Page 16 of Broken Omega

When lunch is over, I’m left in the dining room with my father, going over what’s wrong with the computer while my mom does the dishes in the kitchen.

I start up the computer and look over at my dad.

He’s still sitting in his usual chair, sipping at his lemonade.

“Does it always take a while to load up?” I ask, checking the screen.

“Forget the computer,” he says, putting his glass down. “I need to throw it out.”

“Uh … okay—" I tell him, wondering why I’m here if it’s not for that.

“You’re not sure about applying to the academy anymore. What changed?”

I knew he could tell. Alpha instincts are sharp. It’s a gift and a curse.

Letting out a sigh, I turn off the computer. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long wait.”

“You knew it might take a while when you made it your goal to get in.”

“I did,” I admit. “But I wasn’t really prepared for all the rejections. It’s starting to feel like no matter what I do, I’ll never be good enough to get approved for entry.”

“When you think about that girl, does it still feel like she’s your true mate?”

My skin flushes a little. I never told my parents that’s what it felt like, but apparently, I didn’t need to. I suppose suddenly going from an aimless teenager to a young man with a mission was more suspicious than I expected. Nothing less than staring into the face of fate can give someone that kind of motivation.

“It does. It always has,” I admit. “But what if I was wrong?”

Ten years have passed, and now I’m starting to wonder. Surely, if we were meant to be together, I wouldn’t keep being rejected from the academy? Considering there’s no other way to get the chance to see her again, while she’s unclaimed, I can’t help but wonder if something might have misfired the day I ran into the pretty blonde girl with the soft cherry scent.

Maybe I only thought we were fated because she perfumed for me.

It wasn’t something that should have happened. It was way too early.

So, maybe it was a mistake. A painful mistake that’s swallowed up the last ten years of my life.

“I knew the second I laid eyes on your mother that she was my true mate,” my father admits. “I know some people think that’s only something that can happen between Alphas and Omegas, or Omegas and packs, but I think if fate’s hand is involved, anything is possible.”

I’m a little stunned to hear him call Mom his true mate.

I don’t know why. He’s always talked about her that way.

I guess it’s because he’s never used those exact words before.

“I trusted my instincts, and they’ve never steered me wrong. You can’t doubt yours. Life has a way of throwing obstacles into your path right when the road looks clear, but you can’t let that push you off course, son. You need to trust your gut. It might not feel like it now, but nothing can stop true mates from finding their way to each other.”

He sounds so certain.

I wish I felt as confident about trusting my instincts as he thinks I should.

I nod slowly, feeling around for that one spark of hope that I know is inside me.

It doesn’t matter how crazy it makes me feel to believe she’s still destined to be mine.

Holding onto that hope is all I have left, so I can’t let go.

Who the hell knows what’ll happen if I do?

I guess I’ll find out if my application gets rejected again.

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