Page 11 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Ten

Archer

"Where's Everly?" I ask, shoving my head out the door and scanning for the omega.

"I left her with Murphy. Somehow she ended up with Connor, and the last I heard he delivered her to her room. I believe she's getting showered and changed," Luke says, leaning the tree against the wall. "No, thanks. I didn't want any help."

I frown. I didn't offer. He was supposed to bring the darling omega. "You were meant to bring Everly."

Luke shoots me an unimpressed stare. "I took a shower, and then dragged this bitch up five flights of stairs for you. You're welcome."

"Oh yes, of course." I pull out my wallet.

"If you try to tip me right now," Luke gives a humorless laugh, "I will have to punch you in the throat."

"Brute," I grumble, shoving my wallet into my back pocket. "The stand is over there. Get on with it; I need to have Evie here before Connor gets in."

"He doesn't know?" Luke asks with a laugh as he drags the tree across the room. Needles will be everywhere.

"Well he might by now," I pout.

"You're hardcore scheming." He laughs.

"Yes, yes I am," I agree, heading over and helping lift the tree into the stand. I'm a little concerned she spent time with my surly packmate, and I don't mean Murphy.

Luke squats down, tightening the screws in place. "Have you canceled her match in the system?"

"No, of course not. I'm not a monster. I intend to very quietly court the hell out of her before her intended alphas even arrive." I adjust my vest. It's a terribly annoying nervous habit.

"Right," Luke says, wiping his hands off on his jeans. "I'll bring her up. She knows not to leave her room without me. If you're ordering dinner, I want steak and a loaded baked potato."

I scoff. "You wait for the food, I'll bring Everly up. Order whatever you'd like."

I aim for the door before he can question me. I need to see my omega and ensure Connor didn't ruin everything before it can begin.

"Archer," Everly says, giving me a shy smile.

"I hear you're helping us decorate?"

"That's what I heard, too," she says, stepping around the door.

My mouth goes bone-dry as I get a good look at her. She's wearing a maroon dress that fits every delicious curve to perfection. The dress falls mid-thigh and has a black mesh overlay with silvery speckles. Her waist is framed with a belt that accentuates her hourglass figure.

My cock throbs in response to her delicate scent, or maybe it's the enticing view. I wipe my palms off on my pants as I blow out a breath.

"You look lovely. Do you have everything you need?"

She pats a small bag I missed on her shoulder. "Yes, I'm good."

We head toward the stairs. "There's an elevator, but it's a far bit away. Would you like to head for it?"

"No, the stairs are fine."

The conversation is stilted. I'm smoother than this. This omega throws me off my game. Think, Archer; make simple conversation.

"Are you enjoying your stay with us?" I ask. She's a few steps ahead of me on the stairwell, and it puts her ass at eye level. Good God, I want to bite that curvy ass before burying my cock in it.

"It's great. I'd never heard of The Omega Exchange.

Not until my final meeting with my OPA coordinator.

I'd just been denied by the second pack, and my spirits were low.

A very kind older man offered me the card, but I didn't think I'd actually come.

" We reach the landing for the next floor, and Everly spins around to face me. "Your accent, is it Scottish?"

"It is," I confirm. My hands have a mind of their own as they land on her luscious hips. "Why do you ask?"

Everly bites her lip. She takes a few long seconds before she answers. "The man in the elevator had an accent very similar to yours."

My brow furrows as I frown down at her. "You were in New York City?"

She nods.

"My Uncle Kiernan is a chubby old man with a thick white beard…"

"Oh my gosh." She giggles, her small hand flying to her mouth, and I have to physically hold myself back from bending down to kiss her. "I seriously thought I saw Santa Claus, and he gave me a card for The Exchange."

A bark of laughter escapes. That old fuck has some explaining to do. He texted to say he had a gift on the way, but I never went so far as to guess the gift would be a bubbly, soft-spoken, doe-eyed girl.

"You're absolutely precious," I say, smirking at her. "Do me a favor, will you?"

Everly licks her lips. She studies my face intently. "What's that?"

"I know you have a possible match, but don't automatically accept them…

" I try to find the words to express what I'm thinking without scaring her.

"They're not here. I guess I'm saying don't be afraid to explore other options.

You're absolutely lovely, and…" I blow out a breath.

My heart feels like it might pound out of my chest. "Make sure you end up with a group who deserves all you have to offer. "

Everly's nose scrunches. "I'm the one likely to be rejected. Connor gave me a bunch of files this afternoon for other packs. I don't think anyone, including me, has much faith..." She laughs, but it's forced.

My heart throbs painfully at her words. What the fuck was Connor thinking? We're the pack she should be considering. My uncle said the gift would come from Eileen.

Why the hell would she set Evie up with a pack that isn't mine? My secretary has some explaining to do. That's not the proper way to give a gift. She tried to deliver it to the wrong bloody pack.

Evie spins around, heading up another flight of stairs. She makes it to our floor and continues like she's heading up another level.

"Oh no, darling," I say, flashing her a panty-melting smile. "Our suite is this way."

Now I need to find a way to will those words into reality.

Dinner has gone surprisingly well, considering how quickly Everly abandoned us last night.

I swirl the whiskey in my glass before taking a long sip.

It's clear Evie is most comfortable with Luke.

She sticks by his side at the table. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

He's done a fine job of bringing her out of her shell.

Even Murphy engages in conversation. I don't think Evie has a clue how rare it is to see the big guy speak in full sentences. Although, to be fair, he mostly circles back to healthy eating habits.

"Two more," Murph grunts, holding out his fork. It has glazed baby carrots. They're actually not bad. Everly frowns, shooting his fork an unimpressed look. Murphy wiggles it. Everly sighs but leans forward wrapping her perfect pink lips around the fork.

Luke laughs, shaking his head like he can't believe that worked. I'm also fascinated. They say there's a certain ease when a pack comes together like all the missing pieces are sliding into place. Having Evie here fills my chest with a warmth I haven't felt before.

Or perhaps the alcohol you've used to deaden your nerves has finally hit your system? Hmm, that's a possibility.

My eyes try to catch Connor’s, but he’s watching Everly intently.

Murphy slides his chair closer to Evie's side and brushes hair back from her face. "You did good. Did you save room for dessert?"

Evie beams. "Yes, what is it?"

Connor slides back from the table and heads to the kitchen. He comes back with the cheesecake sampler. Everly grins at Murphy as Connor puts it down on the table.

"Do we need to negotiate? Let's be real. I want to try more than one slice," she says to Murphy. He rumbles a laugh.

I'm practically giddy. That's quite a good sign indeed.

Dessert ends up an erotic exercise in self-control. Everly enjoys the cheesecake in a way that makes me unnaturally envious of her spoon.

Connor and Everly sort through boxes of ornaments near the tree. Murphy leans on a bar stool, watching the omega intently. He's a little too focused on her stomach for it to be civilized. I'm also fairly sure I caught him rambling again about wanting to see her pregnant.

I'm not opposed to the thought, either. I'm only getting older, and I want children.

"That other pack doesn't have a chance," Luke murmurs, leaning in close. He smells of the beer he had with dinner.

"Mmm, I don't know," I muse, swirling my whiskey. "I encouraged her to consider all options before making a choice."

"Why the hell did you do that?" Luke asks, propping his boots up on the coffee table.

I glare at the uncouth deviant.

Who puts their shoes on the furniture? Heathens, that's who.

"It slipped out," I mumble. "Fuck if I know."

Luke nods, but his eyes are on Everly. She's grinning up at Connor. The moody bastard grins back.

Connor loves to make it seem like Murphy has been the hold-back when matching with an omega. That may be true to an extent, but Connor is aloof and omegas pick up on that. They want to be pampered and comforted. I fear my packmate will never be that type of alpha.

Connor's shoulders shake, and it takes me several long seconds of watching the interaction to realize he's laughing. Evie grins up at him and gives his shoulder a playful shove with hers.

I place my now-empty tumbler down on the table next to the hoodlum's boots, leaning forward in an attempt to hear exactly what's being said.

The bloody Christmas music blocks out any hope I have of listening in. I eye Tom. I need to know why he passed Evie off to Connor. I thought we were firmly on the same page about easing the cranky bastard into contact with the sweet omega.

"No," Connor says. His voice carries over the music, and Everly jumps. "We should start at the bottom to be sure it'll reach the plug."

Everly nods and bends down, wrapping the lights around the tree as Connor feeds her the lights. Luke's head tilts, appraising exactly how short that tight little dress is. Damn, it's two or three inches too long to show the good stuff.

"I need more whiskey," I grumble, pushing myself off my chair. Connor and Everly continue stringing the lights. I don't miss how close he gets to her back as he follows her around the tree.