Page 20 of Broken Omega

How many other applications have they denied when they have Omegas urgently awaiting matches?

I have a feeling I wouldn’t like the answer if I knew it. I hate this stupid, elitist academy.

Taking in a breath, I try to calm down. “You think if I specifically mention Brooke as an old friend, my application might be approved this time?”

She shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve heard of Alphas doing that in the past, but it really depends on who their parents are. If they meet the criteria, it’s always a yes.”

Ah, the criteria. Apparently, it’s a changeable list that will never be set in stone or kept in writing, so it’s pretty much impossible for an applicant to know when they’ve ticked all the boxes. All I know for sure is that a solid financial footing is important.

“Do you think I’ll meet the criteria this year?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Honestly, I don’t know, Kellan. What you’ve done is impressive. Seriously. In the time it’s taken me to get one tiny raise working in the same job for the past five years, you’ve become a self-made millionaire. That’s amazing. It’s more than most people achieve in a lifetime.”

“But it’s probably still not enough.”

She lets out a sigh. “I wish things were different. Maybe mentioning Brooke will work. I heard Geraldine talking to her father last week. He wants her to choose an Alpha this semester. So, she’s under pressure to make sure that happens.”

“Maybe that’ll work in my favor,” I murmur.

“She rarely bends the rules.”

“But she does bend them?”

“Not that I’m supposed to know about it, but yes, she does occasionally decide other things are more important than the criteria.”

It’s all I wanted to hear. Well, maybe notall. “Can you get me a meeting with her?”

“I’m not her personal assistant, and you know she doesn’t take meetings with Alphas who aren’t approved to be inside the academy.”

“What about a phone call?”

“She doesn’t take calls from unapproved Alphas, either.”

Leaning back in my chair, I try to think.

She’s not going to approve my application. It’s just a piece of paper. It means less than nothing to her. I need another way to get her attention.

“I assume if I turned up at the academy, I’d be thrown out?”

“You assume correctly.”

“Would I even get through the door?”

“Are you crazy? Wait. Don’t answer that. I know you are.” She starts to look like she wishes she said no to this lunch. “Bursting in uninvited is guaranteed to get you on the ‘never approve’ list.”

“I’m not already on that list?”

“You know what I’m saying. It’s not a smart move.”

“Well, what is?”

She shrugs. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Mention your connection to Brooke when you submit your next application. I think that might be enough.”

She drinks her latte. I’m done with lunch. All I can think about is finding a way to speak to Geraldine in person. I know the academy doesn’t really condone true mate matches, if only because it doesn’t align with that they’re doing. Telling her Brooke is fated to be with me won’t mean anything.

I clear my throat. I’ve been speaking with Lana regularly for the past year. She’s become a friend, and even so I’m a little afraid to ask what I’m about to ask, but I know I need to.

“What do you know about Brooke, personally?”

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