Page 224 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
Exactly how bad of shape was she in?
“I’m sure Farrah is going over all the important stuff to get clarification. Was she okay?” I frown.
I was trying to find a way to put him at ease and that last question slipped out.
“She spent most of the night in agony, andshe didn’t call.” His head falls back as it shakes. “Why didn’t she call? She said she didn’t want to bother us while we were sleeping.”
“Shit,” I whisper.
I don’t like the sound of that at all.
She’s not a bother.
Heats are an integral part of alpha and omega biology. It sends compatible alphas into rut, which helps lessen our aggressive nature. It’s strange to think about, but it does help us stay calmer overall if we participate in helping an omega through their heat.
It doesn’t hurt to be around them regularly either as their pheromones soothe our system. I’m aware I’m at a higher risk than normal for my age group to end up feral.
It’s a terrifying thought considering I already view my brain as my greatest strength and simultaneously weakness.
“Where’s Nik?” I ask, glancing around. Thinking too much is a dangerous rabbit hole to go down.
“He’s in a meeting with Kiernan,” he says, staring at the hallway that leads to the nest. “I want to be in there knowing what’s happening.”
“I get it,” I agree. “Why would she be worried about being a bother? It’s basically our entire purpose in life.”
“I don’t think her shitty ex helped matters any.”
I’m starting to see a real pattern. First Carver mentioned it and now Miller. It’s hard to believe anyone could take her for granted.
The door opens down the hallway and commotion heads our way.
Claude smirks when he catches sight of us.
Farrah Chamberlain is right behind him.
I’ve seen her twice since we’ve been here. I had to get special clearance to be around any omegas because of my diagnosis.
“Is she okay?” I ask at the same time Miller says, “How is she?”
“Melody is in the final stages of pre-heat,” Farrah says, pulling her bag off her shoulder and handing it to Claude. “She passed the coherency test by the skin of her teeth, but I honestly think she’s mentally more aware than most omegas we see at this stage. She’s just in a tremendous amount of pain, which is hindering her ability to focus enough to rate clearer on the scale.”
“What does that mean?” Miller asks.
“She’s asking for you,” Claude says, grinning widely. “All three of you actually.”
Miller and I head toward the corridor.
“She needs regular temperature checks. Alphas are better equipped to handle an omega’s heat spikes and as such you might not notice. I suggested having a monitor...” Farrah glances between us, sighing loudly.
We continue inching toward the hallway.
“I’m having Carver check in since he’s the one you’re most comfortable with. Don’t do anything stupid.” She gives us a look like she doesn’t have high hopes of that happening.
Miller goes rigid next to me. “Did she ask for a monitor?”
“No, she declined, but it’s within our purview to assign someone,” Claude says, chuckling. “It really is wild how every single alpha loses the ability to think rationally around an omega in heat.”
“Take care of her,” Farrah instructs needlessly. “I get the feeling she thinks heats are mostly spent suffering. If the three of you aren’t enough?—”
