Page 41 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus

"I had this delusional hope that if I waited it out she'd eventually realize she loved me and that we could make it work. I knew she'd have to find a pack one day, but packs are becoming more and more mixed these days…" He trails off. That painfulache gets so bad I can hardly breathe. "I came back for a visit, and my little brother, Ben, was courting her."

My heart seizes. We have more in common than either of us realized.

"My family spouted some bullshit about them not being able to control their attraction, and how I wouldn't understand because I'm not an alpha." He shakes his head. "I probably could have understood itifthey'd handled it differently. But no one said a word. I came home on a break to surprise my family, andfuckwere they shocked."

"That's terrible," I whisper. "I know the words won't change anything, but I amreallysorry you went through that."

Luke nods. His warm hand cups the back of my head. "To say I didn't handle things well would be a huge understatement. When we were growing up, my dads told me and my brothers that one day we'd have to sit down and tell someone we cared about the details of our past. 'You don't want to have to admit to a laundry list of partners, so just don't do it.' They said that shit all the time, and I took it to heart, but I was pissed at everyone, and I spent a few years…" He trails off, sighing heavily.

"Hooking up with anything that moved?" I offer with a grimace.

He nods. "I'm not proud of it. I've spent the last couple years getting my act together," he says into my hair. "The older I get the more I recognize that my dads were right. Not about my brother and Melody, but about some of the other things they said about how to be a decent man."

"I get it, but I really don't want to hear about it. Did you ever heal your relationship with your family?"

He lets out a humorless laugh. "Not even close. I haven't been back home or talked to them since I was nineteen."

"That's hard," I whisper.

"We're still getting to know each other, but I'm drawn to you," he says, tipping my chin up. "You remind me of all the things I haven't let myself yearn for in a long time. I'm fucking terrified you're going to find a pack and try to?—"

My lips land on his. Luke lets me shush him. One hand cups my head and the other wraps around my back, pulling me even closer to his front. My hand brushes over his chest as we kiss. My impulses demand I soothe that aching pain he still feels.

We pull back, and I stare into his eyes. It's easy to feel his sincerity; that's one of the few perks of being an omega. However, I know from experience that just because someone feels one way in the moment it doesn't mean their feelings won't change over time.

"You're not less than because you're a beta, but you've got to know this is intimidating for me, too." My cheeks heat. I don't want to say the words and come off as insecure, but he's been vulnerable with me, and I owe him the same. "Guys like you don't show interest in me." My eyes squeeze shut. "I'm not saying that because I'm fishing for compliments, either. I'm being honest. In my experience…"

"Oh, sweetheart," Luke says, cutting me off. He brushes his lips over my forehead. "We've both got to put a little faith in the other. Especially after what we did."

I give him a shaky nod.

Closing my eyes, I blurt out what happened when I went home for Christmas vacation three years ago. How Cassie ended up bonded to the pack that was courting me.

"It's my sister, you know? No matter how hurt I was by what happened, I don't want to lose her. So I've done everything I could to keep the peace. I spent a week with her pack right before Thanksgiving. My nephew is two, and she's pregnant with twins and…" My voice breaks.

It doesn't bother me like it used to, but my chest still gets tight, and I can't finish my sentence. Luke curses under his breath. He pulls my face to his, nuzzling his cheek against mine.

"God, you listened to me complain and you went through that?" Luke shakes his head. "I want to fuck up those guys on your behalf."

I laugh. "I don't like talking about it. I can't take the pity. The look on someone's face every time I tell them."

He kisses me fiercely.

"I can assure you that what I feel for you isn't pity. You and I are in this together. I mean that, sweetheart," Luke says, running his fingers over my cheek. "Now that I know why you did it, I need you to explain exactlyhowyou bypassed the system."

My eyes squeeze shut, but I mumble out the basics.

"Fucking hell," Luke whispers. "I wonder how many others have figured out that work-around. I've got to let Archie know. He handles all the legal stuff for the lodge."

"He's a lawyer?" I ask. How did I not know that? They all talked about their jobs at dinner the other night, but Archie made it seem like he was in public relations or something similar.

"Yeah, it's why he almost never works," Luke says with a laugh. "Listen, I've got to meet Murphy. Promise you won't leave the room without me?"

"I promise," I agree.

"Connor and Archie are safe, but unless you recognize the person…" He kisses my forehead. "I'm feeling very protective of you… With your heat so close, I don't want to take any chances. There's a protocol in place for a reason."

I smile up at him. "I get it. I'm an omega, and I'm very good at following rules."