Page 109 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Twenty

Melody

Icame to The Exchange to move on from Ben. Somehow I managed to find a pack of men that I really like and who made me believe that it’s possible to move on from the ten years I spent in limbo waiting for Ben to get his shit together.

I ruined everything, and I don’t even understand how.

“My birth control shot was supposed to be effective then,” I sob against Miller’s shoulder. “Omegas don’t get pregnant outside of a heat, that never happens.”

“Six out of every hundred women become pregnant while taking the shot as directed,” Farrah says softly as she heads for the door. “That includes omegas.”

“Tell them to give us a minute,” Miller says firmly. “Don’t ask. Tell them.”

“I will,” she says, heading out.

“I can’t do this,” I whisper. “They’re going to hate me. I didn’t know. I swear to God I didn’t.”

And I really didn’t. What Carver said this morning was almost too much to handle. We came to the clinic within hours, and I was still mulling over the implications of what he said.

Farrah suggested the test and it seemed irresponsible to ignore the possibility, but I really didn’t expect it to be positive.

“Ohmigod, what a nightmare,” I sob.

“Shh, you’ll make yourself sick,” Miller says, rocking me against his chest like I’m a toddler having a tantrum. “I’ll make sure they hear everything I heard.”

He lets me cry against his chest as he continues to murmur comforting assurances that I’m not alone. It’s when he starts to purr that I finally manage to breathe normally again.

“I don’t know what to do,” I choke out. “I live in a garage apartment at my mom’s house.

I’m twenty-six years old. I think my impulses took over and convinced me that I could have a baby on my own.

I have to write, like, five hours every single day just to make enough to pay for my cell phone and car.

I couldn’t even get my own apartment because of how expensive my mom is.

She isn’t great at taking care of herself, so I’ve always helped out with her bills, but after that there’s hardly any left for mine.

I have some in savings, but I’ll have to go right back to—”

“Okay,” Miller says, nuzzling his beard to my cheek. “You’re going to focus on one thing at a time. The only thing you need to do right now is trust me. Can you do that?”

My eyes ache as I push back enough to look up at him. He squints as he studies me. My hands rest on his purring chest. I give him a shaky nod. I want to trust him, and I think part of me does.

An even bigger part of me has been abandoned and disappointed by every man I’ve ever loved.

“My dads walked out on me and my mom,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut. “I know she’s hard to deal with, but they didn’t even try to take me with them.”

His huge hand cups my cheek. “I learned in the military that there are some men who buckle under pressure. There’s another type who thrive under it.

I’m somewhere in the middle. Like I said, I guess I’m pretty easy to please because all I’ve wanted for a long damn time is a family of my own.

I know we’ve got a long way to go before you can trust me completely, but that’s the thing.

Look at me, sweet girl.” My eyes pop open and he smiles softly. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work.”

“You’re an asshole,” Nik snarls. It’s muffled by the door, but it’s clear he’s furious.

“Yeah? You’ll get over it,” Carver says, chuckling.

“Are they fighting?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder.

“I think Carver is keeping them from busting in,” Miller says.

“You can come in,” I call out, wiping my nose. I can’t cause fights between them. I don’t know how I’m going to handle the discomfort of this conversation, but I’ll survive it like I survive everything else.

The door bursts open, and I steel myself for the world’s most uncomfortable conversation.

“Are you okay?” Oliver asks, barreling inside. He hits his knees on the floor next to me.

I burst into tears again because he looks so worried.

“Let me in,” Nik snarls.

“Fuck you, boss.” Carver’s voice is colder than I’ve ever heard it. “You and I are taking a walk around the building.”

There’s more shouting, but when the door closes, I can’t make out exactly what’s said.

“Are you okay?” Oliver asks, leaning in close.

“Medically she’s fine,” Miller says, giving Oliver’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Thank God,” Oliver says, nodding. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m pregnant,” I whisper. My head shakes involuntarily. I open my mouth to continue, but all that comes out is a whine.

“It’s okay,” Oliver says, nuzzling his face to mine. “Whatever you’re upset about, we’ll figure it out together.”

“I was pregnant before I got here,” I choke out.

Miller goes on to explain everything Farrah said. He makes it clear there’s no way I could have known. But that really isn’t true, is it? If I’d taken another test before leaving Texas, maybe I could have caught it then. I definitely could’ve based on how far along I am.

My arms wrap protectively around my middle.

“Okay,” Oliver says, pushing his glasses up. “You and the baby are okay, though?”

“As far as we know,” Miller says. “Farrah is setting up a visit with an obstetrician on the mainland.”

“Okay,” Oliver says again as he stands. My eyes fly up to his, and he gives me a tight smile that I don’t understand. He leans over, kissing my temple and runs his hand over the back of my head.

And then . . .

He walks out without another word.