Page 204 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
My eyes fly up to Miller’s. His cheeks are red, even the beard can’t hide it, but he shrugs a giant shoulder and heads off. He leads us over to an older guy with short gray hair.
“We’re swapping,” Miller says. He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a folded envelope and hands it over.
“No problem.” Frank smiles and laugh lines appear around his eyes. He hands Miller a similar package that has my name on it. He pats him on the shoulder and heads off.
The giant alpha turns to me.
“Come on, let’s get you settled in. You’re still kind of pale, and I can’t decide if that’s your natural coloring or...” He leads us down a hallway and to a staircase. “I thought this might be easier since you seemed uncomfortable on the elevator earlier.”
“Yeah, thank you,” I agree, following his giant form up the stairs.
“Maxim Miller,” he says, over his shoulder as I follow him.
“Melody Webber,” I reply.
We make it to the landing and turn to head up to the next floor.
“Are you feeling all right, Melody?” His eyes rake over my face. “I know you’re obviously anxious or nervous. I’m picking that much up from your scent, but do you need to see the doctor? I can get you in right away.”
The look of concern on his face makes my chest feel tight. I can’t remember the last time someone truly seemed to care if I’m okay. He peers down at me and I get myself together.
I probably look like a goofball, staring silently and blinking. “I’m good. I think all the traveling got the better of me.”
His pale blue eyes study me a second longer, and he finally nods. “Let’s get you settled in. Maybe some lunch and a nap will help.”
We hit the next floor, and the hallway straight down is lined with rooms. I move to head down it, but Miller gently grabs my arm. His skin is warm and scratchy against my inner wrist as I turn to face him.
“S-Sorry,” he stutters. “It’s actually this way. It’s all the same direction, but you can’t get to your room from that corridor.”
“Oh,” I whisper as he guides us around the staircase.
When we come to another set of doors, he pulls an ID badge off his belt and swipes it. This building is way bigger than I realized. The hallway is just as long as the other seemed. It has doors on both sides as we make our way down.
“This is the omega-only wing,” he says, clearing his throat. “Alphas aren’t allowed over here unless they’re part of the security staff.” He browses the doors and stops. “Do you have a pack? A scent match or anything?”
My eyes fall to the floor as I give a quick shake of my head.
“No.” I scuff my shoe against the carpet. “I did the preliminary testing at a location in North Carolina, but when nothing pinged, they sent me home. Then you guys had an opening...” I shrug. “I really needed to get out of my small town, and I’ve got a heat coming up. I came knowing I wouldn’t have an initial match.”
“Gotcha,” he says, pulling out my envelope and opening it. He grabs a key card and swipes it in front of the door. “Small towns are the worst, aren’t they? Everyone knows everybody’s business.”
“Yeah,” I agree with a forced laugh. “Middle-of-nowhere Texas. That’s exactly how it is.”
He opens the door and heads inside. “Do you want me to give you the tour or...”
“A tour would be great.”
It’s kind of sad, but I’m not ready to be alone just yet.
Chapter Four
Miller
Holy fucking shit, Melody is really pretty.
My brain seems to be stuck on a loop of how obsessed my nose is with her scent and how much I want to help get rid of that sad look in her eyes.
She’s a beautiful woman, that’s for sure. And I’m supposed to be giving her a tour of her suite...
