Pack Darling: Breathless: A Novel

by Lola Rock

In the first chapter of a steamy omegaverse duology, one woman is determined to fight her fate and not give in to the new pack she's forced to bond with . . . no matter how much she wants to.

Lilah Darling has survived a childhood at the snooty, stuck-up boarding school for budding omegas by convincing everyone that she’s a dud. Her awakening? Never going to happen. Heat, mates, and a fairytale pack life? Maybe next reincarnation. All she wants is to be left alone. And she’s well on her way to a blissful future of solitude when the Wyvern Pack destroys any hope of independence.

Atlas, Hunter, Finn, and Jett are poison candy. They don’t want an omega, but they need one, even if there will never be a real spot for Lilah in their pack. They already have an omega—a fierce male omega named Orion—and they don't want or need a new softer, more traditional one, despite what their fathers might think. Lilah is determined to do what it takes to keep herself safe, especially from the pack that could either be her first true home—or the source of her destruction.

This thrilling omegaverse duology continues in PACK FOREVER!

Genres: Omegaverse, Why Choose, Paranormal, Romance, Found Family

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Lola Rock loves sweets, stories, and passport stamps (in that order). Her books can’t decide if they want to be hilarious or heart-wrenching, but they promise to keep you up all night.

Reviews

[Athena of Velaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was so much fun! The perfect combination of external plot and internal romance, with characters that were entirely distinguishable from each other and unique (which is often hard to do for a book in this genre). The writing was excellent, the dialogue was hilarious, and I couldn't put the book down! I'm looking forward to diving into book two (even if I have to read the non-updated version) and can't wait to read what else the author has in store.

Read if you like...
🌟MMMMMF
🌟She can take care of herself
🌟Combat training as a love language
🌟Forced proximity
🌟Enemies (?) to lovers
🌟Yearning (so much yearning)
🌟Hidden secrets and past trauma
🌟Touch her/him an die
🌟She always hides a knife on her (and they find that very attractive)
🌟Cooking as a secondary love language

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of the reprinted version. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

[Britney ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so so so so good. I absolutely loved the original version but this one I felt just gave us even more. More backstory, more details, more Orion. The plot is still perfection and both Lilah and Orion deserve sooooo much more than the Wyvern alphas so that grovel had better be absolutely delicious.

I am going to simply pass away while I wait for the next one because that ending is brutal 😭 Pack darling will forever be one of my favorite omegaverse books.

[Meka 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

tting the chance to read it as an arc opportunity for the trad version was the push to bump it up the line.

All I can say is I regret waiting so long to start this, I ate it up so quickly and then proceeded to read the second one in a single day.

I loved Lilah from the start; she’s been through some stuff that left her scarred but she still manages to have a backbone and an interesting character overall.

The plot had you going back and forth with who you were rooting for and had that air of suspense that made you want to know what would happen next. I loved an angsty omegaverse book and this one hit the mark

[Erin · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Pack Darling: Breathless is a why-choose omegaverse romance with one of the most heart wrenchingly intense rejected mate scenes I’ve ever read. I’m floored by its execution. It’s a brutal, convoluted and borderline unintentional cruelty that hit me like a ton of bricks. I blinked, the book was over and my heart was physically aching in a way I couldn’t move on from.

Lilah was sold to the OCC by her mother at six years old. Since then everything in her life — room & board, education, food, medicine, basic necessities— is added to the ever accruing tab of her high interest loan set to be due as soon as her omega officially awakens. If an alpha pack is unable or unwilling to pay off her debt then she’ll be put into rotation and forced to pay it off incrementally with each heat in service to unbonded alphas. Lilah’s latent awakening is considered an anomaly. What her trainers don’t understand is the lengths she’ll go to in order to make sure she never awakens.

The Wyvern pack are dynasty heirs & mercenaries — five childhood best friends who always planned on becoming an alpha pack but never expected one of them would present as an Omega. Without hesitation they abandoned thoughts of finding their fated scent match and claimed their best friend as their bonded omega. They were always meant to be pack. They’re complete now. They’re whole. But their pack bond is frayed, tensions are high and no one’s willing to acknowledge that something’s not working.

What happens when an exploited omega and a volatile pack’s best worst choice is to choose each other? Pack Darling: Breathless is book one in the completed Pack Darling Duology. It was originally self published but was picked up by Dell and rereleases December 1st. Omegaverse readers that enjoy why choose, poly packs, dark themes, rejected mates, survival mode FMCs, alphahole MMCs, imbalanced power dynamics, multiple POVs, forced proximity and slow burn to open door spice should add this to their TBR!


A big thank you to Dell for this gifted e-arc!

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

5 stars well earned. Absolute perfection. The angst, the yearning, the tension, all of it.

Lilah Darling is such a fierce, strong FMC. She's been a ward on the Omega Cultivation Center most of her life after her mother SOLD HER. She's determined not to awaken as an omega and being tied to a pack, and she does this by starving and exhausting herself. So, her life hasn't been easy, between fending off other omegas, the asshole beta teachers from the OCC, and the ever growing debt from her living expenses.

Then, to add to her chaotic life, she's given an ultimatum, either she becomes a temporary omega to Wyvern Pack or she will be chemically awakened and put in rotation. So, she ends up choosing the first without knowing they already have an omega, Orion.

Off she goes to Wyvern McMansion, to Atlas, Hunter, Finn and Jett. The pack is very clear about not wanting her and at first they all keep their distance.

You'll love and hate these Alphas, you'll want to shake some sense into them and teach them the importance of communicating their feelings. But, each one of them had a distinct personality and that added some flavor ✨.

And you'll absolutely adore Orion, and the dynamic he has with Lilah.

[daisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg wait why did I love this 😭😭 my poor lilah

[armi · Rating 4 out of 5]

someone said to read this if you like lola and the millionaires and boy were they right

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read Pack Darling at least three times now, and it’s still a standout in the Human Omegaverse. This duet along with The Beta (Avanne Michaels), is a must‑read for the genre. This story leaves a mark in the best and most devastating way. I’ve been chasing that same angsty high since finishing it.

Lilah has gone through a lot in her short life from bullying, institutional cruelty, and conditioning that teachers her to shrink herself to survive. She uses that survival instinct in every interaction with the Wyvern Pack. The Wyvern Pack is downright cruel when Lilah arrives. They're hostile, dismissive, and quick to treat her like an inconvenience they didn’t ask for. This book wouldn't work without Lilah's relationship with their omega, Orion. Without him, this pack is irredeemable in this reader's eyes.

Plot:
We're not looking at an expansive world-building as we are focused squarely about pack dynamics and Lilah's circumstances. It's more character-centric plotwise.

Characters:
Of course Lilah is the character you’re rooting for. She’s a survivor in every sense: quiet, stubborn, and still somehow hopeful despite everything she’s endured. Orion, the other omega, paints a sympathetic counterpoint to all that brutality and softens the edges of an otherwise cruel pack. As for the alphas, I can only say you're going to hate every single one of them. And that's the point right?

If you’re looking for an extremely angsty, emotionally devastating Omegaverse, this is the one. Come for a resilient omega and stay for the inevitable pack groveling that makes every ounce of suffering worth it.

Tropes:
MMFMMM
Extremely angsty
Bullying (hateful) pack - enemies to lovers
Rejected mate
Male Omega
Traumatized FMC
Emotional trauma and experiences
Groveling (in the second book)

Check triggers

[Britney Cheetham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this series. Literally ignored all my obligations and stayed up way too late to finish.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to have received this arc from NetGalley, Ballantine and Dell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and writing are my own. I was trying to hold out posting my review until closer to release (which is December 1st, 2026), but I just want to shout about how much I love this book and why you should give it a try.

When I learned that one of my favorite omegaverse series was going trad, I was beyond excited! First and foremost, the absolutely stunning cover deserves all the praise! The colors, arms of the guys, and the emotion on Lilah’s face give the reader a hint of what they are getting into. Secondly, the story is very emotional as we follow Lilah and her awful circumstances that are seemingly never ending. Oh, boy – are they never ending! However, Lilah is a very strong character that holds true to herself and survives all the things thrown at her: unhinged teenager/young adult omegas with sharp nails, predatory adults, men in power being assholes, and just so much more. She does anything to survive even if it means sacrificing herself and her health; but worry not, she will get her time to heal and find herself.
And to the delight of all, we get more Orion in this book! He is our second omega, but they are really just two peas in a pod. Both are number one! These omegas make the whole book for me. They are so badass yet precious, and I just can’t handle it!! Lilah and Orion deserve so much more than what they are getting from the Wyvern pack. Therefore, those men have some changing and groveling to do in the next book! On your knees, boys. On your knees!
Pack Darling: Breathless comes with more Orion, additional explanations, and a heart wrenching dive into humanity and it’s complexities such as trauma (please look at the trigger warning), the weight of parental expectations, toxic masculinity, and more. No one is perfect, so expect a complex story with compelling, flawed characters trying their best and... not so best. This first book (released 12/1/26) in a duology will leave you breathless, but the promise of forever will draw you back in for the second.

[Kay · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Pack Darling: Breathless is the first part of a why-choose omegaverse duet following Lilah, a rejected omega who survives in a harsh, cutthroat world by fighting her fate as an omega and dreaming of a free life away from pack structure. When she is forced into a pack as a second omega, they reject her intrusion into their pack and their home, but Lilah is determined to keep herself safe and survive, even from the pack she might be falling for.

Pack Darling is not a typical omegaverse novel - rejection is a harsh recurring theme and it takes a long time to get anywhere happy and soft (end of the duet). Lilah is incredibly strong and her resilience is admirable, but the first book is hard to read. If you can’t stand bully romance or the love interests exhibiting cruelty, I would not pick up this book. The payoff is fantastic and the groveling (in book 2) is absolutely worth it, but it can be hard to read.

However, one of the things I absolutely loved about this story is the fresher take on omegas. The alphas in the story are fairly typical for omegaverse alphas, but Lilah and Orion, the omegas of the Wyvern pack, were fantastic. Orion as the existing omega is incredibly threatened by Lilah, who is pushed as a more traditional omega for the Wyvern pack, but they quickly become friends as fellow omegas who understand that, due to being untraditional omegas in certain ways, they’ve struggled and the acceptance they find in each other is beautiful. At times I found myself rooting for the omegas to just leave the alphas and ride off into the sunset.

I won’t give away any more of the plot but if you love omegaverse, a good bully romance, and are interested in a less traditional interpretation of why-choose/reverse harem, pick this one up!

Thank you to Ballantine | Dell for providing an ARC. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omigodness did I gobble up this series! I'd been hesitant to dive into it since it had so much hype, and because I usually grave an omegaverse that's a bit on the sweeter side. But I'm so glad I finally bit the bullet and listened. This definitely has a reputation as being one of the best and most creative omegaverse (though since then many similar storylines have come out), and the hype wasn't wrong. It was ADDICTIVE.

Book 1 was devastating. I'm so glad I read this after both were out because I'm not sure how I'd have continued. There is no spice (at least involving the heroine), the heroes are horrible cruel and selfish, and the chemistry is toxic and hateful. It's bully on crack- truly. I actually cried at times because I felt so bad for her- she's been through so much, and I really intensely felt that shattering cliffhanger and how hurtful and harmful it was to her. The dynamics are really complicated- and truthfully I've not loved the "shared omega" trope much but here I appreciated how it was handled, I loved the concept of a pack in crisis a bit, the relationship being a bit confusing with the omega, and most of all I enjoyed how their scent match was her and not him (their current omega) yet each had a different orientation to her. The bullying isn't out of cruelty or disgust, more so it's out of protecting the fragile dynamic they already have- which while it was HARD to read, I could understand it emotionally. But ugh- it was hard. So hard. And the finale was truly devastating.

[Tina · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Lilah Darling has been at the Omega Cultivation Center for the majority of her life. All surname Darling students are wards of the center – orphans or those sold by relatives to the center. To say that life has been hard for her is an understatement. She does not fit in and is constantly reminded of that by the mean girls who torture her and the lack of compassion from the adults she encounters at the center.

The Dads of the next generation Wyvern pack alphas pressure Lilah to sign on as an Omega for the Wyvern pack, but the pack already has an Omega who is male! In addition, the Wyvern House are black ops mercenaries having cohesion and execution issues and are currently feuding with the Redfang House.

This is the set up for a super-angsty, violent and heartbreaking story set in the Omegaverse. Being a newcomer to the dark Omegaverse, it took time for me to get used to the cruelty and male dominated life that is depicted in “Pack Darling: Breathless.” However, the story kept me reading when the action sometimes threatened to make this a DNF.

“Pack Darling: Breathless.” gives the reader the ability to escape into a totally different world, making for compelling reading. It is also the first part of a why-choose duology, previously self-published by author Lola Rock. There is no conclusion at the end of this book and if you want to know how things turn out for Lilah and the Wyvern pack, I recommend that you read “Pack Darling: Forever” with a March 2027 publication date.

Thank you to the Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the eARC.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic of the why-choose omegaverse genra for a reason.
Lilah Darling is a ward of her omega finishing school, but she is determined not to awaken as an omega and be beholden to a pack. Instead, she starves herself and works herself to exhaustion to prevent her awakening from being apparent, and sabotages all her meetings with potential packs. That is, until she’s given an ultimatum and forced to join the Wyvern pack. Atlas, Hunter, Finn, and Jett don’t want Lilah, they already have their pack omega, Orion. But, Orion is struggling to settle into his unexpected omega awakening, and the pack is falling apart. Lilah doesn’t want the Wyvern pack, and they don’t want her, until things start to get complicated.

It turns out none of them hate each other as much as they want to, especially Lilah and Orion. Unfortunately, the Wyvern pack can’t get its act together to treat Lilah with the love and respect she deserves until it’s too late. The ending of this book sets us up perfectly for some serious groveling in the second book.

If you love an enemies-to-lovers vibe, fated mates, and some MMC’s who’d better be prepared to grovel, this is the why-choose omegaverse for you. If you’re new to the genra, this is still a pretty accessible place to start.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been previously published, so at least I don't have to wait for the next one. I binged this in about a day. I do actually want to read the next book despite my complaints, but only because I want to watch those Alphas beg for forgiveness.

The only two who didn't do anything wrong were Lila and Orion the omegas. Everyone else sucked hard, and they need to grovel so hard. I really hope she doesn't make it easy on them in the next book. I do hope she's nice to Orion a bit. I don't feel that he deserves too much hate.

I did cry a bit towards the end, and I held out hope for Lila through the whole thing which is why this book got a 4 star rating instead of a 3.

A few things annoyed me like how they kept saying/showing how dainty the fmc is, yet she can kick butt -.-. Make it make sense. Also I don't like that it's another ohh we don't want an omega/I don't want a pack kind of book, and the whole the omegas will scratch each other up bc us alphas are soo wanted blegh. It's been done to death! Please find new hooks.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. I felt. so bad for Lilah, she has had an absolutely awful hand of cards dealt to her. As someone who has read many an Omegaverse novel, I liked the uniqueness that comes with this one - you start with an already established [albeit fragile, tense, and fractured] pack - complete with an Omega. Enter Lilah, our sweetheart omega, the second omega...the one who has been made to feel completely unwanted and unloved. The majority of this book my heart just broke for her; she is so good, so pure, and just wants to live her life away from the spotlight.

The pack is...well, to be completely honest with you, she should keep Orion and just ditch everyone else. He is a shining light in the storm that is that pack and my heart also broke for him.

I love the authors books, this is no different, but oh my goodness I needed to have a box of tissues nearby at parts. I can't wait to read book two, hopefully it'll heal my now-broken heart.

Thank you Ballantine and Dell for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Whimsy & Rage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pack Darling is one of my all-time favorite duologies, and Breathless does a great job preserving what made the original so compelling while adding more depth.

Lilah is still an incredibly easy heroine to root for, the Wyverns retain their distinct voices, and the tension—especially between Lilah and Orion—is excellent. The biggest improvement is the added context around character motivations, reactions, family dynamics, and their attempts to resist their attraction to one another. The plot itself is largely unchanged; the revision mostly deepens existing scenes, which worked very well for me.

A few earlier reveals slightly reduce the mystery compared with the original, and I missed Finn’s “Afterward” chapter, but those are minor drawbacks.

Overall, this feels like a thoughtful refinement of an already excellent book: richer characterization, clearer motivations, and more emotional texture without losing the pacing or tension I loved.

Note: I received an eARC via NetGalley.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Thank you to Dell for providing me with an arc.

I read Pack Darling almost 3 years ago and this story still means so much to me. This is truly what I consider one of the omegaverse classics I think everyone should read. It is an angsty bully romance where Lilah doesn’t want a pack and is an unusual omega who has not awoken at 23. She gets forced into accepting a deal with the wyvern pack but they already have a male omega named Orion. The pack does not want Lilah around and shows that repetitively throughout the book but her relationship with Orion is very cute. This is one of my favorite omegaverse duets and I do plan on rereading it with this newly edited copy closer to the release of book 2 unless I get an arc then it will be sooner.. This is an omegaverse duet you pick up with you want to be emotionally wrecked and then put back together and I highly recommend it.

[Allie Akin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was the book that knocked me down a few pegs lol. I thought I was a much faster read when I was this engaged in a book, like reading a hundred pages an hour. However, it took me like four hours to finish.

I don't have notes while reading because I was so engaged, but when I was going in the cover and the front page design was really pretty.

One thing about me is I do love me a good angsty omegaverse, give me all the angst, I will eat it all up, lick the plate, and ask for seconds, so needless to say, I devoured this book. On a scale of The Beta to Tormented Omega, it's slightly more than the Beta.

The only reason it's not a 5 star is because it doesn't have the five star feeling that I normally have, but still an amazing book.

[Krista G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm disappointed with this. I liked the book, don't get me wrong, but the ending was massively disappointing. I felt like there is no resolution, and it ended poorly in my opinion. There's no indication in the book that it is to continue, or that there will be more. If I hadn't looked it up, I would have assumed that was the end, and that would have been awful.

For me there were too many loop arounds with how the omega (FMC) kept blocking her scent, even after it was out.
She is a total baddie in skills though, and her pack would be blessed to have her, if they'd just get their heads out of their, well, you know. ;)

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read quite a few omegaverses but this is easily one of my top five. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. Every character’s back story is so interesting but Orion is my favorite character for sure. The way he works through his issues to accept Lilah is so sweet and seeing him trust her and then claim her by the end was too good. I hate cliffhangers but this one ends in a way where I wasn’t as devastated and I greatly appreciate that! I can’t wait for all the groveling in book two.
Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC!

[Rachel Amata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
(Not a spoiler, but please note that this does end on a cliffhanger and is only part 1.)
To have all 6 mains have completely different personalities and feel like fully fleshed-out people is insane (congratulatory!!). I really really loved the character development towards the end of this one.
Lilah was unique and held her own.
This is not a cozy OV, just a heads up. Stakes are high and violence is abundant.
Honestly i'm just excited to dive into the next one.

[K-la Hugie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pack Darling: Breathless is the best romance I have read this year! Maybe even longer. Grab your tissues, clutch your pearls and get ready for a wild ride.

This novel had it all; spice (X4), angst, romance, great storytelling and backstories. I am not sure if it is the pregnancy hormones affecting me, but this story made me bawl, in a good way. The character development was so well-done and detailed. Lilah is the most amazing female MC. If you are a paranormal and spice lover than this will definitely be a favorite.

The only negative is that finishing this novel makes you immediately want to pick up the next one. I devoured this. Make sure you look at content warnings though because there are some really dark and emotional themes that could trigger you.

I adored this book and will definitely be recommending it far and wide. I immediately picked up all of the other books by this author after finishing. While it is not a classical paranormal romance, it was actually very refreshing that the characters were not traditional shapeshifters and slightly more humanized. I honestly can't believe that this novel is not more widely lauded, but I will do my best to change that!

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up. Done in 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t don’t that in like 2 years with a book lol. This was my third omegaverse read and I absolutely loved it. The FMC is so broken and trying so hard to survive. The characters are lovely and I loved the multiple pov. All the characters are so good, and the story ended SO HEARTBREAKING. I was in shock how it ended and need book 2 out now 😭. I can’t explain how much I just loved this book.
Check your triggers- there is bullying and some graphic MM scenes.

[Victoria Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so torn on this one. Like I definitely was locked in and invested in the story. I needed to know what happened. I rooted for Lilliah so hard! Have you ever just wanted to smack someone upside the head and tell them to get their sh*t together. I felt that way with all of the main characters. I just wanted them to be happy!!! I thought I wouldn’t like Orion, but he was actually my most favorite. I will definitely be starting book two asap.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive!!! I loved reading this story so much. Lola is the biggest martyr ever but her history of abuse makes me lover her more for how selfless she is. And as horrible as the guys are to her in certain scenes everyone is just trying to survive and keep their existing relationships from imploding. I was anxiously waiting for how they find about her scent and I wasn’t disappointed, it was heartbreaking but I know it’s the perfect catalyst for the next book to bring them all together.

[Anna Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was infinity stars. If you like books like the bonds that tie that has a badass yet scarred FMC, then this is the book for you. There's one heat, but it doesn't involve the FMC. The guys are absolute dicks and she has to go through so much. Finished in less than 24 hours and immediately started the second book! Love this omegaverse!

[Margo Beaudoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

couldn’t put it down

An addictive read with great chemistry, plenty of tension, and characters I couldn’t help rooting for. The story kept me hooked from start to finish, and I was already reaching for the next book as soon as I finished. Definitely worth the read!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much. I really don't have the right word and I'm not sure how I'm going to recover. The pining, the dirty talk, the wounded bird and the grovel - it was all so heart wrenching. There is a reason this is one of the most recommeded books in the omegaverse!

[LeeAnne McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever obsessed with Pack Darling. This duet got me hooked to rejection x grovel omegaverse. Lola Rock writes the BEST alphaholes, the sweetest male omegas, and the strongest FMCs out there. No spoilers but the cliffhanger of this book is EVERYTHING and you need it immediately.