Page 39 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

"Boy first," Tom grunts. "Need to make sure he can look out for any girls when we're not around." He scratches at his jaw. "Otherwise we might have to look into homeschooling."

Luke snorts a laugh.

"You're pregnant?" Melody asks.

"It's too early to tell, but I haven't gotten the post-heat cramping or…" I grimace.

There are a bunch of other gross symptoms I don't want to list aloud.

"Wow, yeah, that's a good sign. Congratulations," she says, eyeing Colin in Luke's arms. "I'm sorry for everything in the past."

Luke's attention is still firmly on Colin, who's trying to stick his finger in Luke's ear.

"It worked out for the best," Luke says, smiling at me. "I know it's not my place to say anything, but Mel…" He trails off. "I don't think Ben's ever gonna change."

They talk a bit as Tom pulls me over into his lap. He lays his giant hand over my stomach and grins. My heart races as I snuggle back into his strong form and soak up the craziness of the morning.

"What's this?" I ask later that same night. We're in the guys' suite, since it has the Christmas tree we decorated.

"I never got to give you my courting gift," Luke says, flashing me a dazzling smile. He pulls me into his lap.

Archie and Connor are mulling about, but Tom is strangely nowhere to be found.

"Here you go." Luke pulls a box from beside his thigh and places it in my lap. "Go on, open it."

Connor comes over, holding his phone like he's about to snap pictures.

I pop the hinge lid and gasp. There's a beautiful silver locket. It has a book engraved on the front and on the back it says, "Travel Anywhere."

"I love…" I stammer. "It."

That was a close one. 'I love you' very nearly slipped out. I don't know if it's the bond and being able to feel their emotions toward me, but yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what this feeling is.

I lean up to kiss Luke's jaw. "Thank you."

"Here, let me put it on for you," he murmurs, taking it from me.

"Ho, ho, ho," Tom says, his voice monotone.

"Hey, asshole," Luke says, chuckling. "Try to sound excited."

Tom tries again, and we all laugh. He takes a seat on his chair, and I get a good look at him. He's wearing a t-shirt with a Santa suit print and a fluffy red and white hat…

It's almost too small for his giant head. And it's adorable.

"Oh, this is priceless," Archie says, pulling out his phone.

"Fuck off," Tom rumbles. To me he says, "You're on the naughty list."

"Oh, crap," I whisper as Luke lifts me out of his lap.

"Go on, Miss Chastain," Connor says. "We've heard you've been quite bad this year."

"You guys are ridiculously cute." I laugh, heading for Tom.

"Now, this was going to be your introduction to fun spankings," Tom says, pulling me to sit on his knee. "But Lydia is with her family for the holiday…"

"I told you I'd ask," Luke says, shrugging.

"That's because you're a heathen. Pretend to have some couth," Archie says, shaking his head. "We're not bothering our employee on Christmas Eve to ask if sexy spanking is safe during pregnancy."

"You guys shouldn't get your hopes up," I remind them.

"Too late," they say in unison.

"If it doesn't work out this time, we'll just have to try again," Connor says. "And again, until you are. It's no hardship, little omega."

Tom pulls me back against his chest.

"This is for you," Archie says, handing me a small box.

"Thank you," I say, studying it. It seems old, like maybe it's an antique.

I open it carefully. Inside is a sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet. I gasp, shaking my head no. Until I remember how I reacted the last time he gave me the books. I toss my face forward, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, it's absolutely gorgeous."

"It belonged to my mother,” Archie says, pulling it out of the box and putting it on my outstretched wrist. "I think she'd be happy to know it's being appreciated again."

My heart aches for him. I can't imagine what it was like to lose his family pack when he was only a teenager.

The bracelet slides around my wrist as I pull Archie in for a hug. I have to bite back the words that ache to escape.

It's too early.

No one truly falls in love this fast, right?

Connor stands a few feet away snapping pictures. Tom pats Archie on the back, squeezing his shoulder and offering his friend comfort.

"Let's get all the nostalgia out of the way at once, shall we?" Connor asks.

"Oh yeah," Tom mumbles, reaching into his pocket. "Close your eyes, little one."

I follow his instructions. Tom's scratchy hand holds mine as he slides something onto my ring finger. I jolt, because um, holy shit. My eyes pop open.

My heart races as Connor leans in close. "Hey, Evie," he says, kissing my cheek. "By the way, you're marrying us."

"Wait, that wasn't a question…" I say, laughing.

"Nope, it sure wasn't," Tom agrees. "Congratulations, we're getting married."

"Or you can choose a pack commitment ceremony," Archie offers, smirking.

"Yeah, we're being generous and letting you decide that part," Luke says with a laugh.

"You guys, this ring is incredible," I whimper, really getting a good look at it.

"It was my mother's," Connor says, kneeling and grabbing my hand. "Do you mind if I send my dads a picture?"

"No, I don't mind at all," I say, stretching out my fingers. The ring is white gold with a very large emerald-cut diamond. The stone is almost the width of my finger. "You weren't joking about those finger exercises."

"Nope, not a bit," Luke says, coming over to give me a kiss.

"The Fuck-It List is officially closed," Archie says, handing me the scribbled on list I made with Neela. He winks. "At least until next Christmas."

A wide smile covers my face as I cross the last thing off my list. Well, technically 'bundle of joy' is left, but only time will tell on that one.

The magical Christmas spirits definitely heard my wishes. I got all I dreamed of, and more than I could've imagined.