Page 10 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
"I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused. You're the owner, right? I mean, are you… D-Do I need to leave?"
"Why would you need to leave?" Archie asks, shooting Everly a frown.
I finally release her hand. She shrugs, pushing her black frame glasses further up her nose. My handkerchief brushes her soft skin, and I stifle a growl. I'm going to need that backwithoutbeing washed.
It'll smell like apple pie.
"I've been rejected several times," Everly says, drawing me out of my thoughts. "Did my intended pack show up and catch sight of me while I slept? It's kind of becoming a thing." Her face is bright pink with a blush.
"What?" Archie stammers.
My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out.She's serious?
"They haven't arrived, to my knowledge," I say, trying to calm her nerves.
My brain is having trouble processing the thought. She's adorable; physically, she's everything you could ask for in an omega. She's wearing a black sweater dress that accentuates her curvy body in all the best places. And don't get me started on the glasses.
"I should head to my room then," Everly says, taking a step toward the stairs. "I promised myself I'd put in real effort toward finding a pack tomorrow." She shakes her head, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry, I think I'm still half-asleep."
Archie offers her a hand. "Archer Daniels, these brutes are my packmates. We run the lodge."
They shake as Everly glances between the three of us. Yes, we are quite the mish-mash pack. We've heard it before.
"How about you join us for dinner?" Archie asks. He flashes her a dazzling grin. "Eating alone is hardly palatable."
"That's very kind of you," she says. "But I've put you out enough for one day."
"Nonsense," I say, offering her a smile. "We'd love to have the company. Consider it our apology for your terrible introduction to the lodge."
Murphy grunts. He slides up behind the omega and takes her hand. She gives him a small smile, and my heart tries to take flight out of my damn chest.
She's incredibly precious, and absolutelynotmeant for us.
Just my fucking luck.
Chapter Five
Everly
So that happened. I guess I can cross that one off the bucket list. Wake up being screamed at by an old man and climb a mountain of an alpha in thirty seconds flat.
Except, that would be areallyweird thing to have on my bucket list next to visit the Grand Canyon and see the pyramids in person. Although, the alpha who smells like gasoline and freshly cut grass is pretty monumental.
Maybe it wouldn't hurt to add him to my list of things to do before I die?I can put him on Neela's ridiculous Christmas Fuck-It List. The thought nearly makes me giggle.
Murphy, the giant alpha, walks quickly out of the library and toward a set of stairs that lead up. He's got very long legs, and I struggle to keep up.
Archer gently links his arm with mine, and Murphy releases my hand. Archer guides us…somewhere. I'm not exactly sure where.
Eventually he drops my arm, but his hand on my back practically burns through the fabric of my dress. My heat is creeping up faster than I anticipated.
"One more flight of stairs," Archer says, brushing his long blond hair back from his handsome face. "I promise the view will be worth the extra work.”
He has a soft lilt to his voice that I think points to a Scottish accent. Although it's the kind that's been Americanized.
My hand falls to the banister as we continue our trek up. The lodge is regal. The pamphlet boasted incredible panoramic views of the North Carolina mountains in the background of every shot. But even the pictures don't do the old building justice.
Archer continues following Murphy, and my gaze takes in every bit of the architecture. The exterior walls are made from some type of natural rock in various random shapes and sizes. Up close it looks a bit chaotic, but on the trip up the long driveway the building literally took my breath away.
