Arrow Inferno
Chapter 19: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Danger and charm… To the rescue!

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"I'm so stupid," Will muttered to himself as he watched the wild boar coming slowly towards him. He couldn't believe he'd actually charged into the jungle without his gun.

Unfortunately, a gun had been the last thing on his mind when he left his suite. All he could think of at that moment was being with his wolf and pouring out his heart like the pouring rain. Now he'd gotten himself in a sticky situation. And from the constant lightning that lit up the dark sky, he could tell that his assailant this time was one ugly motherfucker. Well, he wasn't going to wait around to be gutted by a mere pig...feral or nay. He turned around to run but he slipped and fell.

"Fucking hell!" Will groaned and quickly turned around just as the boar charged at him. "Not a fucking pig!" He muttered and promptly gasped when a huge fur ball suddenly appeared and flew at the boar. Will's confused expression suggested he'd not anticipated being rescued by his friend. But he couldn't suppress the smile that broke free as he watched his wolf show the boar who was boss. The easy strength and grace with which the wolf fought the boar was simply beautiful to watch. "Atta-boy."

It didn't even occur to Will to run. He had confidence in his wolf. And it didn't disappoint. Will couldn't suppress his sigh of relief and proud grin when he saw the lifeless body of the boar. The now drenched wolf howled to the sky as he stood over the dead boar. Will had to resist the urge to cheer. He sat up on his haunches and watched the wolf as it came slowly towards him. There was something a bit different about the wolf but Will thought it was because it had just been in battle.

Of course, he had no idea the kind of battle going on between the wolf and its human that very moment. Stan's plea was a chant. He sounded desperate. But the wolf was determined to take matters into his own hands. He had no intention of listening to his weak human. This was it!

"God, I love you." Were the first words that fell out of Will when the wolf got to him.

It was almost as if he couldn't hold back. The wolf froze at those words. But an equally drenched Will threw his arms around it and hugged it as if he was never going to let it go. He kept murmuring his thanks the entire time even as the storm raged violently around them.

'Did you hear what he said?' Stan asked his wolf urgently. 'He loves you. Do you really think he will still love you after you bite him? No!' The wolf remained quiet, clearly shaken by Will's words. 'That feeling of love will turn into hate so fast your head will spin. Trust me...I'm human, so I know how we operate. He will only accept us if we show him some respect by fully disclosing everything before we give him the bite. Don't fucking do it!'

When Will eventually let go of the wolf, it stared at him as though it were seeing him for the first time.

"Hey, are you okay?" Will stroked the wet fur, feeling around for any injury. "You did great buddy. You were like my knight in shining armour. In stories, the knight would appear from nowhere and save the damsel in distress." He laughed softly. "In this case, I'm just a stupid soldier who forgot his gun."

Will stopped talking when the wolf turned around a nudged him with its butt which it had lowered. He watched the wolf with a confused expression.

"Am I supposed to decode this move?" He chuckled, wiping his face with his wet sleeve.

But the wolf kept nudging him, making him laugh.

"What I wouldn't give to be an animal whisperer right now," He sighed, stroking the wet fur. "Wow, easy buddy." He chuckled when the wolf gave him a particularly hard nudge which almost made him fall. "Wait...are you trying to say I should climb onto your back?" He chuckled, patting the animal. "Is that it? I know you're very big but I can't do that."

At his words, the wolf turned around and growled at him. Then it turned around again and nudged him. His request was very clear.

"Alright, alright," Will muttered as he climbed onto the back of the wolf. "What now? Wow..." He gasped and held on tightly when the wolf broke into a run. "Don't you dare drop me, Usain."

'Another name.' Stan chuckled inside his wolf but the wolf didn't respond. It ran with just one destination in mind. The cave. At the entrance, it lowered its butt, a clear indication that Will could get off. Then it shook its massive body, causing sprinkles of water to fly everywhere.

"So this is your home huh?" Will entered the surprisingly warm cave. "Cozy."

The wolf followed him in and nudged him to sit. Then he began to lick the rainwater on his neck. Will closed his eyes and enjoyed the attention until he heard a sound of ripping and falling buttons. He opened his eyes and stared down at his now exposed his chest. His shirt had been ripped open by the wolf and his buttons had scattered around.

"Hey, if you wanted me to take it off, all you had to do was ask," he chuckled. "I guess that's your way of asking huh? You're right, I have to get out of these wet stuff before I catch a cold."

Will took off his boots and then stripped to his boxers. He squeezed the water out of his clothes and then spread them on a huge stone to dry. Then he went back to lie beside the wolf who covered him partially with his body, creating more warmth.

"You're one sensible wolf, know that?" Will snuggled closer, feeling very safe. "I'm sorry for what I put you through back there but I really needed to see you. I need a listening ear. I can't talk to any other person about this. It would be very embarrassing to talk about how I feel about this person to anyone. So you can be my personal shrink because I know you won't judge me," he chuckled. "Nothing better than a silent shrink." He laughed when the wolf gave him a lick on his tattoo. "Just send my bill to my mail."

For a moment, Will remained quiet. He didn't know where to start. Then with a sigh, he blurted out...

"I kissed Stan."

Then Will went ahead and poured his heart out!