Page 1 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
A Pack For Christmas
Chapter One
Everly
My nephew giggles. The little monster dumps his bucket of sand on my head, and runs off laughing like a fiend. He stumbles, falling to his knees in the grass. I pop up, shaking the sand off into the sandbox as I prepare to grab him.
"I'm okay," Colin declares before running over, and climbing onto his trike. He's two years old and full-blast all the time. He keeps his feet on the ground, and mostly walks the trike around the yard, because he's not coordinated enough to pedal. It's adorable. I head back to the patio to read a bit while he plays.
It's not fifteen minutes later that Colin climbs into my lap. He rests his face against my chest and falls asleep faster than I can finish my chapter.
I should probably carry him inside and put him to bed.
My younger sister is very worried about him becoming too spoiled, but I'm on babysitting duty. A few minutes can't hurt, right? Ineedall the baby snuggles. My hand brushes over Colin's hair as I breathe in his sweaty baby smell.
The fact it's November and still warm enough that we can wear shorts and t-shirts is unreal. I'm not in any hurry to get back to the cold, but I do have to admit it's hard to feel in theholiday spirit when it's nine-thousand degrees. Florida makes it hard to feel festive.
It feels like no time passes at all as I cuddle my cheek to Colin's head and soak up the moment.
I try to talk myself into carrying Colin inside, but the effort is half-hearted.
A few minutes later the sliding glass door scratches open. My sister, Cassie, and one of her alphas step outside.
Josh comes over. "Here, let me carry him in. I know he's heavy."
Josh is the only one of my sister's men who doesn't act completely uncomfortable around me. Then again, he was the last addition to their pack. He wasn't around for the great sister debacle.
I sigh, but lean forward, making it easier for Josh to scoop up Colin. My brother-in-law carries the little guy inside. Cassie takes a seat in the chair next to mine.
"Thanks for watching him," she says, picking at her nail. She's not meeting my eyes, and the vibe in the air is tense. Which is perfect, it's not like this visit could get anymore uncomfortable. Right?
"It's no problem," I say, setting my book down. "You know that. What's up?"
Cassie swallows, and her eyes fly to mine. "I'm pregnant again, and they think it's twins."
Two things happen simultaneously. A hollow pit forms in my gut, and I immediately feel like an asshole for being anything other than excited about her news.How big of a jerk can you be?I ask myself. This is exciting, life-changing news. I plaster on the biggest smile I can manage and congratulate her.
"Oh good," Cassie says, giving me a weak smile. "I wanted to tell you first, but I was so afraid you'd be upset. I know how much you want a family of your own."
I know she's not purposely trying to rub salt in the wound, but it doesn't lessen the ache in my chest.
Three years ago, I came to visit my family for Christmas with who I thought would be my future pack. Only, I left before New Year's Eve, heartbroken and alone.
I'm not spiteful or ridiculous enough to begrudge my sister happiness. Honestly, Cassie and her pack are meant to be together. Those men never looked at me the way they look at her.
To say family get-togethers since then are awkward would be agrossunderstatement. It's worse for them than it is for me.
Maybe.
When Cassie approached me on the second day and expressed how attracted to their scents she was, I laughed it off. I wasn't expecting the three guys I'd brought home to join us for the world's most uncomfortable conversation, but they did and it was clear they were as attracted to her as she was to them. I was dumbfounded. It had only been a day, and yet they knew she was meant for them?
The news spread to our family. Their advice was: "Family comes first." They wanted us to figure it out amongst ourselves.
My guys wanted her, she wanted them… I was the unwanted extra in that situation. There was nothing to fight for.
I love my sister. A relationship with her is more important than guys who would leave me behind for someone else. So I've kept the peace, and done my best to be the most supportive human being on the planet.
I wished them luck, and bolted back to New York.
