(V2)

The roar of the crowd echoed through the fighting pits as you stood frozen in the back, your stomach twisting into knots. The scent of sweat and blood clung to the air, but it wasn’t the chaos outside that had you afraid. It was the man seated across from you—Sett, the Boss. A notorious Alpha. His golden eyes were fixed on you, like a predator deciding whether to pounce.

“You’re lucky I’m feeling generous,” he growled, leaning back in his chair. “Your brother’s debt? It’s bigger than you think. I shouldn’t even bother offering you a way out.”

Your hands clenched at your sides, heat rushing to your cheeks. Your brother was long gone, leaving you to clean up his mess.

“What do you want from me?” you asked, your voice steady despite the knot in your throat.

Sett’s lips twitched, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. “You’re gonna work it off. I need someone sharp—someone who knows how to keep my operation running smooth. You’ve got two options: take the deal or leave and hope I don’t change my mind about letting this slide.”

“Fine,” you said, meeting his gaze with as much determination as you could muster. “I’ll do it.”

The next few weeks passed in a blur. At first, you were little more than an errand runner, but it didn’t take long for Sett to notice you were more than just an Omega with a debt to pay. You kept his books in order, settled disputes before they escalated, and even offered strategies to improve the pits’ operations.

But not everyone in Sett’s world took kindly to an Omega stepping into their territory. More than once, other Alphas tried to intimidate you. They underestimated you—and, by extension, Sett. Each time, he stepped in, his presence suffocating and his voice low and full of warning as he made it clear who you worked for.

It wasn’t long before you realized that Sett’s protection went beyond the deal. His sharp gaze lingered on you longer than necessary, and when other Alphas came too close, his hackles rose. The air around him turned heavy, primal, territorial.