Arrow Inferno
Chapter 130: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks ~ Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Love and joy!

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"Too much emotion can bring a warrior to his knees. What Jeremy felt when he felt the presence of that baby...I've never felt before." He rasped. "That intense, unconditional love... It was shocking, it was unexpected, it was overwhelming, and it reduced him to a position of complete submission. If he gets the slightest feeling that you don't want the baby, it will destroy him. So I ask again; don't you want the baby?"

The relief that washed over Ryan was instant. He'd heard all that he needed to. "I want it." And Ryan realized he'd meant nothing more. That baby growing inside him was part of him and he loved it already. "Good." The Ojah looked relieved.

"So he's okay with it?" Ryan asked in a small shaky voice. "He's not freaked out by my abnormality?"

"Your..." The Ojah growled low in his throat. "You really need to stop thinking that way about yourself. Remember that very first hand-job he gave you? In the hospital, after I'd..." He trailed off. At Ryan's nod, he continued. "Did you see or feel any disgust from him even then?" Ryan slowly shook his head. Jeremy had simply wanted to give him relief. "He loved you even then. He just didn't know it. He loves everything about you Ryan. You could turn into a cockroach right now, and we...yes, we...would love you till we draw our final breath. Never doubt that. I think that you're an amazing guy and anyone would be lucky to have you." He murmured. "Thanks." Ryan smiled through his tears.

The Ojah groaned, reaching out to wipe the tears off Ryan's cheeks. "Seeing you in tears is killing me." He growled, moving closer to Ryan. "And to think I pride myself on not feeling." "But you do." Ryan gave a tremulous smile.

"Yeah, thanks to you." He grunted irritably. "Can I please hug you?" He asked softly.

"You don't have to ask." Ryan moved into the Ojah's arms and melted against him. "Thank you." He whispered.

"No. Thank you."

When Ryan moved out of the Ojah's arms, he couldn't help but notice the wetness in those red eyes. He reached up tentatively to swipe his thumb across one eye and looked at his wet thumb.

"It's water, not blood." Ryan gushed with mock surprise.

"Oh, you're mean." The Ojah chuckled. "Can I ask a favour?" "Anything." Ryan smiled.

"Give him some time. Jeremy I mean." He grimaced. "His mood is affecting me. That's the first time ever that I've... teared up. You're a bad influence." He gently brushed Ryan's hair back. "If he comes out now, he'll just bawl his eyes out. I can feel the intensity of the emotions running through me right now. Give him time." He said softly and waited till Ryan nodded his understanding. "Good. In the meantime, the beast is dying to come out. Cuddle with him for a while. No shifting. At least not until that baby drops."

"Seriously?" Ryan gasped. "I love going for runs." He whimpered.

"Well, I'm no expert but from the little I know, shifting can harm the baby. You have to sacrifice some of your comfort for it."

Ryan smiled despite himself. "You're going to be an amazing father," Ryan whispered, cupping the Ojah's cheek.

"We're going to be the very best." A promise. "Now, I don't want that beast scratching you mistakenly with his claws. Go get something to wear before he shows up."

Laughing at the scowl on the Ojah's face, a naked Ryan got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to pee and brush his teeth.

"God, I'm hungry." Ryan groaned when he came back into the room and headed for the closet, still stark naked. He pulled on boxers, grey sweatpants, and a white long-sleeved t-shirt and then headed back to the bed.

But the Ojah grabbed three pillows and steered Ryan towards the plush rug in the room. He arranged the pillows on the rug and gestured for Ryan to get comfortable. Then he grabbed the receiver. "What do you feel like eating this morning?" "Would it sound strange if I say I feel like pizza?" Ryan moaned.

"This early morning?" The Ojah turned his head to give Ryan an incredulous look.

"Yep. With milkshake."

The Ojah chuckled. "What type of pizza and what flavour milkshake?"

"I want their Fully Loaded pizza...family size please." Ryan switched on the huge LED TV on the wall. "For the milkshake, I want coconut."

The Ojah called the restaurant and placed the order in a curt voice that made Ryan laugh as he gazed at his mate's naked butt. He was sure the staff would wonder what had crawled up Jeremy's arse and died. After placing the order and commanding that they bring it to the bedroom in the shortest possible time, he hung up and went back to where Ryan lay, relaxed against the pillows. Then he got on all fours beside Ryan and gave him a slow wink. "Take care."

"Fuck, you're hot." Ryan grinned. "Pun absolutely intended. Come here." He breathed.

Then Ryan cupped the back of his mate's ruthless counterpart's head and leaned up to capture his mouth in an openmouthed kiss. The Ojah was shocked initially and didn't kiss Ryan back. But after some coaxing, he allowed himself to kiss Ryan back. It was gentle, slow, and hot as fuck. When they parted, they were both breathing hard.

"I enjoyed chatting with you." Ryan breathed.

"Call and hang out with me sometime." The Ojah said with pleading eyes.

"You can count on it." Ryan grinned. "We're definitely doing this again...soon."

"Just ask for me whenever you want. And I'll be with you." And with a final kiss and a hug, the red-eyed alpha shifted into the big, red wolf.

'Hey...' Ryan said on their mind-link with a delighted grin.

'Thought he'd never leave.' The wolf growled as he flopped down beside Ryan and began to lick at his face.

'Aw Jeremy cut it out.' Ryan giggled as he cuddled deeper into the side of the huge wolf. It felt absolutely wonderful, snuggling against all that soft fur. He felt so pampered and cherished.

'Are you okay?' The wolf asked after a while.

'I'm scared.' Ryan's voice on their mind-link was barely above a whisper.

The alpha wolf drew him even closer to him. 'Don't be.' He said softly. 'I'm here. You'll be fine. We will take care of you. Protect you...just like he said. Don't worry about anything.'

Ryan nodded, knowing without a doubt that his mate would make sure that everything went well. He could also tell that the wolf knew how shaken he was by the revelation. Who wouldn't be? Ryan was sure that shock was definitely going to set in at some point. He'd been too worried about Jeremy's initial reaction to think about the implication of being pregnant. For now, he would just enjoy the attention from his mate's other forms and wait till Jeremy finally showed up. 'I know you'll take care of me.' He said softly, running his fingers through the alpha wolf's fur. 'Is he okay?'

'I put him to sleep. He's a wreck. A wuss if you ask me.'

'Aw come on...' Ryan laughed softly.

'Drunk on love, awe and joy. Terrible combination.'

Ryan chuckled. 'You forgot to mention shock.' He murmured. 'Too bad I can't shift and have fun with you.' He groaned.

'Seeing you swell with our pup will be fun enough.' The wolf assured Ryan. 'At least for the next few months, you can wear your ring with no fear of losing it as a result of shifting.' He chuckled.

A shiver of apprehension slithered down Ryan's spine. 'How many months?' He gulped.

'Five.'

'Twenty weeks?' Ryan screeched, tipping his head back to stare at Jeremy's wolf with wide eyes. 'The gestation period for wolves is sixty-three days, Jeremy. I should know. I'm a professor of...'

'Zoology, I know.' The wolf's amused chuckle brought a frown to Ryan's face. 'You're part human Ryan. And humans carry their young for forty weeks. You should be grateful you don't have to go that long. I can't wait to see you all swollen up and waddling about.'

'Oh god, shut up.' Ryan groaned, burying his face against the wolf. 'I guess it's time to apply for that sabbatical. Damn, you smell divine.' He murmured softly, nuzzling against the soft fur.

'You'll look absolutely stunning and enthralling.' He chuckled, his tongue coming out to lick at Ryan's face till he dissolved into a fit of giggles.

The alpha wolf gloried in his mate's obvious delight. Hearing those sounds of happiness from his mate completely melted him inside. He said a silent thanks to Luna for giving him the most amazing treasure. His mate! Ryan had changed his life. No one ever thought his Ojah could be subdued and made to feel. Not even him. But Ryan had accomplished the impossible. Oh, he was still a bloodthirsty monster. But with Ryan beside him, that Ojah would always be in check. The alpha vowed in his heart to show Ryan every second of their lives, just how much he cherished him.

Ryan's food was delivered in record time. The werewolf who brought it smiled admiringly when she saw Ryan cuddling against the huge alpha wolf. That was a sight one didn't get to see often, she thought as she placed the bed tray beside Ryan on the rug. And as if he'd gone without food for days, Ryan ate every bit of the large pizza, to his own surprised. He was however not surprised when he felt sleepy afterward. After putting away that large yummy pizza and that tall glass of delicious, chilled, coconut milkshake, sleep was only to be expected. He snuggled into the wolf's warmth and allowed himself to drift off.