Page 51 of Broken Omega

A princess ready for the ball. Well, almost.

She takes the scrunchie out on her own, realizing it’s no longer required. Her long, dark hair tumbles down around her shoulders, hiding the straps of the dress. It doesn’t need styled, which I’m thankful for. Makeup is much simpler than hair. I keep my own style shoulder-length, so I never have to do much to it.

Secret stares at me in horror when I tell her to go find the gold heels that are in her closet.

“I can’t walk in heels.”

“Well, you’re going to have to.” There’s no sugarcoating that one.

Her shoulders slump as she disappears into the walk-in.

She takes a couple minutes to find the shoes.

I finish quick-cleaning my brushes, and then I wipe the foundation off my hand carefully, making sure I don’t miss a spot that could potentially stain my dress later.

Secret sits down on the bed to put on the heels.

She’s resigned to doing what she’s been told to do.

I knew that the second she slipped the dress over her head.

This place will destroy her, like it’s been destroying me.

The girl standing in front of me is going to disappear.

I wish that wasn’t true, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

BROOKE

Iremember when I was the new girl, as long ago as that was. Goldcrest didn’t feel like a prison back then. Alphas were an interesting prospect I’d never been introduced to before, and the desire to meet one who might turn out to be my true mate was an intoxicating one.

With all those handsome strangers swarming around me at those first few social events, I was blinded by the fantasy the academy offered. I couldn’t see the reality simmering under the surface.

Each Alpha I met was eager to catch a hint of my perfume. I couldn’t help wondering if one of them might be the one to finally trigger it, awakening me fully as an Omega.

Even without that, the swell of attention was kind of nice for a while.

When I started to realize the Alphas were mostly players … well, that’s when the illusion shattered for me. Suddenly, the academy wasn’t a wonderous place where my dreams could come true on one magical night that I just needed to hold out for. It was a seedy hook-up joint where Omegas got their hearts broken, and Alphas satisfied their baser urges.

Secret’s not going to have that same experience. She already knows how messed up this place can be. I feel kind of shitty for what I need to do next, and if I thought she couldn’t handle it, I might have tried to warn her first.

Unfortunately, the walls have ears. That psycho guard was close to the bedroom door while we were in her suite, and now Henry and his partner are following us down the hall to the ballroom’s back entrance. I know they’re watching me as closely as they’re watching Secret.

If I try to help the new girl, Geraldine will hear about it, and considering what Secret did to her face, it’s better not to give the impression that I’m on this Omega’s side.

She looks shocked when I bring her into the booth where Colby the creep is waiting. His eyes gleam when they land on her. I leave them to it before I can have second thoughts about obeying Geraldine’s orders.

My heart hammers as I click the lock into place.

I stay there for a minute, listening, my hand ready to release the lock.

Henry’s eyes are on me. I can feel his stare and I hope he’s not watching me too closely.

Turning, I smile at him, and I can tell he doesn’t give a shit if I’ve locked the door or not.

My hand behind me now, I unlock the door and step to the side to avoid blocking Secret’s escape.

“Busy tonight,” I tell him, glancing from the crowd of bodies on the dance floor back to him.

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