Delaney has always heard that the claiming bite is excruciating, however, when teeth come together on his neck, fangs piercing thin skin to bind him to Elias, it does hurt, but momentarily. The pain is swept away by the tides of immeasurable pleasure as, once again, he orgasms, his back arching from the disheveled seats as Elias slowly grinds against him. His hands scramble for purchase, his fingers gripping the sheets tightly as ecstasy like he's never known courses through his body. Elias unlatches and Delaney actually whimpers, but the alphas voice soothes him.

"It's okay, Dee. I got you." He swipes his tongue along the puncture wounds as he shifts, rolling over onto his back to hold Delaney against his chest. "I knew it would hurt, but I didn't think—,"

Delaney's voice breaks as he interrupts, emotions he's never felt before simultaneously weighing down his heart and lending to the feeling of soaring freely. "It's not the pain. I didn't feel pain."

Elias' hand is warm on his back, the fingers lightly trailing along the curve of his spine. "Then what's wrong, love?"

His voice catches in his throat, the words there but refusing to form. How can he tell Elias that he never thought this would happen for him? That although he's happy, there's the sinking feeling that come daybreak, Elias will realize he's made a mistake and will resent Delaney? How can he ruin the moment by telling the alpha he doesn't feel worthy of being his mate?

He can't.

He doesn't.

Instead he turns his head to the side, nuzzling into Elias' pec and chokes out a half truth, "Nothing. I'm just so happy."

"Are chokers back in? The answer is yes," Tristin states, "but chunky chokers? I didn't get the memo." He crosses his legs at the knees as he leans back in the chair. An eyebrow is arched as he stares, boring a hole into Delaney's bowed head.

After the other night, Delaney has taken to wearing thick chokers to hide the mark. There's a mixture of emotions he cannot decipher whenever he sees the silvery mark around his gland. After Elias returned home after the weekend, Delaney spent time in the mirror running the tips of his fingers along the mating mark. It is a little archaic and outdated, but the side of him he wishes is louder, stronger, more, mewls with pride.

Despite not being able to bear pups, he's mated. To a man that loves him.

To a man who claims to love you... the small voice interrupts, throwing awful feelings disguised as celebratory confetti.

He pushes the memories and emotions out of his mind, fingering the choker as he ignores Tristin's prodding. "How's Malik?" He deflects, hoping that his friend will be true to form and not miss an opportunity to talk about his alpha.

Hope is for fools. And apparently Delaney is one because Tristin easily brushes aside the question, pointing at the choker. "I'm not stupid, Laney."

Delaney sighs softly, pinching the bridge of his nose as he lowers his head. "Fine," he mutters. He reaches up to undo the clasp on his choker, pulling it away from his neck to expose the mark on his gland.

"Oh my gods," Tristin claps a hand to his mouth. "Maybe I am stupid because I was going to accuse you of wearing a collar and not a choker, which would be very hypocritical of you, but holy fucking shit you're MATED?!"

Delaney's eyes widen as Tristin's words carry loudly. "Shut up, shut up!" Delaney hisses as he hops up from his chair, hurriedly crossing the length of his office to close the door. "Must you be so aggravating?!" He fusses at the alpha.

"Yes. Eli?" Tristin points to the bite mark.

"Who else would it be?!" Delaney stares at Tristin with fire brightening his eyes as a hand rests on his hip. "Some random alpha? I'm not you."

"Touché," Tristin acknowledges. "But, why didn't you tell me?!" He pouts and crosses his arms over his chest with a heavy sigh. "Am I not your best friend?"

Delaney draws a hand through his hair, sweeping the curls out of his face and snaps out, "What was I supposed to do—tell Eli to not knot me so I can call my best friend and tell him, 'So I'm a bit irrational right now and want my alpha to claim me for my life?' Hmm?!"

Tristin giggles, "Not Knot...who—,"

Delaney growls, "I swear to god Tris if you finish that sentence..." he hedges, his growl increasing in volume as a warning. However, much like Elias, Tristin dismisses the intimidation tactic with a wave of his hand.

"Sure, Laney. But back to you. He finally knotted you, huh?" Tristin's eyebrows wiggle as he smirks. Delaney plops down on the couch across from his desk, nodding. "Then why do you look miserable?"

Delaney's stomach tightens, his throat constricting in a similar fashion as he barely manages to whisper, "What if he regrets that I—I'm his mate? I actually, uh... bithimfirst."

"YOU WHAT?!" Tristin moves quickly from his chair to the couch, sitting so he's facing Delaney.

"I made a mistake Tris," Delaney says, voice low and choked by thick self doubt he has yet to give voice to. "I bit him first. I claimed him first. What if—what if he only did it because I did?"

"Then he's dumber than he looks," Tristin states, very matter of fact. "But I think the biggest idiot in this situation is you."

"I'll kick your ass."

"Of course you will, sweetie," Tristin hums as he pats Delaney's knee. "That man is crazy about you, according to Malik and like any other person that has eyes and ears."

Delaney knows that to be true and that is what scares him most. "Elias is so kind. And funny. He has a big heart and he's amazing. He is unlike any other alpha I've ever encountered, yes, including you."

"Doubt that," Tristin mumbles.

"And I'm— a mess," Delaney brokenly admits, his words cracking under the weight of feelings he hasn't given voice to. "I don't know how to be in a relationship, Tris." His office distorts, the furniture warping as his vision swims with unshed tears. Every argument he's had with a partner, every harsh word, every hurtful truth replays in his mind constantly when he's with Elias and it's exhausting. "They 're all right."

In the 20 years he's known Tristin, there have been a handful of times in which the alpha seemingly lost control of his scent. Now, the scent of firewood permeates the office, nearly choking Delaney. "I'm doing my best to maintain my composure because I understand that your pain is deep, but I need you to understand you've picked nothing but shit alphas. Each and every one. Even the one you're thinking about asking me about, yes. Him too." Indignation has Delaney sitting up straight, his mouth moving to form a scathing reply, but Tristin's scent grows stronger. "Don't. I've been there through every shitty relationship. I've been there to hold your hand, wipe your tears, make sure you eat because you're a fussy little bitch when you're heartbroken and only want foods from specific places that just so happen to never be local. So, I have a fucking right to verbally slap common sense back into you, but," Tristin inhales deeply, exhaling as he muses aloud, "you are going to do what you want. And you're going to convince yourself that pulling away is for the best because you always run. Always."

Delaney recoils, his brows pulling together as Tristin's words land with force. "I do not."

"Remember when that poor alpha you had a crush on freshman year of uni said he had a crush on you? You literally ran."

"Who confesses their love in the middle of a crowded school festival?! Using a bullhorn?! What was I supposed to do?" Delaney gripes. "But that's neither here nor there. What will I do when he realizes that—,"

Tristin cuts across him, loudly. "That what? You're amazing? You love him? He's damn lucky to have you?"

Arguing with Tristin is a moot point. He's never going to see Delaney the way that he sees himself—the way that he is.

Empty. The voice whispers.

Useless. It hisses.

Mistake. It screams.

And this time he doesn't try to quiet the thoughts. Instead, he quietly agrees.

Weekends are typically spent running errands, cleaning, and preparing for the next week. However, at noon on Saturday, Delaney is finally dragged out of bed by a knock on his door. He frowns as the knock turns into someone leaning on the doorbell.

After the conversation with Tristin, Delaney felt even worse. He had kept those thoughts at bay for months, wholeheartedly believing that he was over it. But the marking... every omegan instinct was screaming at him, telling him now he's ready for pups, despite his body not being able to do so. He knows, on some level, it's not his biology that's screaming, but it's him. The desire has grown overwhelmingly strong and extremely hard to ignore. He doesn't know what to do with these feelings. What can one do when they yearn for something that is unattainable?

So, he hid. Not ran, but simply, unplugged. For about five days. Which could be why, when Delaney pulls open the door, Elias looks equal parts relieved and pissed.

"Here." Elias holds out a large, insulated bag. "There's about—actually I'll do it." He pushes past Delaney, entering his home and toeing off his shoes before he continues, heading to the kitchen and leaving the omega staring blankly at his back. "You have a few dishes to choose from. Some dishes can be frozen and I've written the 'best by' date on the containers." Elias busies himself with putting the food away, humming lightly as he does so.

"Eli," Delaney begins, but Elias interrupts,

"I figure we can order take out today? Stay inside and watch a movie?" Elias closes the refrigerator door and turns to flash a bright toothy smile at Delaney.

"Eli, I—,"

"Okay, so no take out." Elias turns around again and begins to open cupboards, moving aside nonperishable items as he inquires, "What are you in the mood to eat? Breakfast for lunch?"

Frustration has Delaney tugging at the hem of his shirt. "Elias. I need—," he jumps as a cupboard slams, his speech halted.

"No."

"No?"

"No. You told me. The other night. You said to come in close when you pull away. So you don't get to suddenly change your mind. Especially not after you didn't call me for days after—," Elias hedges, his emotions masked but his body belying his calm exterior as fingers brush along his gland. His uncovered gland. "So, I'm here now. And I'm not leaving."

"Fine," Delaney spits out. He's angry and he doesn't understand why. But instead of arguing, he leaves Elias in the kitchen, slamming his bedroom door like a petulant teen and sitting on the edge of the bed with his arms folded over his chest.

Elias knocks once and enters the room. His eyes shift from the empty space next to Delaney and the small loveseat in the room. After a pause, he decides to sit on the bed. "Why tell me to come in close and then push me away when I do?"

Because I'm a walking contradiction. Delaney shrugs.

"I'm trying really hard to not make this about me, Dee," Elias says softly. "Help me to understand."

How when I don't understand?

Delaney stares at his hands, watching as his fingers pull at the frayed hem of a well-worn shirt.

"Do you—," Elias starts and stops, taking a shaky breath and starting again, his voice small and heavy with sadness, "Do you regret claiming me?"

"Do I—what?!" Elias' statement is so incredulous that Delaney's head snaps up and his mouth hangs agape as he stares.

Elias rubs a hand at the back of his neck, drawing Delaney's attention, yet again, to the fact that he's not wearing his choker. He chuckles wryly as he answers, "What am I supposed to think? You—you claim me and then tell me it's okay to do the one thing I've been wanting to do since our first date and then ignore me for days afterwards."

Delaney's stomach drops, twisting into a large knot as he realizes the impact of his selfishness. He hangs his head, avoiding Elias' gaze, but reaches out to timidly place his hand near the alpha's. "I—don't want you to regret me, Elias." The brush of a pinky against Delaney's has a lump forming in his throat.

"Why do you believe I would?" Elias softly asks.

"I'm..." Delaney hedges, pausing to swallow around the ever growing need to suppress his emotions. But, when Elias intertwines their fingers together, the warmth from his palm radiates brightly, thawing the icy façade Delaney has managed to maintain, and he holds space for himself, giving his grief the room it needs. He swipes at a tear before he continues, a choked up sob preceding, "I'm empty."

"I don't understand what that means. Are you able to tell me?"

Delaney's grip tightens on Elias' hand and he reaches up to wipe the steady flow of tears. "I can't give you a child. I'm—I'll never be able to fully satisfy the urges that you have."

"How do you know that, Dee?"

"Because I do! Every alpha before you—,"

Elias' sigh is heavy. "I've told you from the very beginning. I'm not like other alpha's."

"Everyone says that, Eli."

"I'm not everyone, Dee." He withdraws his hand from Delaney's as he takes a steadying breath. "You've asked me if you are enough for me and what was my answer?"

Delaney fights the urge to snap, the urge to push Elias away because he's dangerously close. Instead, he takes a risk, taking a small step forward on a path that is bound to change the trajectory of their relationship. He answers honestly, "You said I was more than enough."

"But have you asked if I want children?"

Delaney frowns. He replays recent conversations in his mind and... "No. I haven't."

"Isn't that a decision I need to make for myself?" Delaney nods and Elias continues, gently, "By telling me you know you can't satisfy an urge you don't know is there or not, that makes me feel like you already have one foot out the door. It—it makes me question how you truly feel about me and I don't like questioning your feelings. I would like to believe that you genuinely love me for me and not the idea of what an alpha should be. So, ask."

Delaney takes another step forward, finding this one to be easier than the first, albeit just as frightening. What if Elias says he does want children? What would have been the point in claiming Delaney knowing he could never conceive? Was it the heat of the moment? Does Elias think that because he's a dominant alpha, he'd be able to conceive with Delaney despite him being the problem? "I'm afraid to ask," he finally admits.

Elias wraps an arm around Delaney's waist and pulls the omega into his lap. He brushes the messy hair out of the other man's face. "I'm not going anywhere, Dee. I know that hasn't been your experience, but I need you to trust that I'm yours. From the moment I laid eyes on you at the hospital, I knew."

Delaney's laugh mixes with a small sob and he shakes his head as he points out, "I was a fucking mess. There's no way you knew then."

"I mean, in all honesty you're a fucking mess now but you're my fucking mess so..." Elias kisses Delaney's cheek, leaving a small trail down to his jaw and eventually making his way to place a chaste kiss against the claiming mark. "The answer is no. I don't want children."

Intense relief washes over Delaney and he's no longer taking timid steps on this proverbial bridge; he's racing into the arms of a man that reaches up to wipe his tears. One that tells him,

"You're not empty, Dee. You're wonderfully whole. You're fiercely and totally complete. And if you let me, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you."

The trajectory takes a sharp turn when, after a pregnant pause, they both blurt out,

"Move in with me?"