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

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 occasion, and riding in on a gleaming metal steed to slay the degenerate dragon who’s captured my moonlight princess certainly qualifies as that.

It didn’t take long to suss out Nikolai’s current location. I have my little birdies keeping an eye on his general whereabouts at any given time—just to make sure I can steer clear of him—and 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 recommissioned airport looms ahead, a sprawling mess of concrete buildings and steel rising from the barren landscape 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 Nikolai 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 Nikolai has ever cared about. Anyone sycophantic or delusional enough to endure his endless litmus tests to weed out any ‘traitors’ in his midst—AKA anyone with the balls to question him—is 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 like lassos at the armored… monster?

That’s presently trying to climb out of a…

A pit?

Good gods, Nikolai has really fallen apart without me.

His operation was always a disaster, but a pit monster? Really?

And I thought the villain tower was bad enough.

I’m still trying to make out the details of the Pit Monster through the dust when I realize someone is coming straight for me.

Nikolai fucking Vlakov.

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 and completely different all at once. That choppy white hair, the tacky red glasses—and 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-balance. And by the looks of things, I came at exactly the right time.

Good for me.

I’ve always had impeccable 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.

I laugh, the sound hollow even to my own ears. ‘What, no warm welcome 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, replaced 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 the last 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 glancing at the pit, where Lex and the rest of his goons are still struggling to restrain that thing—and 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 plays 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 claws 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?’ Nikolai 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 his commands, 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 claws 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 Nikolai 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 Nikolai. ‘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.’

Nikolai glances back to give me a blank stare, finally focusing on me, before barking out a laugh 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 and lashes out, sending one of Nikolai’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?’ Nikolai 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 replace 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.’

Nikolai’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-placed 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 declare, 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.’

Nikolai’s eyebrows shoot up, a cruel smirk playing at his lips. ‘And here I thought your flair 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?’

His laughter 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 playing 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 black 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, replaced 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 glasses, 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.’

Nikolai’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I feel a flash 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—take 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.

Nikolai draws his gun, and for a split second, I think—hope?—that 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.‘

The command hits me like he punched me in the face. I try to resist, every fiber of my being rebelling against the compulsion. 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 clattering 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.

Nikolai doesn’t spare me another glance. He’s already moving, barking more orders at his men before hauling a grenade launcher from a nearby crate. The weapon looks comically 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 Nikolai has only managed to blow a few of the iron rods off his back. The monster buckles forward, planting both palms in the dirt as he coughs up black 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 plants one foot in front of the other—he’s wearing iron boots, I notice—and starts heading straight for the tower again.

‘Fuck!’ Nikolai 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.noveldrama

And he looks absolutely livid.

He came?

For me?

Nikolai’s jaw drops. ‘What the fuck?’

I scramble to my feet, the effects of Nikolai’s command finally starting to wear off. At least it didn’t last 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!’

Nikolai 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.