Arrow Inferno
Chapter 38: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Hurting alpha!

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By the time they got to their floor, Jeremy's heart was pounding so hard Ryan was getting alarmed. He lifted his head from Jeremy's shoulder and stared at his face. The vulnerability and pain etched on the alpha's gorgeous face shook Ryan. He could tell from Jeremy's face that his teeth were tightly clenched. And when he reached out to open Ryan's door, Ryan didn't miss how his hand shook like a junky's in need of a fix. "Jeremy?"

"Where's your keycard?" Jeremy asked in a hoarse voice, not meeting Ryan's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Ryan asked softly, completely forgetting that he was still in Jeremy's arms.

"It's noth..."

"Bullshit," Ryan growled, suddenly remembering the position he was in. "What is wrong with you?" He demanded as he unlocked his legs from around Jeremy and slid down. Jeremy didn't stop him.

"I'll be fine," Jeremy said gruffly and then turned to go...towards the elevator.

And that was when it hit Ryan... Jeremy had been okay till he'd reminded him of how he felt about him. Well, he hadn't even finished what he'd wanted to say but Jeremy didn't have to be a genius to know how he felt. But shouldn't Jeremy be used to it by then, Ryan wondered in surprise.

"I don't have my keycard." Ryan suddenly blurted out. When Jeremy turned to look at him, he shrugged nonchalantly. "I put it in Gloria's bag. Maybe I can use the door in your suite..."

Without a word, Jeremy went to his door and pressed his right thumb to the fingerprint reader. When the door opened, he stepped aside and gestured for Ryan to precede him into his luxurious suite.

"After you." Ryan tipped his head, noticing that Jeremy had actually broken out in sweat. Fuck! He entered after Jeremy and closed the door behind him.

"I have to go." Jeremy's voice shook.

"Are you going back to the arena?" Ryan asked, not making any attempt to move towards the connecting door.

Jeremy shook his head, no. "I'm going for a run."

"You...your mother said you came to the arena right after a run. Do you have to..."

"I need to." Jeremy looked as if he was about to explode.

"Why?" Ryan whispered, moving closer to where Jeremy stood, rubbing his chest vigorously as if he was trying to get rid of an ache. Ryan didn't miss how Jeremy's breath was coming out harshly. "Is it because of what I said?" "This has nothing to do with you." Jeremy lied. He just wanted to get out of there. "See you tomorrow." He turned to go but Ryan's hand shot out to hold his wrist. "I need to go Ry..."

"Look at me." Ryan sounded like he wouldn't take any disobedience. He saw Jeremy freeze, and then turn around slowly to face him. "Good. Now shift."

"What?" The alpha whispered, surprised at the command.

"You heard me, Jeremy. Shift."

"You don't want that right now Ryan." Jeremy gasped.

"Let me be the judge of that. Shift." Ryan closed his eyes but could tell that Jeremy was still motionless, staring at him. "Please..." He breathed.

Jeremy's hands went to the buttons on his jeans. He unbuttoned them slowly. Then he bent down to take off his boots and socks. Next, he stepped out of his jeans, his boxer briefs following. By that point, he was trembling all over. His chest hurt so bad. He thought he would be used to Ryan's hurtful words by then...wouldn't be affected so much by them but on the contrary, even the wrong look from Ryan affected him...painfully. His wolf suffered the most. Jeremy didn't know what Ryan wanted with his wolf. But he really didn't think it was the best time for Ryan to be around the beast. Not when he was hurting so bad. He wasn't worried about his mate's safety though. He wolf would never harm Ryan. With a deep breath, Jeremy shifted.

Ryan felt the change in the room. It actually felt as though the room had suddenly gotten smaller. He knew he was in the room with Jeremy's wolf but he wasn't scared at all. He opened his eyes and looked at the magnificent red wolf. It was huge. Ryan was shocked to realize that the wolf was almost as tall as him and way bigger. Jeremy's wolf would definitely tip the scale at two hundred kilograms or more. The only time he'd come into contact with Jeremy's wolf, Ryan had been angry and in so much pain he hadn't looked at the wolf at all.

Gloria had said an alpha wolf was big but he hadn't thought it would be that big. And all that fur...it was beautiful. Ryan approached the wolf slowly. It stood still. And just as Ryan knew from his own studies a depressed wolf behaved, Ryan noticed that the wolf's ears were back, his eyes downcast and his tail hung straight down. Ryan groaned. When he raised a hand to touch the side of the wolf's neck and rubbed his fingers gently into the fur, the wolf leaned into the caress with a little whimper.

"Now listen to me," Ryan said softly. "You're not the one I'm angry at. It's the human Jeremy, for allowing himself to lose control and treat me the way he did. I don't want you to ever think I hate you 'cause I don't. I'm so sorry for putting you through all that pain with my utterances. I don't mean to. What happened really hurts me. There's a saying that time heals wounds but this one is not going to heal anytime soon. I'm bound to make references to what happened to me and tell Jeremy exactly what I think of him every now and then. It's a human thing. Try not to let it bother you please." He rubbed his face against the wolf, loving how soft and cozy it felt, loving its unique smell. "I just wanted you to know that." Then as if he couldn't help himself, Ryan began to scatter little kisses all over the wolf's face. "You're gorgeous." He breathed.

He moved around the wolf, touching it, rubbing it, talking to it, till it raised its fluffy tail and began to wag it. By the time Ryan went back to face it, the wolf looked...cheerful. Though it kept its eyes on Ryan with a gaze that pierced into his soul, its eyes were relaxed. That powerful jaw had dropped and the wolf was panting slightly. Ryan could have sworn it was smiling. And when that huge long tongue came out to lick Ryan's face, he couldn't stop the delighted laughter that burst from his throat.

"Cut that out, Jer," Ryan said without thinking. He certainly didn't notice he'd used Jeremy's pet name. He watched as Jeremy's wolf flopped down in a relaxed position, keeping a watchful eye on Ryan the whole time. Ryan also flopped down beside the wolf and cuddled against him as if it was the most natural thing. He threw an arm around the wolf and buried his face in its coat. Then he finally communicated through their link. 'Are you going to talk to me?' Jeremy's wolf couldn't suppress his chuckle. 'I was waiting for you to give me permission.'

Ryan laughed out loud. 'Are you okay?' He asked softly.

'I'll live.' The red wolf responded.

'How's he...doing in there?' Ryan asked quietly.

Somehow he felt sorry for Jeremy but he knew he had to do what he was doing to help the wolf who hurt every time he said a mean word to Jeremy. After all, the wolf didn't do anything to him. Gloria's training had made him appreciate the link between wolves and their humans better. And he didn't think it was fair to the wolf if he allowed him to hurt as he constantly did albeit unconsciously.

'How do you think?' The wolf drawled. 'I put him to sleep. He's out.'

'Really?' Ryan's eyes widened. 'I didn't know you could do that.'

'I can and I have.' Jeremy said smugly. 'Ryan?'

'Uh-huh?'

'Thanks.'