Running on Broken Glass

Marisol, a "gamma" with dangerous pheromones, survives the brutal, surveilled world of the Special Abilities Section (SAS), a shadowy government program. She's an outcast, forced to run with the pack but never part of it, her every move watched, her every mistake punished. Her past is a patchwork of orphanages, foster homes, and failed adoptions, all colored by the mystery of her genetics and the curse of her scent. She's learned to fake smiles, swallow pain, and play the good girl, all while plotting her escape from a system that wants to use her as a weapon. Her only hope: survive long enough to be free.

The Lab Rat's Cage

Marisol's life is a cycle of training, testing, and medical experimentation. Her "gamma" status—an omega with asterisks—makes her both valuable and feared. The SAS, led by her cold, high-achieving mother Bridget Fissure and her scientist mate Brandon, keeps her muzzled and monitored. Her ability to manipulate pheromones is both her prison and her only weapon. She's subjected to humiliating tests, forced to control her scent, and punished for any slip. The lab is a place of trauma, where her body is not her own, and her only strategy is to comply, survive, and wait for a chance to run.

Feral Among Monsters

Haunted by a past of abuse and betrayal, Marisol's psyche is a fortress built on pain. She's learned to hide her true self, to be what others want, and to never trust. Her relationship with her mother is a wound that never heals—Bridget is both her jailer and the source of her curse. The SAS treats her as a specimen, not a person, and her only solace is the memory of a childhood pack she lost long ago. The trauma of forced bonds, broken heats, and the scars on her throat are constant reminders of what she's survived—and what she's lost.

The Mother's Shadow

Marisol's origins are a tangle of secrets. She's the unwanted child of a government golden girl and a cartel kingpin, abandoned at birth and raised by strangers. Her mother's shame is a constant presence, and her father's criminal legacy haunts her every step. The revelation that her "gamma" status is the result of a failed experiment in power and control only deepens her sense of alienation. She's a weapon forged by her parents' mistakes, and the world will never let her forget it.

Prisoners and Powers

The SAS pushes Marisol to her breaking point, using her as a tool to subdue dangerous alphas and test new drugs. Her ability to control her pheromones is both a blessing and a curse—she can incapacitate a room with a breath, but the effort leaves her raw and exhausted. The constant threat of violence, the humiliation of being treated as less than human, and the knowledge that she's always one mistake away from permanent captivity drive her to the edge. But beneath the compliance, her rage simmers, waiting for a chance to explode.

The Redfang Heir

A mission gone wrong thrusts Marisol into the world of the Redfang cartel, where her resemblance to her half-sister Serafina makes her a pawn in a deadly game. Forced to impersonate the Redfang heiress, she's drawn into a web of mafia politics, auctions, and arranged matings. The stakes are life and death, and the only way out is to play the role to perfection. But the deeper she goes, the more she realizes that her sister's world is as much a prison as her own—and that the only way to survive is to burn it all down.

The Pack's Ghost

Haunted by memories of her childhood pack—Jin, Bishop, Dutch, and Reese—Marisol is torn between longing and fear. She watches them from afar, convinced that her curse makes her unworthy of their love. But fate throws them together when their paths cross in the underworld, and the old bonds flare to life. The pack is fractured by trauma and secrets, but the pull between them is undeniable. For the first time, Marisol dares to hope that she might find a place to belong.

Mafia, Mates, and Masks

As Marisol navigates the dangerous world of the Redfangs, she's forced to confront her feelings for her old pack. The chemistry is electric, but her broken heat and the scars of her past make intimacy a minefield. The pack is drawn to her, but the truth of her identity—and the curse of her scent—threaten to destroy any chance at happiness. The only way forward is through honesty, but the cost of vulnerability is almost too high to pay.

The Auction's Fire

When Marisol is put up for auction as the Redfang heiress, she seizes the moment to unleash her power. Her pheromones become a weapon, incapacitating her enemies and burning down the world that tried to cage her. The act of rebellion is both liberation and declaration: she will never be a victim again. The fire she sets is both literal and metaphorical, cleansing the past and opening the door to a new future.

The Great Escape

With the SAS, the Triad, and the Redfangs all hunting her, Marisol's only hope is to trust her pack. Together, they orchestrate a daring escape, outwitting their enemies and forging new alliances. The cost is high—betrayals, losses, and the constant threat of recapture—but the bond between them grows stronger with every trial. For the first time, Marisol is not running alone.

Reunion at the Meadows

Safe at last in the Meadows' embrace, Marisol begins the long process of healing. The pack is patient, giving her the space to reclaim her body and her heart. The scars of the past don't disappear overnight, but the love and acceptance of her mates begin to fill the emptiness inside. Together, they build a new home, a new family, and a new future—one where Marisol is not just tolerated, but cherished.

Gamma Unleashed

The final confrontation with her past comes when Marisol discovers the true nature of her curse: a forced, incomplete bond with her abusers, kept alive by the SAS to control her. When she breaks the bond, her true scent emerges—lemon cake, not poison—and her power is finally her own. The revelation is both freeing and devastating, but it allows her to claim her mates without fear. For the first time, she is whole.

The Heat of Truth

With her scent restored and her power unchained, Marisol enters her first true heat. The experience is overwhelming, but her pack is there to guide her through it. The bonds they form are deep and unbreakable, forged in fire and tempered by love. The heat is both a trial and a celebration—a chance to claim, to be claimed, and to finally accept that she is worthy of happiness.

Claiming the Pack

One by one, Marisol and her mates complete their bonds, each claiming and being claimed in turn. The process is messy, passionate, and healing. The scars of the past are not erased, but they are transformed—no longer marks of shame, but badges of survival and love. The pack is finally whole, and Marisol is no longer a ghost haunting the edges of her own life.

The Price of Freedom

Freedom comes at a price. To protect themselves from the SAS and the underworld, the pack allies with the powerful Wyvern House, trading years of service for safety. The deal is both a burden and a blessing, offering security but demanding loyalty. Marisol and her mates must navigate the politics of their new world, but for the first time, they do it together.

New Bonds, New Beginnings

With the past behind them, Marisol and her pack build a new life. They reconnect with old friends, forge new alliances, and begin to dream of a future that was once impossible. The wounds of the past are still there, but they are no longer the defining feature of Marisol's life. She is a mate, a friend, and—soon—a mother.

The Past Burns Clean

Marisol confronts the last ghosts of her past, facing down her tormentors and ensuring they can never hurt her—or anyone else—again. The process is cathartic, allowing her to finally let go of the shame and fear that have haunted her. With her pack at her side, she is unstoppable.

The Future, Unleashed

In the end, Marisol is free—not just from her enemies, but from the chains of her own self-doubt. She is loved, she is powerful, and she is finally home. The future is uncertain, but for the first time, it is hers to shape. Surrounded by her pack, her friends, and the family she's chosen, Marisol steps into the light, ready to claim everything she was always meant to have.

Characters

Marisol (Sol) Darling / Gamma 026

Marisol is the heart of the story—a gamma, an omega with a dangerous twist, whose pheromones can incapacitate or kill. Raised in institutions, abused, and abandoned, she's learned to survive by hiding her true self and playing whatever role is demanded. Her psyche is a fortress of trauma, but beneath the scars is a fierce longing for acceptance and love. Her journey is one of reclaiming agency, breaking free from the chains of her past, and daring to believe she is worthy of happiness. Her relationships—with her mother, her pack, and herself—are fraught with pain, but her resilience and capacity for love are what ultimately save her.

Su-Jin (Jin) Moon

Jin is the alpha who leads with quiet strength and unwavering loyalty. Scarred by his own family's machinations, he's learned to be both ruthless and gentle. His relationship with Marisol is built on a foundation of childhood friendship, mutual respect, and deep, unspoken longing. Jin is the first to see Marisol's true self, and the one who gives her the space to heal. His dominance is never about control, but about creating a safe space for vulnerability. As packleader, he holds the group together, but it's his love for Marisol that gives him purpose.

Bishop Barrington

Bishop is the pack's strategist and the master of appearances. Raised in privilege but scarred by abuse and betrayal, he's learned to hide his pain behind wit, style, and ruthless competence. His relationship with Marisol is a slow burn, built on mutual recognition of each other's brokenness. Bishop's journey is one of learning to let go of control, to trust, and to allow himself to be loved for who he is, not just what he can do. His devotion to the pack is absolute, and his love for Marisol is both healing and redemptive.

Dutch Meadows

Dutch is the pack's sunshine—big, strong, and endlessly affectionate. His love for Marisol is pure and uncomplicated, but beneath the surface is a well of pain and rage. Dutch's journey is about learning to balance his need to protect with his own vulnerability, and to accept that he is worthy of love even when he can't fix everything. His relationship with Marisol is a balm for them both, offering comfort, safety, and the freedom to be soft.

Reese Parker

Reese is the pack's rock—steady, reliable, and quietly passionate. Scarred by loss and the weight of responsibility, he's learned to put others first, often at the expense of his own happiness. His love for Marisol is rooted in years of friendship and unspoken longing. Reese's journey is about learning to accept love, to let go of guilt, and to believe that he deserves happiness. His bond with Marisol is both grounding and electrifying, offering them both a chance to heal.

Bridget Fissure

Bridget is Marisol's biological mother and the architect of her suffering. Driven by ambition and haunted by shame, she sees Marisol as a mistake to be managed, not a daughter to be loved. Her inability to accept or acknowledge Marisol's humanity is both a personal and systemic failing, emblematic of the world that treats the vulnerable as tools. Bridget's role is that of antagonist, but her tragedy is that she is as much a victim of the system as she is its enforcer.

Doctor Brandon Fissure

Brandon is the face of the SAS's cruelty—a scientist who sees Marisol as a specimen, not a person. His obsession with control and experimentation is both professional and personal, and his inability to see Marisol's humanity is a reflection of the system's dehumanization. He is a symbol of the dangers of unchecked power and the cost of treating people as means to an end.

Serafina Redfang

Serafina is Marisol's half-sister and the Redfang heiress. Their resemblance makes Marisol a pawn in mafia games, but Serafina is as much a victim of her world as Marisol is of hers. Their relationship is fraught with rivalry, resentment, and the shared pain of being used by others. Serafina's presence forces Marisol to confront her own identity and the possibility of choosing her own path.

Lilah Darling Wyvern

Lilah is Marisol's childhood friend and a fellow survivor of the system. Her journey from victim to powerful omega and mate of the Wyvern pack is a parallel to Marisol's own. Lilah's presence is a reminder that healing is possible, that found family can be stronger than blood, and that even the most broken can find happiness.

The Wyvern Pack

The Wyverns are the powerful, unconventional pack that offers Marisol and her mates a chance at freedom and safety. Their willingness to accept, protect, and empower Marisol is a turning point in her journey. They represent the possibility of a world where difference is not just tolerated, but celebrated.

Plot Devices

Omegaverse and Gamma Subversion

The omegaverse setting provides a framework for exploring power, gender, and social hierarchy. The introduction of the "gamma" as a subversive twist on the omega archetype allows the story to interrogate the dangers of categorization and the violence of systems that seek to control difference. Marisol's journey is a deconstruction of the "chosen one" trope, showing that power is as much a curse as a gift, and that true strength comes from vulnerability and connection.

Mistaken Identity and Disguise

Marisol's ability to mimic pheromones and her resemblance to Serafina drive much of the plot, forcing her to navigate worlds where she is never seen for who she truly is. The motif of masks—literal and metaphorical—runs throughout the story, highlighting the tension between survival and authenticity. The ultimate revelation is that only by removing the mask can Marisol find happiness.

Found Family and Pack Dynamics

The pack is both a source of trauma and a path to healing. The slow-burn romance, the negotiation of boundaries, and the process of building trust are all central to the story's emotional arc. The pack's willingness to accept Marisol as she is, scars and all, is a radical act of love that challenges the world's insistence on conformity.

Trauma, Recovery, and Self-Acceptance

The narrative structure mirrors Marisol's psychological journey—from isolation and self-loathing, through confrontation with her past, to the tentative acceptance of love and happiness. The story does not shy away from the realities of trauma, but it also refuses to let pain be the final word. Recovery is messy, nonlinear, and incomplete, but it is possible.

Power, Control, and Rebellion

The story uses foreshadowing and escalating stakes to build toward Marisol's ultimate act of rebellion—burning down the systems that tried to cage her. The use of her pheromones as both a weapon and a symbol of her agency is a powerful inversion of the trope of the "dangerous woman." The narrative structure is cyclical, with Marisol returning to the site of her trauma and transforming it into a place of power.

Analysis

Redfang Royal is a fierce, subversive omegaverse novel that uses the trappings of genre fiction to explore deep questions of trauma, identity, and the search for belonging. Lola Rock crafts a narrative that is as much about survival as it is about transformation, refusing to let its heroine be defined by her scars or her status as a weapon. The book interrogates the violence of systems—familial, governmental, and romantic—that seek to control and categorize, and it offers a radical vision of healing through chosen family and self-acceptance. Marisol's journey from lab rat to pack queen is both a thrilling adventure and a moving meditation on the power of vulnerability, the necessity of rebellion, and the freedom that comes from being truly seen. In the end, Redfang Royal is a celebration of difference, a call to burn down the cages that bind us, and a reminder that everyone deserves to find their pack—and to be loved, fiercely, for exactly who they are.

Last updated: July 19, 2025