Arrow Inferno
Chapter 35: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Conflicted!

***

"I'm sorry if I've offended you by talking about it," Jeremy said, watching as Ryan pulled his t-shirt over his head. "I just..." He exhaled audibly. "You're so sensitive about it. It's obvious you wished you weren't like this. I just wanted to know whether something could be..." Jeremy trailed off as he tried to come up with the right words. "I was curious so I..."

"Checked the net. You've already said that."

"I also spoke to a doctor," Jeremy added. Yes, he'd tried to seek professional advice. He hated that his mate felt he had to hide himself because of his condition so he'd wanted to know whether anything could be done to correct the situation. "You told some doctor about me?" Ryan paused in picking up his towel and turned to look at Jeremy with eyes filled with shock and anger.

"No." Jeremy raised his hand as if to ward off an attack. "I only asked an expert I happened to meet in one of my meetings to tell me about the condition, that's all. He doesn't even know you. Neither does he know that I know someone with the condition. I've told you I'll never tell anyone about it and you thinking I would go back on my word is insulting, Ryan."

Ryan picked up his towel and clothes and went to the bathroom. When he got back into the room, Jeremy was still there. "So what did the good doctor have to say?" Ryan asked as he got into bed.

"Nothing I'm sure you already don't know," Jeremy said. "Why was it not corrected? I mean, one could have been surgically removed when you were a kid..."

"Too bad my mummy decided to kick the bucket." Ryan drawled, pulling the covers over his body. "You could have asked her." He went quiet for a moment. "I never did," Ryan added quietly. "I guess I just accepted my lot. It disgusts you huh?" "I'm not going to dignify that with an answer," Jeremy growled with sudden anger. He dreamt about those dicks each night, hoping to get another feel of them but knowing that it would probably take a divine intervention for that to happen again. So for his mate to have said what he had, made the alpha mad. "Can't we ever talk about any other thing besides your work? Can't I show any interest in you? Is it too much to want to get to know you?"

"I'm going to catch some sleep now," Ryan said, closing his eyes. He knew he'd angered Jeremy and should apologize but he just didn't want to.

Jeremy gave a deep sigh. "If you don't mind, I'll sit here for a while." Though furious, Jeremy couldn't mask the pleading in his voice.

"It's your house." Ryan flicked the switch by his bed and instantly plunged the room into darkness. In no time at all, he was fast asleep.

Jeremy stared at his sleeping mate with mild confusion. After that sweet embrace in the elevator, the last thing he expected from Ryan was that distant attitude. He seemed so remote and untouchable. And that killed Jeremy inside. It was painful to have Ryan so angry at him, even though he understood. He knew that there was nothing he could do but wait patiently for Ryan to forgive him. The alpha's question was...would he ever?

When Ryan woke up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, Jeremy was fast asleep on the rug in front of his bed, still fully clothed. Ryan stared at his mate, speechless. After a while, he quietly went about his business and then went back to bed. When he woke up the next morning, Jeremy wasn't in the room.

***

'Oh no, you smart wolf.' Gloria laughed. 'You think I don't know what you're trying to do? Come on, time to shift back. We are going to the arena whether you like it or not. See it as the explosive climax to your three-week training.' With a growl, Ryan reluctantly got up and went to where he'd left his clothes, to shift and dress up.

"What is your problem?" Gloria asked when they finished dressing. "You see him every evening for goodness sake. This shouldn't be any different."

"Well, he's usually covered up," Ryan mumbled as he linked an arm through Gloria's. "Didn't you say they fight with very little clothing on?" Ryan retorted as they headed out of the woods.

"Oh my God!" Gloria laughed. "So that's your problem huh? You're dreading seeing my son almost naked."

"It's not funny, Gloria." Ryan groaned. He'd become so close to Gloria he sometimes forgot she was an elderly lady. "It's this pull..."

"He's your mate, Ryan. It's only natural that you'd have the hots for him."

"How old are you again?" Ryan asked gruffly, his face heating up when Gloria laughed even harder. "Is it really necessary to go and watch them? I have lectures tomorrow you know..."

"I know." Gloria rubbed Ryan's arm soothingly. "And I've already told you it is."

That evening, Jeremy and his warriors were having a general training session for all the male wolves. It was to be held in their huge indoor training stadium which they called the Arena. Gloria thought it would be good for Ryan to see how the warriors fought and possibly, pick up some tips on how to best an opponent.

"Just looking won't help me acquire skills, Gloria. I think it's a waste of time." Ryan insisted, looking up at the brightly lit arena, looming ahead of them.

"Oh but you would. That's the first step, my dear. Watching. You see, the brain is a powerful tool. You will be surprised at what it can store. Such moves can come in handy when you least expect them. It's a good exercise. Just focus on the skills that the warriors are going to display, and not on my son's body." She chuckled.

"Easy for you to say," Ryan muttered, remembering how Jeremy had felt against him in the elevator a week earlier. "I've enjoyed these past three weeks with you by the way." He said softly. "Thank you."

"Pleasure was all mine." Gloria beamed. "And thanks for heeding an old woman's advice to train, and then honoring me by asking me to train you. I haven't felt this energized in a long time. Thanks." "You're not old." Ryan scoffed around the lump in his throat. "And why are you talking as if we'll not be training again?"

Gloria laughed. "Oh, we will. Just not as frequently as we have these past weeks. You won't be around much because of school, remember? And it's time to learn how to fight so you'll be spending more time with Stanley when you're free." "Oh my God, he told me." Ryan groaned. "I didn't believe him though."

"I don't blame you." Gloria laughed. "That boy jokes with everything so it's difficult to tell when he's serious."

"I think he missed his calling." Ryan drawled. "He should have been a comedian."

The elegant elderly woman and her beautiful companion were still laughing their heads off as they entered the brightly lit arena.