Page 85 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Two

Oliver

My eyes dance around the penthouse apartment. It’s weird considering it’s the entire top floor of this side of the building.

It’s nice.

I mean, it’s cold in that high-class way. It’s filled with stainless steel appliances and sleek lines.

I prefer our house in Virginia. It’s huge, bigger than this place if I had to guess just by looks and feeling alone. But whatever. We only have to be here for a month.

I don’t love change, but this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.

Nikolas Vincent tosses himself down on the couch across from me as I continue to take everything in. It’s hard to imagine growing up in a place like this. My packmate gives me a look that says he’s studying me just like I’m studying our new home.

I can’t believe Nik lived here as a kid.

It does make sense why he was so adamant about wanting a big yard and tons of space.

I’m the youngest of our pack, but I’m also at the highest risk of going feral, which is why I’m not complaining that we had to come to New England at the tail end of winter.

Virginia gets cold, but it’s not like this.

Nik’s moms owned this location of The Omega Exchange before they decided to retire.

Nik was still playing football back then, so his brother took over.

However, Nathan’s pack found their omega, and they wanted to honeymoon around the world prior to their baby being born.

Since Nik still owns half of the hotel and The Exchange, we were nominated to take over while Nathan’s pack enjoys a proper vacation.

Our pack has been in The Exchange’s database for a while and never had an outright match.

Sometimes I wonder if it’s because the scent cards degrade when they have to be shipped all over the country.

Or maybe no one wants us. That’s a terrifying possibility considering my future sanity hinges on us finding an omega during this month-long takeover.

Nik swipes his long black hair away from his light blue-green eyes and sighs heavily. He’s grown in some stubble for his ridiculous incognito mission, but I don’t have a lot of hope that will successfully hide his identity.

In all honesty, I don’t see a point to it anyway.

Most people recognize him from his time playing pro football. Finding an omega who doesn’t jump up and down for the chance of building a pack with him is going to be tough.

The black tattoos that line his arms, chest, and neck don’t really scream businessman either.

Who knows, maybe I’m overthinking this, but I don’t think so, considering it’s my cognitive functioning that’s declining every year.

It seems to me there are more important things to focus on.

Then again, no one recognizes me, even when I give them my name, it takes a very specific person to pick up on my star power. If you can even really be considered famous for tech, which I am. But I couldn’t care less at this point.

Let someone recognize me, or let them have no clue.

I don’t give a shit.

As long as they like me for me, then what does it matter?

That’s my thinking, but I also don’t have fan-girl stalkers or women sending me their underwear in the mail.

It’s kind of surreal.

I live with the guy.

He’s not all that special.

Sure, he threw a football for a few years, but he also eats cheese dip and salsa on nacho flavored corn chips directly out of the bag and then puts the jar back in the refrigerator like nothing happened.

He’s not really a catch.

Nik’s light eyes stand out in stark contrast to his dark olive complexion as they narrow, like he knows I’m thinking about his bad habits.

“What’s the game plan for tonight?” Maxim Miller asks, tossing himself down on one of the club chairs. Our other packmate frowns, wiggling his ass a little like if he only tries hard enough, he can instantly form the same butt groove he’s got on the couch back home.

Miller looks like a fucking giant in comparison to the minimalist furniture. His dark brown curls bounce as he continues trying to get comfortable. He finally gives up, scratching at his short brown beard.

This place sucks.

“What is the plan?” My eyes cut to our illustrious apex alpha, but Nik flips me off with both hands.

I snort.

“Listen, I know neither of you are particularly happy to be here, but it is what it is. Nathan deserves a break. He’s been running this place for ten years.” Nik sighs, stretching out across the hideous couch.

It really is ugly. None of the furniture is soft or especially plush. No wonder Nathan and his pack bought a house elsewhere on the island. I can’t imagine an omega ever finding this place comfy.

“It’s fine,” I say, giving him a tight smile. I know I’m the problematic one.

Miller and Carver can adapt to anything. I think it’s due to their military backgrounds. Me? Not so much.

“Where is Carver?” I ask, looking around like he’s about to pop out from behind the super uncomfortable chaise lounge.

“Last I saw he was flirting with the married receptionist,” Nik says, shaking his head. “Nathan is going to hate me by the time he gets back.”

“He should have left his administrative assistant in charge.” I push my glasses up. “What? Don’t pretend like any of us have a clue how to run this place.”

“It’s a well-oiled machine,” Nik says, shrugging. “That’s what Nathan said. We should have zero problems as long as Carver keeps his dick in his pants.”

Miller gives me a look that screams how unlikely that is.

Dylan Carver isn’t a bad guy. He’s not technically part of our pack. It’s not unheard of for betas to join packs these days, but we don’t have an omega so there’s technically no pack for him to join.

Carver is like our questionable security guy who joined the team and never left.

I guess he’s a friend, maybe. He’s more of a pain in the ass than anything, but whatever.

“Okay,” Nik says, staring at his phone. “Basically I need you and Carver working security shifts because we’re short-staffed.”

“Carver I can understand, but can Miller work security with omegas? What if he finds our match?” I ask, glancing between my packmates. Miller is on his phone now too.

“You’d be hard pressed to find a security team at one of the franchises that isn’t filled with alphas.

It’s nearly impossible to stack the entire team with betas.

” Nik chuckles. “If Miller of all people finds our omega running security, then we’ll all say a prayer and thank the universe for blessing us this day. Agreed?”

I laugh. That is extremely unlikely. “Agreed.”