Page 50 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Five

Anastasia

My feet ache. I'm seriously regretting my decision to come out tonight. Flirting with hot guys would normally be right up my alley. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure my stupid impulses are still pouting that Vik abandoned me.

God, talk about pathetic.

I know I look fierce, the mirror assured me of that before I left the lodge, but my heart isn't in it.

Honestly, I kinda wish I had stayed home and maybe asked Evie to hang out.

Or Wolfe and Rafe.

No, that would have negated the whole purpose of coming out. Which, incidentally, was to make Vik jealous. That makes me seem even more ridiculous when I really think about it. I'm a little sad to realize exactly how much I've been letting Vik's loss affect me.

Chance's cock bumps my stomach, and I internally roll my eyes.

Okay, I probably do it externally, too.

He's just so… I don't know.

Not what I'm looking for.

If I was in New York he's exactly the type of guy I'd spend a night with, but something about his frat-bro vibes are not meshing with exciting my lady bits. They're apparently as depressed as the rest of me.

My mind slips to Vik. That mountain man beard of his is uncontrollable.

It's huge and covers his face to the point you can barely tell what expression he's giving you.

It's also strangely soft and fluffy. It tickled when it brushed my inner thigh.

Or the way his bushy eyebrow quirked when he wanted to make me laugh.

Chance leers down at me, and suddenly I'd rather be anywhere else in the world. Until I spot Wolfe swaggering his way across the bar. He's got on combat boots, paired with dark jeans, and a Henley. His massive six-foot-four frame saunters directly toward me.

My chest heaves.

Uh-oh. I'm not sure why I feel like I'm in trouble, but I'm very sure I am. He stops three feet behind Chance and quirks an eyebrow.

I don’t know why I feel like the kid who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, but I absolutely do.

My heart races.

Wolfe smiles, but it isn't a friendly sight. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's very close to triggering my fight or flight instinct. I've heard his comments about being a sadist…

I'm suddenly very sure that wasn't bullshit.

Something about the way Wolfe grins is convincing my system I'm in big trouble. His eyes practically twinkle with glee as he steps to the side, revealing Viktor fucking Nikolov.

I freeze as my lungs literally stop working. Vik is shorter than Wolfe by an inch or two, but his frame is larger. The tight black polo shirt he wears shows off the muscles of his strong chest.

I'm horrified to realize my stomach flip-flops with a feeling I think might be joy. I immediately shut that shit down. My stupid omega impulses can suck Chance's dick. This is not a situation to be excited about.

Yes, fine. I've missed him with an intensity that scares the hell out of me, but I'm not about to fall at his feet and beg him to love me.

Fuck that bullshit.

This is one of the reasons I'd give almost anything to be a beta. They don't have that overwhelming urge to please and bond with compatible alphas. It's like my system is fine with being the woman who pines after a man who really doesn't want her.

Sure, he'll take me when it's convenient or fun. Like for heat sex. But any other time, I'm on my own. That's what he proved when he left.

Ohmigod, I'm still obsessing about Vik like he had a magic cock. But it wasn't even the sex!

It was the way he took care of me and made me feel safe.

That's why I'm so pissed.

He made me trust him and then he just vanished. I'm pretty sure I'm on the verge of having a panic attack. I don't even know why, but air doesn't seem to be saturating my lungs properly.

Wolfe glances between me and Vik, laughing and shaking his head. Chance still grinds his disappointing cock against my stomach. He never stopped moving, even though I did.

God, what a tool.

The light bulb goes off as Vik scowls. I flip him and Wolfe off with the hand I wrap around Chance's neck.

"Fuck, you smell delicious all of a sudden," Chance murmurs against my ear. He mistakes my shiver for interest and grabs my ass with both hands.

Seriously? I used to hook up with guys like this?

Why?

What the hell was I thinking?

Vik's pale blue eyes narrow at me as Wolfe continues to laugh. Chance licks my throat, and I'm done.

I gently shove his chest.

"Sorry, I need the restroom," I say with as plastic a smile that has ever crossed my face.

Chance wiggles his eyebrows. "Want me to come with?"

I barely hold back the biting remark.

"I'm good," I say, grinning up at him. "Thanks, though."

"No problem, baby," he say, brushing his fingers over my cheek.

The fact he's spent the last month popping into the gift shop every day to flirt with me suddenly feels a lot slimier than it did before. And okay, so I was going to use him to implement Evie's plan to make Vik show up, but I'm kinda disgusted with both of us at this point.

I spin around and bolt for the hallway where the bathrooms are. Fear and anger war in my system as I aim for the women's room. My heels are high; I haven't worn stilettos in a month. The carpeting here isn't plush, but I'm still staggering like I'm wasted.

The carpeting in the lodge is extremely plush, making it not the easiest to jog on in heels as I chase after Luke. Not that I especially want to catch him, but I have to.

He's my in with the owners.

I need to get close enough I can help influence Connor to sell. A shiver rolls down my spine as I consider what will happen to me if I fail.

Connor is the one I'm supposed to be focusing on, but he's so withdrawn from everything to do with the omegas that it's impossible to get close to him.

I spent the better part of two hours waiting in the hall outside his office.

My anxiety has been ratcheting higher and higher all morning. I think I'm on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. The fact my father doesn't even have to verbalize a threat to make it known he's making one is as impressive as it is terrifying.

Running into Luke was supposed to be my lucky break. My chance to get shit done.

"Why the hell did you stick me with that old man?" I hiss, grabbing for Luke's arm again. "How am I supposed to get anything done?"

Shit, that wasn't supposed to slip out.

"What the hell does that mean?" Luke tries to shake my hold off his arm.

"You know what? I don't care. You're not my problem.

Let me go." He spins back around to face me, but he does not look pleased.

"Viktor is good at his job. I have no interest in going back to work with you.

Didn't your parents teach you any manners?

Keep your damn hands to yourself." He turns to head back down the hall.

"But I like you. I want to get to know your pack," I say, following him.

Luke laughs, shaking his head. He turns back toward me. "That makes so much sense. I couldn't figure out why you acted like that yesterday with Evie. Hell, you barely glanced my way after I made it clear I'm not an alpha. You think I'm in a pack with the owners."

My stomach churns, thinking about the omega from yesterday. She was way too nice, considering I was a total asshole.

Wait, did he just say he's not in a pack with the owners?

"You aren't?" I whisper.

Byron gave me incorrect information.

Evie, the omega from yesterday, comes down the hall.

"Hey," she says, giving a wave.

She stumbles.

Luke spins. "Evie…"

They continue talking as fear floods my system. They set me up. Byron and my father gave me bad information. They never expected me to succeed.

My father sent me here so he could punish me when I fail. Or possibly to be a distraction and ultimately the fall guy. Or woman. Whatever.

I have no doubts my father will follow through with his veiled threats. The same thing he did to my mom he'll do to me. He doesn't care that I'm his child. He'll give me to his inner circle as a toy to be passed around between them.

My vision actually goes spotty as I stagger back a step. I need to run. My father will immediately notice any large transactions. He'll cut off my cards and send someone after me. My hands shake as I try to figure out why black is clouding my vision.

Devon will rat me out the first chance he gets, if he hasn't already. Pack Frasier specifically planted another omega to keep tabs on me and Devon has already made it clear that I'd better do what they say…

My head feels heavy, and I blink repeatedly as I try to get myself under control.

"You're such a pain in the ass," Vik says. I hear his voice. Logically I know it's him and not my father or his men, but my chest heaves as my fight or flight instinct takes over. "You're slipperier than an eel in an oil spill. And every bit as treacherous."

"I don't know what she was doing, but I ran into her in the hall outside Connor's office," Luke tells Vik.

Vik sighs. He aims for me and I try to make a break for it, but my heels on the carpet make it practically impossible. He catches me with almost no effort and tosses me over his shoulder. I kick and scream and scratch at his back, but it doesn't help.

"You know, princess," Viktor's voice shocks me out of the memory. "If you needed my attention all you had to do was ask... Or answer one of the hundreds of calls or texts I made to you over the last month."

"Don't touch me," I hiss, slapping at his hand. "Here's an idea. Get fucked, Viktor."

The growl that rattles out of his chest makes my pussy throb. I thought my ability to feel arousal died when Vik left.

Then bam, he's back and my lady bits are all… Oh, I missed you so much. Care to take a dip in my lady garden?

Hell no. Absolutely not.

"It's been a long month, Ana. Now is not the time to test my patience."

I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. "I have things to do. Did you pop up to say anything important?"

"Go on, keep running that pretty mouth," Vik says, raising an eyebrow. "I'll have you on your knees and my cock down your throat before you can blink. Fucking hell, I missed you."

My knees actually go a little weak. I clench my thighs together, desperate to contain the scent of my perfume, but it radiates around us.

I'm a mess.

I have no idea what I want.

My impulses want him to tell me what a good girl I am while cradling me to his chest.

My brain wants him to give some legitimate reason why he left, because if it's good enough…

No, that's ridiculous.

There's no reason he had to leave me right after he told me I didn't have to do everything alone anymore.

I mean, unless someone died or something. Then maybe that would be a decent reason, but even then he could have brought me with him.

That fucking dick! I believed him, and I think that's what bothers me more than anything.

I can't decide if I'm being over-dramatic because my feelings are hurt or if I really do have a legitimate reason to be pissed.

"Come here, princess," Vik says, gently pulling my arm. "Cut the shit and I won't spank your ass red for ignoring me for the last few weeks."

"Spank me?" I hiss, ripping my arm away. "Fuck you."

My hand flies at his face before I can convince myself it's a terrible idea. His stupid fluffy beard muffles the contact. That would have stung a lot worse if he wasn't a woolly mammoth in human form.

Vik doesn't say a word. He doesn't even look pissed. He seems frustrated, and a bit sad? I know I'm not the most intuitive omega, but he's not looking at me like he wants to strangle me.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, backing away. I'm not sure why seeing him look disappointed scares me a million times worse than the angriest I've seen him.

"You will be," Vik says, lifting me up and tossing me over his shoulder. It feels so familiar that I forget to fight. My hands grip at his pockets to keep from bouncing around.

He walks us past the bathrooms and into a door marked Employees Only.

The next thing I know I'm back on my feet as Vik slides his knee between my thighs.

He tilts his head down, brushing his lips against mine.

He stares straight into my eyes. My tits are popping out of the top of the tight dress.

Likely a side effect of being over his shoulder, but he doesn't look at my body at all.

Callused hands scratch over my dress as his palms land on my hips.

His leather and tobacco scent is thick in the air, blending with mine. The warm flick of his tongue over my lower lip makes me gasp. Vik shoves his tongue into my mouth. My hands dig into his strong shoulders, pulling him closer as he devours me whole.

My nipples ache with the same throbbing that echoes in my pussy. That massive, heavy cock of his bumps my stomach as he grinds into me.

I'm three seconds away from climbing him, when I remember I'm still really fucking pissed. I'm not sure how he knows it's coming but his hands fly up, blocking my knee just in time.

His teeth rake over my lower lip as he releases a satisfying oomph.

Ha!

Maybe I didn't fully get him, but I'm sure his balls don't feel great right now.

I hope it hurts even worse since he has a hard-on. He gives me a look that makes me shiver.

My impulses scream to run and see if the alpha in front of me can catch and tame me.

I laugh. "Sorry, Vik. I'm on a date, and I need to get back to it."