Page 90 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Six

Nik

“She’s obviously a match,” Oliver says, yanking the scent card back and taking another huge whiff. His mess of curly white-blond hair falls in his eyes as he glares at me from behind his black glasses.

It’s a legitimate struggle not to punch my packmate in the face and tear the scrap of cloth and cardboard out of his hands. He’s breathing so deeply that I’m pretty sure he’s going to have soaked up all the smell and then I’m going to have to murder him.

“You’re wasting it,” I snap, trying to yank it back.

“Fuck you,” he grumbles, petulantly spinning in a circle.

Oliver might be skinny as fuck, but he’s got three or four inches in height on me and extremely long arms.

Unnaturally fucking long now that I think about it.

He stretches the scent card toward the ceiling and shoves me away with the other. I snarl, slamming my chest into his back.

Oliver growls, slapping at me again, and I’m surprised when he pops his ass back, knocking me off kilter.

I’ve stared down a line of defense that could have broken my spine if they hit me wrong and never blinked.

I can take Oliver if I have to.

“Oh yeah, you guys are totally fucking fucked,” Claude says, chuckling darkly. “I’m a little disappointed we don’t have a camera in this room. I could make bank using it for blackmail purposes.”

The lab specialist shakes his head like he’s truly enjoying watching Oli and me go at it.

“You’re fired,” I snap, jabbing a finger at his chest. “Give me the bag before you collect your belongings.” He doesn’t listen, so I lunge for it.

“Holy shit,” Claude says, spinning around and heading for the door with the bag. “Go sniff her yourself, you fucking lunatic.”

“Find a new job,” I growl at his retreating back.

I frown because Nathan will be extremely fucking pissed if I start firing his employees left and right.

My brother and I might own equal shares of the resort, but I can admit I’ve left him to handle the business for so long that I didn’t even complain when he started demanding an extra fifteen percent of the profits.

“God, it feels like your brother has been gone for ages. How much longer until he gets back? I want a raise.” Claude sighs. “I deal with shit like this every day. Why do you think I’m the one who administers the scent cards?”

Well, that’s a very good point. Farrah Chamberlain, the resident nurse practitioner, is tiny. She’s not someone I’d want going toe-to-toe with a half feral alpha. Especially not now that I realize how insane a highly compatible scent can drive an alpha.

Farrah has been here since I was a teenager. Claude has been here for years too. It would be irresponsible to let him go.

“Fine, you’re not fired,” I assure Claude, approaching with my palms raised.

Oliver is still huffing away at Melody’s scent card. His back is facing me, but I can see the goofy smile on his face. This is a good thing, all three of us need to be in agreement if we’re going to court an omega, and it’s very clear that we are.

“You can keep your job, but I am going to need those remaining cards.” I give Claude a tight smile and barely hold myself back from lunging at him.

“Arm wrestle your packmate for that one,” he says, snorting a laugh. “But let me just grab my phone first. Nathan is never going to believe this. I’m going to need proof.”

“I changed my mind,” I grumble. “You’re absolutely going to need to find new employment.”

“Moody fucker,” Claude says, laughing. “So what do you intend to do? You better move fast. She hasn’t got a match yet, but even the few sniffs I got told me she’s extra sweet. Ten bucks says she’s got three different packs following her around the first time she makes it to one of the mixers.”

“No way,” Oliver groans, finally turning away from the wall. “We should lock her in the penthouse and never let her escape. Actually we should snatch her and head back to Virginia . . . Now. I can handle booking us a flight.”

I do a double take. Oliver is normally very passive, but we’ve all noticed he’s been acting increasingly feral the last year or so.

It’s strange considering he’s the youngest of us by nearly ten years.

I jab a finger at Claude. “Don’t say a word. He was obviously joking.”

“I’m not sure I was,” Oliver says, shoving his glasses up.

“For the love of God, shut up,” I growl.

My packmate doesn’t have that brain-to-mouth filter other human beings have. Most of the time, I love that about him because he’s one of the realest people you’ll ever meet.

Now is not one of those times.

“Yeah, that’s not mildly concerning or anything,” Claude says, glancing at something on his clipboard. “So when my temporary boss is the one spewing one of the red flags . . .” He spins the file around. “Who exactly am I supposed to report it to?”

The list of statements and concerning behaviors taunts me as he taps a long finger against it.

“Oh, fuck off.” I swipe a hand over my face.

“That’s not an answer.” Claude chuckles. “You’re lucky I know you’re not normally feral. Don’t do anything you’re going to regret.”

“Come on,” I say, grabbing Oliver’s shoulder and leading him out. “We need to find Miller and put in a formal request for courting.”

“I think he’s on the verge of stabbing someone with that fork and butter knife,” Oliver mutters as we walk into the buffet. “Just for looking at her.”

“I know,” I chuckle giddily.

I’m fucking thirty-five years old. Nothing makes me giddy anymore. Except for the sight of Miller sharing one side of the table with the darling little omega.

The fact our normally jovial packmate is shooting murdery glares at anyone who glances in their general direction practically makes my dick hard. Fine, it’s been hard since I got a good sniff of her scent card. I can’t even bring myself to feel guilty about it because it’s biology.

“Hey,” Miller says, giving us a tense smile as we slide into the opposite side of the booth. He makes introductions and turns to offer Melody a bite of thinly sliced pot roast.

Oliver stares with his mouth hanging open. That’s a very good sign indeed. Not to mention Miller is the least likely to take initiative with a woman. I’d be less surprised to find Oli had charmed someone in a few hours than I am to see Melody so comfortable with Miller.

“You’re packmates?” Melody asks, pulling her hand up to cover her mouth as she finishes chewing her bite. She glances between the three of us.

“We are,” I agree, extending a hand over the table. “Nikolas.”

I wait, fully prepared for her to light up at the sound of my name. She doesn’t. There’s not even a hint of the nervous anticipation others get when they recognize me.

Melody places a soft hand in mine, and a slow grin crosses my face. I fight the urge to do something cliché such as bringing her wrist to my mouth to kiss.

I’m obviously reforming into a respectable adult.

She pulls her hand away and offers a hesitant smile. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she says, glancing between Oliver and me.

I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I’m developing an unhealthy addiction to the way the omega squirms in her seat when all three of us study her.

“Here,” Miller murmurs, lifting a bite of carrot in brown gravy and offering it to her.

I frown at the concoction. I much prefer sweeter options like glazed baby carrots, but I suppose it does fit with the dish he’s currently serving her.

“How are you liking everything?” Oliver asks, leaning across the table.

I nearly snicker. If he stretches much further, he’s going to be in her lap.

“She hasn’t gotten the chance to see much outside of the nest in her room,” Miller says, holding out his fork.

“I’ll eat this bite, but I’m getting full,” Melody says, wrapping her puffy lips around the silverware.

“Did you get dessert?” Oliver asks, eyeing the table like he’s looking for evidence they had that first.

“No,” Miller says, chuckling.

“I’d love to see what they’ve got up there. There’s always room for a few bites of dessert,” she says, bumping her shoulder against Miller’s. “This guy wouldn’t even let me browse until I ate the meal.” She says the last few words mimicking his voice.

It makes me ache to devour her whole. She’s fucking adorable. There’s something about her energy that’s intoxicating.

“You’ll go with her?” Miller asks Oliver.

Oli nods, scooting into my side like he’ll fling me out of the booth if necessary.

I stand as Miller does the same.

Oliver climbs out and Melody’s jaw falls as she tilts her head higher and higher before giving a small smile. He might be skinny as hell, but he’s tall like a Viking or something.

They head toward the buffet, and I notice Miller’s eyes are glued to them. “She’s a match for all of us, isn’t she?”

“Fuck yes,” I agree. “And she didn’t recognize me.”

My packmates don’t understand my newfound obsession with anonymity. Being recognized has become increasingly tedious over the years.

I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have to win a woman over with my charm and not the star power of my name or my former ability to throw a football. But more than that, I worry what happens if I lead my pack into a bad match.

I’ve dated here or there and even come across omegas from time to time, but they only had interest in me. That type of favoritism would be the death of a pack.

I’m only interested in an omega who wants all of us equally.

I trust Miller with my life and safety on a regular basis.

I view Oliver like the younger brother I never had.

They deserve to be loved and cared for and not considered extra cocks to be pulled out during a heat.

“How are we going to approach the conversation?” Miller crosses his arms over his chest. I’m not sure what he means. It could be courting in general or addressing who I am. “She was crying when I found her earlier.”

“Why?” I ask, turning to face him. “Did someone do something to upset her?”

“Not that I know of,” Miller replies. “She didn’t feel well when she first got here. Maybe she’s just overwhelmed.”