Knot Over (Omega Den #3)

1. Kaylani

Chapter 1

Kaylani

E verywhere I turn, Bex's presence lingers.

I catch her scent in the fresh summer breeze, a hint of citrus floating through the air as I sit at her funeral, watching two little girls play on the freshly cut grass. It’s like she’s still here, woven into every detail of my life. I hear her in the soft hum of our favorite song that played on the radio on the way over, the one we used to belt out during late-night drives.

The sunset bleeds vibrant shades of orange and red across the horizon—just like her hair, just like her fiery spirit that will forever be missed.

Our family and friends gather to celebrate her life and my foster mom is even here in support. The last time I saw her was before Bex went missing—eight long months ago. Back then, everything was different.

I was different.

Our eyes meet across the crowd, and for a moment, the world falls away. All the changes, the distance between us, fades as I see the love shining in aunt Eden’s eyes. Her familiar smile reaches out to me, and in that instant all the pain and confusion melt away, leaving only the warmth of her love. The tears I've been fighting back thicken painfully in my throat.

When someone you love is ripped from your life, it doesn’t just leave a void—it shatters everything, leaving fragments of yourself scattered in their wake. Grief is a strange companion. It shifts and changes as the days pass. Sometimes it’s a suffocating blanket, all-consuming. And other times it’s a whisper, a reminder that nothing will ever fill the space left behind. My pack keeps telling me that time will heal, but they don’t understand. I don’t need to heal; I need answers. Bex’s death wasn’t just a tragic accident. It’s a mystery wrapped in shadows with too many questions left unanswered.

Why would a mother let this happen to her child? What about the other omegas? Are they destined for the same fate? And what the hell is my pack going to do about it?

Anger flares within me, a sharp, uncontrollable wave that makes my leg start to bounce. The sun beats down, sweat forming on my brow, but it does nothing to quench the fire burning inside. Each beat of my heart fuels my rage, hot and relentless, until I feel like I might burst. They’ve taken so much from me—my peace, my choices, my best friend—and for what? Their greed? Their twisted sense of control?

I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms, and it’s the pain that grounds me. They think they’ve won. They think I’ll just lie down and accept this. But they’re wrong. Dead wrong.

I will make them pay. Every single one of them.

Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or years from now, I’ll see them brought to their knees. And if I can’t? If it’s truly hopeless, then I’ll go down swinging. I’d rather burn this entire world to the ground than let them break me.

The thought pulses in my veins, dark and consuming. It gives me purpose, gives me something to hold on to in the midst of the chaos.

I won't stop until they regret everything they've done.

Hux senses my distress, his hand softly resting on my thigh in silent support. I glance up at him and force a smile, though it barely touches my eyes. When was the last time I smiled out of genuine happiness? I can’t remember. I’m not okay. How could I be?

My best friend was murdered, and her own mother played a part in it—someone I trusted. And now, the same drug that killed Bex is coursing through my veins, a secret I’ve kept from everyone.

I've found out it's a heat stimulant, a drug designed to control your cycle and push back the natural order. I didn’t know much about it at first, only that it was dangerously addictive, a shortcut omegas took when they couldn't bear to face their heat. But now I know all too well how it latches on, making you feel like you’re in control when you’re anything but.

Keep my heat at bay? Check. Maintain my instincts? Check.

But the worst part? I don't know what will happen when I stop taking it. If I let my heat come. Already, I can feel it simmering just beneath the surface, a burning sensation creeping through my veins. It already feels nothing like any heat I’ve experienced before, and the thought of what might happen terrifies me.

I’m not ready to deal with that. Not yet.

I'd need help, but how could I tell them? Hux, Creed, Vaughn—they'd look at me with disappointment I couldn’t bear. Because I've been willingly taking it since Bex died. I've ignored my own instincts, blinded by my desperation. I’ve been hiding my pain from my pack, pretending I can deal with this on my own. But I see them lurking in the shadows, watching me while battling their own demons.

Especially Hux. I don’t know what happened to him and Bex in that basement. I don’t know how deep their connection ran. I should be thankful they had each other when it mattered most, but there’s a sick, twisted part of me that feels jealous.

How sick is that? To be envious that in her final moments, she wasn’t alone? That someone was there for her, cared for her, tried to protect her when I couldn’t.

But it should have been me.

Now I’m sitting here, surrounded by my pack, and I’ve never felt more alone. Hux is on my left, his strong presence barely holding back the storm raging inside me. Vaughn is on my right, the man who has protected me, held me during countless sleepless nights. Creed sits on the other side of Vaughn, his back rigid, jaw clenched so tightly I can almost hear it. He blames himself for Bex’s death. But is that fair? She was my friend and I should have done something sooner. She was missing for four months. Four fucking months, and I did nothing. So no, if anyone is to blame, it’s me.

The crowd around us begins to stir, moving toward Bex’s casket as it’s lowered into the ground, and a sudden gust of wind carries the unmistakable scent of tobacco. My heart skips a beat and I freeze, my entire body going rigid. I know I should be focused on the somber moment, paying my respects as Bex is laid to rest. But I can’t tear my mind away from the oppressive sense of dread I feel at that scent.

Adam.

Over the past two months it feels like I’ve been haunted. I’ve caught whiffs of him, glimpsed fleeting shadows, and even heard his voice echo in the silence. It’s as if he’s stalking me from the fringes of my reality. I’m not sure if it's the Heat, the trauma of losing Bex, or some twisted mix of both, but it’s driving me to the brink of madness.

My breaths come in sharp, uneven gasps as I struggle to maintain my composure. Just as I'm on the edge of losing it, I hear the hushed whispers, a ripple of murmurs that draw my attention. Following the gazes of the other mourners, I spot Sabrina, clad in black and making her way toward us. The sight sends a shiver down my spine, amplifying my sense of paranoia and fear.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Creed growls, his voice low and dangerous. Vaughn places a hand on his knee. “Don’t make a scene, love.”

Creed turns to Vaughn, violence and hate burning in his green eyes. “Don’t cause a scene?” he hisses. “She isn’t welcome here.”

Hux stands. “I’ll deal with her,” he says, his fingertips brushing my cheek as he passes by.

Hux’s touch is fleeting, a ghost of comfort that lingers on my skin as he strides toward Sabrina. My heart pounds in my chest, a rhythm that matches the thunderous rage pulsing through my veins.

I can’t take my eyes off Sabrina as she approaches, her black dress flowing like a dark shadow across the grass. Her face is unreadable, a mask of calm that only fuels the fire inside me. What right does she have to be here? After everything she’s done—everything she’s taken from us—how dare she show her face at Bex’s funeral.

“Breathe doll,” Vaughn whispers beside me, his voice a gentle command that washes the scent of chocolate over me. His hand moves to encircle my waist, grounding me, and I desperately cling to his strength. But it’s not enough to quell the storm raging inside me.

Hux stops in front of Sabrina, blocking her path. His broad shoulders are tense, his stance protective, and for a moment they stand there in silence, an unspoken battle of wills raging between them. I can’t hear what Hux says to her, but I see the way her eyes narrow, the brief flash of something—anger? Regret?—before she schools her features back into that infuriating calm.

That same calm I saw when we worked together in Sterling Hospital. The same calm I saw when I told her Bex was dead and she knew she wasn't. A growl of anger bubbles up my chest.

“She has no place here,” Creed snarls under his breath, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles are white. I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves, his need to protect—to strike—nearly overwhelming. But Vaughn’s hand on his shoulder keeps him grounded, at least for now.

She tries to step around Hux, but he stands firm, an unyielding wall that blocks her path. His body is a solid barrier, keeping her from getting any closer to us. To me.

Finally, Sabrina speaks, her voice carrying on the breeze—soft but sharp enough to cut through the heavy silence. “I’m not here to cause trouble,” she says, though an edge in her tone betrays her insincerity. “I came to pay my respects.”

“Your respects?” Creed scoffs, disdain dripping from his voice. “You’ve got some fucking nerve, Sabrina.”

Hux glances back at me, his bright blue eyes locking with mine. "I can make her leave, kitten. Whatever you want."

My heart twists, torn between wanting her gone and craving answers. I want her to suffer as we are, but more than anything, I need to understand what happened.

“Let her speak,” I finally whisper, the words barely escaping my lips, but carrying weight. Hux steps aside, allowing Sabrina to approach. Though he remains close, ready to act if needed.

Sabrina advances slowly, her eyes darting between me and the rest of my pack. When she stops in front of me, she hesitates, searching for the right words.

I’m done waiting though.

“What do you want?” I ask, my voice cold and detached, a shield against the emotions threatening to break free.

"Kaylani, I'm so sorry. You have every right to hate me, but—"

Her attempt at remorse only fuels the fire inside me. I sneer, disgust curling my lips into something feral, something savage.

“Sorry?” I hiss, venom seeping into the word. “You think an apology will fix this? After everything you’ve done?”

Her composure wavers, and I see this for what it is—a desperate attempt to salvage something from the ruins she created. My heart aches with the dual pain of Bex’s loss and the bitter betrayal of the woman before me. This is the same woman who lied, who covered up the truth and let me believe Bex was dead when she knew otherwise. The same woman who stood by, calm and collected, while my world shattered.

If anyone was to blame for Rebecca's death, it was Sabrina.

Sabrina takes a shaky breath, her resolve hardening. “I didn’t come here to ask for forgiveness, Kaylani. I came because you need to know the truth. All of it.”

“The truth?” I echo, my voice as cold as ice. “The truth, from you? Why should I believe anything you say?”

She flinches but stands her ground. “Because your life depends on it.”

The weight of her words hits me like a stone. I want to turn away, to never see her again, but something in her eyes—raw and desperate—keeps me rooted to the spot.

“What are you talking about?” I whisper.

Sabrina glances at Hux and the two exchange a look, one I can't quite decipher right now. There is something there though, something unspoken that passes between them. Brina's hands tremble as she reaches into the pocket of her dress. My pack tenses, ready to react. But all she produces is a small vial filled with little white pills.

The vial in Sabrina's trembling hand sends a jolt of recognition through me. The drug—the same one she gave me, the one that killed my best friend.

Heat.

Sabrina’s voice is barely audible, breaking with emotion. “This is what they wanted from me,” she says, her hand trembling as she holds out the vial filled with little white pills. “This is what they used on Rebecca, on all those omegas at the estate.”

I stare at the vial, memories of Bex’s overdose flashing through my mind. My throat tightens, but I shove the thoughts away. I can’t deal with that right now.

“And who exactly are ‘they’?” Vaughn’s voice cuts through the tension, sharp and demanding. Sabrina’s gaze flicks nervously between Vaughn and Creed, who is glaring at her with barely contained fury.

“The founding families,” she says softly, eyes flicking back to me. “They all want control and won’t stop until they gain sole power over the city. The Sterlings, the Bramwells... and the Hounds. Stacy Bramwell was the one who pushed hardest, until she died. And now, the Hounds have it.”

My heart skips a beat as suspicion coils around my fear. “You’re not making any sense, Brina. What power? What do they want with a heat stimulant?”

She steps closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “The power to control the alphas. The power to bend them to their will by controlling omegas.”

The weight of her words hits me like a punch to the gut. The alphas... controlled by manipulating omegas? By controlling our heats, they control who we breed with, who forms packs. Bex died because of this. Because the Hounds and the others wanted more power.

“You knew this all along,” Hux growls, stepping forward and half-blocking Sabrina from my view, his protective instincts flaring. “You knew that Bex and all those omegas were part of some twisted experiment. You supplied the drugs to Michelle, Sabrina. You made your own daughter a pawn to control alphas. Tell her !”

Tears well in Sabrina’s eyes, but she nods, her voice trembling. “It's true. And now the Hounds want to use a feral alpha to experiment on. Force him into a rut with an omega on Heat.”

Feral alpha. The term sends a shiver down my spine as memories of Adam flood back—what he tried to do to me at the estate. It wasn't the Adam I knew. Maybe it was the half made bond that made him that way or who his mother was. I wasn't sure, but he was the definition of evil. A surge of nausea rises in my throat. Feral alphas are driven mad by their instincts, consumed by ruts they can’t control. Nothing good could come of any of this.

Creed’s voice breaks through the haze. “They want to use Adam.” His green eyes meet mine, the guilt in them heavy as he acknowledges the role his brother plays in all of this.

Sabrina nods again, more certain this time. “Yes. And they can’t use him if he’s bonded.”

Hux growls beside me, his anger palpable, vibrating in the air between us. His silence suddenly feels like betrayal. For two months since Bex’s death, he knew about this twisted plan, and knew what Michelle and Stacy had done. But he kept it from me. His eyes meet mine, and in them, I see guilt and regret carved deep.

“They’ll come for Kaylani,” Sabrina adds quietly, her words crashing over me like a tidal wave.

The ground seems to shift beneath my feet. Not only do Michelle and Adam want me dead, but now Titus, the leader of the Hounds, wants me gone too.

Creed’s low, feral growl fills the room, his fury rippling out like a physical force. His caramel scent sharpens, laced with rage. Vaughn tightens his grip on Creed’s shoulder, but even my calm beta can’t mask the fire burning in his onyx eyes.

“I won’t let that happen,” Hux snarls, his voice a dark promise. “Titus will have to go through all of us first.”

Sabrina nods, her gaze steady on mine. “Let me help you.”

“Why would I trust you? After everything you’ve done?” I demand, bitterness lacing my words. “And Hux. Why didn’t you tell me? For two months, you’ve been home, and not once did you think I needed to know any of this?”

Hux’s face flushes with a mix of hurt and shame. “I thought I could protect you,” he admits, his voice low. “I didn’t want to add to your pain. I thought—”

“No. You don’t get to decide anything for me. You’re not my alpha.”

Adam is. My inner voice reminds me.

Hux visibly recoils at my words, his spicy scent suddenly overwhelming. My heart shatters at the pain in his eyes, but it’s the truth. My alpha is feral and unpredictable. And now, I’m wanted dead by a gang leader, and everything is spiraling out of control.

“Kay, please,” Sabrina’s voice trembles with desperation. “Let me help you. Let me make it right.”

I stare at her, torn between simmering anger and a deep-seated need for vengeance. There’s only one thing left to do: kill Adam before Titus comes for me.

A gentle touch lands on the small of my back, and I’m enveloped in the familiar, comforting scent of peaches. It’s Eden. Her presence drives the rage from my body, replacing it with overwhelming grief. A full, ugly sob rips through me as I turn into her arms, pulling her close.

“Eden,” I cry into her shoulder, my voice trembling with raw emotion. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my foster mom, and having her here now is exactly what I need. Her familiar presence is a beacon in this storm of grief.

“I’m here, Kay Kay,” Eden whispers, her voice a soothing balm to my shattered soul. “Let it out, dear. It’s okay to grieve.”

Tears stream down my cheeks as I cling to her. The dam I’ve been holding back finally breaks. The weight of everything—the loss of my best friend, the betrayal of Sabrina, the guilt of my inaction, and Hux’s silence—crashes down on me all at once. I sob uncontrollably, feeling every emotion with a piercing intensity.

“I miss her, auntie,” I choke out between sobs. “I miss her so much.”

“I know, dearie,” Eden murmurs, holding me close. “I know.”

Her gaze snaps to Hux, her voice sharp and accusatory. “What is wrong with you, Owen Huxley? You should be ashamed of yourself. The day my bonus-daughter lays her best friend to rest, and you're letting this happen… Disappointing.”

Her eyes then turn to Sabrina, the disapproval even more intense. “And you, Sabrina, should be ashamed of yourself. You stand here, pleading for Kaylani’s trust after everything that’s happened? You’re the one to blame for her grief in the first place. Your medical license should be revoked. Promising to help her? Ridiculous. Kay doesn’t need your promises right now—she needs safety and protection. It’s time she comes home with me.”

“Come on, dearie,” Eden continues, her tone softening as she hugs me tightly. I blindly let her lead me away, clinging to her as I did when I lost my mom. She was there for me then, too. She’s always been there when I needed her most.

“Kitten,” Hux’s voice calls after me, but it’s drowned out by the roar of emotions crashing inside me. I’m seething with anger, drowning in sorrow, and suffocating under the weight of guilt.

I push those thoughts to the back of my subconscious, unable to process any of my grief right now. A numbing void settles over me, and I surrender to it, letting it shield me from the chaos until I’m ready to face it again.