Page 304 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus

I grab the last empty boxes and the last roll of packing tape and turn to head back into the garage.

I stumble several steps.

I was not expectingin the fucking leastto come across Carver pinning Ben to a tree with his forearm pressed to his windpipe and strangely his cellphone slammed into the dick’s ear.

“Shit,” I hiss, stomping toward them.

“You hear that?” Carver asks, slamming Ben back again. “That’s a fucking heartbeat. Your kid’s heartbeat, you stupid son of a bitch. Let me hear you say any bullshit again like you don’t think she should have the baby. I will motherfucking?—”

“Carver!” I bark. The last thing Mel needs is for him to end up in jail too and for a more serious charge. “Back up!”

Carver completely disregards my order.

I’m not shocked.

In the military they went harder on the betas than any of the alphas. They wanted to be sure they learned how to override alpha commands.

“Come on, man,” I growl, dropping the shit at my feet and making a grab for his arm. “This is the last thing Mel needs right now.”

“Benjamin and I are just having a friendly chat,” Carver says, locking his screen and shoving his phone into his back pocket. He still hasn’t removed his forearm from Ben’s windpipe, though.

“Clearly,” I say, shaking my head. “Melody’s nesting with Oliver. Why don’t you head inside and cuddle up with them?”

Carver chuckles. “You know, if I was you then I’d seriously be regretting my life choices at the moment. But I get the feeling you’re not smart enough to recognize just how good you had it.” He slams Ben against the tree a final time. “That’s okay because I do.” He winks, spinning around and heading off without another word.

“Are you okay?” I ask, scratching at my jaw.

“Like you fucking care,” he scoffs.

Well, he’s got me there. I really don’t. Not outside of it causing any more stress for Mel.

“I already told the guy with glasses that I wouldn’t press charges, and I don’t want your fucking money. That just feels slimy.”

I nod because Oliver did mention all of that. It’ll likely come down to whether or not the prosecutor’s office decides to pursue charges. I know Nik’s lawyer will have found someone local to meet him at the station.

“I’m sure it’s been a day,” I say, rolling my jaw from side to side.

I’m greatly lacking any form of empathy toward this guy, but I do try not to be a raging asshole.

“You’ve got no clue,” he says, pulling off his baseball cap and messing with the bill.

“The way I look at it, you’ve got two choices,” I say, exhaling loudly. “You either make the choice to be in the baby’s life or you don’t.”

“I’m not even twenty-eight years old,” he says, kicking the toe of his boot against the grass.

“She’s not either.” I manage to keep from telling him a whole lot of people have kids way younger than he is now. I don’t think that’s going to help anything at the moment.

“We weren’t good together,” he says, staring at the ground. “I think I always blamed Mel for my brother hating me. He used to be my best damn friend, but I lost him because I wanted her.”

My hands clench, and I have to center the fuck out of my energy to keep from swinging. I really do not like him, and it’s hard as hell to stay civil.

“You can try to justify your actions all day, but I guarantee you won’t find peace until you own up to your mistakes and acknowledge your culpability in all of it.” I shove my hands into my pockets. “The issue isn’t whether or not the two of you will be together. The only choice you need to make is if you want to step up and be a father.”

“And I’m supposed to be happy about sharing that title with you assholes?” he scoffs.

I can actually understand where he’s coming from there, but if he hadn’t taken Melody for granted, she never would have met us.

It’s a sobering realization.