Page 41 of Broken Omega

“Well, now that we’ve cleared that up, did you happen to get any painkillers while you were out?”

I give her a hopeful look, and she rolls her eyes.

“You’re lucky I’m the thoughtful type.” She takes a packet out of her pocket and brings it to me.

“Water?” I ask, not keen on the thought of moving right now.

Sighing, she goes to the sink. “What did your last slave die of?”

I snort at the weak joke as she pours me a pint glass of clear liquid that’ll make me feel less shitty.

“I’m back at work tomorrow, so you’ll have to promise me you’re not going to go out and buy more booze while I’m gone.” She turns off the tap and brings the glass over to the coffee table, where she sets it down in front of me. “I’ll make food when you’re feeling hungry. A real meal. I threw out those disgusting microwave dinners. You have a good oven that looks like it’s never been used. I don’t understand men who don’t know how to cook.”

I take the painkillers and drink half the glass of water before I set it back down.

“We should talk about how we’re going to rescue Brooke.”

She shakes her head. “We have time. I’m not going to talk to you about that until you’re sober, hangover-free, and thinking clearly. We don’t make a move until we’ve discussed it and agreed on a solid plan that gets neither of us killed or injured or fired.”

“Are you serious?” I complain. “You just basically told me she needs to be rescued, and now you’re telling me we shouldn’t be in any rush? I need to get her out of there, Lana.”

She sighs. “You’re such a pain in the ass, K. You’ve been patient for so damn long. Years. You can be patient for a little longer. It’s not going to kill you but ignoring me and rushing in just might.”

She’s probably right, but I don’t want to hear it.

“I can’t stand the thought of Brooke trapped in that academy, waiting for her dad to pick one of the asshole Alphas for her husband. The guys on that list you gave me, they’re all entitled pricks. A few seconds of social media searches and I can tell you that.”

She gives me a displeased glower. “Fine. Try rescuing her yourself. I’ll still be around when you meet a grisly end, and I won’t have to worry about interfering with a true mate bond anymore, so …”

I blink back at her. “Wait. Did you just threaten to steal my mate?”

She smiles. “I did, and don’t think I don’t mean it.”

“I know you mean it.” I smile back, it’s impossible not to.

“So, you’ll calm down and listen to me?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

She’s the best friend I’ve ever had. How could I ever say no?

“I’m listening.”

KELLAN

Before Lana leaves on Thursday morning, we’ve come to the agreement that we’ll shelf discussing the rescue until Saturday. Once she goes, I force myself to sit at my desk and work.

The only way I can get through the next two days is to focus completely on something else.

It’s the best I can do to stop my thoughts from filling up with Brooke.

Yet, the second I turn my computer on, I’m consumed by the need to devote every minute of my time to finding a way to rescue her from the damned academy.

I start by looking for her on social media.

Every image I hold of her in my head is based on that single chance meeting we had as teenagers.

I’ve changed since then, and I know she must have changed, too.

When I try to picture her now, the image I conjure is too vague to hold onto.

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