Page 43 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus

"Nope," Luke says, gesturing to Murphy. "Not until he calms down."

"Is Everly in trouble?" Murphy asks, suddenly on high alert.

Luke stays quiet, glaring at Murphy. Murphy shoots Luke a look that would melt the skin off a lesser man.

"I want to know my job is safe and that you won't punish Everly for anything I tell you," Luke says, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Talk now or I'll murder you in your sleep. How about that?" Murphy offers. "Does that compromise work for you?"

I like Luke, he's a decent guy. He's been here a few years. The first year was questionable, but he's cleaned up his act a lot since then.

I scratch my jaw. He must really think there's a possibility of something building between them. There's no other reason he'd risk his job. The rules are very clear when it comes to crossing the line with an omega.

"You'll never be able to bond her," I say, then grimace.

Where the fuck have I placed my tact?

"You fucking alphas." Luke lets out a humorless laugh. "You act like the only way to make a commitment is through a bond. I hate to break it to you, but people fall in love and stay faithful every damn day without a bond to keep them honest."

"You're right," I acknowledge.

"You fuck around and hurt Everly, and I'll find a cliff and throw your dead body off it. Then I'll find a bear and make sure it eats the flesh off your bones. They won't be able to identify you let alone determine what happened to you," Murphy says, staring straight into Luke's eyes. "And I won't lose a goddamn wink of sleep over it."

I'm fairly certain I don't want to know what this country asked of Tom Murphy during his service. He's frightening as hell when he gets that cold calculating look in his eyes.

"She knows about your past?" I ask Luke.

"I told her," Luke says, shaking his head. "Didn't want to, but I did."

I nod. Fair enough. That's between him and Everly.

"What's the problem with the system?" Murphy asks in a deathly quiet tone. He's scrolling through something on his computer.

Luke laughs. "I'm not telling you shit until you calm down." Looking at me he says, "Everly hasn't eaten. I told her I'd see about sending you up."

"What exactly are you doing?" I ask Murphy.

"I'm verifying that asshole is clean. He touched Evie," Murphy grunts.

"That's not invasive or anything," Luke says, but his tone is finally back to normal. He must not be concerned.

Could I live with Luke as a packmate? I suppose. He hangs around regularly. I guess I know him well enough. My impulses don't immediately demand I break his hands for touching Evie… so I guess that says it all.

Murphy spins around to face us. "You can live,for now. Speak. What's the issue with the system?"

I've never known Luke to drag his feet about anything. I narrow my eyes at him and wait.

"We all know omegas love kids. It's kind of their thing. They want a family and a pack. It's literally coded into their DNA. Everly is on the older side to be unbonded. She's also been rejected several times." He pauses, and Murphy growls low in warning. "How many omegas leave here without a pack?"

"Very few," I say on autopilot. "Maybe one every few months. Why?"

"Everly came here believing she'd be leaving without a pack, so she was hoping for the next best thing…"

"Help through her heat?" I ask, well and truly confused.

"A baby," Murphy whispers.

And suddenly her questions the other night make so much more sense.