Page 119 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Miller

Melody spends the next few weeks in what she calls her “writing bubble.” It’s very cute, but I think we’re all grateful when she sends her manuscript off for editing.

I know she’s frustrated because she was behind schedule, but I’m a big fan of the saying life happens. She’s had a lot going on. I think she hyperfocused on her job in order to mask some of her fear of the unknown.

She picks a local doctor, but it’s more for an introductory visit to make sure she likes the practice and they’re a good fit. She has her next real appointment coming up in a few days.

Mel still doesn’t seem one hundred percent comfortable in the house. I get it because it was an adjustment for me too.

We help Carver pack up his apartment, and he moves into one of the downstairs bedrooms.

Melody misses most of it since she spends the majority of her days compulsively setting up the nest.

We finally make it to the day of her doctor’s appointment with the local obstetrician, and this time Nik and I accompany her.

Dr. Jamison is an older beta in his late fifties if I had to guess. He’s friendly and not at all concerned by the fact Melody has lost six pounds since her first appointment.

“I would like to see you maintaining weight or possibly gaining a pound or two by the time I see you next,” Dr. Jamison says when I bring up the issue for the second time.

“But it’s not unusual for there to be weight loss in the first trimester.

” He glances at his tablet. “Oh, you’re going to be sixteen weeks tomorrow.

You’ve successfully made it into the second trimester . . .”

Melody’s eyes get wide when the doctor mentions setting up an ultrasound. Nik leans forward in his chair, but I push myself out of mine and stand by the side of the table. She instantly takes the hand I offer and leans against my stomach.

“So we’ll get that scheduled sometime before your next appointment,” Dr. Jamison says.

“She’s been run down lately,” Nik mentions. “Sleeping and nesting . . .” He frowns like he just realized that might sound insulting. “A lot.”

“That’s par for the course,” the doctor says, giving Melody a soft smile. “Omegas are often extra cuddly for the duration of the pregnancy. I’m sure you’ve already noticed that your alpha’s pheromones tend to help with anxiety and even nausea to a certain extent.”

“I have,” Melody says, glancing between me and Nik. Her cheeks are rosy as she shrugs. “Am I safe to take a trip? I have to head back to Texas.”

“You should be fine,” Dr. Jamison says. “If possible, travel sparingly to help prevent swelling, especially once you get further along. But honestly, the second trimester is the ideal time for travel because you should notice your energy levels pick back up.”

I run my finger over her inner wrist. She has belongings and things she needs to retrieve from her apartment, but it’s safe to say she won’t be taking the trip alone. There’s no way any of us are going to let her be around her ex without at least one of us being there.

I haven’t talked to him. He has left Mel alone the last couple weeks, but from what Carver said combined with his arrest records . . .

It’s just not going to happen.

Pure fucking terror takes over when I imagine her deciding to try to work things out with him for the sake of the baby.

I don’t know how I could coexist peacefully in a pack with that asshole. I’d try to keep Mel happy, but I don’t think it would take long before I snapped and told him exactly where to shove it.

I’m shocked when I glance up and realize the doctor is saying his goodbyes to Nik.

“Are you okay?” Mel asks, bumping her shoulder into my chest.

“I am,” I agree. “I think I’m just anxious for more of that snuggling with you in the nest.”

Her eyes twinkle as her face lights up. “Yeah?”

“Definitely,” I assure her, planting a quick kiss on her puffy lips.

“You’re awful at this,” Oliver hisses later the same day. He glares at the stack of boxes taking up half the living room.

“Her birthday is coming up and we need everything necessary for an entire extra human being,” Nik growls, swiping a hand through his hair. “Don’t act like I’m out of line for buying things she needs.”

“Do you think she’s going to decide to come back with us because we set up a nursery before we leave?” Oliver asks, frowning at the giant pile of shit Nik bought over the last week.

Nik glares. “I think she’s almost sixteen weeks pregnant and that’s four months—”

“Pregnancy is weird. The fourth month actually started at fourteen weeks,” Oliver says, cutting Nik off.

“Then we’re even more behind than I thought,” Nik snarls. His anxiety is plain to see, but he’s only got himself to blame. Melody is surprisingly low maintenance for an omega. Nik is the one who makes things difficult, or maybe I’m lucky because Mel and I tend to seamlessly understand each other.

“You need to get laid,” Carver says, bouncing down the stairs. He grins at Nik. “Are you afraid you’re going to break her? Why exactly haven’t you tried your luck—”

Carver ducks as Nik tosses a box at his head. He catches the thing one handed and grins. “A video baby monitor? Good choice.”

“You really are riled,” I say to Nik. “Are you still planning to take her as your guest tomorrow night?”

There’s a charity event that Nik had planned before Mel made it to us. I know he mentioned it to her and she seemed nervous but excited.

“Yeah, of course,” Nik says with a nod.

“Melody’s love languages are physical affection and quality time.

” Oliver looks through the boxes. “Maybe hang out and assemble the crib with her?” He frowns, ducking a little like he’s afraid Nik might toss something at his head next.

“What? You’re wondering why you’re having trouble connecting with her.

” He jabs his middle finger at Nik. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to help.”

“She’s asking for you,” Carver says, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

Melody and I haven’t had sex since her heat, but I have greatly enjoyed watching Oliver and Carver share her.

I grin, shaking my head and aim to check on my omega. We’ve had a bit of a routine of snuggling every night before bed. It’s quickly becoming my favorite time of the day.

It’s not late, but immediately after dinner she and Carver disappeared together. Nik waited until she was out of sight to bring in all the shit from the garage.

There’s every possibility that Oliver is on to something. Melody isn’t uncomfortable with Nik, but I have noticed they’re pretty terrible about meeting in the middle. Melody doesn’t do well with flashy gifts, and that’s how Nik seems to show he cares.

I did briefly try to broach the subject to see if maybe her ex had a habit of giving gifts whenever he screwed up, but I didn’t get very far without her shutting down.

I finally make it into the nest.

Mel sleeps in here, at least so far, which might be another reason Nik is on edge. Then again, the house is huge and would be an adjustment for anyone.

Omegas often feel safest in confined spaces. She’s spent weeks making the nest her own. I don’t think she would have done that if she was going to abandon us, but that’s just me.

Mel nests a little like a bird, which I find utterly fucking adorable. She’s got four or five thick blankets swirled in a circle around the top of the mattress. Our clothes are layered between them to keep her surrounded by our scents. It fills me with an unmatched level of pride.

Mel is curled up in a ball, looking at something on her phone. She pops up, giving me a soft smile as I crawl toward her. She’s got on one of Carver’s T-shirts and her hair falls around her shoulders in messy waves. She’s so goddamn pretty it’s hard to breathe when I catch sight of her sometimes.

Mostly, I’m just really fucking grateful that she’s finally feeling better. Well, for the most part. She still gets sick here or there, but it’s no longer hours of every day spent nauseous or vomiting.

I lie down and try to get comfortable, but I’m a lot taller than she is and my knees end up hanging over the nest wall she built.

“It smells like you two enjoyed your cuddle,” I murmur, giving her a quick kiss.

“Yeah,” she agrees, snuggling her head on my shoulder. She rolls toward me, tossing a leg over my thigh.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m down to broach intimacy any time she is, but every night when she asks for me to snuggle with her, it strikes a different chord. My hand rests on her lower stomach. I can’t help myself. She’s got a small rounding of what I think is a baby belly.

Melody swears it’s just her normal chub, but it’s definitely the baby. The books said at sixteen weeks it’s the size of an avocado. It’s also easy enough to tell because her lower stomach is harder than the rest.

“I think I need to call my ex and warn him that I’ll be in town this weekend,” Mel says, tearing me out of my thoughts. She runs her finger over my heart. “I was kind of hoping you would keep me company while I do that?”

“Of course.” I pull her over on top of my chest.

“Okay,” Mel says, grabbing her phone. Her hands shake as she kneels over me. I pull up her shirt and palm the baby. Yeah, it’s hard to ignore her bare pussy on my sweatpants, but I’m an adult.

I can admit, I’m obsessed with the idea she’s baking a human being.

It doesn’t hurt having something else to keep myself focused on. It’s necessary. I’m an alpha. My urges to destroy anything that poses a threat to my omega have the ability to overtake rational thought if I’m not careful.

I already hate her ex on her behalf. It wouldn’t take much to push me over the edge into feral territory.

It’s a constant battle to stay supportive without trying to control everything.

I don’t crave it as a power thing.

I just need to keep her happy and safe. Sometimes my instincts suck at recognizing boundaries, but I am trying. I blow out a breath and refocus my thoughts so Mel won’t pick up on my emotions.

The baby book I bought is specifically for dads, and it mentioned that she might start feeling the baby move at any time. Although we likely won’t be able to feel it for a while.

Melody holds her phone to her ear, but she gives me a goofy look. I grin as she grinds over my hard cock. I don’t care if it’s bizarre because I’m totally fucking enamored with her. I can’t wait to see her get a full-on baby belly.

I chuckle, shaking my head, but Mel sticks a finger to my lips.

“Hey, Ben. It’s Mel. I’m going to be in town this weekend.

I fly in on Sunday, and I’ll be there for at least a couple of days.

I was hoping we could talk face-to-face.

I guess let me know when you’re free?” She hangs up and tosses her cell phone aside.

Her small hands fly to her face. “I can’t decide if I’m a giant asshole for keeping this to myself the last few weeks.

” She pulls her hands down. “Would you want an ex to tell you that over the phone? I mean, that’s a conversation to have in person, right? ”

I’m the wrong person to ask. I’d want to be there from the first fucking second.

But I’ve got the undeniable feeling that fuck face doesn’t have the same sort of morals I was raised with.

After hearing the things he said to Carver when he was drunk, it doesn’t give me a whole lot of faith that he won’t say something equally as stupid.

In which case, I’m concerned I’ll murder him with my bare hands.

“I think . . .” I sigh. What I want to say and what I think I should say are two very different things.

“Be honest with me, please,” Melody says, bouncing on my pelvis. Her hands rest on my chest as she stares at me with a pleading look on her face that I can’t force myself to deny.

“I don’t think I’m going to give good advice here no matter how you look at it because I’m biased.

” My hands slide up her thighs. “I wish he wasn’t an issue, but that doesn’t mean I think that baby is a mistake.

I guess I’m selfish. I want to keep the two of you to myself.

Well, to our pack, but I’m learning to accept Carver, and if need be, I’ll do my best to interact with your ex too.

But he won’t take you from us, and he will not continue to treat you the way he’s used to treating you or he will get a very stark wake up call. ”

“I think that’s my main worry,” Mel says, lying down on my chest. She nuzzles her face to my neck.

“He might be really pissed that I’m pregnant, or he could be really angry that I kept it from him.

I know I don’t handle conflict well, so that pushed me to assume it’s going to be the first option.

I don’t know. I think I was so desperate for a family that I ignored a lot of things, but now that I’m out of that situation .

. . I just don’t see him being excited.”

“He might surprise you.” I palm the back of her head. “But if he doesn’t, you’ll still have an entire pack at your back for whatever comes next.”