Arrow Inferno
Chapter 98: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks ~ Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Confronting Paige!

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Jeremy nodded. "What's this I'm hearing about you finding your mate?"

Phillip groaned and rubbed his hand on his neck in a sigh of frustration. "I don't know his name. And I don't know where he is. He's just a kid. About sixteen years of age. Don't know why Luna decided to give me a kid but hey...who am I to question the great Luna?" He growled low in his throat. "Everything happened so fast. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. I know he's not dead because..."

"You feel him," Jeremy said softly. He hadn't believed the tales about 'the click' till he'd felt it himself the very first moment he'd laid eyes on his mate. It was almost as if something clicked inside and a connection was instantly formed. He wasn't surprised at all that Phillip could feel his mate.

Phillip nodded. "But I don't know if I'm ever going to see him again. End of story."

"Shit." Jeremy groaned. "How do you feel?"

"How do you think I feel?" Phillip snapped. "I can't fuck anyone because my wolf wouldn't allow it. Imagine all the tension and stress within, thanks to the battle." Phillip stood up and began to pace. "I need a good fucking release but I'm stuck with my hands."

Jeremy stared at his friend. He knew exactly how it felt. A male werewolf needed a good sexual release after any violence or excitement. That was just how they were wired. He also knew how frustrating it was to be prevented by one's wolf from having sex. Immediately a werewolf found his or her mate, the wolf would allow sex with only the mate. Same had happened with his wolf when he found Ryan. Maybe if his own wolf had allowed him to fuck any other person that night, he wouldn't have... Jeremy felt his wolf growl warningly within him and wished he could give the beast the finger or something.

"We'll find him Lip." Jeremy stood up and went to his friend. "Even if it's just for you to get laid." He drawled, drawing Phillip into his arms.

"You're an asshole." Phillip laughed.

"Anything else you wanna tell me?" Jeremy asked as he went back to his seat.

"How about a run?" Phillip asked, getting to his feet and going to the bar area to get some coffee laced with brandy. "I could call Stan and Paige to join us."

"That would be great." Jeremy stood up just as Ryan came back from the bathroom with a towel around his waist.

Jeremy stared. Oh god, he's so stunningly beautiful, Jeremy couldn't stamp down the thought that sprung to his mind. When Ryan caught him staring, Jeremy smiled and then started towards the closet where Ryan was headed. "I'm going for a run with Lip, Stan, and Paige. Wanna come?"

"No. Go spend time with them." Ryan said as he pulled on boxer briefs beneath the towel. "I'll organize some breakfast for you four."

"Better make it lunch," Jeremy said, watching as Ryan pulled on blue jeans and a baby-blue polo shirt. He looked so fucking sweet. "We're probably going to run all morning. I'll pass through mum's before I come back."

"Okay." Ryan watched as Jeremy turned to go. Something didn't feel right but Ryan couldn't put a finger on it. "Jeremy?" He waited till his mate turned to look at him with a raised brow. "Are we okay?" "Sure." Then Jeremy went to join Phillip behind the bar.

By the time Ryan came back to the room from the bathroom where he'd gone to hang his towel, Jeremy was opening the door for Stan and Paige. After hugging Stan, he just stared at Paige. Ryan watched them with bated breath. "I'm so sorry, Jer," Paige murmured, looking so contrite. "I thought I..."

"You did what you had to do so don't sweat it," Jeremy muttered. "But if you ever..."

"I will never put his life in danger again, Jeremy. I promise." Paige breathed shakily. "I didn't mean for that to happen."

"You know, I can't help but remember how you felt about him in the beginning." Jeremy leaned closer, his eyes fierce. "Makes me wonder whether this was a form of punishment..."

"Don't you dare complete that sentence, Jeremy Stanton." Paige hissed as angry tears sprang to her eyes. "I love Ryan. I would never intentionally harm him and it hurts that you would even think that. Please don't be ugly about this." She whispered shakily, trembling visibly but she didn't back down. "I'm not expecting your forgiveness." The tears fell then. "I don't deserve it. But I sure as fuck don't deserve your insults."

The devastation on Paige's face was killing Jeremy. The alpha knew he'd gone too far but he also knew why he was so angry at his friend. He couldn't look at his mate's face without picturing someone kissing him. And it was all thanks to Paige. But no matter what, Jeremy knew that he had to make things right with Paige. People made mistakes. He should know. He gave a shaky exhale.

"I'm sorry, Paige," Jeremy said gruffly. "I just... said what I thought."

"That was a shitty thing to say." Paige hiccupped, wiping her cheeks with her fingers.

"I know," Jeremy drew her into his arms, "but come on, you do it all the fucking time, Slip. I do it just this once and you want to crucify me?" He murmured into her hair. "I'm sorry."

"All I wanted was for him to dream about you because I knew that would cause him enough pain to push him to force the council to...make Luna bring you back. I just wanted him to feel some pain." She said tearfully.

"I didn't want him to feel pain, Paige." Jeremy rasped. "I went to great lengths to make sure he didn't have to."

"And much as that was sweet and mushy as fuck, it was a silly thing to do." Paige managed to growl through her tears. "For him to save you, he needed to feel pain, you moron. And I thought dreaming about you would fill him with that pain. I definitely didn't want to cause him harm. I was there the whole time just to keep an eye on him. That stupid warlock just..." She shook her head sadly. "He obviously had a death wish. And he decided to seek some revenge along the way. Silly me made it easy for him."

"That's what they do, Paige." Jeremy sighed. "They can't be trusted unless they are part of you. Why didn't you talk about your plan with someone else? Deloris would have helped you."

"No, she wouldn't have, and you know it." Paige snapped. "No one wants to go against Luna." She tried to sneer but her shaky voice ruined the effect, making Jeremy laugh despite himself.

They stood there for a very long time, with Paige sobbing quietly. They were tears of joy and relief that Jeremy was back. She didn't care at all that they'd had a fight. It wasn't their first and it was definitely not going to be their last. She was just happy that he was even there to fight with.

Ryan watched the scene quietly and then retreated to the study. He'd wanted to interrupt Jeremy and Paige's fight but Phillip and Stan had signaled him not to interfere. At least they seemed okay. Inside the study, Ryan sat behind his desk and stared at the couch on which he'd begged that warlock to give him a kiss. The rug had already been changed as it had been stained with the man's blood. He reached for the phone and gave firm instructions to Will, the one in charge of maintenance.

He wanted that couch changed immediately, and everything rearranged in the study. He knew that even if another couch replaced the old one, it wouldn't stop him from remembering what had gone on at that particular spot. Ryan also requested that the shattered glass in the Alpha's suite be replaced. After that, he called to order lunch in the main dining room inside the mansion. He thought Gloria, Joel, and Deloris could join them for lunch.