Page 36 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Connor

Evie's heat finally breaks. It's late in the day, and we all crash hard. An omega during a heat doesn't sleep more than two hours at a time, and we all desperately need to catch up on the rest we've missed.

We spend the next day pampering our omega and the evening cuddling close by the fire.

Murphy brings up the store.

Honestly, while it was clear she's excited I get the impression she's worried it will take up all her time, and she wants children.

As far as I'm concerned, it can stay a gift shop, and we'll hire a few more full-time employees to run it.

It was a ploy to convince her to stay after her heat.

Now that she's ours? She can do whatever the hell she wants, and I'll make it happen with a smile on my face.

We're finishing breakfast the next morning when I get several nine-one-one texts. One from Eileen stating Kiernan is here and needs to speak to us immediately, and another from Viktor. My metaphorical hackles rise.

Murphy stays with Evie so she doesn't have to rush getting ready, but they plan to meet us there. Archie, Luke, and I head to the lodge.

My office is filled with people. Eileen stands close to Kiernan, Archie's uncle. Viktor and Anastasia sit on the couch. She's pulled in close to his side, and she looks dreadfully miserable.

Archer leans against the edge of my desk. Luke headed to his place to change, but he's here if we need him.

"I always do my due diligence," Kiernan starts.

"Pack Frasier expressed interest in purchasing a franchise for The Exchange.

However, I didn't feel comfortable with them from the start.

The Exchange has specific rules about unbonded packs running a location.

It's a case by case basis, and usually only those who are inheriting ownership.

I met with them one final time, and upon my arrival I overheard them discussing Everly. "

"What does that pack have to do with Everly?" I growl.

"I'm getting there," Kiernan says, rolling his eyes. "They're the pack Everly was matched to prior to coming here. As I said, I heard them speaking about her and…" He shakes his head. "It was disgraceful."

"Be very plain," Archie snaps.

"They knew the regulations on purchasing.

The fact they aren't bonded gave me an easy out.

They finagled the OPA system to find an omega they deemed desperate to be claimed.

They figured she'd be easier to control.

" Kiernan sighs, shaking his head. "Needless to say, I told them I'd not allow them to purchase in my territory ever, under any circumstances, and to bugger off.

They informed me they'd seek locations outside my territory. "

"And we're the closest location to New York outside your regional direction," I state, finally understanding where this is headed.

"Indeed," Kier agrees. "They'd also heard rumors a certain owner was tired of the business." He shoots me a meaningful look.

"Why are you here?" Archie asks Anastasia. He's glaring at her like he's put some piece of the puzzle together.

I'm still lost as fuck.

I hope someone understands the bigger picture.

"My father owes Pack Frasier a favor," Anastasia says, glancing away. "It was this or end up being auctioned off like they intend to do with omegas if they find a way to own one of these places."

"What?" Archie and I growl in unison.

"Exactly," Kiernan says. "We may be independent of the OPA, but there are still strict guidelines we're required to follow to stay in business. Men like those assholes would put the entire company at risk. They planned to let packs pay a higher fee to be matched to omegas with desirable traits."

"What was your goal?" Archie asks Anastasia.

"I was meant to seduce you into bonding and convince you to sell, or…" She shrugs, bending over, and cupping her middle. "God, the post-heat cramps really suck." She shakes her head. "Sorry, I was supposed to make enough trouble that Connor wanted out and chose to sell."

"Jesus Christ," I hiss.

"We're leaving now," Viktor says, standing and helping Anastasia up from the couch. "If you have any other questions for her, let me know. We'll be around, but try to give it a few days until she's feeling better."

Anastasia turns back as Vik tries to lead her out the door. "I really am sorry. I'd normally never do something like this, but it was under duress."

Archie sighs, nodding his acceptance. I'm still feeling a bit like the village idiot. I have no idea what the hell is going on or how my desire to sell spread so wide that Pack-fucking-Frasier heard about it.

Vik closes the door behind them, and I look at Kiernan.

"Get to the part where you explain everything," I growl.

"How did you end up with Evie in that elevator?" Archie asks, glaring at his uncle.

Kiernan sighs. "As I said. I wasn't pleased with the way they spoke about her.

I didn't know her full name at that point, but I had their information.

I approached my local OPA liaison, and with a bit of a gift to the office she works in, I gained Everly's information.

I convinced Leann to cancel the match. She was to tell Everly that Pack Frasier decided to pursue other options.

I intended to speak to Everly myself to explain more of the situation, but she was very upset.

I didn't have the heart to further worsen things so I offered her the card and…

" He shrugs. "That was that. I told Eileen to keep an eye out for her application.

" He shoots my secretary a look of soft affection.

It's weird as hell. "I had no way of knowing if she'd actually apply, but if she did I had every confidence she’d be in safe hands and away from Pack Frasier at the very least.”

"She was our present. You tried to give the gift to the wrong bloody pack," Archie accuses, indignation lining his tone.

"Did I?" Eileen grins viciously. "Who exactly did she end up with?"

Both of us close our mouths real damn quick.

"Exactly." Eileen chuckles. "I know you three well.

You've been stagnant for too long. Do you believe you would've acted so quickly if there was no threat looming on the horizon?

" Now it's her turn to shrug. "You needed a push.

I gave it to you. It's over and done with. Things worked out as they should."

Christ, she might be right.

"What's to be done about Pack Frasier?" I ask, shaking my head.

"You're not selling," Kiernan says with a shrug. "I've let everyone who'd listen know not to give them the time of day—"

"They're here now,” Archie snaps. "Everly could run into them."

“They aren’t here for her,” Kiernan says. “They’re here to purchase thinking their plan with Anastasia worked and you’ll sell to be rid of the headache.”

“And Everly is well-protected now," Eileen says in a gentle tone. "We'll leave it up to you if she ever needs to know the details of how she ended up here."

"They planned to use her as what? A pawn so they could bond and qualify for purchase?" Archie asks in a disgusted tone.

"From what I heard." Kiernan frowns. "Yes. They thought she'd be easy to control because of her past. Let her have a couple children, and annex her to the house, to be seen and not heard."

Archie and I share a look. A low, feral growl erupts from my chest at the thought.

"Thank you for giving us the information," Archie says, swiping a hand over his face.

Eileen and Kiernan say their goodbyes and leave the room.

Archer and I are quiet for a while. I don't know about him, but I'm stupefied. And I was worried courting Everly would be an abuse of power?

Those assholes intended to… My fists clench at my sides. I want to destroy those assholes. Thinking they could use anyone that way is disgraceful. And a very good reason why only honorable people should be in our profession.

"Anastasia had post-heat cramps," Archie says, staring at the door. His leg is shaking so hard it jiggles my desk. "How soon after the end of the heat do the cramps normally start?"

"Essentially as soon as the sex ends," I reply mindlessly. "Sometimes, according to my dads, even before the fucking is over. It signals the end is coming."

I hit my feet. "Everly should be cramping, then. Her heat has been over for more than a day."

"It appears I didn't fully think through my directive to Tom and Luke," Archie says, grimacing.

"What directive?" I growl.

What the hell does that mean?

"You and Everly didn't discuss birth control by chance?" Archie asks, a hint of discomfort in his tone.

The door opens. Murphy and Everly walk in. Tom catches sight of us and gently tries to pull Evie behind him.

Lovely.

Whatever it is Murphy thinks he needs to protect Everly from me.

"I feel like Luke right now, but…" Murphy grunts, jabbing a finger at my chest. "You've got bad energy."

"Everly, are you having post-heat cramps?" I ask. My jaw feels tighter than my chest as I ask the question. My hands hit the cool wood of my desk as I stretch forward, studying her face.

"No," she whispers. Her eyes dart between the three of us. "Do you think it's possible? I mean, does anyone ever really get pregnant on the first try?"

"Try?" I choke.

Evie's eyes go wide. She glances between Archie and Murphy. "H-He d-didn't know?"

"Know what?" I ask. The words sound clipped even to my own ears.

"I tried to tell you in the office of the store," Evie says, swallowing thickly. "That night before my heat."

"I know you have a bad habit of thinking the worst of people," Tom growls, stepping into my personal space.

He jabs his finger into my pec, painfully.

"Of running your mouth before you have a chance to think it through.

Do not do that right now." He spins and heads back to Everly.

"Come on, little one. Let's see if the nurse practitioner can give us some insight. "

"No," Evie says, dragging her feet and trying to spin back to me. "I'm so sorry. I thought you knew."

"Knew what?" I growl as Tom very carefully maneuvers her out the door.

Archie takes a step in front of me and squeezes my shoulder. I shake him off as he explains the details of how Everly had her implant removed and why.

Archie, Luke, and Murphy all knew.

Not one of them said a fucking word to me.

I stagger back a few steps, falling onto the couch.

"How could none of you tell me?" I hiss. "You purposely fucking kept it from me! It wasn't an accidental oversight!"

"That's on me. I didn't want to give you any reason to sell." Archie sighs, taking a seat at my side. "I didn't fully consider the repercussions. I think I thought we'd tell you after you told the investors to bugger off, but before her heat."

"It sure fucking didn't work out that way, did it?" I snap, running a hand over my face. I'm not sure what I'm feeling.

"No, it didn't. And I'm genuinely sorry for that." Archie sighs. "Be honest with me, if you had known would it have changed anything?"

My mind files through memories of the last few days, and my anger slowly fades.

Everly tried to tell me herself but I cut her off, assuring her I already knew. Only, we were talking about two different things.

Talk about a life-changing misunderstanding.

"No," I say, blowing out a heavy breath. "I've had fantasies of breeding her during the entire heat…" My elbows rest on my knees as I bury my face in my hands. I take a few deep breaths and finally go on. "I'm not happy you kept this from me. Fucking hell, Archer."

"You have every right to be frustrated, but take that out on me. Not Evie," Archie says.

"I'd never take it out on Everly. She's the only one of you who actually made an attempt to communicate with me. I shut her down…" I shake my head. "She thought I knew."

"Apparently I owe her an apology too. Now stop being a prick and focus on how goddamn petrified our omega feels. She's a fucking mess in the bond."

She could be carrying our baby. And I snapped at her like a total dick.

"Jesus Christ," I growl, pushing myself up. "Let's go."