Page 110 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Twenty-One

Carver

“Idon’t know who the fuck you think you are, but put your hands on me again, and I will lay your ass out,” Nik growls.

I quirk an eyebrow. Yeah, he played pro-ball and he’s not in bad shape, but I spent a whole lot of years in the military taking on meaner motherfuckers than him.

My entire job is assessing threats and neutralizing them before he and Oliver even know they exist.

“Go on.” I chuckle derisively. “Take another swing. Get it out of your system.”

“Why the fuck do you think you have any right to keep me from Melody?” he growls, swiping at his jaw.

Mine doesn’t feel great either.

He got a solid hit in while I was busy corralling his ass out of the clinic.

I’m not proud of the fact I swung back, but sometimes it takes a little aggression to break through an alpha’s skull. At least the one currently glaring at me.

“Why don’t you think with your brain for five seconds instead of your bullshit alpha pride?” I suggest giving him a shitty smirk because he’s starting to get on my last goddamn nerve.

“Speak clearly.” He pushes hair back from his face, spinning in a circle.

“What reason could Farrah have for asking us to leave?” I’m starting to feel like he’s purposely being dense.

“For Melody’s privacy,” he hisses, his light blue eyes narrowing.

“Correct,” I agree. “She took a pregnancy test. Just from the little I know those things don’t work for like a month after the chick gets pregnant.” My eyebrows rise. “She’s also having symptoms of morning sickness and no cramps. Hell, maybe it’s a bug and I’m off-base, but I don’t think I am.”

“What?” Nik spins to face me. He freezes with his mouth hanging open. The asshole blinks for a few more seconds and his hand flies to cover his face as reality sinks in. He staggers back several steps until his shoulder rests against the wall.

“That’s why you couldn’t go in there right now.” I gesture toward him with both hands.

“Are you saying she knew this before coming here?” he asks, shaking his head. “No, I don’t believe that.”

“Good, you fucking asshole. Get it all out of your system. Did you hear the story of how her ex brought her along on some family fucking vacation at Christmas only to break her fucking heart? She thought he was going to propose.” I take a few steps toward him before I catch myself.

“Let me hear you ask another bullshit question like that in front of Mel. I swear to fucking God, Nik. They will not be able to identify your remains when I’m done with you. ”

“You’re really on your high horse today aren’t you, Dylan?” He spits my name like it’s a curse.

I sigh, shaking my head. “Not even close, but I’ve known you long enough to know you need to spew out all your bullshit before you can calm down enough to think clearly.”

“I thought she was pregnant with our baby,” Nik says, staring at the ceiling with his hands fisted at his sides.

“Would it matter if the baby was Oliver’s? What about if it was Miller’s? Or mine?” I tilt my head, watching him carefully.

“You didn’t fuck her,” he sputters.

God, it’s really hard not to slam my fist into his face. Apparently it’s impossible for him to imagine Melody pregnant with my baby, and that shit gets under my skin. I roll my shoulders back and blow out a breath to center myself.

“No, I didn’t,” I agree. “I’m still going to take her out on that date once she’s feeling better.

” I cross my arms over my chest. “I knew it was a possibility she’d end that heat pregnant and there was no chance the baby would be mine.

That doesn’t change the fact I’m interested in her.

Not as an artificial womb for my kid. If you can’t say the same then you need to bow out. ”

“Fuck you,” he growls, advancing on me.

I don’t step back. I plant my hands on my hips and give him a serious fuck you look right back. “You need to put some real thought into things and know where you stand before you talk to her. Don’t break her heart. She’s already had enough of that.”

“Motherfucker,” Nik hisses, swiping a hand over his face and staring at his feet.

My eyes widen when I catch sight of Oliver bolting down the hallway.

“Where the hell are you going?” I ask, stepping in front of his path.

“I need to pack. We’re seeing a doctor on the mainland. Melody’s pregnant.” He doesn’t stop, just spins around me and keeps moving.

I turn to watch him make the turn toward the elevators. Maybe I majorly misread the situation? Oliver didn’t say a word about the baby not being theirs.

“He’s probably grateful there’s no chance he passed on the gene for prematurely going feral,” Nik says like he can read my mind.

“Does she know who you are? Or does she still think you’re Nik the resort owner?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“I do own the fucking resort. Well, half of it, but no, I never had the chance to tell her prior to her heat.” He groans, covering his face with both hands. “Goddamn, I really am the asshole in this situation.”

“Yeah, you are,” I assure him, patting him on the shoulder. “On the plus side, I don’t think you outright lied about anything, but you definitely omitted the truth.”

“I kept thinking I’d tell her when it came up, but it never did.”

“Would that have flown for you if she had known about being pregnant? Can you imagine being like ‘yeah, it’s no big deal. I didn’t ask.’” I give him a look that indicates he should fuck off with that bullshit.

“I’m going to check in with Nathan and let him know Kara either needs to take over or perhaps Kiernan can appoint someone until he gets back,” Nik says. “We need to get Melody to Virginia and get her in with a permanent doctor.”

“Is that right?”

“God, unless she breaks up with us to get back with that asshole,” he says under his breath. “That would be devastating.”

“Prove to her that you can be what she needs,” I suggest, patting his chest. “He’s a righteous asshole. I only talked to him for three minutes, but I can assure you, I’m not letting her go back to that dickhead. Not without a fight.”

It’s entirely possible that Melody decides it’s easier to raise a baby with the biological father and tries to dip out.

I’m fairly sure at this point Miller and Oli would follow her. They’d pretend to get along with her dickhead ex and wait for him to fuck up, which probably wouldn’t take all that long. I have serious doubts that I could keep the peace with that fucker at all, but for Mel I would try.

“I need to speak to my brother,” Nik reiterates again.

“I’m going to check on Mel and Miller. How’s that for alliteration?” I chuckle, bumping my shoulder against his.

He sighs, but I blow out a heavy breath when he grins.

He’s difficult to get a read on during the best of times, but Miller is as solid as they come.

Oliver had that puppy dog look in his eyes that guarantees he won’t be hurting Mel any time soon.

The clueless fucker might say questionable things from time to time, but he’s not malicious.

“How about you make the call and we go find them together?” I offer.

“Yeah, all right,” he concedes.

I shake my head. I can’t control Nik. All I can do is be a decent guy and support Melody the best that I can.