Arrow Inferno
Chapter 49: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks ~ Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Winding down!

***

Jeremy was in Ryan's room, leaning against the door with his arms folded across his chest when Ryan came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He didn't miss Ryan's slightly reddened eyes when their eyes met briefly. He didn't have to be a genius to know that Ryan had been crying.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy's voice was gruff with concern. He was still shaken by the power Ryan had displayed downstairs.

But Ryan headed for the closet without answering him. He pulled on boxer briefs under the towel around his waist, and then went back to the bathroom to hang the towel. When he came back to the room, he went to pull on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Then he went to sit behind the huge mahogany desk in the room.

"How many more must I expect?" He asked quietly whilst booting his computer. "Two attacks alrea..."

"Three." Jeremy cut in. "Mum went to...fight one before she came to the hospital to see you."

"Really? She didn't look like someone who'd been in a fight." Ryan said, searching for a document on the computer as if he was not under attack. "Do I take it your...lover is okay?"

"Ex...lover." Jeremy rasped. "I hear both of her arms are broken." He shrugged.

"Ouch."

"She'll heal."

"Sucks to be her," Ryan muttered staring at the screen. "Is she also as hot as the other two?"

"Ryan..."

"What? You want me to trash-talk your lovers?" Ryan abruptly got to his feet. He looked restless. "Where's your mum?"

"Downstairs," Jeremy responded. "Why?"

"I want to go for a run with her."

"This is not a good time Ryan." Jeremy groaned, rubbing his eyes. "Besides, you heard the doctor. You need..."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine to me," Jeremy said softly as he watched Ryan shutting down the computer. He could clearly see that his mate wasn't himself. All that power must surely feel unsettling. Jeremy wanted to hug him so badly but he just knew Ryan wouldn't welcome it. He was still angry at him for the way he'd spoken to him at the hospital.

"You just have to take me for my word, don't you?" Ryan bent to buckle his sandals and headed for the door. "Later." He threw over his shoulder. "Ryan?"

Ryan paused at the door with a hand on the handle. He didn't turn to look at Jeremy. "What?"

"Please answer me when I communicate on our link," Jeremy said hoarsely. "I know you can take care of yourself but...please." He whispered. Without answering, Ryan left the room and his worried mate.

***

'I hear you broke someone's arms.' Ryan murmured.

The wolves of the elderly warrior and the alpha's mate were lying beneath a tree, relaxing after sharing a deer after a long run.

Gloria snorted. 'She's had it coming for years. Trust me. What mother would be okay with her son fucking someone her age? Bitch had the nerve to tell me she planned on killing you. On hindsight, I should have made her come and face you.' Gloria chuckled. 'What you did to Katie... Damn!'

'That was awful.' Ryan groaned.

'That was badass.' The brown wolf laughed.

'What was that?' Ryan groaned. 'Am I okay? Jeremy told me I would gain some abilities after he marks me. But he hasn't even done that. Is something wrong with me?' The white wolf sounded worried.

'You're perfect hon. You're the alpha's mate. And a powerful alpha at that. Don't be shocked at anything.'

'It sure did feel good though.' Ryan sighed. 'Thanks, Gloria. For taking care of the other...lady, whoever she is. I hope she's fine though.' He said quietly. 'I hate the idea of people getting hurt because of me. Katie...I could feel her humiliation. And I hated it. Even Camille... She could have killed me if she really wanted to. And I could feel her regret afterward.' Ryan sighed. 'Jeremy says there're going to be more attacks.'

'From what I saw you do today, you can handle any attack with cheeky ease darling.' Gloria said with so much pride in her voice.

'Yeah, but I'd rather I didn't have to handle any at all.' Ryan groaned. Both wolves went quiet, lost in their own thoughts, till Ryan broke it. 'Tell me what happens during a mating ceremony.' He asked softly. She'd already explained sometime back that a mating ceremony was for only alphas who found their mates.

'Ryan, Jeremy doesn't want you to feel you have to...'

'Yeah, but his ladies won't give me a break. Your son sure does know how to pick em, Ma'am.' Ryan said, making Gloria burst into laughter.

'Tell me about it.' Gloria laughed.

'I just want it all to stop. Then I can also go about my work in peace. Tell me about the ceremony please.'

'Well, it's actually a celebration. If you must know, the whole pack is already looking forward to it.' She grinned. 'It begins by you picking any warrior of your choice to fight. Some people pick their mates. But like I said, the choice is yours. If you defeat the warrior, the alpha will declare you the winner and then present you to the High Priestess for blessings from Luna. Then he will proceed to show everyone just how proud he is of you.'

'And if I'm defeated?'

'That's not going to happen because your mate will step right in and save the day if he feels you're in trouble.' Gloria laughed.

'Then he'll still proceed to declare you the winner, present you to the High Priestess for blessings and...show how much he appreciates you.'

'And what if I pick my mate to fight me? What then?'

'He'll let you win. And still, show how proud...'

'You keep adding that showing how proud he is bit. How exactly is he going to show...'

'He'll have sex with you Ryan.' Gloria sighed. 'Right there, in front of the whole pack.'