One Way Out: Part Two

Mercenaries for Hire #3

by Jillian West

Rabid alpha facilities are real, and the truth of the matter is darker than Saylor ever could have imagined.

She's safe enough since omegas are coveted for their ability to bring a rabid alpha back from the brink, but danger is everywhere, and it's no longer just her she has to worry about.

The added complication of Leo and Shaw getting themselves institutionalized for a chance at getting her back makes everything even more tangled and messy.

The other inmates don't seem to want to play by the rules, and time is ticking down on Saylor’s proverbial clock. Drastic choices must be made if they're all going to survive the facility in one piece.

This is part two of the duet and has a happy ending. It's written in first person multi-POV. No cheating, no choosing, and the men always fall first.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance, Why Choose, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Second Chance

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2025

Reviews

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pt 2 and so worth it!! 😍 RTC 🖤💜

[Britney ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loooooooved. I'm so glad Saylor got her ending because oh my gosh the poor girl went THROUGH it. She deserved to be nothing but happy with her alphas and her beta 😌.

The spice? The SPICE. It was PLENTIFUL. It was SPICING. It will make you BLUSH. Near constant heat spikes in an enclosed area gives you nothing but a good freaking time 💅🏻.

Omen is still definitely my favorite. He's absolutely unhinged but so devoted to Saylor it's such a fantastic combo. All the guys are a bit unhinged in the best ways. Morally grey men are 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 and all of them are here. Lucky Saylor 😌.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may or may not have harassed Jillian until she gave me an advance ARC
This is the best duet I have read in 2025!
Omen and Valor are my favourite MMC’s ever and I adore the little psychopath that is Omen.
Saylor is a strong FMC who despite being AuDHD she is a badass woman who gets herself stuck in a cell with a violent alpha and his beta but holy moly does she come out on top! 🥵
Jillian has once again outdone herself and I can’t wait to see what’s next

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Way Out picks up exactly where No Escape ends. The cliffhanger was rough and I'm happy we didn't have to wait long to get the next book. The other inmates are still causing trouble and Saylor's guys are still trying to keep her safe. The smut really picks up in this one. It's a lot of the guys figuring out how to get along. Saylor asking Shaw and Leo to kill Valor’s boss was too funny. Talk about a way to grovel. Loved it! I hope West continues with more darker stories.

[VieilleChipie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much fucking, I was bored

[Shanna Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

• Omegaverse
• Prison/ facility romance
• Locked up
• Neurodivergent omega
• Hilarious beta with all the personality
• Feral/Rabid Alpha
• Why choose
• Forced proximity
• Bodyguard romance
• Banter/dry humor
• Morally Grey men (all of them)

Ahhhh! I loved seeing this duet come together! And I know I said it in my review for the first book, but Jillian blew me away with this duet. It dances on the darker side, which I couldn't get enough of! Jillian still stayed true to the way she develops her packs with lower angst and tender moments. But being inside the facility and getting to understand the reason that the alphas and omegas are in there was so unique.

I loved every single member of this pack, and getting to know Shaw and Leo more in this book really deepened my connection to this pack!!

I have now decided, and Omen is the reason for this, that all packs should have an adorable beta!! I try not to pick favorites in Omegaverse packs, but Omen really stood out to me. And I absolutely loved being in his head and hearing the hilarious things that came out of this beta’s mouth. He was an absolute delight, and he brought so much balance to the other alphas’ seriousness.

Valor. Oh, sweet misunderstood Valor! I am so glad this grumpy/rabid alpha got the HEA he deserved. Jillian handled his character with so much care, and it showed. I loved his "only soft for her" personality!

I first fell in love with neurodivergent characters because of the way that Jillian wrote Lyric in her Ruined Record series. And since then, when Jillian announces she is writing another neurodivergent character, I get so freaking excited. Saylor could not have been better written. The beautiful way Jillian brought her to life will forever be a favorite of mine. Saylor, even though she appeared soft and timid, we got to watch her grow stronger and stronger as an FMC. She was beautifully relatable, especially for someone who is neurodivergent. And I appreciate all the work that Jillian put into her character!

This duet is a perfect example of why I keep coming back to Jillian's books over and over again. I'm honestly sad to say goodbye to these characters. I highly recommend this duet. It was fun and emotional all in one, the perfect balance!

[St.Peaches · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨
🌶️: 4/5
RELEASE DATE: 24/05/25

ONE HELL OF A HEAT RIDE ☠️☠️

Not gonna lie this is one of the most anxious filled books i've read from Jillian West 🥲🥲
MY POOR SAYLOR GIRL 🥲🥲
SHE'S A TOUGH COOKIE FOR SURE!! 🔥

It's such a cute journey seeing the guys learn how to share and be around each other 🤣🤣
Omen's comeback is always SPOT ON!!
Ninja monkey for the win!! 🤣🤣

AND ALSOOO EASTOON!!!!
AAAKKHHH MY BOII EASTON PULL THROUGH!!!!
LOVE HIS COLD HEARTLESS ASS SO MUCH 🥲🥲💖💖
There's so many side characters that are sooo memorable in this series. Especially in the facility!!
I can't wait to see where Jillian West is going to take this series too!!
BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES OF A SPECIFIC GIANT GINGER 😉😉


SUCH AN AMAZING DUET!! 💖💖

Book Contain:
- Why Choose Omegaverse
- Feral Alpha Facility
- Beta MMC
- AuDHD FMC
- Rivals in a Pack
- Morally Grey MMC
- Breeding (No Pregnancy)
- Size Difference
- Stretching & DP
- "Train" Ride
- Somno
- Erratic Heats
- Blood & Violence

🍑 HAPPY READING YALL!!!! 🍑

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
A good ending to the duet.
Overall I think it was a good time. The setting was a bit darker than some of the other books in this universe, but the relationships weren’t, just like she promised.
I did like the first half better than this one, but that’s mostly because it had most of the excitement and this one was mostly just tying up loose ends.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably the best why choose I’ve ever read AND the second best omegaverse I’ve ever read after Ali Hazelwood’s book Bride. I am really glad that this was a rapid release for the second book because I feel like it definitely could’ve just been one book, but the anticipation was fun for a second.

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
There’s no one I wouldn’t murder to keep her safe and happy. That says it all. I’m fucking gone for her.

I. LOVE. OMEN. SO. DAMN. MUCH!! (Does that sound familiar? I could easily copy and paste my entire review from book 1 but will refrain, except for this statement that must be said!)

One Way Out just made me even more obsessed with Omen. No knot needed when he’s in the mix. He’s sassy and crass and has a very naughty mouth. Plus, he puts the alphas in their place.

Valor cemented his spot as my favorite of Saylor’s alphas, but Leo and Shaw had a strong showing. I was quite taken with Leo’s softer touch. I loved the bonding scenes. Probably one of my favorite parts in Omegaverse reads is when they cement their pack bonds. We get three!

What’s better than one heat? Chapter after chapter of heat spikes from forced suppressant detox! Give me *all* the knots and hole stuffing. This book is just as spicy and fast paced as the first half of the duet.

One Way Out ends in a HEA and completes the Mercenaries for Hire duet. A low anxiety comfort read, binge the duet today!

Thanks to Jillian West for the advanced copy for review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if you like all the heat shenanigans of an omegaverse story, then you'd like this duet, especially if you like a darker scenario (omega trafficking), but I really think I'm over omegaverse now. ✌️

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

That’s definitely one hell of a way to go out! It’s hard to pick a point where the start with this review, because it feels like there is so much to say. The characters were amazing (Omen will forever be my man), the worldbuilding was superb, the plot knew how to twist and turn, and the spice was smoking. It’s impossible to find something not to love! Except maybe that it’s done…

So, I have a request for all the readers out there… Can we throw ourselves onto these books en masse, devour them like vampires who haven’t seen a living thing in centuries and then make the most raving reviews so more people will go on devouring? That way, the author might be tempted to write more books in this world and I desperately need them! Thank you very much…

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine -- I liked the first more -- she's in heat or pre-heat pretty much the entire duet, so in this book in particular it is just sex scene after sex scene with the FMC not being able to contribute much and the guys doing all the planning and caring. That isn't completely fair to say though as Saylor does do some scary and impressive things, they just don't feel like it because of how out of it she usually is.

But, it is Jillian West, so even though the duet has dark moments it is still an easy and fun read.

[Gina_M_N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Always a good storyline

But it got lost in all the spicy scenes, Because of the setting, and the inmates back story, I expected more action, it was really very bland, I hate to say it but it was to much Spice not enough of anything else. Not my favorite of, J.W.'s books.

[Morally Grey Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5

No me gusto que no se haga tanta alusión de Valor cuando están todos juntos (? Osea entiendo que en el primer libro era casi todo "Valor esto, Valor aquello", pero re abrupto ese cambio con este libro.

A verrr, estuvo bueno pero me hace acordar mucho a un soft romcom y vainilla. No es mi estilo, pero no hay ninguna red flag en todo el libro así que es básicamente perfecto el libro.

Me aburrió un poco, por lo mismo (soft), pero en general no alargan tanto situaciones innecesarias, aunque podría decir que hay algo de relleno.

Btw, Saylor disparando... Badass💋💋

Me gusto el Epilogo Bonus, pero me hubiese gustado que directamente se incluya en el libro. Se ahorraba un poquiito de relleno.

...

I didn't like that Valor wasn't mentioned as much when they were all together. I mean, I understand that in the first book it was almost all "Valor this, Valor that," but that change in this book felt really abrupt.

It was good, but it sounds for me a lot of a soft, vanilla rom-com. It's not my style, but there aren't any red flags in the whole book, so it's basically perfect.

It bored me a little, for the same reason (soft), but in general, they don't drag out unnecessary situations too much, although I could say there's some filler.

Btw, Saylor shooting... Badass💋💋

I liked the Bonus Epilogue, but I would have preferred it to be included directly in the book. It would have saved also a little bit of filler.

[Amberly Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second part to a duet and it picks right up where you left off. Saylor and her men have been through it but they finally get their HEA. Jillian is an awesome OV author so you can be assured it’s going to be a good. This one is just a touch darker than her others but not much.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like always with Jillian West, this was a great omegaverse. I was so excited to get part two of this duet after that cliffhanger in the last one. Poor Saylor really went through it but her HEA was worth it. I loved all of Saylor’s guys but I have to say Omen was my favorite.

[Sav ও · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picks right up from where the first in the duet started. I really enjoyed this duet, Its definitely different than Jillian West’s typical writing, but the men are still sweet to our fmc.

Personally, I think Omen was my favorite (I’m a sucker for her beta characters), but I really enjoyed all of the characters. I hope to see a book in the future for our fav ginger Conrad, Ridge, and McCabe could be fun as well. Overall, I recommend, this was fun and different but still the Jillian West writing we know and love.

As always, please check your trigger warnings, your mental health is important

[Spasticnontastic · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Lyrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jillian West. Her books always hit the spot. She writes the perfect blend of sweetness and spice. In this new series, JW has gone darker - into a world of rabid alpha facilities. Saylor, the FMC, is kidnapped and taken to one such facility in the hopes of bonding with and “saving” a rapid Alpha. I loved Saylor. She’s smart and strong and does her best to keep it together under such stressful circumstances. I don’t want to give too much away about the members of the pack other than to say the setup for the group is perfect. There are opposing sides that quickly learn to work together which was fun to read. JW writes the best MMCs. They are always obsessed but respectful, consent kings, have dirty mouths, and want nothing but to give their love interest everything she desires. The spice was plentiful and creative, and I loved it. There is on-page violence, but it’s nothing you wouldn’t be able to handle if you’ve ready any dark romance. I can’t wait to read more stories set in this darker world.

[ᴊᴇꜱꜱᴛʜᴇʙᴏᴏᴋᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ ☾ ✧˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰. 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

what a great conclusion to this duet. with the cliffhanger that the first book left off on, i was wondering how Saylor and the guys were going to get out of facility and who exactly they could all trust.

““𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥…” 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴. “𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳’𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴.””

the spice was hot in this book 🥵🔥 since Saylor had to deal with her heat spikes. especially when you had all of them working together to be a cohesive pack for Saylor. and the found family vibe really comes through for them all.

i’m really loving these morally grey/mercenary Omegaverse Jillian West has been writing and i hope she continues.

Omen was still my #1 by the end 🤍 will always love a sassy beta 😏

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

More emotional growth
One Way Out picks up right where No Escape ends. There are big hurdles the characters have to overcome both emotionally and to get out of the facility. The relationship building took center stage. Four unique personalities with two sides of the pack still unsure about the other. West does a good job of making the male friendships believable which is important if I'm ever going to believe four men could be a family.

This one is very spicy but layer in between heat spikes are beautiful moments of pack building plus I'm a sucked for watching the MFC be doted on and pampered.

[spirits.affection · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the wait

This book was soo worth the wait and a bit different from Jillian’s usual style but I adored it! I think this slightly darker story went really well and I plan on getting the epilogue as I was ‘promised’ some fist action for our omega from our favorite beta wink wink. I enjoyed the fact that we got a neurodivergent fmc as I feel like both that and chronic illness are so very common in the real world that it should be included in romance books. Just because we are different doesn’t mean we are any less deserving of love and are unable to find love.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Jillian writes such FANTASTIC morally grey characters. I’m obsessed with them. The lower angst throughout the books makes it an even more enjoyable read and One Way Out was no exception to this. I could not put this down. If life didn’t get in the way I would have read this in a day. So dang good. Must read if you love morally grey MMCs that you can’t help but laugh and fall in love with

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

* ARC Review *

I'm just going to say it, the unhinged beta stole the show again. I love Omen with a passion.
Brilliantly spicy with a good amount of banter.
This one definitely did a good job of getting me to like Leo and Shaw more. I really hadn't expected Leo to be so sweet and adorable.

🩷 Contemporary Omegaverse
🩷 Why-Choose
🩷 Forced Proximity
🩷 AuDHD FMC
🩷 3 Alphas & 1 Smoking Hot Beta
🩷 Banter & Dry Humour
🩷 Morally Grey MMCs
🩷 Br33ding K!nk (No Pregnancy)

[FavoriteSaintReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review 💜

📖 One Way Out by Jillian West

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

💜 Omegaverse
💜 Why-Choose
💜 Part 2 of Duet
💜 Found Family
💜 Morally Gray MMCs
💜 Touch-Her-and-☠️

I adore Jillian West’s darker Omegaverse. They’re not super dark, but still have a bit more edge than her normal books.

I’m so happy to see Saylor and her pack get their HEA.

TLDR: Escaping the Alpha facility and forming their pack is spicy business. Saylor performed like a champ.

[Allia Reads (semi hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this duet might have helped me come out of my long book slump😙

Valor was definitely my fave hero and I loved all the moments between the MMCs and the FMC.😼

This was definitely safe with no cheating, no OWD, no manhoes, MMCs celibate after meeting, and eyes only for her.

[Bent Letters · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these 2 books

Both Mercenaries for Hire books were 5 stars for me. Truly enjoyed these cast of characters and loved the dark romance!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️