L bit back a smile as his meal was placed before him.

"Someone's been talking to Quillish…" He murmured teasingly upon seeing the dinner the Alpha had prepared. The Omega raised an eyebrow as he side-eyed the grinning brunet, who simply shook his head.

"Hmm? I have no idea what you're talking about." He replied with wide, innocent eyes as he sat next to him at the round dining table with his plate. The Alpha gestured to a bottle of wine. "I wasn't sure if you'd feel up to drinking after last night…but I wanted to at least see if you wanted a glass?"

L nodded, feeling like he was going to need one to have the upcoming conversation regarding Beyond.

What if he doesn't want to see me again? Beyond is completely psychotic…who would want to deal with that? He watched Light pour them each a glass of wine and was immediately thankful it wasn't a red, as he was reminded of the other Alpha's burgundy-hued irises.

"Hey…" Light murmured softly, drawing L's attention back into the here and now as he gently placed a hand on his arm, eyes full of concern. "Are you alright? I'm sorry if I was being too forward or anything when you arrived, I-"

"No, no…um, nothing like that." L shook his head and gave the Alpha a reassuring smile. He turned to his meal, focusing on filling his mouth to allow himself a moment to pull his thoughts together.

"Okay…" Light's brow furrowed as he gave L an understanding nod, but he clearly wasn't convinced as he began to eat his meal as well. After several long minutes of silent eating, L stopped and reached for his wine, only to realize his hand was shaking.

What is wrong with me? His eyes went wide as he gripped the glass tightly and brought it to his lips to drink. The Omega glanced over at Light and realized the other man was watching him with worry etched on his visage.

"L, please…" The Alpha had set down his fork and was turning in his seat to face the other man. As L set down his glass once more, Light reached for his hand to hold in his own. "I just know something's wrong…I can feel it…I can see it…" He brought L's hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"Let me in…tell me. I want to help." The brunet pleaded.

The raven swallowed hard around the lump in his throat as he stared into the other man's honeyed gaze. Light's words were everything he wanted to hear and it terrified him because it meant that he was ready to place himself in Beyond's crosshairs. The Omega knew that his ex would kill this newly discovered true mate of his without a second thought.

If we're going to make this work I can't hide anything from him…not even who I really am…

L sighed heavily and nodded in agreement. He couldn't deny this man before him, not when he could see the beginnings of something wonderful sparking in his eyes when he looked at him.

I have to trust that we'll get through this together…

xxx

"I…had a less than a conventional upbringing, you might say." The Omega began quietly. "I wanted for nothing, but for the most part it was just me and Quillish ever since my parents were killed in an accident when I was quite young."

"I'm so sorry, L." Light's heart broke for the other man. Even if the loss had happened long ago, he couldn't fathom losing both of his parents, not to mention at the same time. The raven gave him a wistful smile.

"I've been very lucky to have Quillish by my side. He promised my parents he would always look out for me and he has." L assured him. "He takes care of everything. Always made sure I had the best private tutors and access to whatever I needed as art became a greater part of my life…"

"It wasn't until just after I'd turned eighteen that I started to feel like pushing any of the boundaries that were in place to protect me…testing the limits." L's voice wavered, his hands clenching. Light immediately grasped them in his own.

"Shh, it's ok." Light murmured, giving a gentle tug on both of them and pulling L to his feet to lead him to the living room.

"I'm sorry about dinner…" The raven replied worriedly, glancing at the table.

Light smiled. "Don't worry, I can reheat it later, ok? There's more in the fridge as well."

The Alpha settled L on the sofa and grabbed a soft blanket before sitting down as well to pull him in close to him, wrapping it around both of them. Light let out an internal sigh of relief as L melted into his embrace, letting the brunet know he'd done the right thing in comforting him this way.

"I don't want you to feel like you have to share anything else if you don't want to." Light murmured, nuzzling the Omega's raven hair and inhaling the heavenly scent that rose off him. It was like freshly baked cookies, warm from the oven. A smoky hint at the edge of his scent spoke of cozy winter nights curled up by a fire. It was everything good and it felt like coming home…

L… What are you doing to me? He smiled softly and took another deep breath.

"No…you need to know this." The Omega sighed. "I decided to go to a gallery opening one night in London for up and coming artists." L continued, voice more steady now as his fingers ran along Light's forearm, his gaze staring off thoughtfully as he remembered past events. "While I was there, I met someone…one of the artists, an Alpha. We began seeing one another soon after."

The brunet forced himself to swallow down the brief flicker of annoyance that coursed through him, for the sake of the Omega in his arms. He knew that now was not the time for displays of jealousy, especially while L was clearly vulnerable.

"He was the first person I'd ever been in a relationship with. I'd lived a rather sheltered existence until that point." L continued in a quiet voice.

"In the beginning, everything was amazing and he treated me like I was something...precious to him." A bitter laugh escaped the raven, sending an icy chill through the Alpha.

"His name was…is Beyond. And by the time he showed his true colors, I was in so deep, I couldn't see my way out." L muttered angrily.

"He wanted to possess me, own me. He called it love." The young man snorted derisively. "What a joke." L shook his head in disbelief before continuing.

"Beyond eventually became so controlling, so demanding, that I decided I'd had enough…and I told him as much. Of course, that's when things went really bad. That…" The Omega looked away as if embarrassed, eyes downcast.

"…was the first time he hit me," L whispered. Light couldn't prevent the flare of rage filled pheromones that rose from him at L's admission. The raven shivered in response.

"I'm sorry…sorry." Light took a deep, calming breath. "Just the idea of anyone laying a finger on you is inexcusable to me. I still want to get a crack at Aiber…" The brunet growled out lowly.

"We can circle back to that topic," L muttered, his voice shaky as he patted Light gently on the arm and immediately brought things back into focus.

"At the time, Beyond told me that everything he was doing was for my own good, that he was protecting me from the world by keeping me to himself or hurting me to teach me a lesson so I wouldn't forget who my Alpha was..." Light reached out and brushed away a tear that was running down the young man's cheek.

"He really had me believing it too." The Omega said quietly, gnawing on his lip. "The final breaking point was when he was talking about bonding with me at my next heat and I told him I wasn't ready, that I wanted to wait." L's eyes were impossibly large, swimming with tears and distress as he looked into Light's honeyed irises once more.

"That night was the worst he'd ever been." L blinked, sending more tears spilling down his face. In the next second, Light was pulling him even closer as the raven rested his head on the Alpha's shoulder. "He even threatened to kill Quillish if I didn't follow through…" He choked out.

Light ran his hand along L's back in a soothing motion, trying to ease some of the other man's suffering as he recounted such horrible memories. I can't even imagine.

"Once I was physically capable of leaving his loft after…" L trembled slightly at the memory but pushed forward. "…what he did to me, I knew I had to tell Quillish what was happening. That's when we put plans in motion to disappear. I knew if we left any sort of trail he'd find us."

Light carded his fingers through the Omega's hair. "Thank you for sharing that with me." The Alpha murmured as he held the younger man close. "I'm so sorry you ever had to go through something like that."

"I wish I could say that was the end of it…" L leaned back to look at the other man, wiping away the last of his tears, expression grave as he faced Light. "But the reason I'm telling you this is because he's found me. The man who answered the phone…who was going to buy me from Aiber…it was Beyond."

xxx

L saw a dark intent swimming behind the young Alpha's eyes as he revealed this information and shivered. He wasn't sure if it was in fear, or with lust at the idea of this man raining down some form of justice on-

No! He'll get himself killed!

"I'm going to-" The Alpha began to growl.

"Light. No. Don't even think about it." L grasped the other man's face in both hands, drawing his attention back to him as he leaned in close. "Beyond is ruthless and skilled at fighting. Aiber's listed in critical condition right now at the hospital after they found him this afternoon in his office." The brunet's eyes widened in surprise.

Yes, please…take this seriously…

"I'm pretty sure it was Beyond," L muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's scouring the town looking for me right now. Fortunately, I'm enrolled in school under an alias, so-"

"Wait…is your real name's not L?" Light raised an eyebrow in amusement. "And I was getting so attached to it…" He teased.

L scowled half-heartedly. "Yes, my name is L, but, uhm…" He eyed Light nervously. It felt wrong to hide anything from the other man, almost painfully so.

My mate deserves to know everything about me, my family name…oh god…mate? L's eyes widened at the direction of his thoughts, how naturally they went there. He looked at Light in wonder.

He really is my mate…isn't he? The brunet smiled and leaned in to press a gentle kiss to L's lips.

"What are you thinking about right now?" Light asked softly, reaching up to run his fingers through L's unruly raven strands.

"You," L replied playfully. "And how I feel when I'm around you." Even that small admission made him feel a million times better, especially when Light flashed that panty dropping smile of his once more in response. Fuck, he's gorgeous.

L sighed and shook his head, grinning. "Stop distracting me Light."

"Mmm…only fair when you do the same to me L…if that is, in fact, your real name." The Alpha chuckled.

L laughed. "I promise it is…" The Omega suddenly remembered Quillish's recommendation and thought he'd ask…

"Oh…so, Quillish would like someone with me at all times and thought maybe you-"

"Yes." Light interrupted, cocking his head to the side and smiling. "I am happy to guard your body, day and night…every single inch of it." His eyes filled with heated desire.

Oh god… L swallowed hard and nodded in agreement. Happy to let you Light…

"Okay…do you want to come over tomorrow and help me make a decision on the real bodyguards?" Light gave an exaggerated pout to which L simply laughed in response.

"We're flying them in overnight…the ones recommended by our contacts were rather spread out at the moment around the world, but they should be here in the morning for interviews."

"Flying them in? Contacts? Holy shit, L…" Light chuckled. "I think I might be a bit superfluous as a guard compared to whomever you're hiring, but that's fine with me I suppose." He assured L.

"At the moment, I believe you're quite safe right where you are, so I'll just focus on making you happy in other ways." He smiled naughtily.

Light swiftly pulled the raven into his lap, eliciting a surprised gasp from the Omega as their heated bodies pressed against one another. A blush rose up in L's cheeks.

"…they can worry about everything else when they get here." Light practically purred.

"Totally ok with that plan…" L breathed out, shuddering in Light's arms as the Alpha's lips brushed against the pale column of his throat

"How do you smell so good..." Light groaned, placing a kiss on the Omega's scent gland. "I can't explain it…"

"Light…" L panted as the rightness of being in the Alpha's arms overwhelmed him. He rolled his hips as Light's hands drifted along his thighs. He couldn't get enough contact with the brunet. Their skin couldn't press close enough, hands couldn't explore fast enough, mouths couldn't connect long enough before they were forced to come up for air…

L gazed intently at the Alpha, his eyes half-lidded as his fingertips traced along the Alpha's kiss swollen lower lips. He smiled lazily, all worries shoved away at the moment.

"Mine…" The Omega murmured possessively. Light's eyes widened as a grin that could illuminate the room with sheer joy spread across his features.

He's blinding… breathtaking… my mate…

"Yes…" Light replied. "Yours."

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