AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughed, but it came out high and strange. "I know right…"
Ian's eyes traced his face. "Is it a man?"
Elias slumped against the door, glancing away. "If I said yes, would you be upset?"
"Only if it's someone from your past. If it is, you're not going out there, Eli. You don't exactly have an outstanding track record with them and the word no."
Okay, ouch. That hurt a bit to hear, but Elias didn't allow himself to flinch because it was true. He sensed a heightened urgency as several hard knocks pounded against the door, making it clear that Dane was not pleased with it being slammed in his face.
"He's not from my past. It's, uh, the guy from the expo day."
Ian stiffened, ducking into the hall to stand up straight, both arms sliding to cross over his chest. Elias could tell Ian wasn't neutral, despite his carefully controlled expression.
"Open the door, Eli."
Well, now he didn't want to.
"I don't know if that's…"
"Open the door. I won't say anything, I promise, but you're not going anywhere with a prick who made you cry."
Elias bristled at the command, but eventually let his shoulders fall away from his ears and opened the door. Dane stood there with his fist raised to knock again, a sour look on his handsome features. Elias almost forgot how striking the alpha's cobalt gaze was as it locked onto him, narrowing.
His eyes were so penetrating that Elias panicked again. "What are you doing here? I didn't give you my address, and if you found it online, that's unsettling. Plus, I have a room—"
Dane cut him off, voice smoother than aged whiskey.
"Did you really think you could get away from me so easily?"
Elias paused, reaching to grip the doorjamb for dear life when his legs went a little weak. It was matter-of-fact, as if there was never any question of who he belonged to. Elias had to admit he liked that type of confidence. Ian had it, and now Dane. Hell, Levi did too, back in the cafe.
What had he gotten himself into?
"He can go wherever he wants," Ian growled, moving closer to Elias.
Dane finally tore his heavy gaze away from Elias to glare at the alpha standing behind him, the testosterone contest ensuing. Elias sighed. Dane lifted his chin with haughty disdain, nostrils flaring.
"I claimed him."
Ian chuckled, he fucking chuckled, and Elias was pretty sure the only reason Dane didn't lunge at him was because of the human wall between them.
"Just because you say that doesn't make it true. Did he agree to be your omega or not? That's the only question worth asking here."
Dane worked his jaw. "He didn't, yet."
Both alphas had their lips pulled back from their teeth and a look of rage on their faces so tightly controlled that Elias wasn't sure what to do or say. He was an omega, someone coded to soothe and calm others. At least that's what textbooks cited.
In real life? Elias was a walking train wreck who only had enough mental clarity to do his job. Everything else was a wash, and so he was floundering. Just trying to be helpful, he placed a hand on both of their chests, garnering their attention. In perfect harmony, both alphas raised their hands to grasp his, causing Elias to conceal a smile of amusement.
"You guys need to calm down," he scolded while wishing his mouth wasn't so dry. "I had sex with you one time, Dane. That doesn't mean you have some sort of instinctive hold on me. My pheromones are potent, more so than other omegas, and I was near a heat—"
"I know that, which is why I need you."
Elias took in that statement and tried not to let it thaw his naive omega heart. It fluttered in his chest, betraying his nervous anxiety tinged with surprise. He said I need you, not you're mine or I claim you. Elias swallowed hard, trying to get himself to stop blinking so rapidly as he stared up at Dane's honest face.
"Why's that?" he croaked, fingers spasming beneath the alpha's touch.
"My pheromones have made every omega I've been with sick, except for you. I'm a powerful alpha, Elias, and you're the only person in the world who I can mate with."
