Omega Adjacent

Skylar, despite her unserious outlook on life, would never make a joke like this.

She’d been my best friend since we were ten, since the day Mum kicked the bucket and I needed a place to crash after school to avoid Father’s insanity.

This was supposed to be good news. The bastard was finally dead. But despite everything he’d done, compared to my stepbrothers—Declan, Adrian, and Ezra—he was the lesser evil.

Their mother brought them two weeks after Mum died, once Father remarried. My life had been hell ever since.

And Father… he was the only reason they hadn’t come hunting after I nearly killed Adrian that night eleven years ago.

If this note came from Skylar two weeks ago— 

I stared into the mirror, reapplying mascara with shaking hands, dabbing blush onto a blood-drained face.

Was there enough time to make an escape?

A knock at the door.

"Anastasia? They’re here.”

I sucked in a breath then turned away from the mirror. Grace stood there, calm as always.

She took a damp hanky and wiped a mascara stain from my thumb.

“I’m sorry,” I said, guilt curling like acid in my chest. “I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow. Just so you forgive me.”

If I was still alive by then, right?

Grace smiled softly. “It’s okay. You were closer to Kate than all of us.”

Then added, with a wink, “I’ll still take that dinner, though.”

It was hard not to smudge my makeup with tears as I smiled back.

Minutes later, I was walking toward Link’s office, a single folder in hand, Viktor beside me.

“Do not snap at them,” he warned. “They’re dangerous men.”

I rolled my eyes so high they nearly hit the back of my skull. “What do you think I am? Stupid?”

Viktor pushed the door open. “Just saying.”

I stepped in.

There were three men in the room, but only two stood. The third sat across from a visibly nervous Link, fingers tapping slow against the armrest while the others wandered, touching things they shouldn’t.

“Get your hands off that,” I snapped at the one holding Kate’s favorite Rubik’s box.

“Oh boy,” Viktor muttered.

The room stilled. Link’s jaw clenched tight.

To my surprise, the men turned, not to me—but to the one sitting. As if seeking permission. When he gave a small nod, they stepped back from the shelves.

That’s when I knew he was the leader.

My brows drew together.

This pretty-faced, doe-eyed man who looked barely older than a college sophomore—with no scars, save the one across his forehead—was their leader?

No damn way.

Well, not my business. I thought as I walked fully into the room.

Link glared at me with hatred so intense you’d think I killed his mother.

Pfft. He never even cared that much about her.

“Did you bring the files?” he asked curtly.

“Here.” I handed him the folder. He didn’t open it. Not that he’d know what a single paragraph meant.

Dumbass.

He handed it back. No surprise. Instead, he nodded toward the seated man.

“This is Mr. Kovalev. The man I told you about.”

“You mean the criminal?” I smiled. “Sure.”

Link’s face flushed with rage. “Okay, you’re getting out of hand, you fucking omega bitc—”

The Bratva boss cut him off mid-rant with just a look.

And unless I imagined it, a small amused smile flickered across his lips, gone in a blink. Like it never happened.

Mr. Kovalev stood.

Painstakingly tall. Sun-kissed skin. Lean but built—not like a bear, but a jaguar. Raven-dark hair, slightly mussed. Lashes so full I felt a sudden pang of jealousy.

Black turtleneck, tucked into tailored black suit pants. No watch, no chain. Just a single, tiny gold earring.

Why did that look so familiar?

He stretched out a hand to me.

“Merc Kovalev, Boss of the Bratva. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Was he trying to piss me off with that twinkle-eyed, innocent smile? He wouldn’t find it so amusing when I kneed him in the pretty face.

I shoved the file into his hand.

“Sign every single box. If you did a good job covering your tracks, you’ll be legal in no time.”

The silence in the room tightened. Like everyone was holding their breath.

Kovalev looked down at the paper. Then back at me. He rubbed his neck, sucked his teeth, and—

“Put me through.”

He held my gaze. His voice dropped a notch.

“Put me through it, peaches.”

The room went ice cold.

The earring glinted at that exact moment. Digging the knife deeper.

*You do that… you do that and you’re mine.*

No.

No, no, no—Goddess, please no.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn't think. Just stared at his face with wide, horrified eyes until I realized I was falling.

Viktor caught me. And the way Kovalev’s eyes darkened, I almost pulled away for Viktor’s safety.

“You okay?” Viktor asked, real concern in his voice.

No, I was not okay.

My life was crumbling before my eyes and I had no idea what to do. Maybe drag him to a clinic and break the damn bond—

But how do you yank a mafia boss by the scruff?

My wolf stirred and purred.

*By his damn ears. That’s how.*

“Forgive Miss Hayes,” Viktor said with a smile. “Ms. Kate was like a mother to her.”

Link snickered.

“Well, Miss Hayes better chin up,” said one of Kovalev’s men in the back. “She’ll be representing us in court.”

Viktor frowned. “I think you’ve got it wrong. Anastasia worked the papers. I represent.”

“That’s not what the boss said. He wants the omega.”

And the boss?

He was staring. Not at me, no, at Viktor’s hand still curled around my shoulder. Or maybe at me. I couldn’t tell. But the hairs on the back of my neck stood up all the same.

“Anastasia has a strong moral compass,” Viktor tried.

“She’ll burn it down if you dangle the right check. What’s the big deal? Everyone’s doing it.”

I staggered back, away from Viktor, from all of them.

“Anastasia, are you okay?”

Most especially from this man who seemed to see right through me.

“Anastasia?”

And then I ran.

Heart pounding, fear sharp and breathless in my lungs, I ran through the hall like hell itself was on my heels, nearly knocking Grace aside.

“Are you okay?” she called.

But I couldn’t stop. Couldn’t answer. I was unraveling from the inside out.

And of all the eyes I felt pinning me from behind office desks and windows, I didn’t feel **his**.

Claiming an Alpha heat-induced, where neither of us had any agency? He could tear me apart and I’d deserve it.

My plan rewrote itself in a second.

Grab my bag. Hide. Skylar could help. A new name and another new life.

Just don’t let him get to me.

But at the door of my office, a hand grabbed my arm.

My back slammed into a hard chest.

A yelp caught in my throat, smothered by a palm over my lips.

“Hush, Ana.”

My eyes widened, filling with tears. I froze. That voice…not that voice.

“Finally learnt some manners.”

Alexei, Ezra’s Beta, laughed against my ear.

“That’s surprising. Your brothers want you.”