Arrow Inferno
Chapter 36: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Arena games!

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The energy in the arena was charged. There were at least a thousand people in the arena but Ryan thought it could easily accommodate ten thousand people. Ryan could see a few women but the men, most of whom were in wrestling trunks, dominated. There were a number of boxing rings scattered around the arena but the one in the center was double the size of a standard boxing ring. Almost all eyes were focused on the two warriors sparring inside the big boxing ring. "Oh God, they're huge." Ryan gasped as he watched the two men. "Who in their right minds would go up against all that muscle?"

"All you need is skill, not muscles." Gloria chuckled, steering Ryan towards some arranged chairs close to the big boxing ring. "With the right skill, you can take that down in a blink."

"I wouldn't want to find out whether my skills would work," Ryan murmured as he sat down beside Gloria.

People kept bowing respectfully to Gloria but none spared Ryan a glance. Apart from Jeremy, Gloria, Philip, Joel, and Stan, no one knew that Ryan was Jeremy's mate. They just saw him as someone who kept the elderly warrior company. Some commented on his beauty to his hearing sometimes but Ryan would only smile his thanks and keep moving. At least no one gave him any grief.

The fighting and sparring were really interesting to watch. The warriors had skills and style. Some got bruised but Gloria assured him they would heal. He tried very hard not to ask but in the end, he had to know...

"Where's he?" Ryan finally turned to Gloria and asked, ignoring the elder's smirk.

"He'll be here soon. He usually comes in directly from a run. Those boys will always be boys." She chuckled. "Which boys?" Ryan asked, turning his head in the direction of a commotion near the entrance.

"That should be them. Jeremy, Philip, and Stanley." Gloria responded. "Now get ready for some good show."

Ryan couldn't suppress his gasp when he saw Jeremy. He was in low-slung faded blue jeans that seemed molded to his sexy body and black combat boots. His bare upper body looked so ripped with its sculpted pecs and breath-stealing six- pack. Ryan couldn't stop his eyes from following the line of dark hair that headed south to what he knew was the biggest cock he'd ever seen and...had the misfortune of being fucked by. The mere thought of it made Ryan's belly quiver, surprisingly not in fear but rather, excitement.

And that film of sweat on the alpha's candylicious body made Ryan want to lick the man all over. God! He couldn't tear his eyes off Jeremy. Ryan watched admiringly as the alpha moved with confident strides towards the big boxing ring, flanked by Philip and Stan. When Stan turned his head to give Ryan a slow wink, he couldn't help the smile that curved his mouth. Stan always made him want to laugh. His eyes met Philip's who gave him a boyish grin. Then Ryan's eyes moved back to his ridiculously imposing mate, trying not to salivate as he watched him move with sensual confidence. He suddenly fell short of breath.

Somehow Jeremy sensed Ryan's eyes on him and turned his head till their eyes met. He saw how flushed Ryan looked. He knew arousal when he saw it. And at that moment, Jeremy felt his mate's hunger...smelt the enticing pheromones emanating from the beautiful man. He felt an answering need within him but suppressed it. He'd vowed to himself never to let his hunger for his mate get out of hand. He sure as hell wasn't going to ever touch Ryan sexually unless he unambiguously asked him to. He tipped his head slightly in greeting and then looked away. He needed to concentrate on the training at hand, Jeremy told himself as he vaulted over the ropes and did a classic landing into the boxing ring. He was used to his mate ignoring his lust for him due to how much he despised him. Jeremy's only hope was that one day, Ryan would let go and allow himself to want him. Jeremy couldn't wait for that day to come.

Immediately the alpha landed in the ring, he raised high both hands, and then held up three fingers on each hand to represent his famous catchphrase... 'survival, loyalty and respect'. The crowd went wild. Thunderous roars and applause from the people filled the arena. Then as he always did at such events, Jeremy opened his mind-link to everyone inside the arena...except his mate. Although he was going to talk to the hearing of everyone during the training, he needed to be able to mentally communicate with anyone at any point.

"Ready, People?" The alpha bellowed and received a thunderous response from the charged werewolves. "Don't be scared to try anything. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance if you need it. And don't break your fucking neck. Let's begin!" The alpha finished to more roars.

And what a workout it was. Ryan had thought they were only going to spar but it was more than that. There was a bit of boxing, kickboxing, karate, mixed martial arts, taekwando, and some other fight Ryan wasn't familiar with. Immediately a participant fell to the canvas, he was out. Ryan had never seen anything so powerful, exhilarating, and amazingly captivating like he saw that day. Jeremy and the warriors were like beasts...beautiful beasts. Everyone was transfixed by the display of power and skill...even Gloria. Her attention was no longer on her charge at all.

Though Ryan admired the strength and splendor of the fighters, he only had eyes for Jeremy. Now, that was power! He tried not to ogle Jeremy as he kicked the arses of everyone he encountered...even his warriors, but Ryan just couldn't help himself or get his brain to obey him. The way Jeremy moved, his muscles rippling powerfully with every movement... Damn, the man was just too fucking sinful. Surely it should be criminal for a man to be that sexy. Ryan felt his heart pounding, pulse racing, cocks hardening... He wanted Jeremy like never before.

Ryan began to pant harshly, his eyes riveted on Jeremy's mouth as he belted out instructions. The man must have the most luscious, sensual, and yet devastatingly masculine lips on the planet, he thought lustfully. He remembered how they felt against his lips. How just a touch of those lips had made him come so hard he'd lost all feeling in his limbs. Just watching those lips called to something hungry and primitive inside Ryan. He wanted another taste. He was dying to feel that mouth moving against his... he WANT THOSE LIPS ON MINE!

The whole arena went dead quiet! One could have heard a pin drop.

Jeremy had been about to pull up a warriors who had fallen on the canvas when he heard his mate scream what he wanted. It took him a second to realize that Ryan hadn't spoken out loud. He'd heard his mate in his mind. But... he wasn't even linked to Ryan, Jeremy thought, stunned. Then Jeremy noticed something even more strange... Somehow, Ryan's desperate command had been heard by everyone inside the arena. To say Jeremy was shocked would be an understatement. How had Ryan been able to do that? He'd just communicated to every werewolf inside the arena, which only an alpha could do.

A head warrior, for instance, could communicate to only his warriors at once, and a head Beta could communicate to a particular group at a time. The werewolves gathered inside the arena were from different groups. Hell, some were visiting werewolves from other packs. And Ryan had managed to reach each mind even though he hadn't been linked with any of them...which even an alpha couldn't do. Had Ryan's thoughts been heard by everyone because they were linked to him, Jeremy wondered. But even as he wondered, Jeremy knew that it was something else...a higher power at play...because nothing like that had ever happened before. Fuck!

All eyes were on Ryan. And he wasn't even aware of what he'd done. He'd effectively distracted everyone. Although everyone looked shocked, it was also obvious they wanted to know who Ryan wanted to kiss so badly. That wasn't difficult to figure out at all as Ryan's heated gaze was locked on the alpha.

"Oh boy." Philip breathed beside Jeremy.

"Did he just..." Stan's shocked voice trailed off as he stared at Ryan with wide eyes. "Fuck me!"

Beside Ryan, Gloria gasped. "Oh my God, Ryan..."

But Ryan didn't even hear Gloria. His eyes remained on Jeremy, who gazed right back at him. Time stood still. The thought on the minds of almost everyone in the arena was one: The man had signed his death warrant. How dare he lust after none other than Alpha Jeremy, who everyone knew had never been a fan of same-sex affairs? Everyone watched and waited with bated breath. What was the alpha going to do?