®Fuck!¡® The curse explodes from me as I level my gun at the Knight¡¯s head. My finger tightens on the trigger¡­


    ¡®No!¡¯ Cosima¡¯s voice cracks like a whip. She ces herself between us, one hand still resting on the Knight¡¯s arm. ¡®He¡¯s just protecting me. Put. The. Gun. Down.¡¯


    The Knight has gonepletely still, but that deadly hand remains extended toward me. Ready to strike the moment I make a wrong move.


    For a long moment, nobody moves. The only sound is our ragged breathing.


    Finally, slowly, I lower the gun.


    But I don¡¯t holster it.


    I¡¯m not that trusting.


    ¡®That¡¯s what you call perfectly safe?¡¯ I growl.


    ¡®He thought you were going to hurt me,¡¯ she says calmly. ¡®He¡¯s¡­ protective.¡¯


    ¡®No shit.¡¯ I eye the metal talons warily. Even with my enhanced healing, those would do some serious damage. ¡®Maybe warn a guy next time?¡¯


    The Knight just studies me. Another growl builds in his chest, but Cosima murmurs something too soft for me to catch. The sound cuts off again.


    It would be impressive if it wasn¡¯t so fucking terrifying.


    ¡®We need to get him looked at,¡¯ Cosima says, turning those violet eyes on me. ¡®His wounds aren¡¯t healing properly.¡¯


    I bark out a harshugh. ¡®What makes you think I have anyone qualified to work on¡­ whatever the hell he is?¡¯


    A mutated victim of medical torture, the annoying little angel on my shoulder whispers in my ear. Meanwhile, the devil on the other shoulder is chanting, Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!


    ¡®Because you¡¯re Geo,¡¯ she replies smoothly. ¡®You have everything.¡¯


    Fuck. She¡¯s good.


    I study the Knight more closely now that he¡¯s not actively trying to slice my damn face off. Seems Niki isn¡¯t the only alpha that wants our appearances to match.


    It¡¯s¡­ unsettling how still he can be. Like a statue carved from marble and steel. His breathing is so shallow I can barely detect it.


    ¡®Can you understand me?¡¯ I ask, keeping my voice neutral. No point antagonizing him further.


    Those blue eyes burn straight through me.


    Was I just imagining things? Is he not capable of thought?


    But then he gives a single, stiff, slow nod.


    Progress.


    ¡®Good. I¡¯m going to need to look at those wounds Cosima mentioned.¡¯ I gesture to the torn flesh visible between the metal tes grafted to his shoulder. ¡®That means getting closer. You gonna behave?¡¯


    Another nod, though a low growl rumbles in his chest.


    ¡®He will,¡¯ Cosima says softly. Her small hand hasn¡¯t left his arm. ¡®As long as you don¡¯t make any sudden movements.¡¯


    Sounds great.


    Definitely not like I¡¯m about to get freshly disfigured.


    I grunt an acknowledgment and approach slowly, hands where he can see them. The Knight tracks my movement but doesn¡¯t lunge again.


    Up close, the contrast between flesh and metal is even more obvious. Whoever did this to him wasn¡¯t going for aesthetics. At all. The metal enhancements¡ªor recements¡ªare crude, functional. Meant for pure destructive capability rather than integration with his body.


    But with the new mask Cosima somehow acquired for him, a mask with actual facial features worked into the metal¡ªa straight nose, cheekbones, even lips set in a solemn line¡ªhe looks way more human than thest time I saw him.


    And with his white hair falling around the mask in choppyyers¡­


    Well. If you squint and ignore the fact that he¡¯s at least eight solid feet of scarred muscle and barely contained violence, he could almost pass for handsome in a ssical, statue-from-helle-to-life kind of way.


    Almost.


    I crouch down next to the bed, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. The Knight¡¯s glowing blue eyes track my every motion, but he allows me to get close enough to examine his wounds.


    The damage looks¡­ extensive. And not just the new injuries from the chaos on Niki¡¯s territory. Some of these gashes look weeks old. A few long cuts in a bruising criss-crossed pattern suggest he was beaten with whips. Maybe even chains.


    When I reach toward his back, where there are six deep vertical wounds¡ªthree on each side of his upper spine¡ªthe Knight lets out a dangerous growl. I immediately back the fuck up.


    ¡®Whoever did this was a butcher,¡¯ I mutter, more to myself than anyone else. ¡®No finesse. No consideration for long-term viability.¡¯


    ¡®Does it hurt?¡¯ Cosima asks softly.


    The Knight¡¯s gaze shifts to her. He doesn¡¯t reply. Obviously. But he doesn¡¯t nod or growl, either.


    My eye narrows. ¡®Can you feel pain?¡¯


    This time, he stares at me instead.


    Interesting. Thest time I saw him, he seemedpletely disconnected from physical sensation. Just a relentless killing machine.


    But now¡­


    ¡®Can you speak?¡¯ I ask.


    More staring. More silence.


    I study the Knight¡¯s metal mask, trying to figure out what¡¯s going on behind those feral blue eyes. His gaze holds mine steadily, but he makes no move to respond.


    ¡®So that¡¯s a no on speaking,¡¯ I mutter. ¡®Question is¡­ physically can¡¯t, or just won¡¯t?¡¯


    ¡®His mouth has¡­ problems,¡¯ Cosima says carefully.


    She¡¯s still perched on the edge of the bed, one delicate hand resting on the Knight¡¯s massive forearm. The contrast between them is striking. Her perfect fingers against his scarred flesh and cold metal. Like a fairy tale princess and her cursed beast.


    Only this one won¡¯t be turning into a foppish prince.


    Huh. Guess Raven can fill that role for her.


    ¡®Yeah, I caught a glimpse at the airfield. Pretty rough,¡¯ I reply with a wince, remembering the horrific glimpse of exposed muscle and sharp teeth where his original mask was broken.


    The Knight lets out a soft sigh that¡¯s barely audible but unmistakably human. The sound startles me more than his earlier growls and snarls.


    ¡®Well shit,¡¯ I say, unable to keep the surprise from my voice. ¡®There really is someone in there, isn¡¯t there?¡¯


    Those blue eyes fix on me again, and this time I catch something in them. Not just animal instinct or programmed responses. What is that? Resignation? Like he actually gives a shit that he¡¯s fucked up.


    You and me both, big guy.


    Not that I¡¯d ever admit it.


    ¡®Alright,¡¯ I say, running a hand over my face. ¡®I¡¯ll get my doctor to take a look. Assuming he hasn¡¯t quit after the shit Raven and Niki did.¡¯


    The Knight tenses at the mention of Niki¡¯s name, a low growl building in his chest. Cosima¡¯s fingers tighten slightly on his arm, and he stops.


    I¡¯ve seen plenty of alphas wrapped around an omega¡¯s little finger before, but this is something else entirely. The level of control she has over him, the way he responds to her smallest gesture¡­


    Kind of sweet, actually.


    ¡®My doctor¡¯s good,¡¯ I continue, scratching the stubble on my jaw as I watch them both carefully. ¡®Specialist inbat trauma. Done work on soldiers with prosthetics before. Nothing quite like¡­ this.¡¯ I gesture vaguely at the Knight¡¯s metal arm and delike ws. ¡®But he can treat the wounds. Get you on the path to at least partially healing.¡¯


    Cosima nods, relief evident in the slight rxation of her shoulders. ¡®Thank you.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t thank me yet,¡¯ I warn. ¡®First I have to convince him toe back after your boyfriend¡¯s little stunt in my dungeon.¡¯


    She arches one delicate silver brow. ¡®And which ¡®boyfriend¡¯ would that be?¡¯


    ¡®Take your pick,¡¯ I grunt. ¡®The pretty pain in the ass or the psychopath from your mothend.¡¯


    A ghost of a smirk touches her lips. ¡®That¡¯s funny, I thought the pretty one was your boyfriend.¡¯


    My face reacts in shock and irritation before I can fully mask it, judging from the gleam of amusement in Cosima¡¯s eyes.


    ¡®Not even gonna dignify that with a remark,¡¯ I grumble. I eye the Knight warily. He¡¯s gonepletely still again, watching our exchange in his usual silence. ¡®Look, I¡¯ll make the call, but you need to keep him under control. Doc¡¯s twitchy enough as it is these days.¡¯


    ¡®He won¡¯t hurt anyone unless they threaten me,¡¯ she says with quiet certainty.


    I bark out a harshugh. ¡®Yeah, because that¡¯s so much better. You realize half the alphas in this ce are a threat just because you exist, right? An unmated omega¡­¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not unmated,¡¯ she cuts in sharply. ¡®I¡¯m just unmarked.¡¯


    Well. That¡¯s even more interesting. It¡¯s also a distinction without a difference, depending on who you ask, but I decide not to push it.


    I nce between her and the Knight, noting how his massive frame seems to curl toward her protectively even while remaining perfectly still. Like a sentinel, ready to spring into violence at the slightest provocation.


    ¡®Right,¡¯ I say slowly. ¡®Well¡­ that¡¯s going to be a whole other problem.¡¯


    She meets my gaze steadily, chin lifted in subtle defiance. ¡®The only problem is people trying to control me. I make my own choices.¡¯


    ¡®Fair enough.¡¯ I hold up my hands in mock surrender. ¡®But try not to let those choices end with my base getting torn apart, yeah? I just had the ce renovated.¡¯


    That smirk returns, a little sharper this time. ¡®I¡¯ll do my best.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll go track down the doc,¡¯ I mutter. ¡®You two¡­ behave.¡¯ I eye the Knight meaningfully. ¡®No maiming anyone while I¡¯m gone.¡¯


    He just stares at me, utterly still. But I swear that in the shadows of his mask, I catch a flicker of something almost like amusement in his eyes.


    Nah. Can¡¯t be.


    I¡¯m so stressed out, I¡¯m seeing shit now.


    As I head for the door, Cosima¡¯s voice stops me. ¡®Geo?¡¯


    I nce back. She¡¯s still perched on the edge of the bed, still touching the Knight¡¯s arm like it¡¯s the most natural thing in the world. Like she isn¡¯t petting an alpha who could tear her apart before she could blink.


    ¡®Yeah?¡¯


    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ she murmurs. ¡®For helping.¡¯


    I grunt nomittally. ¡®Don¡¯t get too grateful. Just trying to keep my house in one piece.¡¯


    But we both know that¡¯s not entirely true. There¡¯s something about her that makes me want to help, want to protect. Even knowing she¡¯s probably the most dangerous person in this ce right now.


    Not because of what she can do.


    But because of what others will do for her.


    As I pull the door shut behind me, I catch onest glimpse of them. Beauty and beast, silver and steel, locked in some kind of screwed up orbit I can¡¯t begin to understand.


    And I realize I¡¯mpletely, utterly fucked.


    Because I¡¯m starting to care.


    And in this world, caring is the quickest way to get yourself killed.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 43

    My dark coat whips around my legs, the fabric stiff with dried salt from the harsh winding off the Surhiiranke as I scan the docks for a suitable vessel. Not my usual military attire, but discretion is paramount. The scarf wrapped around the lower half of my face in traditional Surhiiran style helps conceal my identity, though few would recognize me now anyway.


    I¡¯ve changed since my days as a prince.


    The docks are busy despite thete hour, fishermen and merchants going about their business in the silvery moonlight reflecting off the dark waters. Perfect. More chaos means less chance of drawing attention.


    My boots click softly against the weathered nks as I make my way past rusted shipping containers and piles ofs. The pungent stench of fish and diesel fuel makes my lip curl in distaste in spite of the scarf. A group of dockhands give me a wide berth as I pass, their eyes skittering away from mymanding presence.


    I spot the perfect target lounging against a stack of crates. A grizzled fisherman, clearly deep in his cups judging by the nearly empty bottle dangling from his fingers. The scarf hanging halfway off his weathered face is flushed, and he leers hungrily at a pair of girls in white Surhiiran robes as they hurry past.


    Perfect.


    I approach silently, my footsteps masked by the constant p of waves against the pier. The fisherman doesn¡¯t notice me until I¡¯m practically on top of him. He startles, nearly dropping his bottle as he looks up at me with bleary eyes.


    ¡®Evening,¡¯ I say smoothly, my ent carefully neutral. ¡®I require passage across theke.¡¯


    He squints at me, swaying slightly. ¡®Dock¡¯s closed,¡¯ he slurs. Doesn¡¯t sound Surhiiran. Even better. ¡®Come back tomorrow.¡¯


    I reach into my coat and withdraw a thick envelope. ¡®I think you¡¯ll find it¡¯s quite open.¡¯ I fan the bills, letting him see the considerable sum within. ¡®For a private charter.¡¯


    The fisherman¡¯s bloodshot eyes widen at the sight of so much money. I can practically see the gears turning in his alcohol-addled mind as he weighs his options.


    ¡®Where to?¡¯ he asks finally, greed winning out over caution.


    ¡®The far shore toward the old mines,¡¯ I lie, tucking the envelope away. He¡¯ll find out where we¡¯re really going soon enough. ¡®It¡¯s my favorite ce to enjoy the moonlight on a night like this.¡¯


    He pales slightly at that, some of his drunken haze clearing. ¡®That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s restricted waters. Dangerous.¡¯


    ¡®Hence the generouspensation.¡¯ I step closer, using my height to loom over him. ¡®Do we have an agreement?¡¯


    The fisherman licks his lips nervously, but his eyes keep darting to where I stored the envelope. ¡®Yeah¡­ yeah, alright. My boat¡¯s this way.¡¯


    He leads me to a battered fishing vessel, rust streaking its hull and patches of peeling paint revealing the metal beneath. It¡¯s seen better days, but it¡¯ll serve my purposes.


    As the fisherman fumbles with the moorings, I think of the intelligence I¡¯ve gathered. The ¡®interrogations¡¯ were¡­ productive. My brother¡¯s pack has taken refuge in an abandonedpound on the far shore. gue thinks himself clever, but he can¡¯t hide from me forever.


    Not when he has something that belongs to me.


    The boat¡¯s engine sputters to life, belching ck smoke into the night air. I follow the fisherman up the shortdder to the wheelhouse.


    ¡®Straight across then?¡¯ he asks, adjusting various dials and gauges.


    ¡®Yes.¡¯ I rest my hand casually on the hilt of the knife concealed beneath my coat. ¡®Make good time and there will be a bonus.¡¯


    He nods eagerly and pushes the throttle forward. The boat lurches away from the dock, cutting a white wake through the dark water. I move to stand by the grimy window, watching the shoreline recede behind us.


    Soon, brother.


    We¡¯re about halfway across when I notice the change in the fisherman¡¯s demeanor. His hands are trembling slightly on the wheel, and sweat beads on his brow despite the chill.


    ¡®We should turn back,¡¯ he says suddenly, his voice tight with fear. ¡®This¡­ this isn¡¯t right.¡¯


    I don¡¯t move from my position by the window. ¡®Continue on course. In fact, you should veer left. Toward the old military outpost.¡¯


    ¡®F-fuck. You didn¡¯t really want to go to the mines, did you?¡¯


    ¡®No.¡¯


    ¡®You don¡¯t understand,¡¯ he protests, already beginning to turn the wheel. ¡®These waters¡­ they¡¯re watched. By him. The biggest fuckin¡¯ alpha you¡¯ve ever seen. And they say his face?¡ª¡¯


    In one fluid motion, I draw my knife and press it against his throat. He freezes, a whimper escaping his lips as the sharp de breaks skin.


    ¡®I understand perfectly,¡¯ I say softly. ¡®And you have a choice to make. Either you take your chances and keep moving¡­ or you die here and now, by my hand.¡¯ I apply slightly more pressure, drawing a thin line of blood. ¡®Choose.¡¯


    The fisherman swallows hard, his scruffy throat bobbing against my de. ¡®I¡­ I¡¯ll keep going.¡¯


    ¡®Wise decision.¡¯


    I maintain my position, knife steady against his throat as he steers with shaking hands. The old military outpost is visible now, a dark shape against the starlit sky.


    Movement catches my eye. A sh of white through the darkness. I narrow my eyes, focusing on the approaching shape. Another vessel cutting through the waves with surprising speed.


    ¡®Maintain course,¡¯ I order the fisherman, finally withdrawing my de. He sags in relief, but I barely notice as I stride out of the wheelhouse and onto the deck.


    A white sail appears like a ghost through the darkness, stark against the moonlit waters. Even at this distance, I can make out two figures aboard. One at the helm, the other a looming shadow near the bow¡ªa massive behemoth of an alpha.


    The Ghosts¡¯ infamous attack dog.


    Wraith.


    ¡®Keep her steady,¡¯ I order the fisherman, my voice carrying easily over the engine¡¯s rumble despite the wind. His only response is a terrified whimper.


    I move to the rail, watching the approaching vessel with practiced detachment. It cuts through the waves with surprising speed, angling on an intercept course that will bring them alongside us within minutes.


    This is no chance encounter.


    They¡¯re hunting.


    A harshugh curls across the water, followed by what sounds like Vrissian cursing. I narrow my eyes, focusing on the figure at the helm. Even in the darkness, that bone-white hair is unmistakable.


    Valek.


    The psychopath my brother¡¯s pack keeps on a leash.


    ¡®You don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re getting into,¡¯ the fisherman calls from the wheelhouse, his voice cracking with fear. ¡®That¡¯s them. The Ghosts. We need to turn back!¡¯


    I ignore his protests, my mind already analyzing the trajectory of the ship. The sailboat is faster, more maneuverable. But their approach vector gives away their intentions.


    They mean to ram us.


    A low, inhuman growl echoes across the water¡ªa sound that would freeze the blood of lesser men. Wraith stands at the bow of their vessel like some ancient figurehead of death, one massive hand gripping the mast for bnce. Even at this distance, I can see the moonlight glinting off the scars visible above the Surhiiran scarf covering his lower face.


    ¡®Evening, brother-inw!¡¯ Valek¡¯s mocking voice carries across the waves. ¡®Lovely night for a swim, isn¡¯t it?¡¯


    I don¡¯t bother responding. Instead, I draw my gun and brace myself against the rail, counting down the seconds.


    Three¡­


    Two¡­


    One¡­


    The impact nearly throws me off my feet. Wood splinters and metal screams as the sailboat¡¯s reinforced bow crashes into our port side. The fisherman hollers and curses in fear, but the sound is cut short as he¡¯s thrown against the wheel.


    I maintain my footing through years of practice, already moving as Wraithunches himself at me and my first bullet misses him by an inch. I meet his charge head-on, ducking under his first wild swing and driving my fist into his sr plexus. It¡¯s like punching a brick wall.


    His fist whistles past my ear again as I pivot, the sheer force of his swing creating a rush of air. His fighting style is pure brutality. No finesse, just raw power and animalistic fury. Each blow would shatter bone if he cannd one.


    I weave under another wild swing. My counter-strike catches him in the throat, a blow that would crush a normal man¡¯s windpipe. Wraith barely grunts.


    The deck lurches beneath us as the waves crash against the joined vessels. I use the momentum to drive my knee into his midsection, following through with an elbow strike to his temple. The loose scarf covering his face slips, revealing a sh of sharp teeth.


    His hand snaps out, impossibly fast for someone his size, catching my arm. Before I can break free, he ms me against the cabin wall hard enough to crack the wood. Stars explode behind my eyes and my gun tters onto the boat¡¯s deck, but training takes over. I twist, using his grip as leverage to drive both feet into his chest.


    We separate, circling each other in the confined space. Blood trickles down my back where the splintered wood caught me. Wraith¡¯s breathing is heavy, but whether from exertion or excitement is impossible to tell. His loose scarf snaps around him in the wind as he stares me down like a feral beast, blue eyes burning above a permanent scarred grin full of exposed sharp teeth, muscle, and jawbone.


    It¡¯smon knowledge he never lets anyone see his face, and up close, I can see why. Apparently, that has changed.


    His notorious aggression certainly hasn¡¯t.


    ¡®Tell me where the omega is,¡¯ I say through my teeth in a cold tone. ¡®This does not have to end in death.¡¯


    All he does is growl in return.


    Of course the two Ghosts who intercepted this vessel are the mute super soldier and the serial killer whose sanity is barely hanging on by a thread.


    Speak of the devil.


    I duck as a boot, then a knife, slice through the air where my head was a moment before. Valeknds beside me with all the fluid grace of a panther. He gives me a wolfish grin, silver eyes gleaming just as intensely as the wicked curved de in his grip.


    ¡®You know,¡¯ Valek drawls, ¡®I thought this evening would just be the usual boring patrol. Brotherly bonding and all that. But this? This is much more entertaining.¡¯


    I reply with a swiftbination. Jab, cross, hook. He deflects the first two but the third catches him in the jaw, snapping his head back. Before I can press the advantage, Wraith¡¯s massive hand closes around my throat from behind.


    I drive my elbow back, feeling ribs crack under the blow. Any normal man would be on the ground. But Wraith isn¡¯t normal. His grip only tightens as he hauls me off my feet with a deep growl of exertion, the bones of my neck grinding together.


    ck spots dance at the edges of my vision as Valek swaggers up to us, swiping blood from his split lip with the side of his thumb. ¡®Well, this is fun and all, but we should probably call it in.¡¯ He produces a radio, his grin never wavering. ¡®We have a fucking situation.¡¯


    Static crackles, then a familiar voice responds. My brother. Rage curls my lip at the sound of his voice. ¡®What do you mean, a situation?¡®


    Valek snarls into the radio. ¡®It¡¯s your fucking brother!¡¯


    I kick back with a snarl, my boot connecting with Wraith¡¯s kneecap. The joint gives with a sickening pop, and at the same time, I m the back of my skull into his nose with every ounce of strength I possess.


    There¡¯s a satisfying crunch of cartge. Hot blood sprays across the back of my head. Wraith¡¯s grip finally loosens as he staggers back with a growl that¡¯s more surprised than hurt despite the rivers of crimson blood painting his razor-sharp teeth.


    Some of it may even be mine. The back of my head is soaked, my hair matted with more blood than what¡¯s trickling from Wraith¡¯s nose. Must have cut myself on his teeth.


    Not that it matters.


    This is nothingpared to what I¡¯ve endured for her.


    Sudden movement to the left draws my eye. The fisherman staggers out of the wheelhouse, one hand pressed to a gash on his temple where he hit the wheel during the collision. In his other hand, he clutches a weathered revolver.


    At first, the gun is trained on me. But when the fisherman¡¯s bleary eyes dart to Wraith and he takes in the full horror of the alpha¡¯s mangled features, he swings the gun on Wraith instead.


    ¡®A¡­ a monster,¡¯ the fisherman chokes out, the gun trembling violently in his grip.


    Wraith¡¯s entire demeanor shifts. His massive frame goes rigid, shoulders hunching as one hand flies up to cover what remains of his face. A sound rips from his throat¡ªnot a growl this time, but something raw and wounded.


    The distraction costs him. I dive for my fallen gun, fingers brushing cold metal before Valek¡¯s boot connects with the weapon, sending it skittering across the deck. His other foot catches me in the ribs, driving the air from my lungs.


    ¡®Not so fast, pretty boy.¡¯ Valek¡¯s de shes in the moonlight as he brings it down in a vicious arc.


    I roll, the knife missing my throat by inches and sticking into the deck. My elbow catches him behind the knee as Ie up, dropping him. But before I can press the advantage, a massive hand closes around my ankle.


    Wraith hauls me backward like I weigh nothing, his earlier vulnerability reced by blind rage. I twist in his grip, driving my other heel into his hand, breaking his hold.


    I spring to my feet, but both Ghosts are already circling me again. The fisherman¡¯s gun barks once, twice. Both shots go wide, pinging off metal. Valek¡¯s head snaps toward the sound, silver eyes narrowing.


    ¡®Oh look, a volunteer.¡¯ His grin is all teeth. ¡®I do love an audience.¡¯


    But before any of us can move, a familiar voice cuts through the chaos.


    ¡®Enough!¡®


    Themand cracks across the deck like a whip.


    My brother stands at the rail of a sleek speedboat that¡¯s pulled alongside us, his expression thunderous. Whiskey stands beside him with a boot propped up on the bow, looking far too amused by the situation.


    ¡®Where the fuck is Thane?¡¯ Valek demands.


    Whiskey¡¯s grin widens. ¡®Oh, he¡¯s a little¡­ tied up with Ivy at the moment, if you know what I mean.¡¯


    Valek¡¯s silver eyes narrow. ¡®Are you telling me he¡¯s balls deep while we¡¯re out here dealing with Asshole Rail?¡¯


    ¡®Azarel,¡¯ I growl, my lip curling in irritation at his ¡®creative¡¯ pronunciation.


    ¡®Yes, that¡¯s your name. Would you like a gold star?¡¯ Valek snaps at me, spitting blood into the water.


    I don¡¯t have time for this. ¡®Where is she?¡¯


    ¡®Who?¡¯ Whiskey asks me innocently.


    ¡®Cosima.¡¯ Her namees out as a snarl. ¡®Where. Is. She?¡¯


    Every muscle in my body screams with the effort of holding back. Of not tearing my brother and his pack of mongrels limb from limb.


    But I must maintain control.


    For her.


    Always for her.


    If only because I need information.


    My brother just watches me with that insufferable calm that¡¯s always defined him. Even now, even after everything, he maintains that carefully constructed mask of control.


    It makes my blood boil.


    ¡®Answer me!¡¯ I snarl, taking a threatening step toward him. Wraith¡¯s growl deepens to a dangerous pitch, but I ignore him. My focus is solely on my brother.


    ¡®We moved her somewhere safe,¡¯ my brother says finally, his voice maddeningly even. ¡®That¡¯s all.¡¯


    ¡®Safe?¡¯ I bark out a harshugh. ¡®Since when do you care about anyone¡¯s safety but your own?¡¯


    Something unreadable flickers in his pale blue eyes, but his expression remains neutral. ¡®Can you me me? You haven¡¯t exactly been reliable, brother.¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯s my mate!¡¯ I roar.


    The effect is immediate. They all gopletely still, watching me. But it¡¯s my brother¡¯s reaction I focus on. The slight widening of his eyes. The almost imperceptible stiffness in his shoulders.


    After ourst encounter, I¡¯m certain he already suspected as much, but hearing something aloud is always a different matter. And I¡¯ve never been the type to discuss romance with family. We have that inmon.


    Whiskey breaks the heavy silence with a low whistle. ¡®Well shit,¡¯ he drawls casually from his position on my brother¡¯s boat. ¡®He¡¯s got a good point there.¡¯


    I watch as something unspoken passes between my brother and Whiskey. Some strange silentmunication born of years fighting side by side. Or from whatever strange bond they share. My brother¡¯s jaw works, the muscle twitching beneath his skin as he visibly wrestles with himself.


    Finally, he lets out a long breath. ¡®She¡¯s at the airfield closest to the ck market,¡¯ he says, each word seeming to cost him. ¡®With Niki kov. You can¡¯t miss it.¡¯


    Wraith¡¯s head snaps toward him, surprise evident enough in his low growl even though he isn¡¯t capable of much expression. I stare at my brother as well, trying to process what he¡¯s just told me.


    The airfield. Niki kov.


    After all this time hunting, the answeres so easily?


    Too easily.


    ¡®Why tell me this now?¡¯ I demand, my voice harsh with suspicion.


    ¡®His boyfriend gave him the puppy eyes,¡¯ Valek drawls, cleaning blood from his knife with casual disinterest. His silver eyes glitter with malicious amusement. ¡®Incredible how much control you can exert over an alpha whose cock you?¡ª¡¯


    I cut him off with a sharp snarl. ¡®I do not want to hear that.¡¯


    Whiskey¡¯s deepugh rolls across the water. ¡®What¡¯s wrong, bro? Can¡¯t handle knowing your baby brother¡¯s getting his?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Finish that sentence and I will throw you overboard,¡¯ my brother snaps at him, but there¡¯s no real anger in his voice. If anything, he sounds vaguely irritated at the most.


    ¡®I don¡¯t have time for this,¡¯ I growl. ¡®If you¡¯re lying¡­¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not, brother.¡¯


    I study him for a long moment, searching for any sign of deception. But all I see is that same careful mask he¡¯s always worn. The one that hides everything that matters.


    ¡®Very well.¡¯ I turn away, already stalking toward the wheelhouse where the sniveling fisherman is hiding again.


    My brother¡¯s voice cuts through the wind again. ¡®Azarel.¡¯


    I pause at the wheelhouse door, not turning.


    ¡®Be careful,¡¯ he adds quietly.


    Something unspoken hangs between us. Years of shared blood and betrayal. A chasm too wide to cross with mere words.


    I nce over my shoulder. For a moment, my brother looks like he wants to say more. His pale blue eyes hold mine, searching. But whatever he sees there makes him look away first.


    ¡®You always were terrible at goodbyes,¡¯ I say.


    ¡®Come on, gue.¡¯ Whiskey¡¯s voice breaks the tension as he drapes an arm around my brother¡¯s shoulders. ¡®The sun¡¯s almost up and he¡¯s gotta go get his girl.¡¯ He shes me that insufferable grin. ¡®Try not to die, asshole. Family reunions are so much more fun when everyone¡¯s breathing.¡¯


    I turn away without responding, shoving the fisherman toward the wheel. Behind me, I hear Valek¡¯sughter fading and Wraith growling in response as their boats pull away into the darkness.


    The sun bleeds red across the horizon as we cut through the waves.


    Soon, Cosima.


    Soon, you¡¯ll be safe in my arms again.


    And may the goddess help anyone who stands in my way.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 44

    I watch the door close behind Geo with a confusing mixture of relief and fresh wariness. His one-eyed stare had been intense, searching, like he was trying to solve a puzzle. I¡¯m not sure I like the idea of being anyone¡¯s puzzle, especially not a dangerous alpha who clearly runs this ce like his personal kingdom.


    But at least he¡¯s agreed to help.


    The Knight shifts on the bed beside me, the expensive mattress groaning under his weight. His glowing blue eyes are fixed on the door, as if he expects Geo to burst back in at any moment.


    ¡®He¡¯s gone,¡¯ I say softly, my hand still resting on his arm. The steady heat of him seeps into my palm, warming me through. ¡®It¡¯s just us now.¡¯


    The Knight rumbles low in his chest, a sound I¡¯m starting to recognize as acknowledgment rather than threat. It¡¯s strange how quickly I¡¯ve learned to interpret his various growls and rumbles. Like learning a newnguage made entirely of primal sounds.


    ¡®Can we talk?¡¯ I ask, turning to face him more fully. The silk of Raven¡¯s borrowed robe whispers around me as I move. ¡®I mean, can you talk?¡¯


    He just stares at me, those blue eyes unblinking behind his ornate mask. The silver gleams in the soft light of the room, the craftsmanship making him look almost regal despite the scars and metal visible on the rest of his body.


    ¡®I know your mouth is¡­¡¯ I hesitate, searching for a word that won¡¯t offend him. ¡®Um. Different. But is that why you don¡¯t speak? Or is it something else?¡¯


    More staring.


    Then he slowly lifts his human hand and taps his mask vaguely, followed by his temple.


    Holy shit.


    Progress.


    ¡®Both?¡¯ I guess, trying not to show my excitement that he¡¯s making more specific gestures.


    A jerky nod.


    ¡®So physically, it¡¯s difficult, but also¡­¡¯ I trail off, trying to understand. ¡®You¡¯ve forgotten how? Or you never learned?¡¯


    His massive shoulders rise and fall in what might be a shrug. It¡¯s such a human gesture that it catches me off guard. Then he taps his temple again, more insistently this time.


    ¡®Your mind won¡¯t let you,¡¯ I murmur, understanding dawning. ¡®Even if you wanted to.¡¯


    Another nod, slower this time. His glowing eyes seem to dim slightly, and I catch a glimpse of something that might be shame.


    ¡®Hey,¡¯ I say gently, reaching up to touch his mask without thinking. ¡®It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll figure it out.¡¯


    He jerks back from my touch with a warning growl, his hand flying up to protect his mask. I immediately withdraw my hand, cursing my thoughtlessness.


    ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ I say quickly. ¡®I wasn¡¯t going to take it off. I promise.¡¯


    The growl subsides, but he still watches me warily. His massive frame is tense, ready to spring away at the slightest provocation.


    ¡®Would you take it off?¡¯ I ask carefully. ¡®Just for a moment? So I can see¡­¡¯


    He shakes his head immediately, the movement sharp and decisive. No room for negotiation there.


    ¡®Okay,¡¯ I say, holding up my hands in surrender. ¡®That¡¯s fine. It was just a thought¡­¡¯


    The tension in his shoulders eases slightly, but I can tell he¡¯s still on edge. Trust is a fragile thing between us, built on the strange foundation of shared nightmares and one heat-induced coupling.


    I don¡¯t want to shatter what we have.


    ¡®Well, at least you¡¯remunicating more now,¡¯ I say, attempting to lighten the mood. ¡®Even feral alphas respond to an omega¡¯s touch, apparently.¡¯


    The Knight sighs¡ªactually sighs¡ªand I can¡¯t help the smallugh that escapes me. It¡¯s such a human sound, so at odds with the appearance that had me terrified just days ago. Yesterday? My sense of time is beyond screwed up.


    ¡®Sorry,¡¯ I say, not feeling sorry at all. ¡®But you have to admit, it¡¯s kind of funny. Tamed by pussy. Imagine that.¡¯


    He gives me a look that somehow manages to be withering even through the mask. Iugh again, the sound echoing in the opulent room.


    ¡®Don¡¯t worry,¡¯ I tell him, touching his hand before I can think better of it. Luckily, that seems to be okay. ¡®Your secret¡¯s safe with me. I won¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯re actually a big softie underneath all those¡­ muscles and metal and¡­ teeth.¡¯


    A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. The Knight tenses immediately, a warning growl building in his chest as he shifts to position himself between me and the potential threat.


    ¡®Come in,¡¯ I call, cing a calming hand on the Knight¡¯s arm again.


    The door opens to reveal a disheveled man in a white coat. The doctor, I presume. He looks like he¡¯s seen better days¡ªhis hair is mussed, his eyes bloodshot, and there¡¯s a slight tremor in his hands as he carries his medical bag into the room.


    ¡®Dr. Ryefield,¡¯ he introduces himself with a curt nod. His gaze flicks nervously to the Knight, then back to me. ¡®Geo sent me to check on your¡­¡¯ He gulps loudly. ¡®Friend.¡¯


    ¡®Thank you foring,¡¯ I say, feeling a bit better when I see he¡¯s scared shitless. I don¡¯t like doctors, but a frightened one may be tolerable. ¡®I¡¯m Cosima. This is¡­ Knight.¡¯


    It¡¯s less of a mouthful than the Knight. I tell myself that¡¯s the only reason I¡¯ve made it more of a real name. That it has nothing to do with the strange feelings I¡¯m developing for the alpha I¡¯ve been terrified of my entire life.


    ¡®Yes, I know who you are,¡¯ he says, setting his bag down on a nearby table. ¡®Everyone in this hellhole knows who you are by now.¡¯


    Wonderful. Just what I need. More attention.


    Knight¡¯s growl deepens as the doctor approaches, his massive frame coiling with tension. I tighten my grip on his arm, willing him to stay calm.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ I murmur to him. ¡®He¡¯s here to help. Remember?¡¯


    The growling subsides to a low rumble, but Knight¡¯s burning blue eyes never leave the doctor as he unpacks his supplies.


    ¡®I need to examine his wounds,¡¯ Dr. Ryefield says, pulling on a pair oftex gloves with practiced efficiency. ¡®Can you control him?¡¯


    I bristle at the implication. ¡®He¡¯s not a pet.¡¯


    ¡®No,¡¯ the doctor agrees, eyeing Knight¡¯s metal ws warily. ¡®He¡¯s much more dangerous than that. But Geo says you have some sort of¡­ influence over him.¡¯


    I exchange a nce with Knight. ¡®We have an understanding,¡¯ I say finally. ¡®He won¡¯t hurt you unless you try to hurt me. In which case, well¡­ that would be a different story.¡¯


    ¡®Fantastic,¡¯ the doctor mutters dryly. ¡®No pressure at all.¡¯


    Despite his obvious fear, Dr. Ryefield approaches the bed with professionalposure. ¡®I need to see the wounds on your back first,¡¯ he tells Knight directly, as if speaking to a normal patient. ¡®Can you turn around for me?¡¯


    To my surprise, Knightplies without prompting, shifting on the bed with an irritated growl to present his scarred back to the doctor. I move with him, keeping one hand on his arm, as much for my ownfort as his.


    ¡®Good lord,¡¯ Dr. Ryefield breathes as he takes in the extent of the damage. ¡®What happened to you?¡¯


    Knight, of course, doesn¡¯t answer.


    ¡®Explosions and bullets,¡¯ I say.


    The doctor hums thoughtfully as he begins to clean the wounds. Knight flinches at the first touch of antiseptic, another low growl rumbling in his chest, but he doesn¡¯t pull away. I move my hand to his and squeeze it. As much as I can, anyway. My hand barely wraps around half his palm.


    ¡®These aren¡¯t just from a fight,¡¯ Dr. Ryefield says after a moment, his fingers gently probing the deep vertical gashes on either side of Knight¡¯s spine. Knight flinches in clear pain and my heart clenches. ¡®These are surgical. Or they were, before something was ripped out.¡¯


    I lean forward, peering over Knight¡¯s massive shoulder. The wounds are deep and ragged, as if something had been forcibly removed. ¡®What do you mean?¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not sure,¡¯ the doctor admits, reaching for a suture kit. ¡®But judging by the cement and the surrounding scar tissue, I¡¯d guess some sort of structure connected to his nervous system, given how they align with his upper spine.¡¯ He begins to stitch the first wound closed with neat, precise movements. ¡®Whoever did this to him didn¡¯t care about hisfort. Or his survival, for that matter.¡¯


    Knight remains perfectly still as the doctor works, but I can feel the tension radiating from him. His breathing is carefully controlled, each exhale measured as if he¡¯s counting the seconds until this is over.


    ¡®Can¡¯t you give him something for the pain?¡¯ I ask, worried. I know antiseptic, let alone anesthetics, are in short supply out here, but there has to be something.


    Dr. Ryefield nces up with a look that¡¯s not unsympathetic. ¡®I¡¯m afraid the metabolism of an alpha who¡¯s capable of surviving injuries like this would burn through anything I have on hand almost immediately. It would just be more needles for no benefit.¡¯


    ¡®Oh.¡¯


    Even though we¡¯re both sitting on the bed, I still have to stretch my arm up to reach his bone-white hair. I card my hand through it, trying to soothe him. He rxes fractionally at my touch. Still, each time the needle slides into his skin and the stitches tug, Knight winces. His scarred skin feels cold and mmy to the touch.


    ¡®This is far beyond anything I¡¯ve encountered,¡¯ the doctor continues, stitching up the next set of wounds. ¡®I¡¯ve heard of experiments being performed, especially in Vrissia, but this is¡­ particrly extreme.¡¯ He pauses, his gaze lifting to Knight¡¯s masked face. ¡®I need to check for head injuries as well. Can you remove your mask for me?¡¯


    ¡®Oh, he won¡¯t do that,¡¯ I say quickly, squeezing Knight¡¯s hand as hard as I can in hopes I can convince him through my touch to not tear the room apart. ¡®The mask stays on.¡¯


    The doctor reaches for it anyway. Knight jerks away with a snarl, his hand flying up to protect his mask just as it did when I asked. Dr. Ryefield stumbles back, nearly dropping his suture kit.


    ¡®See? Told you,¡¯ I add, trying to keep my voice light despite my irritation and the tense energy crackling in the air. This doctor may not be as terrible as the others I¡¯ve encountered, but not even the benign ones listen to omegas.


    Dr. Ryefield swallows hard, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing in his throat. ¡®Right. Well, I¡¯ll just¡­ continue with the rest, then.¡¯


    The examination continues in tense silence. The doctor works methodically, cleaning and stitching the wounds he can reach, applying antiseptic to the others. Knight endures it all withoutint, though I can tell by the set of his shoulders and the asional rumble in his chest that he¡¯s far fromfortable.


    I¡¯ll have to make it up to himter.


    ¡®The flesh wounds should heal well enough with proper care,¡¯ Dr. Ryefield says finally, packing up his supplies. ¡®Keep them clean, change the dressings daily, and try to limit movement for at least a week.¡¯ He hesitates, ncing between us. ¡®Though I suspect thatst part might be challenging, given the circumstances.¡¯


    I nod, already knowing we won¡¯t be staying here long enough for an ideal recovery. ¡®Thank you, doctor. We appreciate your help.¡¯


    Dr. Ryefield pauses at the door, his expression softening slightly. ¡®He¡¯s been through a lot,¡¯ he says quietly. ¡®More than most could survive. Whatever they did to him¡­ it wasn¡¯t just physical.¡¯


    I swallow hard, my hand finding Knight¡¯s again without conscious thought. ¡®I know.¡¯


    The doctor nods once, then slips out the door, leaving us alone again.


    Knight exhales slowly as the door closes. I turn to face him, taking in the neat stitches now adorning his scarred skin.


    ¡®Better?¡¯ I ask softly.


    He nods, those blue eyes finding mine. There¡¯s something different in his gaze now. Something strangely vulnerable. It makes my heart do a strange little flip in my chest.


    ¡®Good,¡¯ I murmur, reaching up to brush a strand of white hair away from his mask. This time, he doesn¡¯t flinch away from my touch. ¡®You should rest.¡¯


    Knight makes no move to lie down, though. Instead, he watches me with that intense blue gaze that seems to see right through me. It should be unnerving. It was unnerving, once.


    But now¡­


    Now I find myself leaning into it. Wanting it.


    The realization hits me. I like the way he looks at me. Like I¡¯m the center of his universe. Like nothing else matters but me.


    And I can¡¯t deny the way my pulse quickens at the thought. The way heat pools low in my belly at the memory of his massive body over mine, inside me, filling me sopletely I thought I might break.


    I swallow hard, suddenly aware of how thin Raven¡¯s silk robe is. How it clings to my curves, still slightly damp from my shower. Knight¡¯s gaze drops to where the fabric gaps slightly at my chest, and I hear his breathing hitch.


    ¡®You should rest,¡¯ I repeat, my voice embarrassingly breathless. ¡®Doctor¡¯s orders.¡¯


    He makes no move to lie down. Instead, his massive hand reaches out, hovering just above my knee where the robe has parted. He doesn¡¯t touch me. He¡¯s waiting for permission.


    My heart hammers against my ribs as I nod.


    His human hand settles on my upper thigh, warm and heavy. The contrast between his rough scars and my smooth skin is beautiful in its own strange way. His thumb traces small circles over the pinkish omega mark on my hip, and I have to bite my lip to stifle a gasp.


    ¡®We shouldn¡¯t,¡¯ I whisper, even as I lean into his touch. ¡®You¡¯re injured¡­¡¯


    Not that it stopped him before, though.


    Knight rumbles low in his chest again, the sound vibrating through me like a physical caress. His hand slides higher, pushing the silk robe up as it goes.


    Gods help me, I want him again.


    And not just because of heat or necessity or any of the excuses I could hide behind before.


    I want him because he¡¯s the most terrifying, beautiful, devoted creature I¡¯ve ever encountered. Because he looks at me not just like I hung the moon and stars, but like I am the moon and stars. Because when I¡¯m with him, I feel powerful in a way I never have before.


    Because the fact that he¡¯s fucking terrifying just makes him hotter somehow.


    His hand reaches the apex of my thighs, and I can¡¯t hold back the moan that escapes me as his fingers brush against my already slick folds. His touch is gentle, almost reverent, as he explores me.


    ¡®Wait,¡¯ I gasp, cing my hand over his to still his movements. ¡®Not¡­ not yet.¡¯


    Knight freezes immediately, his hand withdrawing as if burned. I catch his wrist before he can pull awaypletely.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t say stop,¡¯ I rify, my cheeks heating. ¡®Just¡­ slow down. We have time.¡¯


    Relief floods his eyes, and I realize he thought I was rejecting him. The idea that this massive, terrifying alpha could be insecure about anything is almostughable. And yet, the evidence is right there in those blue eyes that are searching mine.


    ¡®Come here,¡¯ I murmur, tugging gently on his arm.


    He moves closer, the mattress dipping under his weight as he shifts. I reach up, my fingers tracing the edge of his mask where it meets his jaw. He tenses but doesn¡¯t pull away.


    ¡®I won¡¯t take it off,¡¯ I promise. ¡®But I want to try something.¡¯


    Slowly, giving him plenty of time to stop me, I lean forward and press my lips to the smooth silver surface of his mask, right where his mouth would be. It¡¯s cool against my lips, the metal warming quickly from my breath.


    Knight goespletely still, his breathing stopping entirely. For a moment, I worry I¡¯ve crossed a line.


    But then he reaches up and touches the silver where I just kissed him and a shudder runs through his massive frame. The most quiet, broken growl I¡¯ve ever heard escapes him.


    It breaks my heart.


    And seals my fate.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 45

    she kissed me


    kissed my mask


    the metal between us


    but still


    she


    kissed


    me


    cannot move


    cannot breathe


    cannot think


    soft press of her lips against cold silver


    warmth spreading from that single point


    like sunrise breaking across frozen wastnd


    why?


    why would she touch a monster this way?


    why would she want a broken thing?


    her violet eyes watch me


    waiting


    wondering


    fingertips brush her perfect lips


    then touch the spot where they pressed against mask


    connection


    something stirs inside


    not just hunger


    not just need


    something¡­ more


    mind feels clearer now


    less fog


    less rage


    but still no words


    wish i could speak


    tell her what this means


    this simple gift


    this impossible kindness


    but words stay trapped


    behind years of only growls and roars


    her hand slides up my arm


    featherlight touch against ruined flesh


    scars under her fingertips


    metal against her palm


    ¡®It¡¯s okay,¡¯ she whispers


    voice like starlight


    voice like peace


    but it¡¯s not okay


    nothing is okay


    everything is broken


    i am broken


    yet she looks at me like i am whole


    her hand moves to my chest


    palm t against heartbeat


    can she feel how it races?


    how it thunders?


    how it beats only for her?


    want to touch her too


    want to worship


    want to show what words cannot


    my human hand lifts


    hesitates


    hovers above her skin


    ask permission with eyes


    with stillness


    with patience


    she nods again


    gives permission


    gives trust


    gives everything


    fingers brush her cheek


    silk and moonlight and heaven


    she leans into touch


    eyes flutter closed


    soft sigh escapes


    emboldened


    my palm cups her face


    cups it easily


    engulfs it


    thumb traces cheekbone


    memorizing every line


    every curve


    every detail


    never want to forget


    never want to lose this


    never want to wake if this is dream


    she opens eyes


    violet gxies staring back


    ¡®Touch me,¡¯ shemands


    voice steady despite flush on cheeks


    my hand trembles


    trail down neck


    careful


    so careful


    could hurt


    could destroy


    fingertips trace corbone


    palm slides to shoulder


    push silk robe slightly


    exposing more moonlit skin


    breathtaking


    the urge to taste


    to press mask against her neck


    to inhale her scent


    it overwhelms me


    lean forward


    nuzzle against her throat


    careful


    always careful


    mask between us


    always between us


    she gasps


    tilts head


    gives more ess


    more trust


    more everything


    hand continues journey


    silk parts beneath fingers


    slips from shoulder


    pools at elbow


    breast exposed


    perfect


    my breath catches


    even animal part of me pauses


    in reverence


    in worship


    in disbelief


    she wants this


    wants me


    again


    not just heat driving her


    not just necessity


    this is different


    what is this?


    what are we?


    what am i to her?


    dare not dream


    dare not imagine


    focus only on now


    on touch


    on worship


    palm cups breast


    weight perfect in hand


    dusky nipple hardens against scarred palm


    her back arches


    pressing into touch


    asking for more


    without words


    understand thisnguage


    this wordlessmunion


    this silent conversation


    other hand joins


    metal ws carefully held away


    using only backs of steel fingers


    to slide robe from other shoulder


    she shivers


    not from cold


    from want


    both breasts bare now


    perfect


    beautiful


    thumb brushes nipple


    experiment


    test


    worship


    she moans


    sound like music


    like prayer


    like blessing


    want to hear more


    want to draw every sound


    every sigh


    every gasp


    robe pools at waist now


    held only by loose tie


    barrier


    boundary


    temptation


    look up at her face


    question in eyes


    asking permission


    always asking


    she smiles


    an actual smile


    just for me


    she nods


    undoes tie herself


    silk whispers away


    it pools on the bed


    leaving her naked


    exposed


    perfect


    throat tightens


    chest aches


    too much beauty


    too much perfection


    too much trust


    do not deserve this


    do not deserve her


    do not deserve anything


    but she gives anyway


    hand explores


    keep ws away


    careful


    reverent


    memorizing


    dip of waist


    re of hip


    softness of stomach


    curve of thigh


    map her body like sacred text


    worship at altar of her form


    her breathing quickens


    hands tangle in my hair


    pulling gently


    guiding


    she wants more


    wants everything


    wants me


    impossible


    beautiful


    terrifying


    her legs part


    invitation


    permission


    my fingers trace her inner thigh


    higher


    higher


    closer to center


    to heat


    to home


    pause at edge


    ¡®Please,¡¯ she whispers


    restraint shatters


    fingers find slick heat


    already wet


    already wanting


    already ready


    stroke gently


    carefully


    worshipfully


    memories ofst time


    in forest


    in heat


    in desperate need


    different now


    slower


    clearer


    more deliberate


    her hips roll


    seeking more


    slide one finger inside


    tight heat wees


    surrounds


    epts


    another finger joins


    stretching


    preparing


    thumb finds sensitive bud


    circles


    gentle pressure


    steady rhythm


    she gasps


    head falls back


    throat exposed


    beautiful


    curve fingers inside


    searching


    finding


    stroking


    she cries out


    body tightening


    trembling


    ascending


    want to watch


    want to memorize


    want to record every expression


    every sound


    every moment


    something catches eye


    beyond bed


    across room


    forgotten detail


    some strange furniture


    a hard ck shell with ivory strips


    never seen anything like it


    but the perfect height


    gleaming


    waiting


    idea forms


    images rise


    memories of before


    of taking her


    of iming her


    of being inside her


    want that again


    want everything


    want to worship properly


    fully


    withdraw fingers


    she whimpers


    protest


    confusion


    lift her


    one arm beneath knees


    other supporting back


    cradling against chest


    she feels so small


    so light


    so fragile


    so precious


    carry her across room


    toward the ck altar


    she realizes


    eyes widen


    lips part


    ¡®The piano?¡¯ she asks


    already breathless


    what is a piano?


    strange name for an altar


    but she understands now


    sees intention


    shares vision


    wants same thing


    set her on edge


    ck polished surface


    cool against heated skin


    she shivers


    spreads legs


    invites


    wees


    stand between them


    tower over


    protect


    worship


    her fingers work at my pants


    eager


    hungry


    needing


    free my cock


    hard


    aching


    ready


    her fingers wrap around


    as much as they can


    she strokes up


    down


    up


    squeezes


    sharp teeth clench behind my mask


    growl builds


    rumbles


    escapes


    too good


    too much


    too perfect


    her fingers explore my length


    hard


    thick


    throbbing


    she frowns


    small crease between light eyebrows


    ¡®You¡¯re¡­ bigger than I remembered,¡¯ she whispers


    concern in violet eyes


    different from forest


    different from heat


    know this


    understand this


    heat made her ready


    heat made her more slick


    this is different


    she needs more


    needs me to be gentle


    ¡®Will it even fit?¡¯ she asks


    tilt head


    study her


    think


    want inside


    wantpletion


    want union


    but must be careful


    always careful


    ce hands on her thighs


    careful of my metal ws


    never press the tips to her soft skin


    only gentle pressure


    asking permission


    she understands


    nods


    spreads wider


    offering


    inviting


    trusting


    kneel before piano altar


    before her


    before goddess


    fingers trace inner thigh


    soft skin


    goosebumps rising


    following touch


    reach center


    wet


    but not enough


    one finger circles entrance


    teasing


    testing


    slide inside


    tight


    so tight


    too tight for more


    work carefully


    gentle thrusts


    stretch slowly


    prepare properly


    her breathing quickens


    head falls back


    small moans escape


    add second finger


    resistance at first


    then eptance


    then wee


    stretching


    preparing


    her wetness increases


    body responding


    epting


    wanting


    curl fingers inside


    find spot that makes her gasp


    press


    stroke


    worship


    ¡®Knight,¡¯ she moans


    name on her lips


    sweetest sound


    her hips rock against hand


    wanting more


    seeking more


    needing more


    she looks down


    violet eyes dark with want


    want for me


    ¡®Use your mouth,¡¯ she begs


    freeze


    tension locks muscles


    fear grips spine


    mouth means mask


    mask means face


    face means monster


    shake head


    once


    sharp


    she frowns


    not anger


    confusion


    ¡®Why not?¡¯ she asks


    but cannot answer


    cannot exin


    cannot speak


    fingers still moving inside her


    still worshipping


    still serving


    but mouth¡­


    monster jaws


    nightmare teeth


    inhuman tongue


    ¡®Please,¡¯ she whispers


    notmand


    not order


    request


    look up


    fear must show in eyes


    even through mask slits


    her expression softens


    understanding dawns


    ¡®Is it¡­ your face?¡¯ she asks


    voice gentle


    voice understanding


    voice perfect


    nod


    once


    sharp


    she leans forward


    cups silver mask in hands


    thumbs stroke metal cheeks


    ¡®I won¡¯t look,¡¯ she promises


    voice solemn


    voice sincere


    voice true


    ¡®I¡¯ll close my eyes.¡¯


    i am still hesitant


    still afraid


    still unworthy


    but she wants this


    asks for this


    deserves everything


    fingers withdraw


    glistening with her nectar


    her scent overwhelms senses


    she leans back


    settles on piano


    eyes closed as promised


    waiting


    trusting


    beautiful


    my trembling fingers reach for mask


    lift it up off my lower face


    not really a face


    hesitate


    nervous


    watching her


    making sure her eyes stay closed


    revealing nightmare beneath


    sharp teeth


    too many


    too pointed


    designed for tearing


    for ripping


    for killing


    long tongue


    inhuman


    another abomination


    another perversion of nature


    she keeps eyes closed


    true to word


    patient


    perfect


    trusting


    cold air hits exposed jaw


    lower face


    feels wrong


    vulnerable


    exposed


    lean forward


    hands on her thighs


    spreading gently


    positioning perfectly


    her scent stronger now


    without mask blocking it


    intoxicating


    maddening


    perfect


    hover above her center


    breath against sensitive flesh


    she shivers


    anticipates


    waits


    long tongue extends


    inhuman length


    monstrous design


    first contact


    light


    gentle


    questioning


    her taste


    impossible to describe


    tastes like salvation


    delicious


    perfect


    her back arches


    gasps fills room


    encouragement


    eptance


    permission


    gain confidence


    lick again


    firmer


    longer


    worship


    her hands find my hair


    fingers tangle


    grip


    anchor


    tongue explores


    discovers


    memorizes


    every fold


    every texture


    every perfect detail


    find sensitive bud


    circle around


    tease


    worship


    adore


    her thighs tremble


    breathing quickens


    small sounds escape


    perfect music


    perfect symphony


    perfect worship


    too aware of teeth


    careful


    so careful


    keep them away from delicate flesh


    use only tongue


    only softness


    only gentleness


    slide tongue fully inside


    deeper than fingers


    different sensation


    exploring


    iming


    her walls clutch at invasion


    hips rock against face


    sharp teeth prick her thigh


    only makes her squirm more


    setting rhythm


    demanding more


    hands grip thighs


    keep her steady


    keep her safe


    always safe


    long tongue finds spot inside


    the one that made her cry out before


    press against it


    stroke over it


    worship it


    serve it


    ¡®Please,¡¯ she moans


    never has to ask


    tongue moves faster


    deeper


    harder


    push her further


    tongue relentless in devotion


    her back arches again


    sudden tension


    then release


    cry escapes


    beautiful sound


    perfect reward


    ultimate blessing


    taste changes


    floods tongue


    softer


    slower


    helping her down


    easing her back


    when tremors stop


    when breathing slows


    when hands release hair


    withdraw carefully


    lower mask quickly


    hide monster


    look up


    wondering


    waiting


    worrying


    her eyes still closed


    keeping promise


    respecting boundary


    perfect trust


    ¡®Can I open my eyes?¡¯ she pants


    i growl in affirmation


    violet eyes open again


    searching mine


    she reaches for me


    pulls me up


    closer


    between her legs again


    ¡®I want you,¡¯ she says


    simple words


    impossible meaning


    undeserved gift


    position at entrance


    press against slick heat


    wait


    always wait


    always ask


    always worship


    she nods


    hooks her legs around my waist


    pulls


    pressure


    resistance


    then give


    head pushes inside


    stretching


    filling


    iming


    her gasp


    my growl


    our union


    pause


    let her adjust


    let her ept


    let hermand


    my hands grip piano edge


    support my weight


    careful not to crush


    not to hurt


    not to break


    her hands on my scarred chest


    steadying


    grounding


    iming


    ¡®More,¡¯ she pleads


    push deeper


    inch by inch


    careful


    controlled


    her back arches


    head falls back


    mouth opens in silent cry


    halfway now


    so tight


    so perfect


    so right


    push further


    deeper


    fuller


    more


    finally


    fully seated


    perfectly united


    wait again


    let her adjust


    let her feel


    let her lead


    her eyes open


    violet meets blue


    souls touch


    connect


    understand


    begins to move


    hips rolling


    taking


    iming


    follow her lead


    match her rhythm


    serve her needs


    worship her body


    thrust deeper


    her back arches


    fingers digging into my shoulders


    the ck altar beneath her shifts


    makes strange sound


    wooden groan and discordant notes


    as my movements rock it on floor


    she gasps


    then giggles


    sound like silver bells


    like starlight made audible


    never heard herugh like this


    the altar makes more noise


    ¡®They must¡­ they must hear this,¡¯ she manages between gasps


    sheughs again


    breathless


    joyful


    i do not understand joke


    but understand joy


    love herugh


    want to hear it forever


    want to be reason for it


    shift angle


    drive deeper


    another cascade of notes


    broken music


    broken sounds from broken altar


    herughter fades to moans


    head thrown back


    throat exposed


    pale column of moonlight


    would kiss if could


    would mark if worthy


    her body like instrument beneath my hands


    ying her


    worshipping her


    drawing music from her lips


    from her soul


    she wraps legs tighter


    pulls me closer


    deeper


    further


    ¡®Don¡¯t stop,¡¯ she begs


    would never


    could never


    will never


    grip ck wood harder


    feel it crack under metal ws


    splinters under human hand


    too much strength


    but she does not fear


    does not flinch


    only watches


    with violet eyes half-lidded


    pupils blown wide with want


    her heat surrounds me


    perfect


    tight


    wet


    home


    thrust harder


    faster


    piano slides inches across floor


    more nging music


    but sweetest sound is still her


    her gasps


    her moans


    her whispered pleas


    hands move to her hips


    hold her steady against onught


    need to be gentle


    always gentle


    with precious things


    with sacred things


    with her


    feel her tightening around me


    feel her climbing


    ascending


    reaching


    close to peak


    to bliss


    to heaven


    want to follow


    want to join


    want to ascend with her


    her back arches


    body tensing


    ¡®Knight,¡¯ she gasps


    not designation


    not experiment number


    not monster


    not even the Knight


    just Knight


    her Knight


    a real name


    it is more than enough


    it is everything


    feel here undone


    feel her tightening


    pulsing


    gripping


    pulling me deeper


    the sensation


    the sight


    her face transformed in ecstasy


    head thrown back


    mouth open


    eyes closed


    the most beautiful thing


    ever witnessed


    ever will witness


    growl builds


    rumbles


    escapes


    cannot stop


    do not want to


    my release approaches


    coiled heat in spine


    pressure building


    base of cock begins to swell


    alpha nature rising


    the knot forming


    stretching her further


    she feels it


    eyes fly open


    ¡®Yes,¡¯ she hisses. ¡®Knot me, alpha.¡¯


    permission granted


    instinct takes over


    push deeper


    lock knot inside her


    where it belongs


    where we belong


    joined


    tied


    bound


    she gasps at fullness


    at stretch


    atpletion


    knot expands fully


    locks us together


    ancient biology


    primal connection


    undeniable bond


    her inner walls flutter


    second climax crashes through her


    squeezing knot


    milking cock


    drawing everything from me


    piano makes violent protest


    wood creaks


    threatens


    front leg weakens


    roar tears from throat


    hands grip piano hard enough to crack wood


    body shudders


    vision whites out


    pour everything into her


    every broken piece


    every shattered dream


    every moment of pain


    transformed into pleasure


    into worship


    into devotion


    piano makes final protest


    front leg splinters


    crashes to floor on one side


    we slide


    she squeals


    halfugh half gasp


    clutches me tight


    catch her


    would never let her fall


    not my moonlight


    not my goddess


    not my everything


    hold her safe against chest


    both breathing hard


    both trembling


    both changed


    still locked together


    knot binding us


    keeping us one


    for precious minutes more


    embarrassment floods me


    strange new emotion


    almost worse than shame


    broke the altar


    broke the piano


    broke the music


    want to apologize


    want to speak


    but she justughs


    full and bright and free


    ¡®We broke Geo¡¯s piano,¡¯ she gasps betweenughs


    looks up at me


    no fear


    no judgment


    no disgust


    only joy


    only eptance


    only¡­ something more


    she shifts slightly


    gasps as knot tugs inside her


    still sensitive


    still connected


    still mine


    she reaches up


    strokes my hair from my mask


    touches silver lips


    second kiss


    through metal


    through barrier


    ¡®Worth it,¡¯ she whispers


    chest cannot contain feeling


    this new emotion


    this impossible warmth


    maybe i cannot love


    but maybe this is more

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 46

    I pace the length of Geo¡¯s living room, each turn making my wounds throb. The pain is a persistent reminder of Geo¡¯s bullets in my back, of the unwee fact that I now owe Raven my life, and most distressingly of all, of Cosima choosing a literal monster over me.


    My mate.


    Mine.


    The thought makes me grind my teeth until my jaw aches.


    Geo sits in his armchair by the firece, pretending to read some pre-war book as if I¡¯m not here, as if we¡¯re not forced into this bizarre truce while waiting for his golden-haired drama queen to return.


    The crackling fire does nothing to warm the ice in my veins. My fingers twitch with the urge to wrap around someone¡¯s throat, preferably Geo¡¯s, but I¡¯d settle for any target right now.


    The silence between us hangs thick and hostile until?¡ª


    A dull thunkes from down the hall.


    Geo¡¯s eye flicks up from his book, meeting mine briefly before returning to the page with forced nonchnce.


    I open my mouth to make some cutting remark when another sound interrupts me. A low rumble, like a growl, followed by what sounds like¡­ughter?


    Cosima¡¯sughter.


    My stomach knots. The implications crawl under my skin like acid.


    ¡®Sounds like your doc¡¯s a real miracle worker,¡¯ I drawl, the words tasting like poison.


    Geo doesn¡¯t bother looking up. ¡®Better than expected, apparently.¡¯


    Another sound reaches us, this time unmistakable¡ªthe discordant notes of a piano, yed clumsily, as if someone had simply fallen against the keys. Or been pushed against them.


    ¡®Guess she¡¯s teaching him to y piano,¡¯ I remark stiffly, attempting to maintain whatever¡¯s left of my sanity.


    The words have barely left my mouth when Cosima¡¯s moan cuts through the air, clear and unmistakable.


    Geo¡¯s lips curl into a smirk, his one eye still fixed on his book. ¡®Sounds more like she¡¯s teaching him to y her.¡¯


    The silence that follows is excruciating.


    I resume pacing, bile rising in my throat with each step. The sound of the piano continues, intermittent notes punctuated by more moans, more growls, moreughter. The sound of wood cracking and splintering.


    Geo¡¯s eye twitches. The spine of his book cracks.


    My mate is in there with the monster who tore through my men like they were nothing. The creature I captured to weaponize, not to fuck my omega.


    My omega, who looks at me with disgust in those violet eyes.


    My omega, who doesn¡¯t think she¡¯s mine at all.


    What¡¯s most infuriating is how much I still want her. I¡¯ve never wanted anyone more, and I¡¯ve certainly never considered anyone my fucking mate before.


    I don¡¯t do mates.


    I don¡¯t do love.


    I barely even do sex that isn¡¯t transactional.


    So what the fuck is happening to me?


    Another moan, louder this time, rips through my thoughts. My hand clenches involuntarily into a fist.


    Geo ms his book shut. ¡®That was an antique, you know. Belonged to a fucking prince.¡¯


    I turn to him, incredulous. ¡®Your piano? That¡¯s what you¡¯re concerned about right now?¡¯


    His eye narrows. ¡®What would you have me concerned about? Your wounded alpha pride?¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯s my mate,¡¯ I snarl.


    ¡®Funny. She seems to be mating with someone else at the moment.¡¯ His tone is casual, almost bored, but I see the tension in his shoulders. He¡¯s not as unaffected by this as he pretends to be.


    ¡®Where the fuck is Raven?¡¯ I snap, finally reaching my breaking point. ¡®What¡¯s taking him so long?¡¯


    Geo shrugs, reopening his book. ¡®How the hell should I know? I¡¯m not his keeper.¡¯


    ¡®Could have fooled me,¡¯ I sneer. ¡®You should go find him.¡¯


    His bark ofughter is harsh, but I can tell I struck a nerve. ¡®Like hell I¡¯m leaving you alone in my base.¡¯ He gestures toward the door with his book. ¡®But you¡¯re more than wee to leave. If you bring Raven back, I might even let you back in.¡¯


    I eye the gun on his hip. ¡®I need my weapon.¡¯


    ¡®No.¡¯


    ¡®You expect me to go out there unarmed?¡¯


    Geo looks aroundzily, his eye eventually settling on the mantelpiece beneath the massive horned skull. ¡®Best I can do is this,¡¯ he says, reaching up to grab a rusty sword that looks like it hasn¡¯t been used in centuries. He tosses it to me with obvious amusement.


    I catch it one-handed, scowling at the dull, pitted de. It¡¯s clearly just a wall decoration, but it¡¯s better than nothing. And I¡¯ve killed with less.


    ¡®You¡¯re a piece of shit, you know that?¡¯ I growl.


    ¡®So I¡¯ve been told,¡¯ Geo replies, already returning to his book. ¡®Close the door on your way out.¡¯


    A fresh wave of moans and piano notes drifts down the hall. That decides it. I can¡¯t stay here another minute listening to this. I turn on my heel and stalk toward the exit, the sword gripped tightly in my fist.


    My boots echo on the concrete as I storm through the tunnels of Geo¡¯s underground empire. The guards eye me warily, hands drifting to their weapons as I pass.


    At the main entrance, a young alpha stands at attention, his rifle held across his chest. He straightens when he sees me approaching, eyes darting nervously to the rusty sword in my hand.


    ¡®Sir? You¡¯re not supposed to?¡ª¡¯


    I don¡¯t let him finish. In one fluid motion, I m him against the wall, the dull edge of the sword pressed against his throat.


    ¡®Your gun,¡¯ I say softly. ¡®Give it to me.¡¯


    His eyes widen in fear. Good. Fear I can work with.


    ¡®I-I can¡¯t,¡¯ he stammers. ¡®Geo will?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Geo will what? Kill you?¡¯ I lean in closer, letting him see the cold certainty in my eyes. ¡®I¡¯ll save him the trouble. Your gun. Now.¡¯


    His shaking hands fumble with the rifle. I snatch it from him, checking the magazine. Full. Better than I expected.


    ¡®Where did Raven go?¡¯ I demand, keeping the sword at his throat.


    ¡®Who?¡¯


    I roll my eyes. New recruit, clearly. ¡®The pretty blond alpha. About this tall.¡¯ I gesture with my free hand. ¡®Fancy clothes, blue eyes, mouth that doesn¡¯t stop running.¡¯


    Recognition flickers in his eyes. ¡®Oh, him. He left with some shady-looking guy a while ago. Heard them talking about heading to a brothel.¡¯


    That gets my attention. ¡®A brothel?¡¯


    The guard nods rapidly. ¡®That¡¯s what it sounded like.¡¯


    I step back, tucking the rifle into a holster on my belt. It¡¯s a tight fit, but it¡¯ll do. The guard blinks in confusion, but I¡¯m already walking up the rusted stairs leading up to an even more rusted hatch.


    The sunlight stings my eyes after the artificial lighting of the undergroundplex. I squint, giving me a moment to adjust to the harsh re reflecting off the wastnd¡¯s bleached earth. The wind carries the ass-bitter taste of radiation and dust, a familiar vor that reminds me I¡¯m back in my element.


    Out here, I know where I stand.


    Out here, the rules are simple.


    Kill or be killed.


    Geo¡¯s underground market isn¡¯t far from the skeletal remains of what was once a small town. Rusted signs, half-buried in sand, guide travelers to the entrance. Around it, makeshift stalls and tents have sprung up like weeds, catering to those unwilling¡ªor unable¡ªto navigate the politics of Geo¡¯s domain below.


    He¡¯d better watch it. If he¡¯s not careful, he¡¯s going to end up a mayor.


    I know exactly where I¡¯m headed. The Alpha¡¯s Alpha, Raven¡¯s ¡®tacky¡¯ sex club. The memory of Cosima¡¯s barb, and the look on his face, still brings a small smile to my face.


    Not a bad ce to gather intel, I have to admit. The Reinmichian and Surhiiran elite might sneer at it publicly, but many find their way there under cover of darkness. Alcohol and sex loosen tongues, and Raven¡¯s whores are trained to listen and remember. They¡¯re better informants than most.


    It¡¯s where I would go if I were looking for information on someone like Azarel, this mysterious alpha Cosima wants so badly. The jealousy that floods me at the thought is as unexpected as it is unwee.


    I¡¯ve never been the jealous type. Never cared enough about anyone to feel threatened. But now¡­


    Now I want to tear apart anyone who might take her from me. Including the monster currently fucking her back in Geo¡¯spound. Including this Azarel, whoever the hell he is.


    A Surhiiran working as a Reinmichian soldier. Now that¡¯s a niche. Probably not someone I¡¯d usually be inclined to fuck with, either, considering he¡¯s got ties to the two nations I like to keep a low profile with. And yet here I am, considering tracking the bastard down myself just to put a bullet in his skull before Raven can bring him back to Cosima.


    What¡¯s happening to me?


    The thought nags at the back of my mind, a splinter I can¡¯t quite reach, as I make my way through the ramshackle pop-up towns on the way to the seedier district where the Alpha¡¯s Alpha holds court. The sun beats down on my shoulders, aggravating the wounds in my back. I can feel fresh blood seeping through the makeshift bandages, but I push the pain aside. Pain is an old friend, after all. We understand each other.


    The buildings here are little more than shells, their windows boarded up or broken, their walls covered in crude graffiti. But I know this world. I know the unspoken rules of the Outer Reaches. The more decrepit the exterior, the more likely there¡¯s something valuable hidden inside.


    I¡¯m so focused on my destination that I almost miss the warning signs. The sudden silence. The prickling at the back of my neck. The faint scuff of a boot on gravel.


    Ambush.


    I dive for cover behind a rusted-out vehicle just as the first shot rings out. The bullet pings off metal where my head had been a moment before.


    ¡®Fucking amateurs,¡¯ I mutter, pulling the stolen rifle from my belt. I peek over the car¡¯s hood, counting targets. Five of them, spread out in a loose semicircle. Armed with a mix of shotguns and pistols. Not raiders¡ªthey¡¯re too well-equipped. Possibly Geo¡¯s men, sent to take a cheap shot while I¡¯m alone and vulnerable. Or someone else who recognized me and knows there¡¯s a bounty on my head.


    A few of them, actually.


    I don¡¯t have time for this shit.


    The first one makes a mistake, breaking cover too early. I squeeze the trigger, and he goes down with a hole between his eyes. The second one is a bit smarter,ying down covering fire as he moves to a better position. But he¡¯s still predictable. I wait for him to reload, then take him out with two shots to the chest.


    The remaining three fan out, trying to nk me. On a good day, I could handle them without breaking a sweat. But my back screams in protest as I pivot to track the one circling to my left. My shot goes wide, clipping his shoulder instead of his heart.


    Fuck.


    A bullet grazes my arm, tearing through the sleeve of my coat. Blood wells immediately, hot and slick. I ignore it, focused on returning fire. The third attacker goes down with a bullet in his throat, gurgling as he clutches at the wound.


    Two left. I reload quickly, fingers moving on autopilot. The sun in my eyes makes it hard to spot the fourth attacker until it¡¯s almost toote. I feel rather than see him, the slight shift in air pressure as he rushes me from behind.


    I spin, the rifleing up, but I¡¯m too slow. Pain explodes in my side as his knife finds its mark, sliding between my ribs. It¡¯s not deep¡ªthe angle was off¡ªbut it¡¯s enough to make my vision blur. I m the butt of the rifle into his face, feeling his nose copse under the impact. He staggers back, and I finish him with a shot to the chest.


    One left. Where is he?


    The answeres in the form of a boot to my back, right where Geo¡¯s bullets had torn through muscle and bone. The pain is immediate and overwhelming, sending me to my knees. The rifle tters to the ground beside me.


    I try to reach for it, but a heavy foot pins my wrist to the dirt. I look up into the barrel of a shotgun, held by a grinning alpha with a scar running down one cheek.


    ¡®Nothing personal,¡¯ he says, finger tightening on the trigger. ¡®Just business.¡¯


    I close my eyes. Not in fear, but in fury. To die like this, at the hands of some nameless mercenary, after everything I¡¯ve survived¡­ it¡¯s fucking insulting.


    The shot rings out, deafening at this range. But the pain doesn¡¯te.


    I open my eyes to see the alpha standing there, a look of surprise frozen on his face. Then his eyes roll back, and he copses forward, a neat hole drilled dead center through the back of his head.


    I roll away from the corpse, scanning the area for this new threat. Friend or foe? Thetter is about a thousand times more likely, in my experience.


    A figure steps out from behind a copsed wall, backlit by the sun. I can¡¯t make out the face, partially obscured beneath a bandana, just the silhouette¡ªslim, graceful, with hair that catches the light like spun gold.


    Raven.


    ¡®That¡¯s what, three times I¡¯ve saved your ass now in the past forty-eight hours?¡¯ he calls out, voice carrying clearly across the distance between us. ¡®Who¡¯s the princess now?¡¯


    The smug bastard twirls his pistol once before holstering it with flourish. He approaches slowly, boots kicking up dust with each deliberate step.


    I struggle to my feet, refusing to let him see me on my knees. Blood seeps from the knife wound in my side, but I stand tall, shoulders back, chin up. Just like I taught him all those years ago.


    Never let them see weakness. Especially not the ones who matter.


    ¡®Your timing¡¯s improving,¡¯ I say, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the pain. ¡®Used to be you¡¯d show up after the fight was over, looking pretty while I did all the dirty work.¡¯


    Raven¡¯sugh is bright and sharp, like broken ss catching sunlight. ¡®And you¡¯re as ungrateful as ever. A simple ¡®thank you for saving my life¡¯ would suffice.¡¯


    ¡®Considering I¡¯m only out here looking for you, let¡¯s call it even.¡¯


    ¡®Geo sent you?¡¯ he asks, raising an eyebrow.


    My throat burns as I swallow down the truth. ¡®Who else?¡¯


    ¡®And he says I¡¯m the clingy one,¡¯ he mumbles, stopping a few feet away. Those blue eyes sweep over me, cataloging every injury. I see the exact moment he spots the fresh knife wound, the sh of concern quickly masked by practiced indifference.


    ¡®You look like shit,¡¯ he observes, head tilting slightly.


    ¡®And you smell like brothel,¡¯ I counter. It¡¯s the truth. He smells like scent maskers and incense, but not anyone else. A fact I only give a shit about because he ims Cosima is his mate, too. ¡®Making good on your promise to our mutual friend?¡¯


    Something passes across his face too quickly to read. ¡®Gathering information, as promised. About that, actually?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Save it,¡¯ I cut him off, pressing a hand to my bleeding side. ¡®We need to get back to thepound.¡¯


    I¡¯m sure he got what he came for. He always does.


    Which means sooner orter, I¡¯ll have to deal with Azarel, too. Just haven¡¯t decided how yet.


    Raven¡¯s eyebrows shoot up. ¡®Well, this is new. Since when do you follow orders, Niki? Last I checked, you were the one giving them.¡¯


    ¡®Since that monster is fucking our omega,¡¯ I snarl, the words escaping before I can stop them.


    Raven rips the bandana off his face, revealing his nk expression. ¡®He¡¯s what?¡¯


    ¡®You heard me,¡¯ I growl, hoping he doesn¡¯t stop to think too long about the ¡®our omega¡¯ part. ¡®They¡¯re?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®No,¡¯ Raven says, his hand shooting up to stop me. ¡®I got that, I¡¯m just stuck on the how. He¡¯s fucking huge. I mean, his cock must be the size of my forearm, which means his knot would be¡­¡¯


    He trails off, making the imaginary circumference with his hands, and then his eyes get ssy. ¡®Damn, girl.¡¯


    Of course that¡¯s what he¡¯s fixated on. Why did I think he¡¯d possibly be a reliable ally?


    ¡®Let¡¯s just fucking go,¡¯ I snarl, turning back the way I came.


    ¡®You¡¯re jealous,¡¯ Raven sings out behind me, his boots crunching on the gravel as he follows. ¡®The great Niki kov, brought low by the green-eyed monster.¡¯


    ¡®Shut up,¡¯ I growl, pressing harder against the knife wound in my side. Fresh blood seeps between my fingers, hot and sticky.


    ¡®Or is it the violet-eyed monster?¡¯ He catches up to me easily, falling into step beside me like no time has passed at all. Like we¡¯re still¡­ whatever we were before. ¡®Come on, admit it. You actually have feelings for her.¡¯


    I whirl on him, ignoring the way the movement makes my vision swim. ¡®She¡¯s my fucking mate.¡¯


    ¡®And mine,¡¯ he reminds me.


    ¡®Yeah. So it should fucking bother you, too.¡¯


    He gives an elegant shrug. ¡®Hey, omegas are rare. I always figured if I ever found my scent match, I¡¯d probably be sharing her.¡¯ His lips curl into that infuriating smirk I remember so well. ¡®And you know me¡ªI¡¯ve never minded sharing.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t fucking remind me,¡¯ I mutter.


    ¡®This way,¡¯ Raven calls out, gesturing toward a pile of rubble. ¡®I¡­ borrowed a car. And you¡¯re in no shape to walk back.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m fine,¡¯ I snap, but even I can hear the strain in my voice.


    ¡®Sure you are.¡¯ He leads me around the debris to where a sleek ck vehicle sits hidden from the road. ¡®Now let me look at those wounds.¡¯


    I bat his hands away as he reaches for my coat. ¡®Just drive.¡¯


    He sighs dramatically but doesn¡¯t push it. A miracle in the wastnd. I sink into the passenger seat, trying to ignore how the leather feels cool against my feverish skin.


    Wait.


    Feverish?


    Fuck, that¡¯s thest thing I need right now.


    Raven slides behind the wheel and starts the engine. The radio crackles to life, some pre-war song I vaguely recognize floating through the speakers. He starts humming along, just like he used to, and I try to be annoyed by it.


    I really do.


    But my eyes are so heavy¡­


    ¡®No, not like that,¡¯ I hear myself saying. ¡®You¡¯ll strip the gears. Ease into it.¡¯


    Raven sits beside me in the driver¡¯s seat, tongue caught between his teeth in concentration as he wrestles with the stick shift. The engine groans in protest.


    ¡®Sorry,¡¯ he mutters, cheeks flushing. ¡®I¡¯ve never done this before.¡¯


    ¡®I know.¡¯ I reach over, cing my hand over his on the gear shift. ¡®Like this. Feel the rhythm of it¡­¡¯


    His cheeks turn pinker for some reason.


    The car hits a bump and I jerk awake. ¡®Brake with your right!¡¯ I shout, disoriented.


    Raven nces at me, confusion written across his features. ¡®What are you talking about?¡¯


    I blink, reality settling back in. The wastnd stretches out around us, barren and familiar. Not thepound¡¯s training grounds where I first taught him to drive.


    ¡®Nothing,¡¯ I mutter, turning to stare out the window. ¡®Just a dream.¡¯


    His humming resumes, but I catch him shooting worried nces at me when he thinks I¡¯m not looking. The radio ys on, some woman singing about paradise lost, and I let the familiar motion of the car lull me back toward unconsciousness.


    Just for a moment.


    Just until we get back.


    Just until I can make sure everyone¡¯s in the same ce. Some idiot alpha instinct I can¡¯t shake.


    A thought flickers in the back of my mind that maybe it¡¯s because I know I¡¯m not doing too hot, and as much as I fucking hate him, Raven is the only person I trust to take care of Cosima if I¡¯m¡­


    I shake my head.


    Fuck that shit. I¡¯ve survived worse than a few bullet wounds. I¡¯m not going down that easily.


    Not when I just found her.


    My mate.


    Our mate.


    The thought follows me into darkness as my eyes drift closed again.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 47

    Knight¡¯s knot detes just enough for us to finally untangle ourselves, and I bite back a groan as I slide off the broken piano. My legs feel like jelly, a sweet ache spreading through me like warm honey. I fumble with the borrowed robe, trying to make myself decent¡ªwhatever that means anymore.


    ¡®Holy shit,¡¯ I whisper, taking in the wreckage around us. The piano lists at a forty-five-degree angle, one legpletely snapped off. Keys scattered across the floor like broken teeth. ¡®We made quite the mess, didn¡¯t we?¡¯


    Knight makes that rumbling sound deep in his chest. The one that¡¯s somewhere between a purr and a growl. His blue eyes catch the dim light behind his silver mask, watching me with an intensity that would be unsettling if I hadn¡¯t just¡­


    Well.


    My face burns when I think about who¡¯s waiting on the other side of that door. Geo. Maybe Niki. The walls in this ce aren¡¯t exactly soundproof, and we weren¡¯t exactly quiet. The piano itself practically screamed in protest with every thrust.


    Shit. Shit. Shit.


    I ssh some water on my face and find a pair of what must be Raven¡¯s sweats in the dresser. They¡¯re too long for my legs, but anything¡¯s better than trying to face Geo in just this flimsy robe.


    My, how far I¡¯ve fallen. Oh, well. It beats dead raider clothes any day.


    ¡®Well,¡¯ I say, squaring my shoulders. ¡®We better face the music. So to speak.¡¯


    Knight follows close behind me as I inch toward the door, my fingers hesitating on the handle. With a deep breath, I open it and peek around the corner, trying to look as casual as someone can after loudly getting railed by an eight-foot mutant alpha on a piano.


    The living roomes into view, and I see Geo still sitting in his armchair. Alone. His single eye flicks up from his book as I hesitantly step out.


    ¡®Niki¡¯s gone,¡¯ he says dryly. ¡®You cane out.¡¯


    For a moment, I¡¯m relieved, then strangely¡­ what? Disappointed? Worried? Why the hell should I care where that arrogant alpha went?


    I hate that I do. Even a little. All the more reason we need to get out of here as soon as possible.


    ¡®I wasn¡¯t hiding,¡¯ I reply, channeling nonchnce I don¡¯t feel. ¡®Just needed a moment to¡­ freshen up.¡¯


    Geo gives me a look that says he isn¡¯t buying it for a second. As if he heard everything. ¡®I¡¯m sure.¡¯


    I move further into the room, Knight¡¯s heavy footsteps following behind me as he looms like a shadow. A floorboard creaks under his weight, breaking the ufortable silence.


    Geo snaps his book shut, the sound making me flinch. ¡®I was particrly fond of that piano, by the way. Been with me for fifteen years.¡¯


    Heat crawls up my neck again. ¡®Right. About that¡­¡¯


    ¡®It was a relic from the pre-war Eastern conve. Only three were ever made.¡¯ His tone is conversational, but there¡¯s an edge to it.


    ¡®I can exin?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Its ivory keys were harvested from the skeletons of thest elephants before elephants weren¡¯t elephants anymore.¡¯


    I wince. ¡®That¡¯s¡­ unfortunate.¡¯


    ¡®It survived three radiation fallouts, two territorial wars, and a flood that nearly washed away half thepound. Pretty sure it¡¯s still haunted by the prince whomissioned it, so now his immortal spirit has to live with that.¡¯


    I mutter a string of Vrissian curses, throwing my hands in the air. ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake, fine! I¡¯m sorry about your piano, and as for your ghost, you can tell him the show was free.¡¯


    Geo continues to glower at me for a few seconds before his grumpy expression cracks into amusement and he huffs. ¡®Guess I should be grateful the entirepound is still standing. Could¡¯ve been worse.¡¯


    ¡®How generous of you,¡¯ I say tly.


    ¡®What am I going to do? Kick you out? Then I¡¯d have a pissed-off Raven and a mutated rage monster on my case.¡¯ He tilts his head toward Knight, who responds with a warning growl. ¡®Besides, other than the piano, you¡¯ve been surprisingly well-behaved guests. So long as you keep him in line.¡¯


    Knight¡¯s growl sounds irritated now.


    ¡®We¡¯ll see.¡¯ A thought urs to me. ¡®Speaking of Niki¡­ where exactly did he go?¡¯


    ¡®Off to find Raven.¡¯ Geo leans back in his chair. ¡®After that¡­ performance, he couldn¡¯t get out of here fast enough. Must not have wanted an encore. Can¡¯t say I me him.¡¯


    I groan.


    But despite myself, my mind conjures an image of Niki wounded, facing who knows what dangers in the wastnd. Damn it. Why the hell should I care? He¡¯s nothing to me.


    Yet there¡¯s that inexplicable pull again.


    ¡®What¡¯s the deal with you three anyway?¡¯ I ask, partly to distract myself from these unwee concerns.


    Geo nches, his expression shifting from mild annoyance to genuine difort. ¡®There is no ¡®the three of us.¡¯ Period.¡¯


    ¡®Could have fooled me.¡¯ I settle onto the couch, drawing my legs beneath me as Knight stands near the armrest. I reach up and rest my hand on his forearm, idly stroking his scarred skin. ¡®Raven calls you ¡®Daddy¡¯ even though you¡¯re hardly old enough to be his father, and he and Niki have so much unresolved sexual tension between them, they always seem on the verge of either fucking or killing each other¡­¡¯


    ¡®Are you always this direct?¡¯ Geo asks with a grunt.


    ¡®It¡¯s a gift,¡¯ I answer. ¡®Vrissian mother.¡¯


    Geo scoffs. ¡®You¡¯re not far off where Raven and Niki are concerned. But if you¡¯re asking if they¡¯re together, the answer is no. If you¡¯re asking if they ever were, I got no fucking idea and that¡¯s the way I like it.¡¯


    Hmm. Interesting.


    ¡®And what about you?¡¯ I can¡¯t help but press. ¡®I see the way you look at Raven.¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t¡ª¡¯ Geo cuts himself off, his jaw working. ¡®You¡¯re seeing shit that isn¡¯t there.¡¯


    ¡®If you say so.¡¯ I can¡¯t help the knowing smirk that tugs at my lips.


    He watches me for a long moment, eye narrowed. ¡®Would it bother you?¡¯


    ¡®What?¡¯


    ¡®Two of your alphas being with each other.¡¯


    ¡®They¡¯re not my alphas,¡¯ I correct quickly, ignoring Knight¡¯s soft growl behind me. ¡®But no, it wouldn¡¯t bother me.¡¯ I hesitate, then decide honesty is the simplest approach. ¡®Actually¡­ it¡¯s kind of hot.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s eyebrows shoot up.


    ¡®But it¡¯s irrelevant,¡¯ I continue, smoothing my robe. ¡®I already have a mate.¡¯


    Knight shifts behind me, and I can feel him listening intently. There¡¯s a tension in his posture I can sense without even looking at him.


    ¡®Ah yes, the mysterious Azarel.¡¯ Geo leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ¡®Is he really worth all this trouble? A highborndy such as yourself chasing an alpha across the Outer Reaches seems a bit backward, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯


    His words strike a nerve, prodding at doubts I¡¯d rather stay buried. What if Azarel isn¡¯t looking for me? What if he¡¯s moved on? What if I was never as important to him as he was to me?


    I bristle, my chin lifting defiantly. ¡®Azarel is looking for me,¡¯ I say with confidence I no longer possess. ¡®He¡¯d do anything to find me.¡¯


    ¡®Maybe.¡¯ Geo¡¯s voice softens, and for a moment, I see genuine concern in his expression as he searches my face. ¡®I hope that¡¯s true.¡¯


    Before I can respond, the door bursts open. Raven staggers in, supporting a frighteningly pale Niki who¡¯s leaning heavily against him. Blood stains Niki¡¯s shirt, and his normally sharp eyes are ssy, unfocused.


    My heart lurches painfully as the sense that something is wrong finally merges with reality.


    I¡¯ve barely known this man a handful of days. How should I sense anything at all where he¡¯s concerned? Why should I care if he lives or dies?


    But I do. And I hate it.


    ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake, how many times have I told you to aim for the heart?¡¯ Geo grumbles without getting up from his chair. ¡®You¡¯ve got shitty aim when you¡¯re thinking with your dick.¡¯


    ¡®I didn¡¯t do this,¡¯ Raven snaps, struggling with Niki¡¯s weight. That finally prompts Geo to get off his ass and help. ¡®He was ambushed, and he¡¯s clearly off his game. But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the new wounds. Probably an infection.¡¯


    The raw edge in Raven¡¯s voice surprises me. There¡¯s real fear there.


    Niki mumbles something incoherent, his head lolling against Raven¡¯s shoulder.


    He¡¯s out of it, alright.


    ¡®I¡¯ll get the damn doctor again,¡¯ Geo grumbles, already heading for the door. ¡®But he¡¯s not going to be happy about making a second house call. Especially after the shit you pulled earlier.¡¯


    ¡®You can put him in here,¡¯ I say, already heading into the hall toward the guest suite I just came from.


    Raven nods gratefully, guiding Niki after me with Geo¡¯s help. Knight growls at my back like he¡¯s already territorial about our nest, but a silent shake of my head is all it takes to make him back off.


    ¡®Great,¡¯ Niki mutters as Raven eases him onto the mattress. His voice is raspy, strained. ¡®Going to die in the bed a giant monster fucked my mate in. Perfect.¡¯


    ¡®It was the piano, not the bed,¡¯ I supply helpfully.


    ¡®You¡¯re not dying, you fucking drama queen,¡¯ Raven snaps, but the tremor in his voice betrays his worry.


    I move to the bedside, pressing my palm against Niki¡¯s forehead. He¡¯s burning up, his skin hot and mmy beneath my touch. A fever this high can¡¯t be good.


    ¡®That¡¯s a pretty bad fever,¡¯ I murmur, pulling my hand back.


    But Niki catches my wrist, his eyes fluttering open to fix on mine. ¡®Don¡¯t stop,¡¯ he whispers, nuzzling into my touch with surprising vulnerability. ¡®Feels good.¡¯


    Something in my chest softens, a tiny crack in the wall I¡¯ve built against him. It¡¯s easier to hate him when he¡¯s being an arrogant ass. This version¡ªfever-stricken, seekingfort¡ªis much harder to resist.


    ¡®I¡¯ll get the first aid kit,¡¯ Raven says, his voice tight. ¡®And some water. He¡¯s probably dehydrated.¡¯


    As Raven hurries from the room, I reluctantly return my hand to Niki¡¯s brow, brushing sweat-dampened white hair from his face. Knight moves to stand in the corner, watching with those intense blue eyes, but making no move to interfere.


    ¡®Drink,¡¯ Imand, holding a ss of water to Niki¡¯s lips when Raven returns with it. ¡®Small sips.¡¯


    Heplies, surprisingly obedient in his weakened state. After he drains the ss, he gives me a feverish smile. ¡®You know what would really make me feel better?¡¯


    ¡®What?¡¯ I ask warily.


    ¡®A farewell blowjob.¡¯


    And there¡¯s the Niki I¡¯m familiar with.


    ¡®You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m chalking that up to the fever,¡¯ I say coldly, ¡®or I¡¯d have Knight snap it off.¡¯


    ¡®Are you really cruel enough to deny a man hisst wish?¡¯ He manages to look both pathetic and smug at the same time.


    I roll my eyes. ¡®Nice try, but the closest you¡¯re getting is if you staple a picture of me to Raven¡¯s forehead.¡¯


    A ragged chuckle escapes him, followed by a wince of pain. Raven returns with the first aid kit, giving me a grateful look as he sets it down.


    ¡®Let me see those wounds,¡¯ Raven says, pulling back the bloody fabric of Niki¡¯s shirt. The sight beneath is concerning. Angry red streaks radiate from the stitched bullet holes in his back, and the new knife wound doesn¡¯t look too deep, but it¡¯s not bleeding as much as it probably should be. He must have already lost a lot earlier.


    Niki grimaces as Raven begins to clean the wounds. ¡®If I have to have a nurse give me a sponge bath, can¡¯t it be her?¡¯ he mutters.


    I hold up my hands, backing away. ¡®My manicure has been through enough already, thank you very much.¡¯ It¡¯s a weak excuse, but the truth is, I don¡¯t want to risk touching him again. It¡¯s making me feel things I don¡¯t want to feel.


    ¡®Ignore him,¡¯ Raven says, his movements surprisingly gentle as he works. ¡®He¡¯s always obnoxious when he¡¯s sick. Alpha insecurities and all that.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m familiar with them,¡¯ I say dryly.


    It¡¯s fascinating watching Raven tend to Niki. There¡¯s a practiced familiarity to his movements, as if he¡¯s done this many times before. His face is a mask of concentration, but beneath it, I catch glimpses of genuine fear.


    And something much deeper.


    As Niki¡¯s eyes close, his consciousness fading under thebined assault of pain and fever, I find myself studying Raven.


    ¡®You really care about him, don¡¯t you?¡¯ The words escape before I can stop them.


    Raven¡¯s hands pause momentarily, surprise flickering across his features. Then he resumes his work, focusing intently on cleaning the stab wound.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ His voice is barely audible. ¡®That¡¯s always been a one-way street.¡¯


    I watch the gentle way his fingers work, the careful attention he pays to every detail of Niki¡¯s care. ¡®I¡¯m not so sure about that.¡¯


    Raven opens his mouth to respond, but the door swings open, revealing a disheveled Dr. Ryefield. The doctor¡¯s eyes are still slightly bloodshot.


    ¡®My mind¡¯s still a bit foggy,¡¯ Dr. Ryefield says tly, rubbing his temples, ¡®but didn¡¯t I just finish patching this one up?¡¯


    Raven¡¯s cheeks flush slightly. ¡®About earlier¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It wasn¡¯t personal.¡¯


    The doctor gives him a withering look. ¡®Save it. Let me see what we¡¯re dealing with.¡¯


    I step back, giving the doctor room to work. He examines Niki with clinical efficiency, making asional sounds of disapproval. Finally, he administers an antibiotic shot and some fever reducers.


    ¡®He has a fairly substantial infection,¡¯ Dr. Ryefield announces, packing up his supplies. ¡®I¡¯ve given him a broad-spectrum antibiotic that should help, but he needs to be monitored closely for the next few days.¡¯ He nces around the room. ¡®Preferably by someone else. Call me if the fever worsens or he dies.¡¯


    With that unceremonious parting, he heads for the door.


    ¡®Will do,¡¯ Geo grunts from where he¡¯s been leaning against the doorframe, watching the proceedings with a neutral expression.


    As the doctor leaves, I find myself looking back at Niki. His face is ck in unconsciousness, the fever giving his pale skin an unhealthy flush. He looks younger like this, vulnerable in a way I never would have associated with him.


    I shouldn¡¯t care. This man held me for ransom. He¡¯s arrogant, dangerous, infuriating.


    But as I watch the shallow rise and fall of his chest, I can¡¯t deny the knot of worry that¡¯s formed in my stomach. The strange, unwee feeling that somehow, I¡¯m connected to him. That his fate matters to me.


    And that terrifies me.


    Knight steps up beside me. I lean against him slightly, letting his solid presence give me a bit of warmth andfort. This, at least, makes sense to me. He and I have an almost supernatural bond forged through dreams and mutual protection. I understand why I care about him. It makes sense.


    But Niki?


    That¡¯s aplication I never sawing.


    So is Raven, for that matter.


    Another alpha is thest damn thing I need.


    And yet, as I watch him tend to Niki, I can¡¯t deny he¡¯s not quite like any alpha I¡¯ve encountered before. Not even the few I can tolerate.


    I stare at Niki¡¯s unconscious form, my emotions a tangled mess I have no interest in unraveling. Not that it¡¯s stopping them. He looks vulnerable right now, his usually sharp features softer than usual. It¡¯s easier to hate him when he¡¯s awake and being an insufferable ass.


    Like this, he¡¯s just¡­ a man.


    A dangerous,plicated man who somehow thinks I belong to him.


    Geo shifts against the door frame, clearing his throat. ¡®Well, this has been a delightful fucking afternoon. Piano destruction, emergency medical care, and enough alpha posturing tost me a lifetime. But I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to excuse me.¡¯ He pushes off from the wall, adjusting his eye patch. ¡®Some of us have actual work to do.¡¯


    ¡®Work?¡¯ I can¡¯t help the skepticism in my voice. ¡®Is that what you call running this shithole?¡¯


    Geo¡¯s mouth twitches, almost like he¡¯s suppressing a smile. ¡®Exactly that, princess. Someone¡¯s got to keep this ce from imploding.¡¯ He turns toward the door, then pauses. ¡®Try not to break anything else while I¡¯m gone. I¡¯m running out of irreceable pre-war artifacts for you to destroy.¡¯


    Knight rumbles behind me. Is that amusement? I¡¯m starting to recognize the subtle differences in his growls. This one vibrates lower, gentler.


    ¡®No promises,¡¯ I call after Geo as he disappears into the hall, his heavy footsteps fading.


    As soon as Geo is gone, Raven looks up from where he¡¯s fussing with one of the bandages on Niki¡¯s side, his blue eyes widening suddenly. ¡®Oh! Right.¡¯ He smacks his forehead with his palm. ¡®Ipletely forgot to tell you. With all¡­¡¯ he gestures vaguely at Niki, ¡®¡­ this, it slipped my mind.¡¯


    My pulse quickens. ¡®Tell me what?¡¯


    ¡®The information you wanted. About Azarel.¡¯


    ¡®Did you find him?¡¯ I ask immediately. The wordse out breathless, way more eager than I intended. Even though in the chaos of the past hour¡ªthe piano, Niki¡¯s return¡ªI¡¯d almost forgotten my entire reason for agreeing to stay here.


    Raven¡¯s expression falls slightly. ¡®Not exactly. Not yet.¡¯ He finishes fixing the bandage and wipes his hands on a towel. ¡®But I have feelers out across the Outer Reaches. I¡¯ve sent word to every informant, every business contact, every former client with instructions to report anything¡ªeven the smallest whisper¡ªback to me immediately.¡¯


    I try to hide my disappointment. My throat tightens up. Every hour that passes is another hour Azarel might be searching for me in vain. Another hour for something to happen to him.


    To us.


    ¡®Thiswork of yours is that extensive?¡¯


    ¡®My establishment may be¡­ what was the word you used?¡¯ Raven¡¯s lips quirk. ¡®Oh, right. ¡®Tacky.¡¯ But it has its benefits.¡¯ He sits on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb Niki. ¡®Information flows through ces like the Alpha¡¯s Alpha. People talk. They gossip. They brag. Everyone has eyes and ears.¡¯ His voice softens. ¡®Someone will have seen or heard of him, Cosima. And when they do, you¡¯ll be the first to know.¡¯


    There¡¯s such earnestness in his tone, such conviction, it catches me off guard. I¡¯d expected resistance, attempts to stall, to keep me here. Not this apparent dedication to actually helping me find Azarel.


    Despite myself, I feel a flicker of hope. But experience has taught me to be cautious. Pretty words from pretty alphas are the most likely to hide ugly intentions.


    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ I say carefully, notmitting to more. ¡®I appreciate the effort.¡¯


    Raven shakes his head, a soft smile ying at his lips. ¡®You don¡¯t need to thank me.¡¯


    ¡®I¡ª¡¯


    ¡®But,¡¯ he continues, holding up a finger, ¡®if you want to thank me, there is one way you could.¡¯


    Here ites. The catch. I knew it was too good to be true. I cross my arms, bracing myself for whatever maniptive demand he¡¯s about to make. Sex? Political favors? Things that aren¡¯t quite sex but sex-adjacent?


    Despite his business, he doesn¡¯t seem like the type to make such an overt proposition like Niki, but I¡¯m sure he wants something. He¡¯s an alpha. They all want something.


    ¡®Let me keep helping you,¡¯ he says, his blue eyes hopeful. ¡®When you leave¡ªand I know you will, regardless of whether I find your Azarel before the deadline you gave me¡ªlet me go with you.¡¯


    I blink, thrownpletely off bnce. ¡®You¡­ what?¡¯


    ¡®Let mee with you,¡¯ he repeats.


    ¡®You want to help me find¡­ another alpha?¡¯ I stare at him, trying to figure out his angle. ¡®Not keep me here? Not force me to stay?¡¯


    Knight shifts closer to me, his massive presence at my back a reassuring constant. He¡¯s not growling anymore, but I can feel his attention focused on Raven, assessing.


    Raven sighs. ¡®Caging someone is never the way to win their heart.¡¯ His gaze drifts momentarily to Niki¡¯s unconscious form. ¡®I learned that lesson the hard way.¡¯


    I study his face, looking for deception, for the trap. ¡®Why?¡¯


    He meets my eyes, and the raw sincerity there takes me aback. ¡®I know a lot has happened since we first¡­ encountered each other. And I know I¡¯m probably not what you were hoping for.¡¯ His voice softens. ¡®But I meant what I said before, Cosima. You¡¯re my mate. I knew it the moment Iid eyes on you.¡¯


    ¡®But¡ª¡¯


    ¡®I would do anything you asked of me,¡¯ he continues, his voice dropping to nearly a whisper. ¡®Anything at all. Including helping you find another alpha, if that¡¯s what you want.¡¯ His smile turns sad. ¡®But if I told you I¡¯m not hoping that eventually, you¡¯ll want me, too, it would be a lie. If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned out here, it¡¯s patience.¡¯


    I don¡¯t know what to say to that. My cheeks feel hot, and I suddenly can¡¯t meet his gaze. Something about his deration feels too raw, too honest. It¡¯s easier to deal with alphas when they¡¯re being demanding or maniptive. This selfless devotion¡ªreal or feigned¡ªthrows me off-bnce.


    ¡®I¡­ I don¡¯t¡ª¡¯ I stammer, uncharacteristically tongue-tied.


    He holds up a hand. ¡®You don¡¯t need to decide right now. Or exin yourself to me. Ever.¡¯ His voice is gentle. ¡®I just wanted you to know that the offer is there. No strings, no conditions.¡¯


    I find my voice, though ites out hoarser than intended. ¡®We¡¯ll see.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s smile widens, lighting up his face. ¡®That¡¯s not a no.¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s not a yes, either,¡¯ I retort, but there¡¯s no real bite in it.


    For a moment, the room falls silent except for Niki¡¯sbored breathing. Knight shifts behind me, his metal ws clicking softly against the wall.


    This is all too much. Three new alphas in such close quarters when I usually can¡¯t stand to be around any of them. Azarel, still out there somewhere, searching for me. The possibility that he¡¯s not.


    How did I even end up here? A couple of months ago, my biggest concern was avoiding Monty¡¯s wandering hands and my father¡¯s political machinations. Now I¡¯m sleeping and showering in an underground criminal empire.


    ¡®You should rest,¡¯ Raven says, breaking the silence. ¡®You¡¯ve had quite a day.¡¯


    That¡¯s the understatement of the year. And yet, I find myself reluctant to leave Niki¡¯s side.


    ¡®I¡¯ll stay with him,¡¯ Raven adds quickly, as if sensing my hesitation. ¡®There¡¯s another room down the hall. Two doors to the left.¡¯


    I nod, trying not to think about the fact that he¡¯s picked up on the concern I don¡¯t even want to acknowledge. ¡®Thanks.¡¯


    Knight lumbers out of the room first, always checking to make sure the coast is clear. I pause at the door, ncing back at Raven.


    ¡®Earlier, you said you probably aren¡¯t what I was hoping for. Why?¡¯


    He looks surprised by the question, then gives a slight, sheepish smile. ¡®I¡¯m not exactly a conventional alpha. In more ways than one.¡¯


    ¡®Why?¡¯ I ask, tilting my head. ¡®Because you fuck other alphas?¡¯


    He hesitates. ¡®That¡¯s¡­ part of it, yes.¡¯


    I sigh. ¡®Look, I¡¯m not in the market for another mate. My ideal number of alphas was always zero, and I find myself with a surplus. No offense.¡¯


    Raven chuckles. ¡®None taken, I assure you.¡¯


    ¡®That said,¡¯ I continue, ncing between him and Knight, ¡®being an unconventional alpha isn¡¯t exactly a drawback.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s eyes widen slightly, the light reflecting off the blue more intensely. If he had a fucking tail, it would be wagging, and the smile on those full lips is almost enough to melt what¡¯s left of the ice wall around my heart. A wall I very much need to remain intact, if I¡¯m going to finish what I started out here.


    ¡®I appreciate that,¡¯ he says quietly, nodding to me. ¡®More than you know. Enjoy your rest, Cosima.¡¯


    Something about the way he says my name, like it¡¯s a sacred prayer his tongue caresses in gentle worship, causes a realization to hit me as I slip out of the room.


    Raven may not be trying to keep me here by force, but he just might be the most dangerous alpha of them all.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 48

    The desert stretches out before me like a rusted corpse, all jagged edges and wastes where nothing good grows. Kind of reminds me of myself. I take a long drag of my cigar, savoring the burn in my lungs as I exhale a cloud of smoke into the evening air. The pre-war vodka in my ss catches the light of the setting sun, glinting amber and gold like it holds some kind of promise.


    It doesn¡¯t. Nothing out here does.


    I¡¯ve spent too many years in this hellhole not to know better. The Outer Reaches¡ªthe asscrack of what¡¯s left of civilization. But it¡¯s my asscrack. My little empire carved out of radiation and desperation. Sometimes I wonder why I bother. Then I remember I¡¯ve got nowhere else to go and nothing else to do.


    The metal folding chair beneath me creaks as I shift my weight, leaning back to stare up at the bruised sky. Too many clouds, thick with radiation and dust. Not enough stars. I¡¯ve never even seen a sky that didn¡¯t look like shit, so I don¡¯t know why it bothers me.


    Maybe that¡¯s why I have my little collection. It¡¯s a window into a world I¡¯ll never see. A world that will never exist again.


    My hand drifts unconsciously to my eye patch, fingertips tracing the worn leather edge where it meets scarred flesh. Some days the phantom pain is worse than others. Today it¡¯s just a dull throb, like a headache that¡¯s settled in for the long haul. Kind of like Raven and his fucking obsession with the silver-haired omega.


    The hatch behind me scrapes open, and I don¡¯t need to turn around to know who it is. She doesn¡¯t lumber like every alpha down here except for Raven, but the footsteps on the stairs are too soft to be his. That vaguelyvender scent hits my nostrils like a dream, just enough that I try to breathe deeper to get more of it and find myself regretting the fact that I finished the job on that particr sense.


    Not for the first timetely.


    ¡®Needed some fresh air,¡¯ Cosima says, not bothering with a greeting as she steps out of the hatch.


    I nce over my shoulder and nearly do a double-take. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen her wearing anything other than stolen or borrowed clothes. She¡¯s wearing a dress, of all damn things. Not just any dress, either. It¡¯s one of those frilly, floaty numbers in pale violet that matches her eyes. Definitely Raven¡¯s doing. The kid always did have an eye for that sort of thing. He¡¯s probably on cloud nine now, having a living doll he can dress up.


    Not the kind of thing I usually go for, but I¡¯d be lying if I said she doesn¡¯t look good in it. The fabric clings where it counts, floating around her legs like she¡¯s some kind of pre-war fairy tale princess. Makes her silver hair look even more otherworldly in the dying light.


    ¡®Good luck finding fresh air anywhere this far west of Surhiira,¡¯ I grunt, turning back to the wastnd. ¡®Radiation index is in the yellow today. Better than red, I guess.¡¯


    She moves to stand beside me, looking out at the same bleakndscape I¡¯ve been staring at for thest hour. The dress ripples in the breeze, incongruent with the dead world around us. Like a patch of spring in the middle of nuclear winter.


    ¡®It would be fresher if you weren¡¯t smoking that shit,¡¯ she scoffs, wrinkling her nose at my cigar.


    I can¡¯t help the smirk that tugs at my lips. Most people are too afraid of me to talk like that. She¡¯s either stupidly brave or has a death wish. Could be both, considering thepany she keeps.


    ¡®What are you, my mother?¡¯ I take another deliberate drag, blowing the smoke in her general direction just to be a dick. Then I surprise myself by offering her the cigar. ¡®Want a hit?¡¯


    She eyes it warily, but I can see the curiosity flickering across her face. For all her high-ss upbringing, the girl¡¯s a rule-breaker. Probably part of how she ended up out here in the wastnd instead of sipping tea in some Reinmichian estate.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she plucks it from my fingers, holding it awkwardly like she¡¯s not quite sure what to do with it. She studies the glowing ember, turning it over in her delicate hands.


    ¡®I stole one of my father¡¯s cigars out of an ashtray once,¡¯ she admits, her voice distant. ¡®He caught me before I could even take a drag. Locked me in the closet for an entire day.¡¯


    The casual way she says it¡ªlike it¡¯s nothing, like every kid gets locked in closets¡ªmakes something hard twist in my gut. And I guess enough do, but omegas? I always figured they got special treatment, even in a fascist shithole like Reinmich.


    ¡®Sounds like he would¡¯ve gotten along with my old man,¡¯ I grunt, swirling the vodka in my ss. ¡®Fuck him.¡¯


    Her violet eyes flick to mine, a sh of surprise at the raw honesty. I didn¡¯t mean to say it out loud, but there it is. Hanging between us.


    She studies the cigar again, determination hardening her features. Then she brings it to her lips and takes a drag, clearly just to say ¡®fuck you¡¯ to daddy dearest.


    Right on cue, she starts coughing, her face contorting as she tries not to hack up a lung.


    ¡®Tastes even worse than it smells,¡¯ she gasps, handing it back to me with watering eyes.


    I chuckle, reaching into the cooler by my chair and offering her a bottle of water. ¡®Takes practice.¡¯


    She eyes the water, then reaches past it for my ss of vodka instead. Before I can stop her, she tips it back and downs the rest without so much as a wince. The ss returns to my hand empty, and I find myself oddly impressed.


    ¡®Quite a tolerance there for an omega,¡¯ I observe, setting the ss aside.


    ¡®I¡¯m Vrissian,¡¯ she says tly, like that exins everything. ¡®And after the cigar, I learned to get good at sneaking.¡¯


    I snort, appreciating the candor. Most people don¡¯t talk to me unless they want something or they¡¯re scared shitless. Sometimes both. She¡¯s been around long enough to realize she doesn¡¯t fall into either category.


    ¡®Have a seat,¡¯ I offer, gesturing to the empty chair beside me. ¡®Where¡¯s your escort? Taking the night off to go oil his hinges?¡¯


    She settles into the chair, smoothing the dress beneath her. It¡¯s a strangely prim gesture for someone who just downed my vodka like it was water.


    ¡®I told Knight to stay inside,¡¯ she replies. ¡®Just needed a minute to think.¡¯


    ¡®You taught him ¡®stay,¡¯ that¡¯s cute.¡¯ I tap ash from my cigar. ¡®Maybe you can house-train Niki next.¡¯


    She rolls her eyes, but I catch the ghost of a smile tugging at those plump pink lips.


    Her gaze drifts to my eye patch, curiosity evident. ¡®Speaking of Niki¡ªis it a coincidence you¡¯re both missing the same eye?¡¯


    The question hits like a punch to the gut, but I keep my expression neutral. Trust her to go straight for the fucking jugr. Subtle as a sledgehammer, this one.


    ¡®You¡¯re a smart girl, Cosima,¡¯ I say, my voice rougher than I intended. ¡®Too smart to believe in coincidences.¡¯


    She doesn¡¯t flinch, just meets my stare with those unnerving violet eyes. ¡®Why do you hate each other? Is it because of Raven?¡¯


    ¡®What else?¡¯ I pour another two fingers of vodka into my ss, not offering her any this time. Raven¡¯ll bitch if I send her back tipsy. The liquor burns down my throat, but it¡¯s a familiar pain, almostforting.


    She¡¯s quiet for a moment, taking that in. I can practically see her filing away the information, piecing together the sordid little drama that¡¯s been ying out for years.


    Good fucking luck. I¡¯m knee deep in the shit and I still don¡¯t know half of it.


    ¡®You¡¯reing up on forty-eight hours,¡¯ I say, changing the subject. ¡®Still chomping at the bit to get out of here if Raven doesn¡¯t have your intel in time?¡¯


    God knows he¡¯s working hard enough. Heard him traipsing back and forthst night, barking orders at the little minions he¡¯s dispatched across the Outer Reaches. If he can¡¯t find this bastard, he doesn¡¯t want to be found.


    The question is, what kind of a useless alpha ditches an omega he ims to give a shit about? Could just be a case of wide-eyed naivet¨¦, and a spoiled little rich girl thinking she¡¯s in love with a guy who doesn¡¯t give a damn about her, but I doubt it. She¡¯s not the type.


    Her fingers toy with the hem of her dress, a nervous tell she probably isn¡¯t aware of. ¡®That depends. Are you still chomping at the bit for us to leave?¡¯


    I smirk, leaning back in my chair. ¡®Doesn¡¯t matter one way or another to me.¡¯


    It¡¯s a lie, and we both know it. I should want her gone. Want my life back to normal. Want Raven to stop falling ever deeper into a pit that¡¯s going to swallow him whole all over again, just like it did with Niki. But I don¡¯t say any of that.


    ¡®Besides,¡¯ I add, ¡®I¡¯ll save on incense with an omega in the tunnels. Good for business.¡¯


    She makes a derisive sound, but her posture rxes slightly.


    ¡®If I were you, though,¡¯ I continue, choosing my words carefully, ¡®I wouldn¡¯t be in any hurry to get out there.¡¯ I gesture toward the wastnd with my cigar. ¡®And if this Azzhole is worth a damn as an alpha and a man, he¡¯d want you to stay put until he finds you.¡¯


    Her back straightens, eyes shing. ¡°He is. You have no clue what he¡¯s done to protect me, so don¡¯t talk about shit you don¡¯t understand. And it¡¯s Azarel.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± I shrug, taking another drag.


    For a moment, she looks like she might argue, but instead she just shakes her head and stands up, smoothing down her dress again.


    ¡®Thanks for the drink,¡¯ she says in that soft ent with a sharp edge. Like a knife covered in filigree.


    As she turns to leave, something tugs at me. Maybe it¡¯s the vodka. Or maybe I¡¯m just getting soft.


    ¡®Wait,¡¯ I hear myself say. She pauses, ncing back at me warily. ¡®I want to ask you for a favor.¡¯


    Immediately, her posture shifts. Shoulders tense, chin lifting, eyes hardening. It¡¯s the look of someone who¡¯s heard that line before from too many alphas and learned to expect the worst. I hate that I recognize it so easily. Mainly, I hate that she¡¯s right¡ªmost of us are assholes.


    Me included.


    ¡®What kind of favor?¡¯ she asks, wariness evident in every syble.


    I set aside my cigar, suddenly needing both hands empty. Vulnerable. It¡¯s not a feeling I¡¯mfortable with.


    ¡®I know you hate alphas,¡¯ I say, the wordsing out rougher than intended. ¡®And I¡¯m sure we¡¯ve given you damn good reason. But Raven¡­ he¡¯s different.¡¯


    She keeps watching me.


    I look away, unable to meet her gaze as I continue. ¡®You could destroy him if you wanted to, and he¡¯d probably thank you for the privilege. But I¡¯m asking you not to, all the same.¡¯ My throat feels tight, the words alien in my mouth as I add, ¡®Please.¡¯


    I can¡¯t remember thest time I said ¡®please¡¯ to anyone. The word sits between us, awkward and exposed, like a raw nerve.


    Cosima doesn¡¯t respond immediately. When I finally look up, her expression is unreadable. She studies me, seeing too much. After what feels like an eternity, she moves toward the hatch leading back into the ck market.


    With one hand on the metal door, she pauses. ¡®You¡¯re right,¡¯ she murmurs, not looking back at me. ¡®I do hate alphas. Mostly because you have your heads shoved too far up your asses to see what¡¯s right in front of you.¡¯


    A bitterugh escapes me. Can¡¯t argue with that assessment.


    ¡®You¡¯re right about before, too,¡¯ she adds, her voice softer. ¡®It¡¯s dangerous out here. Nothing is certain.¡¯ She nces over her shoulder, meeting my gaze. ¡®You should tell Raven how you feel while you still have the chance.¡¯


    Fuck. Going right for the jugr again.


    The worst part is it hits too hard to dismiss it outright as bullshit.


    Instead, I grunt an acknowledgment, unable to form actual words. She disappears down the hatch, the heavy metal door nging shut behind her with finality.


    For a long time after she¡¯s gone, I sit there staring out at the wastnd, thinking about all the things I¡¯ve never said. All the chances I¡¯ve never taken. All the ways I¡¯ve fucked up what might have been good in my life.


    The cigar burns down to the nub between my fingers, forgotten. The vodka sits warm and useless in my ss.


    Tell him how I feel.


    The fuck does that even mean? What the hell do I even feel? What would I say?


    ¡®You¡¯re a giant, blond thorn in my ass and I¡¯ve got an ulcer and a few dozen gray hairs from worrying about all the ways your dumb ass is gonna get yourself killed?¡¯


    For now, I just sit in the dying light, watching the darkness creep across the desert like ink spilling across the sky, wondering how much time any of us really have left. My money was that I wouldn¡¯t get to thirty, so everything since then has mostly been one long, uninterrupted string of gray days, each one blurring into the next.


    Except for a handful of golden ones. Those are the only ones that really stand out.


    Maybe I could tell him that.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 49

    I fade in and out, caught between burning heat and bone-deep chills. My back feels like someone¡¯s still digging around inside it with a rusty spoon.


    Fuck, I hate infections. Give me a clean shot through the shoulder over this shit any day.


    Voices drift around me, sometimes clear as a bell, sometimes warped and distant like I¡¯m underwater. Raven¡¯s voice is the most constant. Always there, always talking. To Geo, to Cosima, to people on the radio whose voices I can¡¯t fully make out.


    ¡®¡­need you to check every outpost between here and the Surhiiran border¡­¡¯


    His voice is sharp. Commanding. Not the flirtatious purr he uses to get his way, but the voice I taught him. The one that makes people listen.


    ¡®I don¡¯t give a fuck if he hasn¡¯t been seen in three months. Find him. The name¡¯s Azarel¡­¡¯


    Always fucking Azarel.


    The name sends a spike of something ugly through me, even in my half-conscious state. My mate is looking for another alpha. An alpha who¡¯s useless enough he let her slip through his fingers. And I¡¯m lying here, nearly as useless, while Raven helps her.


    Because apparently, alphas aren¡¯t the only ones whose whims he¡¯s powerless against.


    Cool fingers brush against my forehead. Too delicate to be Raven¡¯s. Cosima.


    ¡®His fever¡¯s getting worse,¡¯ she says.


    ¡®I know. The doctor said to give the antibiotics time to work.¡¯


    ¡®What if they don¡¯t?¡¯


    I hear the concern in her voice and want tough. Since when does the ice princess give a shit if I live or die? But her fingers linger on my brow, gentle as a whisper, before they¡¯re gone.


    Darkness pulls me under again. I¡¯m sinking, drowning in heat and memory.


    Then I¡¯m back at thepound. Back in a time where my world still made sense and I was in absolute control of it.


    All but one thing.


    ¡®RAVEN!¡¯


    My voice echoes off the metal walls of the hangar as I m through the door, irritation prickling under my skin. This is the third time this month he¡¯s bailed on a job he was supposed to help coordinate. I¡¯ve got seven crates of weapons sitting on the north perimeter without enough men to move them because half my crew is deployed on other jobs.


    Lex stumbles out of a side corridor, buttoning her shirt with one hand, hair sticking up like she just rolled out of bed. She smells like cheap whiskey and an even cheaper female beta. Great. Always good to know where my people¡¯s priorities lie.


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong, boss?¡¯ she asks, clearing her throat.


    ¡®Where the fuck is Raven?¡¯


    Lex shifts ufortably. ¡®Haven¡¯t seen him today.¡¯


    ¡®He was supposed to help manage the Belvast shipment. Now I¡¯m short-handed and the contact is getting pissy about the dy.¡¯


    ¡®You want me to round up some bodies? Mikey and Reese should be back from patrol.¡¯


    I wave her off. ¡®Find them. And when you see that blond pain in my ass, tell him I want to see him. Now.¡¯


    Lex nods and scurries off, probably grateful to escape my mood. I stalk through thepound, checking all of Raven¡¯s usual haunts. Not in the mess hall. Not in the training area. Not flirting with the new recruits like he thinks I don¡¯t notice.


    He¡¯s been differenttely. More erratic. Disappearing at odd hours. Blowing off responsibilities. It¡¯s not like him, not since the early days when he was still half-petrified and trying to figure out how to exist outside that hellhole of a brothel.


    By the time I reach his quarters, my temper¡¯s at a slow boil. If he¡¯s off blowing some guard in a supply closet, I¡¯m going to be pissed for more than one reason.


    But no, they all know better than that. I made it crystal clear the day Raven joined up. If any of them so much as touched him, I¡¯d kill them. Made a rather gruesome example of the one guard who tried, just to be sure the message stuck.


    It¡¯s not jealousy. It¡¯s protection. Raven came to me broken¡ªtrained to obey any alphamand, conditioned to offer his body like it was nothing, unable to tell the difference between desire and coercion. Even yearster, I don¡¯t trust him to protect himself.


    Not with his¡­ issues.


    I pound on his door. ¡®Raven! Open up!¡¯


    Nothing.


    I pound harder, rattling the frame. ¡®I know you¡¯re in there! Open the fucking door or I¡¯m breaking it down!¡¯


    Still nothing. Concern starts to override anger. Raven¡¯s never silent. Even when he¡¯s pissed at me, he always has some smartass remark ready. The quiet is wrong.


    Fuck it.


    I drive my shoulder into the door, splintering the lock with a loud crack. The door flies open, and I stumble into the room?¡ª


    Then freeze.


    The scent hits me first. Rich and sweet, like honey warmed in the sun, but with a soft undercurrent that¡¯s unmistakably Raven, but¡­ different. Wrong. Or maybe too right in all the ways it shouldn¡¯t be.


    He¡¯s curled up on his bed, which is now framed in thick, dark swatches of fabric hanging from the ceiling, forming a protective tent around the mattress. There are nkets tangled around his legs, golden hair stered to his forehead with sweat. One of those nkets is mine, but I¡¯m too focused on the state he¡¯s in to process that properly. His chest heaves with each rapid breath, and even from the doorway, I can see the tremor in his hands.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I mutter. ¡®Again?¡¯


    Blue eyes snap to mine, fever-bright and furious. ¡®Get. Out.¡¯ His voice is a ragged hiss.


    I should. I know I should. But I can¡¯t make myself move. Can¡¯t drag my eyes away from the flush spreading down his neck, disappearing beneath his half-unbuttoned shirt.


    ¡®What crawled up your ass?¡¯ I ask, trying for normal and failing spectacrly as my voicees out rough.


    Raven¡¯sugh is bitter, edged with something dangerously close to a sob. ¡®This is your fucking fault.¡¯


    ¡®How the hell is it my fault?¡¯ I snap, defensive heat rising in my chest.


    ¡®You won¡¯t touch me,¡¯ he snarls back, struggling to sit up. ¡®And you¡¯ve made damn sure no one else will either.¡¯


    I grunt, irritation mixing with an unwee surge of relief. At least the men are obeying my orders. But looking at him now, sweat-soaked and miserable, clearly suffering, I can¡¯t bring myself to feel good about that.


    I hesitate, then take a cautious step toward the bed. Then another.


    ¡®Don¡¯t,¡¯ he warns, but there¡¯s a hitch in his voice that contradicts themand. His tone is dangerously close to a whine. A sound he shouldn¡¯t even be capable of producing.


    Sometimes I¡¯m not sure if this is all the result of that dead bitch¡¯s sick conditioning, or if she just exploited what was already there. I¡¯m not sure I want to know. Either way, it¡¯s strange magic capable of exerting a control over me it shouldn¡¯t have.


    Every alpha instinct I possess is screaming at me to either flee or im. The scent pulls at something primal, making my body respond in ways I don¡¯t want to examine too closely.


    It¡¯s far from the first time I found him like this. It happened just a few months after I pulled him from that brothel. That first time, I thought he¡¯d somehow gotten into a stash of drugs. Wasn¡¯t untilter that I understood what was happening.


    Back then, all I felt was confusion. Concern. Ufortable, sure, but there wasn¡¯t any pull to his cloying scent. He was too fragile, too vulnerable. All I knew was I had to make sure no one ever took advantage of him in that state again, and being the one to do it was the furthest fucking thing from my mind for a myriad of reasons.


    Not the least of all being the fact that I¡¯ve never looked at another man that way. Certainly not another alpha.


    Not until¡­


    I don¡¯t even know when it started, really. When these episodes of his started bing more than just a pain in the ass, because it meant I had to be twice as aggressive about keeping my men from sniffing around him. And alpha or not, he¡¯s pretty enough that I¡¯ve seen curiosity in the eyes of the most unflinchingly straight among them.


    Lex is the only one I can trust to enforce my orders when he¡¯s like this, but his episodes freak her out and I don¡¯t trust her to watch him closely enough without taking off.


    I wish I had the same trouble.


    ¡®You just had one of these a couple months ago,¡¯ I say warily, keeping my distance. ¡®It¡¯s getting more frequent.¡¯


    ¡®You think I don¡¯t know that?¡¯ he snaps, teeth bared. His pupils are blown so wide the blue is just a thin ring around ck. He looks feral. Desperate.


    I run a hand through my hair, trying to think past the way my skin feels too tight. ¡®There has to be something we can do.¡¯


    ¡®Not with you cockblocking me at every turn.¡¯


    The thought of any of my men touching him¡ªdoing what would need to be done to break this fever¡ªmakes something dark and possessive curl in my gut. But he¡¯s right about one thing. He¡¯s suffering, and that¡¯s on me.


    ¡®Can¡¯t you just¡­ go fuck an omega at a brothel or something?¡¯ I ask, the words awkward on my tongue.


    Irritation and shame sh across his face. ¡®I don¡¯t pay to fuck anyone. And it doesn¡¯t work that way. I¡¯ve tried. It has to be an alpha.¡¯


    ¡®Right,¡¯ I mumble, flinching at the rueful note in his voice.


    As ufortable as this is for me, it¡¯s worse for him.


    I take another step closer, trying to ignore the way my body responds to his scent. This feels so fucked up. He¡¯s like a brother to me. Even if I were willing to confront what being attracted to another alpha¡ªto another man¡ªsays about me, there are some lines you just don¡¯t cross.


    I have few enough people in my life who matter. I can¡¯t risk this. Can¡¯t risk him.


    But looking at him now, trembling with need, skin flushed and eyes desperate, I wonder if I¡¯m protecting him or myself.


    ¡®You should go,¡¯ he says, but his voice has lost its edge. There¡¯s something pleading in it now, and I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s pleading for me to leave or stay.


    I should go. I know I should. But instead, I sit cautiously on the edge of the bed, keeping a careful distance between us. ¡®When did it start this time?¡¯


    Heughs, the sound half-manic. ¡®Last night. Why do you think I missed the fucking shipment?¡¯


    Guilt twists in my chest. While I was busy being pissed, he was here, alone, riding out another one of these episodes. ¡®Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡¯


    ¡®What would you have done?¡¯ he asks, eyes shing. ¡®Hold my hand? Pat my head? Tell me to take a cold shower?¡¯


    ¡®Well¡­ have you?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Yes, I¡¯ve taken a cold shower!¡¯ he snaps, wincing suddenly as he holds his side like it hurts.


    Fuck.


    ¡®I could have¡ª¡¯ What? What could I have done? There¡¯s nothing medical for this. His body is reacting to trauma, to the years of conditioning that brothel forced on him. They turned him into this, and I don¡¯t know how to fix it. ¡®I don¡¯t know. Something.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrow, suddenly sharp despite the fever zing them. ¡®There is something you could do. You could fuck me.¡¯


    My heart hammers against my ribs. For a moment, I¡¯m tempted¡ªso fucking tempted¡ªto take what he¡¯s offering.


    Then I remember finding him that night, kneeling half-naked and cored at the feet of that alpha. Remember the vacant look in his eyes, the way he responded mechanically tomands. How he looked at me when he came to my room that night, ready for me to use him the way everyone else always had.


    I can¡¯t.


    ¡®That¡¯s not going to happen,¡¯ I say, voice rough as gravel.


    The pain of rejection shes across his face before he masks it with a sneer. ¡®That¡¯s what I thought. So get out and let me suffer in peace.¡¯


    He¡¯s right. Every second I stay makes this worse for both of us. But I can¡¯t make myself walk away from him when he¡¯s like this. ¡®There¡¯s got to be someone else. Someone safe.¡¯


    ¡®Like who?¡¯ he spits. ¡®One of your goons? The ones who look at me like I¡¯m a piece of meat or a ticking time bomb? The ones who only tolerate me because they¡¯re afraid of what you¡¯ll do to them if they don¡¯t?¡¯


    Each word is like a bucket of ice dumped on me. Is that how he sees his ce here? As tolerated? As nothing more than an extension of me?


    ¡®That¡¯s not?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®It is,¡¯ he cuts me off. ¡®You think I don¡¯t hear the shit they say when you¡¯re not around? The things they call me?¡¯


    Rage shes through me, hot and fierce. It¡¯s a wee departure from all the other emotions I have no fucking clue how to deal with. ¡®Who?¡¯ I demand, my voice guttural. ¡®I¡¯ll?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯ll what?¡¯ he interjects bitterly. ¡®You¡¯ll cut his tongue out and pin it to the wall to make an example out of him? So they can hate me and still think those things?¡¯


    I start to argue, but that was probably going to be my chosen mode of punishment. He knows me. Better than anyone.


    Better than I¡¯d like.


    ¡®I don¡¯t give a shit what those animals think,¡¯ he mutters, looking away. ¡®That¡¯s not the point. But you¡­ You¡¯ve made sure I¡¯mpletely dependent on you. And then you act surprised when I want you.¡¯


    I flinch. ¡®It¡¯s not like that.¡¯


    ¡®No?¡¯ Hisugh is bitter. ¡®Then what¡¯s it like? Everything I have, I have because of you, Niki. You¡¯re my entire fucking world, and I¡¯m just a sliver of yours. I¡¯m not even your sidekick, I¡¯m just a toy you can pick up and put back on a shelf whenever you feel like it. You think that doesn¡¯t fuck with my head?¡¯


    The usation leaves me cold. ¡®I was trying to protect you.¡¯


    ¡®From what? Sex? I¡¯ve had plenty. Choice? That might be nice for a change.¡¯


    ¡®You know damn well that¡¯s not what I meant,¡¯ I growl, anger finally cutting through the guilt. ¡®You think I don¡¯t see how you freeze when another alpha gives amand? How you¡¯ll do anything, risk anything, the moment someone raises their voice in that tone? You think I don¡¯t know what that means?¡¯


    His face goes nk in that way that tells me I¡¯ve hit too close to home. ¡®Fuck you.¡¯


    ¡®No, Raven. I¡¯m serious. You¡¯re not in control when you¡¯re like this. You¡¯re not capable of?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Of what? Consent?¡¯ Heughs harshly. ¡®Look at me, Niki. Look at what I am. Look at what they made me. When are you going to ept that I¡¯m never going to be normal? That you couldn¡¯t fix me?¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not trying to fix you,¡¯ I snap, the words tearing from my throat like barbed wire.


    Ravenunches himself off the bed with a sudden burst of energy I didn¡¯t think he had left. His face contorts with something that looks dangerously close to hatred.


    ¡®Yes, you are!¡¯ he shouts, the sound bouncing off the metal walls of his quarters. ¡®You think the same shit the rest of them do. The same shit everyone has always thought my entire life.¡¯ His voice cracks, and I see the first tears start to trickle down his flushed cheeks. ¡®That I¡¯m just a broken alpha. A failure. A freak.¡¯


    Thest word hangs between us, dripping with all the venom and self-loathing he¡¯s been carrying around like a second skin. Those tears¡­ fuck, I can¡¯t handle his tears. Not when they¡¯re my fault.


    I¡¯m on my feet before I realize what I¡¯m doing, grabbing his arms to hold him steady. To hold him close. To keep him from falling apart.


    ¡®That¡¯s not true,¡¯ I growl, giving him a slight shake. ¡®That¡¯s not what I think. Not what I¡¯ve ever thought.¡¯


    He reacts in an instant, like a cornered animal, and shoves me. Hard. Hard enough that I actually stumble back a step, which catches us both off guard. His face instantly transforms from rage to horror.


    ¡®I¡¯m sor?¡ª¡¯


    I don¡¯t let him finish that apology. I can¡¯t. Something inside me¡ªsomething I¡¯ve been fighting for years¡ªfinally snaps. I surge forward, one hand tangling in that golden hair, the other gripping his hip, and I crush my mouth against his.


    Raven goespletely rigid in my arms. For one heart-stopping moment, I think I¡¯ve read everything wrong. That I was right all the years I¡¯ve spent convincing myself if I ever let my guard down around him, if I ever let my control falter, even an inch, I¡¯d be the thing that finally breaks him.


    Then, instead, he melts.


    His body softens against mine, his lips parting on a broken sound that¡¯s half sob, half moan. His arms snake around my neck, pulling me closer, deeper. The kiss turns desperate, hungry, years of restraint burning away like paper in a wildfire.


    I back him against the wall, pinning him there with my body, cursing myself even as I press closer, even as I drink in the taste of him.


    ¡®I never¡ª¡¯ I break the kiss just long enough to grit these words against his lips. ¡®I never saw you as any of those things. Never.¡¯


    Raven¡¯s eyes are fever-bright as they search my face. His lips are already swollen from my kiss, his chest heaving as he stares up at me.


    ¡®Then what?¡¯ he asks, his voice small, vulnerable in a way Raven never allows himself to be. ¡®What am I to you?¡¯


    I search his face, all that golden beauty I¡¯ve been denying myself since the day I pulled him out of that hellhole. My teeth clench so hard my jaw aches as I finally admit the truth.


    ¡®A temptation.¡¯


    Something shes in his eyes¡ªshock, hope, hunger¡ªand then he¡¯s kissing me again, fingers digging into my shoulders hard enough to bruise. Anyst semnce of control I had shatters. My hands are everywhere, tearing at his clothes, his at mine, desperate to feel skin against skin.


    We stumble back toward the bed, a tangle of half-shed clothing and frantic touches. I push him down onto the mattress, following him down, settling between his spread thighs like I¡¯ve dreamed about a thousand times but never allowed myself to want in the waking world.


    Raven arches against me, his nails raking down my back through my shirt, more aggressive than I¡¯d ever expected. More demanding. This isn¡¯t the vacant-eyed doll I feared he¡¯d be. This is pure Raven. Willful, fierce, and utterly desperate for me.


    I drag his remaining clothes off, my own following in quick session. His body is a revtion beneath mine, lean muscle and golden skin. I¡¯ve seen him undressed before¡ªit¡¯s impossible not to when you live in each other¡¯s pockets in a war zone¡ªbut never like this. Never syed out beneath me, flushed with want, cock hard and leaking against his toned stomach.


    My hand wraps around him, thumb sliding through the generous slick pooling at the tip, and he makes a sound that nearly undoes me on the spot. His hips buck up into my grip, seeking more friction, more pressure, more everything.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ he gasps, the word punching through me. ¡®Niki, please, I need?¡ª¡¯


    I capture his mouth again, swallowing his pleas as I work him with steady, firm strokes. He¡¯s leaking more than any alpha I¡¯ve ever seen, almost like an omega in heat, or at least the male version, and I realize this is part of what they did to him. Part of how they broke him. But it¡¯s useful now, letting me slick my fingers before reaching between his legs.


    The first press of my finger inside him makes him jerk, a broken cry escaping his lips. I freeze, afraid I¡¯ve hurt him, but he grabs my wrist, pressing my hand closer.


    ¡®Don¡¯t stop,¡¯ he begs, eyes wild. ¡®Don¡¯t you fucking dare stop now.¡¯


    So I don¡¯t. I work him open carefully, one finger bing two, watching his face for any sign of difort. But there¡¯s only pleasure there, his head thrown back, lips parted, a continuous stream of soft sounds escaping him with each thrust of my fingers.


    I curl them, searching, and when I find what I¡¯m looking for, his entire body goes taut as a wire. A strangled cry tears from his throat, his cock pulsing in my grip as I milk him through his release, fucking him with my fingers until he¡¯s trembling, oversensitive, yet still somehow begging for more.


    ¡®Niko, please,¡¯ he whimpers, using a nickname I haven¡¯t heard from him in months,e to think of it. ¡®Need you. Inside. Please.¡¯


    Those words cut through the haze of lust enough for me to remember. He¡¯s not an omega. He can¡¯t take a knot. I¡¯m not even sure if he can take my cock, not without proper preparation. Not without?¡ª


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I snarl, looking around frantically. ¡®Need lube.¡¯


    Raven makes a sound of frustration, trying to pull me back. ¡®Don¡¯t care, just?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not fucking hurting you,¡¯ I snap, my voice harsh with the effort of maintaining control. I reach for my discarded coat on the floor, searching the pockets. Thank fuck I actually have a condom in one of the inside pockets, one of the lubricated ones.


    ¡®That fucking coat,¡¯ Raven mutters, and I can hear the eye roll in his voice even as his hands keep trying to pull me back to him.


    ¡®Shut up,¡¯ I growl, tearing the foil packet open with my teeth and rolling it on. The lube isn¡¯t ideal, but it¡¯s better than nothing. I flip him over onto his hands and knees, ignoring his whimper of protest at the dy. ¡®This angle will be easier. Trust me.¡¯


    He goes quiet at that, the fight draining out of him as he settles into position. His hair spills across the dark sheets like golden silk, and I take a moment to just look at him. I should need to picture an omega right now. A female omega. It would be easy enough from this angle, with all that golden hair.


    But I don¡¯t need to.


    I don¡¯t want to.


    I want Raven. Even if I know everything I¡¯ve fought so hard to build is going toe crashing down after I let myself have him.


    I line myself up, one hand gripping his hip, the other guiding my cock. The first push is met with resistance, his body tensing despite his best efforts.


    ¡®Breathe,¡¯ I murmur, leaning over to press my lips to his shoulder de. ¡®Just breathe, little bird.¡¯


    The old nickname slips out before I can stop it. His whole body shudders in response, but he rxes enough that I can press forward, slowly, inch by agonizing inch, until I¡¯m fully seated inside him up to the edge of my knot.


    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I groan, my forehead dropping to rest between his shoulder des. ¡®Raven¡­¡¯


    ¡®Move,¡¯ he gasps, pushing back against me. ¡®Please.¡¯


    So I do. I start slow, careful, but it doesn¡¯t take long for his desperate pleas to drive me faster, harder. My fingers dig into his hips hard enough to bruise as I fuck into him with increasingly reckless abandon. His moans drive me wild, each sound like a direct line to my cock, making me harder, more desperate.


    I¡¯m already going to hell for this. For taking the one good, decent, innocent thing I¡¯ve ever done and twisting it into something else.


    Might as well go all the way.


    I straighten, gripping both his hips now, and withdraw almostpletely before driving back in with a force that makes the bed frame creak in protest. Raven¡¯s fingers twist in the sheets, knuckles white, a string of curses and pleas falling from his lips as I set a ruthless pace.


    I watch, mesmerized, as my cock disappears into him again and again, the sight making my blood burn hotter. His thighs tremble with the effort of holding himself up, and I run my hands down to feel the quivering muscles, marveling at the strength it must take to endure this without copsing.


    He moans desperately, the sound vibrating through his entire body. I feel it where we¡¯re connected, that pulse of pleasure traveling up my spine like lightning. I drag my nails up his sides, leaving faint red lines in their wake, and he arches further, pressing back into each thrust with desperate need.


    I¡¯m close¡ªtoo close¡ªbut I refuse to finish before hees again. I bend forward again, one arm braced beside his head, the other reaching around to grasp his cock. It pulses in my palm, hot and slick, and I match the rhythm of my hand to the increasingly erratic snap of my hips.


    When hees a second time with a hoarse cry of my name, his body clenching around me, I follow him over the edge. My release hits like a freight train, white-hot energy searing through every nerve ending. I feel the base of my cock swelling, the beginning of a knot that has nowhere to go, but I push anyway, instinct overriding reason.


    Raven yelps, his body clenching around the intrusion, and for a moment I think it might work, might actually lock us together.


    But he¡¯s not built for it, no matter what that brothel tried to make him into. The angle¡¯s wrong, the physiology all wrong, and after a moment of resistance, the swelling recedes, leaving us both panting.


    I pull out carefully, disposing of the condom before copsing beside him on the sweat-soaked sheets. Neither of us speaks for a long moment, the only sound our ragged breathing gradually returning to normal.


    Finally, Raven shifts, turning to face me. His eyes are clear, the fever that had gripped him finally broken. ¡®You know what¡¯s fucked up?¡¯ he asks quietly. ¡®I think this actually worked.¡¯


    I grunt in response, not trusting my voice just yet. My mind is already racing, cataloging all the ways I¡¯ve just irrevocably fucked up everything. All the lines we can never uncross.


    Because despite what he thinks, he isn¡¯t just a sliver of my world. He¡¯s more of it than I ever realized until this moment. Until I feel it all starting to crumble around me.


    ¡®Hey.¡¯ His hand on my cheek startles me. ¡®Stop it.¡¯


    ¡®Stop what?¡¯


    ¡®The self-getion. I can see it in your eyes.¡¯ His thumb traces my cheekbone, a gesture so tender it makes my chest ache. ¡®This wasn¡¯t your fault. I wanted it. I¡¯ve always wanted it.¡¯


    I grab his wrist, pulling his hand away from my face. Can¡¯t handle that tenderness. Not now. ¡®It¡¯s not that simple.¡¯


    ¡®It could be,¡¯ he insists, those blue eyes searching mine. ¡®If you¡¯d just?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®No,¡¯ I cut him off, my voice harder than I intended. ¡®Go to sleep, Raven. Just¡­ go to sleep.¡¯


    I can see the argument brewing in those stormy blue eyes, but whether it¡¯s exhaustion from the fever finally receding or the hazy satisfaction of what we just did, he doesn¡¯t fight me on it. For once.


    It doesn¡¯t take long for his breathing to fall into the measured rhythm of sleep. He moves closer, burrowing against my chest, and I don¡¯t have the heart to push him away. Not until I¡¯m sure he¡¯s out.


    I sit up, running a hand through my hair. The reality of what we¡¯ve just done is setting in already, heavy and inescapable. I¡¯ve done a lot of terrible shit in my life. Killed more men than I can count. Betrayed, stolen, destroyed.


    Hell, I walked away from my own blood. Walked away from my father¡¯s empire, determined to build my own even if it cost me my damn life.


    But this¡­


    This is the only thing I know I¡¯ll never be able to forgive myself for.

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 50

    I¡®ve read the same paragraph at least twenty times now. The words blur together, my mind refusing to focus on the weathered pages of the pre-war novel I borrowed from Geo¡¯s extensive collection. Something about star-crossed lovers and forbidden romance.


    The irony isn¡¯t lost on me.


    Geo doesn¡¯t have a romantic bone in his body, so I¡¯m sure he only has this in his collection because of the time it was written. It¡¯s as if he thinks if he cobbles together enough of the old world, he¡¯ll be able to open up a portal and escape the clusterfuck we were all born into.


    Not a half bad idea, all things considered. And if this shithole didn¡¯t happen to possess one moonlight-scented saving grace that makes up for everything else, I might be tempted to join him.


    My eyes drift to Niki again. He¡¯s finally stopped thrashing, at least. That¡¯s something. His white hair is stered to his forehead with sweat, his sharp features softened by the fever that¡¯s been ravaging him for the past day and a half. The steady rise and fall of his chest is the only thing keeping me anchored to this chair.


    Not that I care if he lives or dies. Not anymore.


    That¡¯s what I keep telling myself, anyway.


    I force my attention back to the book. Stay detached. Stay focused. I¡¯ve spent too many years wing my way out from under Niki¡¯s shadow to get pulled back into his orbit now. Even if watching him burn with fever makes my chest ache in a way I refuse to acknowledge.


    My contacts bettere through soon. Finding this Azarel character is proving more challenging than expected, and I¡¯m running out of time. Forty-eight hours seemed generous when I made the deal with Cosima, but I¡¯m down to less than twelve now, and I still have nothing concrete to show for it.


    I can¡¯t lose her.


    Not when I¡¯ve only just found her.


    Niki groans in his sleep, shifting restlessly beneath the tangled sheets. He¡¯s been like this for hours. Delirious mumbling interspersed with bouts of agitated movement. Most of it¡¯s been incoherent¡ªcurses and snatches of Vrissian that I only half understand.


    But I¡¯ve caught her name.


    Cosima.


    Over and over, like a prayer or a curse. Sometimes followed by bitter ramblings about mating with a monster.


    Sour grapes, as far as I can tell. He can¡¯t stand that another alpha got to her before he could. Typical. Niki always did hate losing, especially when ites to what he considers his.


    I¡¯m about to turn the page when he speaks again, clearer this time.


    ¡®Raven.¡¯


    My name on his lips stops me cold. Not shouted in anger or sneered in contempt, but soft. Almost¡­ tender. Like he used to say it, before everything shattered between us.


    The book slips from my fingers.


    I¡¯m on my feet before I realize what I¡¯m doing, moving to the bedside on instinct. His face has changed. The feverish flush is fading, his features more rxed than they¡¯ve been since we dragged him in here.


    I press my palm to his forehead.


    mmy, but cooler. The fever¡¯s broken.


    Relief crashes through me with such force it makes my legs feel like they¡¯ve turned into jelly. I hate that I still care. Hate that after everything, some part of me still can¡¯t bear the thought of a world without Niki kov in it.


    His eyes fly open, gunmetal gray and suddenly alert. Before I can react, his hand shoots out and locks around my wrist like an iron manacle. With one powerful tug, he yanks me down onto the bed, his other arm wrapping around my waist to flip our positions.


    My back hits the mattress, Niki¡¯s weight pinning me down, one of my knees wedged between his legs. His face is inches from mine, eyes wild and unfocused¡ªwell, one eye at least. His prosthetic remains unchanged, that cold gunmetal gray, while his natural eye¡¯s pupil is blown wide, nearly solid ck.


    I freeze, heart hammering in my chest. But I don¡¯t panic. I know this dance too well. It¡¯s not about me. It¡¯s hardwired fight or flight, the survival instinct of a man who¡¯s never slept easily. Who fully expects a friend to turn enemy and put a bullet in his skull while he sleeps. I¡¯ve seen it a hundred times before, back when we shared quarters on the road.


    He growls, low and dangerous, pressing me harder into the mattress. His grip tightens on my wrists, and there¡¯s something feral in his expression that sends an unwee heat spiraling through my body. Despite everything¡ªdespite knowing better¡ªmy pulse quickens for entirely different reasons than survival.


    Dammit. I hate my body sometimes.


    Then his free hand flies up to his prosthetic eye, and hees back to himself instantly. I can tell from the way his pupil shrinks down a fraction. It¡¯s just enough that I don¡¯t think he¡¯s going to tear my throat out with those sharp canines.


    I roll my eyes. ¡®Rx. We didn¡¯t take your eye out. Knew you¡¯d be pissed about that.¡¯


    Something in his expression shifts. Relief, quickly masked by his usual stoicism. It¡¯s almostical how self-conscious he still is about it, even after all these years. The mighty Niki kov, terror of the wastes, worried about his appearance.


    It pisses me off all over again that he took Geo¡¯s eye, especially since I¡¯m pretty sure Geo¡¯s situation is worse.


    And for what? Because Geo made some crack about Niki¡¯s eye when they were trying to kill each other and Niki thought it would be more fun to leave him alive but maimed?


    Typical alpha posturing bullshit.


    ¡®Niki,¡¯ I say, keeping my voice steady. ¡®It¡¯s me. Raven. You¡¯re safe.¡¯


    I watch the haze clear from his wild gaze, reality seeping back in. Recognition dawns, followed immediately by something that might be embarrassment if I didn¡¯t know better. He releases me abruptly, rolling off to the side.


    ¡®Sorry,¡¯ he mutters, rubbing a hand over his face. ¡®Old habits.¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s fine.¡¯ I sit up, brushing invisible dust from my clothes with practiced nonchnce, as if my pulse isn¡¯t still racing, as if my skin doesn¡¯t still burn where he touched me. ¡®Your fever broke. Looks like you¡¯ll live after all.¡¯


    I try for ambivalence but miss by a mile. The relief in my voice is painfully obvious, even to my own ears.


    ¡®How long have you been here?¡¯ Niki asks, his voice rough from disuse. He¡¯s eyeing me with that prating gaze that always made me feel like he could see right through every wall I ever built.


    ¡®An hour or so.¡¯ The lie slips out smoothly. ¡®Figured someone should be around to call the coroner if you died. Geo would throw a fit if there was a corpse in his bed for long.¡¯


    Niki¡¯s lips twist into a humorless smile. ¡®Bullshit.¡¯


    ¡®Excuse me?¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯ve been here every time I¡¯ve surfaced. Talking to that doctor. Keeping watch.¡¯ His eyes narrow. ¡®Why?¡¯


    I look away, unwilling to meet his gaze. ¡®Don¡¯t tter yourself, kov. I was bored.¡¯


    ¡®Since when do you run out of ways to entertain yourself?¡¯ he presses. ¡®You could be out there chasing our omega, but instead, you¡¯re sitting in a dark room watching me sleep like some kind of guardian angel.¡¯


    The casual acknowledgment¡ªour omega¡ªat once makes my heart flutter and my teeth grind. He¡¯s always been a possessive son of a bitch, and that¡¯s exactly the kind of thing that¡¯s going to send Cosima running for the hills sooner thanter. I turn back to him, forcing a smile that doesn¡¯t reach my eyes.


    ¡®Maybe I just wanted to make sure you didn¡¯t die before I got the chance to kill you myself.¡¯


    It¡¯s a weak deflection, and we both know it. But I can¡¯t let myself be vulnerable around him. Not again. I¡¯ve made that mistake too many times¡ªtoo recently, to my unending shame¡ªand all it¡¯s ever earned me is heartbreak.


    ¡®Where is she?¡¯ Niki asks suddenly, his tone shifting to something almost panicked. ¡®Cosima¡ªwhere?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Calm down,¡¯ I cut him off. ¡®She¡¯s still here. For now.¡¯


    His shoulders slump with visible relief, but it¡¯s short lived. It doesn¡¯tst. ¡®For now? What does that mean?¡¯


    ¡®It means she¡¯s agreed to stay for forty-eight hours while I gather information on her Surhiiran alpha. After that, she¡¯s leaving, with or without what she came for.¡¯ I shrug as if it doesn¡¯t matter to me either way. Another lie. ¡®That was our deal.¡¯


    ¡®You can¡¯t let her leave,¡¯ Niki says, struggling to sit up. ¡®It¡¯s not safe out there, especially not with an eight-foot-plus hell monster that could turn on her any second.¡¯


    I bark out augh. ¡®Oh, that¡¯s riching from you. What¡¯s your n? Lock her in a tower again? Chain her up?¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t be dramatic. I¡¯m talking about protection?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®That¡¯s always the answer with you, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Something inside me snaps, years of buried resentment bubbling to the surface. ¡®A cage? You think that¡¯ll work with her any more than it did with me?¡¯


    His eyes sh dangerously. ¡®That was different.¡¯


    ¡®Was it?¡¯ I move closer, beyond caring if I¡¯m poking the bear. ¡®You told me it was for my own good, too. That you were protecting me. But we both know what it was really about. Control. You couldn¡¯t stand the thought of me making my own choices, having my own life.¡¯


    ¡®That¡¯s not?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®Not what?¡¯ I snarl. ¡®Not the same? Because it looks pretty fucking identical from where I¡¯m standing. You see something you want, and you try to own it. Possess it. Like it¡¯s your gods-given right.¡¯


    Niki¡¯s face darkens. ¡®You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t I?¡¯ Iugh again, the sound bitter even to my own ears. ¡®I know you better than anyone, Niki. Better than you know yourself, apparently. Because you still haven¡¯t learned that you can¡¯t cage something and expect it to love you.¡¯


    Even if I was stupid enough to.


    But Cosima is different.


    He¡¯s going to learn that the hard way.


    He opens his mouth to retort, but the radio on my belt crackles to life, saving us both from whatever he was about to say.


    ¡®Raven,e in. I¡¯ve got your scout at the north entrance. Says he has information for you. Urgent.¡¯ The voice belongs to one of Geo¡¯s guards, a beta named Harlow who owes me more than a few favors.


    I grab the radio, relieved. ¡®Tell him I¡¯ll be right up. Don¡¯t let him leave.¡¯ Turning back to Niki, I shove a ss of water into his hand. ¡®Drink. You¡¯re still dehydrated. I¡¯ve got something to take care of.¡¯


    ¡®We¡¯re not done with this conversation,¡¯ he warns, but there¡¯s less heat in his voice now.


    ¡®Yes, we are.¡¯ I grab my jacket from the back of the chair. ¡®I have more pressing matters than rehashing ancient history with you.¡¯


    I don¡¯t even know what the point is. There isn¡¯t one. Some things never change, and Niki is one of them.


    I stride toward the door, pausing only when he calls after me.


    ¡®Raven.¡¯


    I don¡¯t turn around. ¡®What?¡¯


    ¡®Be careful.¡¯


    Something in his tone makes my throat tighten. I nod once, sharply, and leave without looking back.


    Geo is lounging in the living room, newspaper spread open in front of him, a ss of something amber and expensive in his hand. He nces up as I pass, his single eye assessing me with that unsettling perceptiveness.


    ¡®Listen for Niki, would you?¡¯ I say, trying to sound casual. ¡®His fever broke, but he¡¯s still weak.¡¯


    Geo¡¯s mouth quirks up at one corner. ¡®Yeah, sure. I¡¯ll record his moans of agony and use them as my away message.¡¯


    I sigh, too focused on my mission to properly appreciate his sarcasm. ¡®He shouldn¡¯t give you any trouble. Just¡­ make sure he doesn¡¯t do anything stupid.¡¯


    ¡®Like chase after you?¡¯ Geo¡¯s voice has an edge to it now, something knowing and sharp.


    ¡®Like try to kidnap my fucking omega,¡¯ I counter, heading for the door.


    Something tells me it won¡¯t go as well for him this time, considering Knight is her constant shadow. And Cosima is hardly helpless. The opposite, in fact.


    The tunnels of the ck market are busy even at this hour, merchants and mercenaries mingling in the artificial twilight of the undergroundplex. I weave through the crowd with practiced ease, my mind already racing ahead to what this contact might have found.


    The bar near the north entrance is one of the seedier establishments in Geo¡¯s domain, which is saying something. The air is thick with smoke and the stench of cheap liquor, bodies pressed too close in the dim light. It¡¯s perfect for ndestine meetings. Anonymous, loud enough to mask conversation, with enough exits to make a quick escape if necessary.


    I spot my scout immediately. He¡¯s leaning against the bar, a nondescript beta with the kind of face you forget the moment you look away. That¡¯s why I hired him. He blends in anywhere, bes part of the background. The perfect spy.


    His eyes light up with recognition as I approach, but he doesn¡¯t smile. Not a good sign.


    ¡®You have something for me?¡¯ I ask without preamble.


    He nces around, then reaches into his jacket. ¡®Tracked a few leads to a Surhiiran outpost that got hit by someone matching the description of your guy,¡¯ he says, voice barely audible over the din of the bar. ¡®Took out the courier this was intended for, yed dress-up, and paid a visit to the outpost myself to confirm.¡¯


    He hands me a sealed envelope, yellowed with wear. It feels light in my hands, almost insubstantial. I open it immediately, my eyes scanning over the elegant Surhiiran script. In my line of work, it pays to be a polyglot, even if Surhiiran is the hardestnguage I¡¯ve ever had to learn and I certainly won¡¯t be winning any spelling bees anytime soon.


    I get the gist, though. It¡¯s a full report. A soldier who matches Azarel¡¯s description perfectly attacked the outpost, and ording to the guard who wrote the report, he was looking for an omega.


    ¡®Found the kid who wrote that,¡¯ he says, nodding to the letter. ¡®Talked like he¡¯d seen a ghost. Or a demon straight outta hell. Said it was ¡®otherworldly¡¯ what that guy did to those poor bastards. The guard only survived because he was on the wall. Cut and ran once he saw how it was going to end. Like the guy knew how they fought, and exactly where to go.¡¯


    For someone so posh, my goddess certainly keeps dangerouspany. Maybe I do have a chance, after all.


    ¡®Thank you.¡¯ I slip him a small pouch of gold coins, heavier than our agreed fee. ¡®There¡¯s extra for the speedy delivery.¡¯


    He weighs the pouch in his palm, nodding in satisfaction. ¡®Pleasure doing business with you.¡¯ He turns to leave, then pauses, his expression turning serious. ¡®Whoever hired you to do this digging¡­ I hope they¡¯re trustworthy.¡¯ His eyes dart to the pocket where I¡¯ve stored the envelope. ¡®The Surhiiran army isn¡¯t to be trifled with. Better be worth it.¡¯


    I think of Cosima, with those brilliant violent eyes and silver hair that catches every hint of light like it¡¯s made from captured stars. Everyone else might just see a beautiful omega, but I¡¯ve glimpsed the steel running through her. Delicate on the surface, unbreakable underneath. From the moment I first saw her, something locked into ce inside me that I didn¡¯t even know was missing. Like my scrambled, messed-up life suddenly made perfect sense.


    Worth it? There¡¯s nothing in this wastnd of a world I wouldn¡¯t risk for her.


    A smile curves my lips, genuine this time.


    ¡®She is.¡¯

 Unhinged Omega: Chapter 51

    I wake to the gentle rise and fall of Knight¡¯s massive chest beneath my cheek. For a moment, I keep my eyes closed, soaking in thefort of my alpha¡¯s presence. His warmth seeps through me, chasing away the perpetual chill of the underground.


    Forty-eight hours.


    The realization hits me with a jolt. Today marks the deadline I set¡ªthe end of my bargain with Raven. Time to leave this bizarre sanctuary with its bickering alphas and improbableforts.


    Time to go find Azarel.


    Moving carefully, I extricate myself from Knight¡¯s arm, which is draped possessively across my waist. His low growl follows me as I shift away.


    ¡®Shh,¡¯ I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his masked cheek. ¡®Go back to sleep.¡¯


    I know he won¡¯t listen. Even half-asleep, he¡¯s too vignt, too protective. Sure enough, as I slip into the adjoining bathroom, I hear the distinct creak of the mattress as he sits up.


    The face staring back at me in the mirror looks different somehow. Softer. My silver hair falls in waves around my shoulders, no longer tangled with dirt and blood. My skin has regained some of its color. Even the perpetual wariness in my violet eyes has dimmed.


    I look almost¡­ happy.


    Dangerous territory.


    The dressid out for me is another gift from Raven. A deep burgundy this time, designed toplement my hair and skintone. I have to hand it to him, the alpha has better taste than my tailor back in Reinmich ever did. Probably trying to spoil me into staying longer with pretty things, a strategy I¡¯ve encountered from alphas my entire life. The difference is, his gifts don¡¯t make my skin crawl.


    I could get used to this.


    That thought alone should send me running.


    As I slip the dress over my head, the soft fabric whispers against my skin. I turn in the mirror, admiring the way it hugs my curves before flowing gracefully to the floor. A dress fit for a high council gathering, not an underground ck market.


    Knight stands in the doorway, watching me with those intense blue eyes. Even with the elegant mask covering his face, there¡¯s no hiding his appreciation. A low rumble vibrates from his chest. A sound I¡¯vee to recognize as approval.


    ¡®Since you¡¯re already awake,¡¯ I say, turning from the mirror to face him. ¡®Ready?¡¯


    He nods, the motion still slightly stiff but improving. I wonder if he dreamedst night. I wonder if he dreams at all. Ever since I¡¯ve started falling asleep in his arms, he¡¯s stopped haunting my nightmares.


    I wonder what I¡¯m going to do with him when we leave here.


    Because we are leaving. We have to be. No matter how much a part of me has settled into this strange limbo, this isn¡¯t real life. Real life is out there, with Azarel, with whatever future awaits us in Reinmich.


    If there even is a Reinmich left to return to.


    All I know is that I can¡¯t stand the thought of being separated from Knight. But could we even make it past the border without them trying to attack him? Or imprison him and use him as a weapon?


    The thought makes my blood boil, and my pointed nails dig into my palms. They¡¯re freshly painted now, a shade of violet suspiciously close to my eye color. Courtesy of Raven.


    I realize I haven¡¯t indulged that particr painful habittely. Haven¡¯t had reason to, even without the sedatives my father swore my ¡°fragile¡± omega psyche would copse without. Must not be as on edge here.


    The smell of bacon wafts through the air as we make our way down the corridor. My stomach growls embarrassingly loud. Knight notices, of course. Nothing escapes him. His human hand brushes against my lower back, a gesture both protective and oddly tender.


    When we enter the kitchen, I¡¯m struck by the unexpected sight of Geo at the stove. His massive frame looks almosticallyrge in the surprisingly homey space, his broad shoulders and back blocking most of my view of the stove as he flips bacon like he could do it in his sleep.


    Despite his intimidating stature and the various weapons I can spot tucked into his clothing¡ªa knife handle peeking from his boot, the outline of what¡¯s probably a handgun beneath his untucked gray shirt¡ªthere¡¯s something endearing about seeing this notorious underworld boss wielding a spat instead of a gun.


    ¡®Morning, Princess,¡¯ he calls without turning. ¡®Tin Man. Sleep well?¡¯


    ¡®Well enough.¡¯ I slide onto a stool at the counter, Knight hovering behind me like a particrly deadly shadow. I don¡¯t think he appreciates that nickname. ¡®I didn¡¯t take you for the cooking type.¡¯


    Geo snorts, sliding eggs onto a te with practiced ease. ¡®You think I¡¯d let someone else handle my food? In this line of work? Faster way to die than picking a fight with your boyfriend there.¡¯


    Knight growls in confusion at the word ¡®boyfriend,¡¯ and I have to suppress a smile. I suppose that¡¯s one word for it.


    ¡®Does he eat bacon?¡¯ Geo asks, nodding toward Knight while setting a te piled with eggs and bacon in front of me. ¡®I made extra.¡¯


    ¡®Of a sort,¡¯ I say dryly.


    Geo grimaces as he reads between the lines, but he shrugs it off quickly enough. Too quickly, perhaps, considering the subject at hand. ¡®Well, I¡¯ve always got assholes in the cells who fucked with my girls down at the club,¡¯ he offers. ¡®He can help himself to those.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯d rather not think about cannibalism before breakfast,¡¯ I reply, picking up a fork.


    ¡®Is it cannibalism when you¡¯re not all human?¡¯ Geo muses, pouring coffee into a chipped mug that reads ¡®World¡¯s Best Dad.¡¯ Something tells me he got that from Raven, considering he¡¯s definitely not a family man. Not that kind, at least. ¡®Philosophical question.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m not equipped for philosophy until at least my second cup of coffee.¡¯ I take a bite of the eggs, surprised to find them perfectly seasoned. ¡®This is¡­ actually good.¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t sound so shocked.¡¯ Geo slides a mug toward me. Not the dad one, I notice. ¡®I¡¯ve got skills beyond shooting people and looking intimidating.¡¯


    ¡®Oh, intimidating is what you¡¯re going for? I thought it was more ¡®grumpy derelict.¡± I smirk over the rim of my mug.


    Geo¡¯s lips twitch. ¡®Charming. Big day,¡¯ he says, changing the subject. ¡®You decided yet?¡¯


    I knew the question wasing, but it still makes something twist in my chest.


    Have I decided?


    Knight stands silently behind me, awaiting my answer as much as Geo is.


    ¡®I don¡¯t see any reason to get so anal retentive about the exact time,¡¯ I hedge, stirring my coffee instead of meeting his gaze. ¡®What¡¯s a few more hours?¡¯


    The smirk that spreads across Geo¡¯s face tells me I¡¯m not fooling anyone, least of all myself. I focus on my breakfast, unwilling to examine why I¡¯m so reluctant to leave. It¡¯s not just about Azarel anymore. It¡¯s about¡­ everything.


    If I let Ravene with me, Geo is going to be pissed, and he¡¯lle, too. But I know Niki is going to follow us. And if he and Geo are alone in the same room for more than two seconds, they¡¯ll kill each other.


    For fuck¡¯s sake, this is starting to feel like one of those ¡®get across the river with a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage¡¯ logic puzzles I used to hate growing up.


    When did I start giving a shit about any of them?


    ¡®Look who¡¯s awake,¡¯ Geo drawls, ncing toward the doorway. ¡®You look like shit, kid.¡¯


    Raven stands in the entrance, looking like he hasn¡¯t slept in days. His golden hair is loose in an uncharacteristic disarray, dark circles shadowing his usually bright blue eyes. He¡¯s wearing the same clothes as yesterday, rumpled now, like he might have slept in them. Or not slept at all.


    ¡®This is why you¡¯re single, old man,¡¯ Raven replies, crossing to Geo and caressing his stubbly cheek before he pats it, a bit too hard to be friendly. ¡®Your charm is simply overwhelming.¡¯


    Geo grumbles something unintelligible, but he¡¯s already turning back to the stove, cracking more eggs. I hide a smile behind my coffee mug. The way they bicker, all softness wrapped in thorns, is annoyingly endearing.


    And therein lies anotherplication. If Ravenes with me, I¡¯m pulling him away from Geo.


    Why should I care? Having a conscience is a luxury no one can afford¡ªnot out here in the Outer Reaches, and certainly not back home in Reinmich. I learned that lesson a long time ago.


    ¡®My goddess,¡¯ Raven says, turning to me with a tired smile that somehow still manages to light up the room. ¡®You look absolutely radiant this morning. That shade of burgundy might be my favorite on you yet.¡¯


    I roll my eyes, but can¡¯t suppress the warmth that creeps up my neck. ¡®ttery will get you nowhere.¡¯


    ¡®On the contrary,¡¯ he replies with a wink. ¡®It¡¯s gotten me plenty of ces.¡¯ He turns to Knight, his smile faltering slightly. ¡®And good morning to you, too¡­ um, the Knight. You look especially¡­ calm today.¡¯


    Knight growls low in his chest. I reach back to pat his arm, silently asking him to behave. It helps that Raven is clearly making an effort, despite his obvious exhaustion and lingering fear.


    ¡®Just Knight,¡¯ I tell him.


    Raven nods. ¡®Knight it is, then. I apologize for my tardiness,¡¯ he continues, epting a te from Geo with a grateful smile. ¡®But I have something that might make up for it.¡¯ He produces an envelope from inside his jacket, holding it out to me with a flourish. ¡®A gift, of sorts.¡¯


    I eye it warily. ¡®If this is a gift certificate for another dress?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®While I would adore seeing you in every color of the rainbow, this is a gift of a more¡­ practical nature.¡¯ His eyes sparkle with amusement. ¡®Go on. Open it.¡¯


    Taking the envelope, I carefully break the seal and extract several sheets of paper. Thenguage isn¡¯t Reinmichian, but Surhiiran¡ªelegant, flowing script that I can only partially decipher. I read slowly, picking out words and phrases.


    Outpost¡­ western territory¡­ attack¡­ single intruder¡­ casualties¡­


    ¡®This is a soldier¡¯s report to his supervisor,¡¯ I murmur. I¡¯ve nced over my father¡¯s shoulder often enough to recognize that. ¡®What does it have to do with Azarel?¡¯


    ¡®You can read Surhiiran?¡¯ Raven asks, surprise evident in his voice.


    ¡®A little.¡¯ I shrug, still scanning the document. ¡®I had ess to my father¡¯s library. And nothing else to do most days.¡¯


    Raven clutches his chest dramatically. ¡®Immeasurable beauty and brains? I may faint.¡¯


    ¡®Save the fawning for your growly boyfriend, Prince Charming,¡¯ I retort, gesturing toward Geo, who res half-heartedly at me over his mug. ¡®What does this mean? I¡¯m only getting bits and pieces.¡¯


    Raven sighs, sliding onto the stool beside me. Knight growls in warning, and Raven makes a show of keeping his hands on the counter in front of him, where therger alpha can see them. ¡®I haven¡¯t been able to find Azarel directly,¡¯ he admits. ¡®But my scout made contact with the soldier who wrote that report. One of the survivors at the outpost you were being held at, before the Ghosts transferred you to our feverish friend down the hall.¡¯


    Hope flutters in my chest. Dangerous, fragile hope that I¡¯ve barely allowed myself to feel since I escaped from Niki¡¯spound.


    ¡®The royal family has forbidden any mention of Azarel¡¯s name directly,¡¯ Raven continues, tapping a section of the report, ¡®but the man who attacked the outpost¡ªtheoretically in search of you¡ªmatched his description perfectly. A tall Surhiiran man with long ck hair and¡­¡¯ he drops his voice, ¡®¡­ fighting skills that, ording to my scout, were ¡®otherworldly.¡±


    ¡®That sounds like him,¡¯ I whisper, unable to keep the tremor from my voice. Hope is a dangerous thing, especially out here.


    ¡®The report is deliberately vague, but reading between the lines, it¡¯s clear the attacker was looking for an omega prisoner. One who¡¯d been moved elsewhere.¡¯


    I frown, focusing on a particr passage. ¡®Wait¡­ why would the Surhiiran royal family care about hiding Azarel¡¯s name?¡¯


    When I look up, Raven is staring at me with an expression I can¡¯t decipher.


    It¡¯s almost pitying.


    ¡®What?¡¯ I demand, suddenly defensive.


    ¡®You don¡¯t know, do you?¡¯ Raven murmurs, tilting his head slightly. There¡¯s no judgment in his voice, only confusion. Concern.


    Even Geo seems confused, pausing with fork mid-air.


    ¡®Don¡¯t know what?¡¯ I ask.


    The knot in my throat tightens. There have always been secrets between Azarel and me. Hell, my father and I are the only ones who know his real name, as far as I¡¯m aware. Even then, it¡¯s only because I overheard him call Azarel that once, during one of their many hours-long meetings in my father¡¯s study.


    I never understood why a man like Azarel would work for a man like my father. Azarel possesses the quiet dignity and honor you¡¯d only expect from a world that no longer exists. He¡¯s the pr opposite of a callous merchant who would sell his own flesh and blood for the right price.


    And has. My marriage to Monty and all the times I served as entertainment as those parties¡ªat least until Azarel caught wind of it¡ªis proof enough of that.


    From the moment I first saw Azarel, I knew he was different, and not just because he was the first alpha whose scent intrigued rather than repulsed me. He was nothing like the men who licked my father¡¯s boots while ogling me behind his back.


    When I told my father Monty was selling me off to his friends, my father told me to shut my mouth and never speak of it again. When Azarel found out, people died. A lot of people.


    I always knew he was mine.


    My mate. My alpha. My destiny.


    I kept his name clutched to my heart like a secret, a cherished possession. Every stolen moment, every kiss, was a gift. A treasure plundered from the cold, careless hands of a world that had offered me nothing but pain. Until him.


    Raven hesitates, something painfully gentle in his blue eyes. It¡¯s the look people get when they¡¯re about to say something they know will hurt you. When they¡¯re about to shatter an illusion you¡¯ve been living with.


    My nails dig into my palms again. Pricks of pain, familiar warmth pooling on the pads of my fingers. This time, the sting does nothing to keep the threads of me from drifting further and further apart.


    Knight stiffens, another low growl rumbling from him as he watches my hands, but he doesn¡¯t move. Just remains close. Strong. Watchful.


    ¡®Cosima,¡¯ Raven says carefully, reaching for my hand. I should push him away, but I don¡¯t. The warmth of his touch grounds me in a way pain, my old friend, cannot. ¡®This Azarel you¡¯ve been looking for?¡ª¡¯


    ¡®My mate,¡¯ I correct, my voice brittle, on the verge of breaking.


    Raven¡¯s gaze softens. ¡®Your mate,¡¯ he corrects with a solemn nod, ¡®is the crown prince of Surhiira.¡¯


    The world around me seems to freeze, then tilt sideways. The kitchen blurs at the edges as his words sink in. I realize my hand is shaking only when it meets the resistance of Raven¡¯s gentle, steady grip. Anchoring me. The one thing keeping all the frayed strings from unraveling.


    But I¡¯m not sure I want them to stop.


    Prince of Surhiira.


    My Azarel.


    The alpha I¡¯ve been in love with for years.


    The alpha who held me in my darkness, and showed me warmth I never knew. The alpha who promised he would take me away from all of it one day.


    The alpha who never once mentioned he was royalty.


    The alpha who fucking lied.


    To be continued in Scarred Alphas (Ghost Alpha Unit #5)¡­


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!