As expected, everything about the Dietrich's party was awe-inspiring.
Eli couldn't help but be dumbstruck at how big and luxurious the mansion was. Even thought there were so many people standing around talking and laughing, he still felt like he was somewhere spacious with a lot more room to spare for even more guests.
It was undoubtedly the largest gathering he had ever been to, and he had been to a lot.
"Nervous?" Someone touched his elbow making him turn around and he immediately relaxed when he saw Ari smiling at him.
There was no denying that Eli's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He'd never get used to how shockingly beautiful Ari was that it almost made him breathless. They haven't seen much of each other the past few days after everything that had happened, so seeing Ari right in front of him like that filled him with happiness.
"You're here, too!" He sounded elated and it just made Ari's smile brighter.
"I am. Everyone is."
Eli breathed out in relief. "I am so happy not to be alone."
This made Ari tilt his head in curiosity. "Huh, where's Alec?"
Looking around briefly, Ari couldn't find Alec anywhere which seemed a little bit strange. There was no doubt that everyone was excited about the new couple and wanted to see Eli. It wasn't every day that people get to meet an omega, but to leave him alone like that when so many people were interested...
That did not sound like Alec.
"He's around somewhere." Eli sighed not bothering to look for his mate in the crowd, he already knew where he was. "Apparently he's busy, he said he'd be with me later."
That made sense to Ari who was more than happy to hear that he has Eli all to himself now. "Guess you'll have to settle for me."
"Oh no, that sounds awful." Eli grinned with obvious sarcasm that just made them both laugh at how absurdly untrue that statement was. Not when Eli looked like he wanted so desperately to snatch him away somewhere to be alone and catch up. He wanted nothing more at that moment. "We can maybe go-"
"Oh, Eli? Eli Rivers?" A voice cut him off from behind him and both Ari and Eli looked at the woman approaching them with the company of their host, Christopher Dietrich, himself. Her eyes bounced between them both before they settled on Ari. "It's you, right? You're Eli?"
"I believe it's the one next to him." Chris informed her with an amused smile at her wrong guess as Ari shook his head suddenly shy at the sudden attention.
"Oh, oh! Hello." The woman grinned brightly at Eli who was puzzled when she extended her hand and he politely took it. The woman was petite and very attractive, her dark hair and red lips made her attention-grabbing and something about her was gentle. "I am Cassie. Alpha Dietrich told me you'd be here, and I had to personally come meet you."
"O-oh, hello." Eli shook her hand still puzzled about all of this. It was nothing new that people were interested in meeting him, but she was very open and enthusiastic about it.
"She's an omega just like you." Chris informed leaning down a bit smiling at the way Eli did a double take at Cassie who was still holding his hand looking cheerful. "Now be nice to him Cassie, I have a few matters to attend to."
"Yes, yes. Go along now. Leave us omegas alone." She shooed before turning her head towards Ari who was awkwardly standing there unsure of what to do. "I got to say, I never expected to meet two beautiful boys tonight. What's your name?"
"Aurelius." He shifted before he caught his mother looking his way and he looked at her nervously. "I better go, I think my mother needs me."
"Ah, a shame." Cassie said sounding disappointed before she turned to Eli who was still looking at her in a daze. It felt surreal for him to meet another omega like himself. "I would have loved it if your lovely friend had stayed."
Eli watched Ari make his way to his mother with a nod. "I think he wanted us to be alone. He's an unmated beta after all..."
"Aurelius is an unmated beta?" She frowned seeming like she didn't like the sound of that, and she looked Ari's way again but Eli was quick to his defense.
"He's one of my closest friends, actually, and we're almost never alone."
Cassie nodded her head slowly before she gave him a sly smile. "Right, no. I was just surprised he didn't find a mate yet. Someone like him wouldn't be unmated for long. I am sure of it."
"I am convinced you're right." He grinned at her before she snatched him away from the crowd. While he initially wished he'd be alone like that with Ari, he found himself being okay with Cassie's company, but still. He hoped Ari would have come along as he spared him one last glance and saw him talking to his mother.
"Who was that?" Ari's mother had asked referring to Cassie.
It was not every day that they go to a gathering as big as this, and for some woman to be personally accompanied by the Dietrich's alpha meant that she was someone notable. However, she didn't like that they had gone to Eli and that dislike was clear on her face.
Ari looked up at his mother, his beautiful nasty mother, who was waiting patiently for him to answer and he wondered how to word his answer in a way she'd hate.
"She's an omega who came here for Eli. Her name is Cassie."
The moment the word 'omega' left his mouth, he saw her face darken and she scoffed at that immediately becoming disinterested in who she had thought was someone of note. "How marvelous. More omegas." She couldn't use the words she actually wanted to use freely in a place filled with people who could hear her, but the tone she used made her thoughts crystal clear.
It made Ari wish that, for once in his life, something would happen that would make his mother eat her words. Just once.
A tiny feeling of amusement appeared when he thought back on her telling him to get a mate like the Dietrich's son. How farfetched was that notion, but it would have been funny if her words became true and he really was his mate. Ari would have loved to see her face.
He didn't know he'd actually see it when he heard someone clear his throat next to him.
Ari turned around to see Chris' son himself standing there attracted by the beautiful boy he had seen, and he was smiling down at him and his mother.
Ari's lips couldn't help but twitch up a little at his mother's shocked face.
"Eli, I presume?"
With a polite smile on his face, Ari shook his head watching any hint of interest fizzle away as the Dietrich's future alpha bowed his head in apology. "My bad. I hope you two have a great time."
And just like that he walked away, and his mother's mean-spiritedness returned full force.
"I knew he could not be your mate." She snorted watching him walk away to look for Eli. Everyone wanted to see Eli, not someone like him. "Do you even have one?"
"I don't know."
But Ari lied, he did know.
He knew the Dietrich's future alpha wasn't his mate even before he met him. Everything in his head earlier was nothing but wishful thinking. It hurts every time he thinks about it, he doesn't know how to feel.