Recently was at a party where my LTR and her ex from 2 years ago were present. LTR friend zoned her ex hard and the ex is a total beta. She went radio silent on him and he still continues to try to contact her. My LTR is clearly his oneitis.

At the party, the ex was doing the most obvious orbiting imaginable. He would just come up to the group she and I were in and stand there and not say anything, just waiting for attention.

My usual MO is just to ignore an orbiter, but something in me took a more direct stance. I pulled him to the side, put an affirming hand on his shoulder, and told him she and I are dating now and he'd better spend his time looking elsewhere.

He sends me a text later that night, "I had no idea you two were dating. I wouldn't have tried anything if I had known that. Sorry, and thanks for telling me. I won't bother you again."

Part of me wants to reach out to him and praise him for taking the message the first time and being a man about it. I used to be beta like that, orbiting around my oneitis even when she clearly had moved on. Except when that happened, her boyfriend threatened to physically assault me if I kept showing my face.

I owe nothing to this girl's ex, but if I were in his shoes I think I would appreciate the alpha showing me respect man to man.

What do you think I should do in this situation?