Even after a week passed by, there were no news of any more dead bodies found inside their territory. Things were calm for now, but then again it didn't mean that they should lower their guard just yet.
This made Alec wonder if he should at least inform Eli's family about the lunatic after him, but he didn't want to cause any unnecessary distress. Whatever danger Eli is under, it would be dealt with without him knowing. There was no need to make him live in fear.
It didn't occur to him that he'd be the one who'd be the most afraid. Because all it took was just a single walk around town and the sound of a familiar laugh to make him head its way.
He knew Ari's laugh anywhere since they spent most of their childhood together, but there was someone else with him making Alec wonder if it was Eli who is well-known now to be Ari's new friend. The two of them got close by the time Alec was done with the mess the lunatic had caused, and it occurred to him that he had never even met the famous omega who recently joined their pack.
Alec made a little joke in his head about Eli having better be worth it as he walked towards the noises of the two, and finally found them sitting on one of the benches talking about something.
Life really had an unfunny sense of humor because it joked back.
At first, Alec's eyes fell on Ari like it always does whenever Ari is there. There was no denying how attractive he was that eyes just gravitated towards him, but even then, Alec didn't really feel anything beyond regular friendship towards him. It was just his familiarity and attractiveness that made Alec's eyes fall on him first, and then they fell on his company, Eli.
Eli had a different kind of attractiveness than Ari possessed, but something about him just multiplied it by tenfold to Alec. While Ari was effortlessly elegant and neat in the way he acts and looks, Eli had a younger sort of charm and was adorably captivating, stunning even. There was a cute appeal to him that just called for affection.
Alec couldn't deny something tugging him towards Eli as he approached the two.
It was Eli who looked at him with his green eyes and red hair, and that was the moment that everything in the world stopped for the both of them.
"Uh," He let out speechlessly staring at Eli who stared back with eyes just as wide. "You're..."
Even though he left his words hanging, they were understood making Eli slowly nod in a mixture of disbelief and shock and that's when his cheeks reddened as he quickly looked away shyly.
"Oh my god." He muttered under his breath with even the tips of his ears turning red. He couldn't will himself to look up, and Ari stared at the two of them in flabbergast.
His mother's words just keep coming true.
No words needed to be said to make Ari understand what was going on, and in his loss, he placed a hand on Eli's shoulder in an attempt to be comforting, but immediately retracted it when he noticed annoyance flashed on Alec's face.
Having someone touch Eli was seen as a threat even when that someone was Ari, and it was disheartening to know that it didn't matter who Ari was to Alec. Instincts prevailed over reason and he was now just some beta touching his mate.
Touching what wasn't his.
Ari was wise enough not to provoke Alec even more as he inched away to put some distance between himself and Eli, and thankfully it seemed to work because Alec was gradually coming to his senses after that display of jealousy.
"It's you. You're mine." He said looking towards Eli who finally decided to look up at him. He looked nervous, ecstatic, and awkwardly shifted in his seat not knowing what to say to that so he resigned to just nod his head. "I'm Alec."
Alec introduced himself not knowing that Eli already knew all about him, and had him on his mind whenever nothing else occupied it. There were already feelings developing in his heart, and the fact that it turned out that they're mates was just as surprising as it was not.
This moment just didn't feel real and he felt warm all over.
"I'm Eli, I just moved here." He pressed his legs awkwardly together as he looked down unable to keep his gaze on Alec who was just enamored by him in that moment. It was as if it was just them two, and Alec sat down beside him not really thinking about how the seat he took was occupied by Ari not too long ago.
The two of them didn't even notice that he was gone.
"I know, I have heard." Alec chuckled feeling like he was floating. He couldn't help but stare at how beautiful his chosen one was. The freckles dotting his face, the blush slowly appearing, and the way he bit his lip nervously – almost invitingly.
Without even thinking about it, Alec gave in to the urge to take Eli's hand in his giving it a gentle caress with his thumb.
"You're so beautiful." He breathed out watching fondly how affected Eli was by his touch. Eli didn't pull away, and instead let him continue holding his hands like that.
Everything felt right in the world for the two of them.
"So, um, what now?" Eli swallowed nervously, looking up at him a bit hopeful. Alec couldn't help but squeeze his hand as his endearment for the cute boy grew by each passing second.
"What else?" He teased making Eli blush even more. "I ask you if you're interested in a relationship and hopefully you agree."
Eli breathed in unable to believe it. "Of course I'd agree."
It was unthinkable to him not to agree. How could Alec even suggest that when he's just something too good to be true. Finding his mate felt genuinely indescribable. All he could say is that he found everything he ever wanted, but that's just his emotions right now. He was aware that he didn't know Alec as a person, but was more than willing to spend all the time needed to get to know him.
It was strange how his desire just ignited for someone he just met, and he found himself more than okay with Alec moving down to kiss his cheek.
"So happy." Alec whispered in his ear giving him another appreciative peck on his cheek, it was as if he just got something he had longed for. In reality, he didn't know that he wanted a mate until he finally found one in Eli. "You're perfect. Everything about you is."
Alec had meant those words and he couldn't help but think that every time he looked at Eli. Being so close to him right now was making his control over himself slip. Eli's scent was something else, something addictive. It was so tantalizing and he had to quickly lean back to not do something stupid, something Eli might not want yet.
It was too soon.
"Do you perhaps want to get coffee?" Eli had asked him shyly and he eagerly agreed keeping their hands connected the whole time.
He'd go anywhere with Eli.
Alec was fooled into thinking that nothing could ruin the moment with Eli, but as they spent time together falling into a false sense of security, Alec remembered the lunatic promising to take Eli away from him. Suddenly he was afraid, and he hoped it didn't show when he sat there with Eli who was smiling as if everything in the world was okay.
All Alec wanted was to protect that smile.
There was nothing in the world that would separate them, not if Alec could help it. He'd kill that asshole if he could. This omega was his.
Eli would have to be pried off of his dead body to be taken away.