Page 22 of Broken Omega

“Be careful with that. I could get in some real shit if anyone from the academy found out.”

I fold it up and slip it into my pocket. “I’ll destroy it once I’ve memorized it.”

She snorts. “Okay. Lunch is on you, Mr. Millionaire, and next time order me a mighty meaty instead of chicken salad.”

“No more crazy diets?”

“I get the feeling our next lunch will be celebratory. If my snooping helped you get in, I might even make you upgrade lunch to dinner. Someplace fancy, with expensive wine and desserts we can’t pronounce.”

My lips twitch. “If you’ve help me get approved, I’ll buy you that Lexus you’re always talking about.”

“Hell, yes!” She waves. “Until next time.”

Waving back, I lift my mug to my lips only to find out my half-finished coffee is cold. I set it back down and remove my wallet from my back pocket. It’s just as well. I probably shouldn’t sit in a public place, pouring over a file that’s supposed to be confidential, anyway.

I pay the bill and get moving.

I have an application to fill out.

BROOKE

Considering I shouldn’t still be at the academy, Geraldine gives me a bit of flexibility with my classes. I’ve been through all three years like normal. The past few years I’ve stuck with the first-year classes, because I like to know what competition I have for any fresh, new Alphas who show up at the socials.

The girls this semester are kind of boring, honestly. At least last year there were some brighter sparks. A few Omegas who would never fit the mold. The only difference between me and them is my desire to make myself look like a true participant.

Pretending has gotten me this far, but I’m not so sure that’s a good thing anymore. It hasn’t saved me. I’m still stuck here, and if my father gets his way, I’ll be hitched to the richest Alpha who takes him up on whatever bribe he offers to be rid of me.

Then, I’ll end up like my mother.

What I want doesn’t matter. If it did, I never would have been sent here.

I would have been out in the world chasing my own dreams, like Zelena.

The sweet, pretty Omegas around me gossip and giggle like children, making me feel even older than I am. I start to regret my choice to sit in on the first-year classes, but not quite enough to bother to leave.

I’ve already picked out the queen bee of the group and decided she’s no real threat if a decent Alpha shows up. She’s too hot-tempered. Her emotions are completely out of control.

One look at her and any Alpha with half a brain would walk the other way.

The others are nothing new. They’re all trying too hard to look like they haven’t made an effort, and they’re all swimming in uncertain emotions.

The first class starts, and I know the teacher’s lesson word-for-word. I can feel my brain slowly turning to mush inside my head.

I have to get out of here.

Not the class, but the academy.

I don’t have an escape plan, and there are a million different ways my father could find me if I did run, but if I don’t find a way out, I know I’ll end up a wreck like my mom. I might hold it together a little better than she did, but that’s only because of my father’s conditioning.

The end result would be the same.

I don’t want the life my father’s laid out for me.

He doesn’t care. He won’t listen to me when I tell him it’s not what I want.

As far as he’s concerned, I’m an extension of him and I’ll do as he wishes.

Well, I can’t do it anymore. I’ve been hiding in this academy, trying to get through to him via my actions. It hasn’t worked. All it’s done is piss him off.

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