Arrow Inferno
Chapter 129: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks ~ Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Perfect New Life!

***

Alpha Jeremy Stanton shot out of bed. He turned his head to make sure that his mate was beside him in bed. Ryan was sleeping peacefully on his back with his face turned towards Jeremy. The alpha got out of the bed but didn't move away from it. Something had woken him up. Better still, someone had. Someone was in the room with them. But who would risk being caught snooping in none other's room than his, Jeremy wondered. He could hear a heartbeat besides that of his mate. It was faint but it was there. Apart from the heartbeat, he could smell whoever it was. It was a sweet scent, almost like Ryan's. Maybe whoever was in the room with them wasn't a threat. But what did the person want in the first place? Jeremy moved away from the bed but stopped when he noticed that the further he moved away from the bed, the fainter the heartbeat got. He crouched down and looked under the bed but there was no one there. He looked down at Ryan's face, angelic in repose, and listened to his heartbeat. It was strong and steady as it always was but strangely, it seemed to beat faster. With a slight frown, Jeremy sat down beside Ryan and laid a hand on his chest, feeling the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. Why was Ryan's heart beating so fast? He hoped it was nothing serious.

Then Jeremy heard it again. The other heartbeat. It was still faint, but it was steady. The surprising thing was that it seemed to be coming from Ryan. But how? And that scent...it seemed stronger the closer he got to Ryan. It dawned on Jeremy that the scent seemed to be emanating from his mate. Why had Ryan's scent changed, Jeremy wondered. Could it have something to do with the heat?

Ryan's seventh and last day of heat had been two days earlier. His abnormal craze for sex had diminished to normal on the eighth day. Ryan still wanted him but it was not with the intensity and desperation with which he had demanded sex on those seven days. That strong mating scent had ceased abruptly on the eighth day. His mate still smelt wonderful but that particular scent...the one that Jeremy just couldn't resist, was no longer there. This new odour, although sweet, seemed rather strange.

Jeremy stretched out beside Ryan. Then he placed his head on his chest, trying to listen to his heartbeat closely. He realized that the second heartbeat was coming from below where his head rested on his mate. Jeremy moved his head slowly down Ryan's body, feeling the sound get stronger as he moved down. He couldn't suppress the gasp that tore out of his throat when he got to Ryan's stomach. The alpha just knew what had happened when he realized that the second heartbeat was coming from his mate's belly. He didn't have to be a genius to know what that sound he was hearing signified. There was a new life inside Ryan.

"Luna..." Jeremy breathed as his entire body went taut with shock. He couldn't move or make a sound. He just stared at Ryan's flat tummy. "Oh. My. God." Jeremy gasped, his entire body going weak. Ryan was pregnant. A myriad of emotions that the alpha couldn't decipher, filled him. He went from shock to emotional within minutes. His chest felt constricted. The lump in his throat felt like a boulder. Jeremy suddenly found it difficult to breathe. He felt his vision blur as all the strength completely left him.

Jeremy didn't miss the struggle that suddenly began within him. But he was too disoriented to even comprehend what exactly was going on inside him. He gasped when he felt fiery heat sizzle through his body. He suddenly had no control of his body. He felt as if he was falling. Jeremy knew he had to rein in some control but he was too overwhelmed with emotions he just didn't have the strength. The last thing he heard as he took the plunge into nothingness, was his wolf's exasperated howl inside him. The beast seemed desperate to come out. But something stronger overpowered the wolf. Jeremy's eyes turned bloody red.

***

Ryan stirred and stretched. He felt eyes on him even before he opened his eyes. When he saw Jeremy leaning over him and staring at his tummy, Ryan reached out to tenderly run his knuckles against his mate's cheeks. From the clock on the wall, it was a quarter after six a. m.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" Ryan whispered. They always slept in. "Couldn't sleep?" He watched as Jeremy slowly turned his head to look at him. Ryan's brows raised in surprise at the red eyes staring at him. The last time he'd seen the Ojah, his mate was back from purgatory and was dying. He had no fear for Jeremy's Ojah at all. But he didn't know why he was there that morning either. "To what do I owe this...visit?" Ryan asked quietly.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you, Ryan." The red-eyed Jeremy said shakily.

Ryan's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't need to ask the Ojah what he was talking about. There was a saying that no one ever forgot their first time. Well... even if it was meant to be forgotten, his first time could definitely be easily remembered.

"I know you are." Ryan moved to sit up. "And I accept your apology. But why now?" He leaned his back against the headboard and watched the Ojah intently.

"I've wanted to come out and apologize but Jeremy and the wolf wouldn't allow me anywhere near you."

"But I thought you were stronger than either of them." Ryan pointed out.

"I am. But when they join forces, they are a formidable force."

"That day I was attacked on campus, you came." Ryan pointed out.

"They didn't have a choice then." He shrugged. "I was your only hope. It was either they allowed me out or Camilla hurt you real bad." The Ojah watched as Ryan nodded. "I wanted to apologize then but before I could speak, you asked for... him. So I gave you him."

"I see. You honestly expect me to believe that was the only time you've gotten out?" Ryan watched the Ojah squirm. He didn't know why he felt like drilling the creature who had tortured him when he'd first landed in Stanwood Pack. But he was enjoying himself.

"I...I was there during your marking." He lowered his eyes. "Both times."

"Really?" A faint smile touched Ryan's mouth when the Ojah nodded. "Did you enjoy it?" He smirked when the Ojah's head shot up and blood-red eyes stared into his.

"I've never enjoyed anything more." He rasped. "Again, those two didn't have a choice. It wouldn't have been a marking without me."

"So...why did they allow you out this time? How did you get out if you claim they don't want you anywhere around me?"

The Ojah swallowed hard. "Jeremy...Jeremy..."

"Jeremy did what?" Ryan asked gently, noticing how much the Ojah seemed to be struggling. "Tell me." He whispered.

"He...he lost control of his body after what he saw." He said quietly. "You know...that will make the toughest of men weak." "What did he..."

"Still talking."

Ryan's eyes widened. "Sorry." He murmured, but that faint smile touched his mouth again. Despite all that the red-eyed alpha had done to him in the past, he admired the hell out of his blunt, unrestrained nature. He found it damn hot. "I took advantage when I felt him lose control. I fought the wolf and got out. Well, I didn't really fight him..." At this point, Ryan couldn't help but feel the Ojah seemed to be talking to himself. "I just bulldozed my way out. He wanted to get out too by the way. I just thought this was my only chance. My chance to sincerely apologize for what I did to you. I know you see me as a monster. I am. But I want you to know that I will never ever harm you or our baby. Ever!" "What baby?" Ryan frowned as his head began to pound.

"The one in here." He said softly, reaching out to gently rub Ryan's belly.

"Oh..." Ryan gave a burst of short laughter that sounded strained even to his own ears. "There's no baby. It was just the heat that..."

"Close your eyes." The Ojah whispered. "Concentrate...listen and feel." He instructed quietly and watched as Ryan did as he'd been told.

A loud gasp tore out of Ryan as his eyes shot open. "Oh my god..." A shocked whisper. He suddenly felt light-headed. "I feel it." His hands went to his belly. "Oh my god..."

"You've already said that." The Ojah muttered. "Listen, Ryan, it would kill me if you kept the baby away from me for fear that I might harm it." The Ojah went on quietly.

"Cause I will protect it with my life. I will protect both of you with my life. I'm nothing without you, Ryan. It will take time but eventually, you will come to know that I live for you." The Ojah finally took a closer look at Ryan's ashen face. "Ryan?" "Why did Jeremy..." Ryan began shakily but trailed off.

"Uh-huh?" The Ojah prompted. "Why do you look like that? Don't you want our baby?" He asked sharply.

"Why did he lose control?" Ryan's voice shook. The last time Jeremy lost control and allowed his Ojah to take over, he hated what he'd been given. Him. "Why?" A tear escaped his eye and slid down his cheek.