Page 69 of Broken Omega

River sensed something when I was checking her over. He’s been withdrawn ever since we left the academy grounds, staring out the window into space as if the weight of the world is resting on his shoulders. He struggled to focus on our calls, and my worry about what happens when his probational period is over has increased tenfold.

I keep my mouth shut while we’re working, not wanting to make the situation any worse.

We’ll never see that Omega again.

I should be glad about that, but the truth is, I’m not.

Parking the car, I kill the engine and press my lips together when River gets out of the backseat like a shot, darting up the path to the front door of our house.

“What?” Donnie asks, raising an eyebrow at me as he unbuckles his seatbelt.

“I didn’t say anything,” I mutter.

“Yeah, well, you didn’t need to,” he tells me. “River’s been wound so damn tight all morning. What happened when I wasn’t looking?”

“The Omega …” I start.

“Brooke,” he corrects me, as if it’s important.

“Whatever her name is,” I tell him. “I checked her in the ambulance before you brought her back in. River … I don’t know what he felt or sensed …”

Donnie smiles. “He could tell, too, couldn’t he?”

“I don’t know about that. He seems upset.”

“He doesn’t understand. That’s all.”

“What’s to understand?” I ask.

It’s pretty clear we’re not on the same page.

“That she’sours,” he says with a dreamy sigh.

“She’s notours, Donnie. She’s an academy Omega. Goldcrest, no less. She’s way out of our leagues.”

Not to mention the fact that we already have an Omega.

That little fact seems to have escaped his attention.

“She perfumed for me,” Donnie says. “That doesn’t happen if it’s not fated.”

“It doesn’t need to mean anything,” I deny. “She was probably just close to her heat.”

He snorts. “Yeah, okay then.”

“She’s not ours,” I insist.

“Whatever you say,” he tells me, getting out of the car.

I untangle myself from my seatbelt and step out of the driver’s seat.

“I mean it, Donnie. Don’t mention this to River.”

He frowns at me from across the hood. “You’re serious.”

“Those academies exist for a reason. They’re not going to let us just walk in there and take her.”

“We’re her true mates. They can’t keep us apart if she wants us to claim her.”

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