Page 8 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus

"Are you listening to me?" Eileen asks with a scoff. Even being in her fifties, she's spry and excellent at her job. Perhaps I should listen to her more often. She's generally right about these sorts of things.

I had a feeling that group would be trouble, but sometimes the risk feels worth the reward.What if I turned away an omega in genuine need?

Could I live with that?

No, I don't think I could. And that's the problem.

"Having a group of pampered omegas who all know each other outside our facility is never a good idea. We've been through this in the past, when your fathers were still running the place." She shoots me a meaningful look. "Although, they always listened to my advice."

"What does that group have to do with losing an omega, and what's being done to find her?" I growl, pushing my chair back so I can pace the room.

"The pack we intended to introduce her to was delayed. I informed the omega, and then had to de-escalate a disagreement between two of the omegas over who would be the first to meet the packs that weren't pre-matched. The missing omega, Everly Chastain, already had her welcome packet and room key. I assumed she headed to her room. However, she wasn't at lunch and didn't appear for dinner. We've checked. She's not in her room, and security is currently sifting through the feeds and scouring the property."

"Good God," Archie says, pushing himself off the sofa. "She's been missing for several hours?"

Eileen grimaces. "Just over seven." Her shoulders pull back, and her chin tips up.

"There are only twelve omegas in the lodge," I growl.

I should fire her ass. Unfortunately, she's generally very good at her job.

"Possibly eleven now," Archie snaps, his Scottish accent thicker than normal. He swipes a hand over his face. His blond hair is messy, like he's been running his hands through it during this entire cluster-fuck of a conversation.

"It's too cold for her to have gone far," Eileen says, clasping her hands in front of her. "Everly is around here somewhere."

Archie growls. His blue eyes narrow at Eileen. "This is completely unacceptable."

"You think I don't know that?" she snaps back.

"This is her picture from her application?" I ask, nodding to the open folder on my desk.

"That's correct," Eileen agrees.

Archie takes the few steps to my desk and lifts the folder. He studies the picture of the missing omega.

She's quite beautiful—but, then again, most omegas are. She has dark brown hair past her shoulders, big blue eyes, and full, pouty lips. She wears black glasses that fit her to perfection.

The picture is only from the waist up, but it's clear she's wearing a cardigan sweater.

Fuck me.

This omega is every librarian and naughty school girl fantasy I've ever had, wrapped up in one woman.

"I'll find Murphy and join the search," Archie says, shaking his head and adjusting his vest. "You better pray we find the lass quickly, or you'll be out of a job."

Archie saunters out, slamming the door behind him.

"Omegas are to be escorted at all times, either by a member of the staff or one of their alphas if they are outside their room," I recite the line from memory.

"I helped write the damn handbook," Eileen retorts, bristling.

"Then why wasn't protocol followed?" I growl, pacing.This is a nightmare.

"She slipped through the cracks. I meant to assign someone to her, but I was distracted by the group of five that you indicated we should accept despite our policy of not taking groups!" Eileen spits the words in my direction, swipes a hand through the air, and walks out.

"Would you like the good news or the bad news?" Archer asks as soon as I answer the call.

"Fuck if I know," I say with a sigh.