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Someone would have to nominate me for me to even be considered, and I can count the number of friends I have within these walls without the need of a single finger.
“Why not?” she asks like she honestly doesn’t understand. “You have as good a chance of being selected as any other Omega here.”
“Not really. Even if miraculously, Iamselected, I won’t be the one the Royal Pack chooses in the end. They’d take one look at me and send me home. Besides, I’d be as frustrated as an Alpha in rut with all the primping and bowing and scraping.”
“Oh, I doubt that. I think an Omega could get used to living in a castle and being waited on hand and foot, even if there might be some pomp and circumstance to put up with.”
“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. You’re forgetting that I’d have to be nominated to be considered for Royal Selection. No one would have nominated me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not a part of the social hierarchy around here.”
She waves me off. “You never know.”
I laugh. “With this, yeah, I think I do.”
It’s a sour admission. While I have my opinions about antiquated, outdated traditions like the Trials, I wouldn’t have minded the security that would’ve come with being bonded to royals.
But I can’t afford to get hung up on unrealistic things likehopesanddreams. I need to keep my feet on the ground and my head firmly out of the clouds.
And yet, Ms. Frampton’s words whisper through my mind for the rest of the day.
You’re an eligible Omega, Maddie. For all you know, you could be the Omega who is selected from Cambridge tomorrow.
You never know.
I push through the hedges at the rear of the academy and climb astride my bicycle to head home after class. It’s breaking at least one law and three school rules, but I can’t afford the Omega-only bus that runs from here to my neighborhood and my dad doesn’t have the time or gas money to be picking me up every day. So, I go alone.
On my way down the bumpy trail that leads to the sideroads, I can’t shake the seed of hope Ms. Frampton planted. I mean, maybe…
Damn it.
Don’t be ridiculous Maddie.
The only thing I should be focused on is reality.
As I let off the brake and let gravity do the work of propelling me down the hill from the Academy, I thank my lucky stars for making it through the day unscathed from the likes of Clara and her minions.
My number-one anti-fan and her demon squad probably spent the day too busy primping for Clara’s shoo-in selection tomorrow to torment me. Since the royal family started the first Omega Academy hundreds of years ago and remains the largest benefactor for all of them, they’ve decided for this year’s Mating Trials, the Omegas will be selected from OAs around the world instead of from the usual pool of titled rich kids only a few cousins removed from blood relation.
Our Academy is one of the oldest, founded around the same time as the beta university with whom we share a town. We’re affiliated with it, and we’re held in the same regard. Generations of Omegas who have attended the institution have gone on to do great things. The self-appointed shining star of our year—no, of our entire generation—is Clara Turner.
At least I won’t have to deal with her anymore once she’s selected.
The fact she’ll be gone is the silver lining I cling to at this point.Well, I also have the new Riley North book to settle in with tonight, so technically, I can focus on two silver linings.
The state of the buildings deteriorate dramatically as I get closer to home. Litter dots the sidewalks, which are lined by brown, unkempt hedges. Since Fen Road isn’t a place where I want to be caught not paying attention, I shove my thoughts away. I’m alert to my surroundings for the rest of the way home.
As I turn onto our block, the first thing that catches my eye is my five-year-old brother, Kevin, playing in our front yard. Alone. At nearly sunset. Again.
My stomach churns, head spinning on a swivel. I don’t see anyone who looks too dodgy, but I up my pace anyway, knowing it can only take a second for something terrible to happen.
I nearly fall off the bike in my haste, letting it slide to the ground as I arrive, taking my foot with it, caught beneath the pedal.
Shit.I gasp, regaining my balance just before my head could connect with the rough edge of the sidewalk.
Wobbly but on my feet, I barrel toward my brother and gently circle my fingers around his thin upper arm. “Kev, what are you doing out here alone? It’s dangerous, bubba, you know that.”
Brown eyes fill with tears as they meet mine. He nods but shrugs his tiny shoulders. “I know, Maddie. I’m sorry. Mummy and Daddy are fighting again. It’s too loud.”
My heart splinters in my chest. “I know, honey, but let’s go inside, okay? You can come play in my room.”
