Arrow Inferno
Chapter 45: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Breaking down!

**

Will had heard Stan's door opening but hadn't waited around to face him. He'd taken off straight to the cave. His wolf was already standing at the entrance of the cave when he got there. It watched Will closely for a moment before turning to precede him inside. And when they eventually got to their relaxing spot, Will hurriedly took off his gun holster and placed it and his bottle of water down. Then he took off his trainers and then laid down. He wanted a cuddle so bad. He gave a sigh of contentment when the wolf finally snuggled close and began to lick at his bruised neck. That felt so soothing.

'He's not talking.' The wolf commented after about fifteen minutes of silence from Will. That wasn't like Will at all. 'Damn, you fucked up.'

'I fucked up?' Stan couldn't help the incredulity in his tone. 'Don't you mean you fucked up?'

'Hey, I wasn't the one with his cock up his arse.' The wolf mumbled.

'You're so full of shit.'

'I'm worried.' The wolf said quietly. 'He needs to let it out.'

'He needs to eat.'

'You're right. Time for those bananas.' The wolf murmured as it stood and left Will's side.

"Where are you going?" Will croaked, looking up at the wolf curiously. And when it came back with a bunch of bananas, Will groaned. That wasn't the first time the wolf had given him bananas. "I really don't feel like eating anything." But the wolf pushed the bananas at him. "Alright, alright."

Will ate. Before he realized the entire bunch was gone. He'd been hungry after all, he thought as he drank some water. He felt full.

"Thank you." He pressed a kiss between the wolf's eyes and then snuggled against him again. Then with a contented sigh, he slept.

**

Stan's wolf was awoken by a weird sound before dawn. It took it a while to realize the sound was coming from Will. Deep sobs shook his mate's frame.

'Oh shit!' It groaned at the sorrow that swept over it. 'Stay the fuck down.' It growled to Stan who was struggling to come out and take over. 'This is not the time to shock him.'

'He's my mate.' Stan growled within. 'I need to comfort him.'

'An what exactly is he to me? My insurance agent?' The wolf snapped as it snuggled closer and licked at the soldier's tears. 'The only reason he's even letting down his guard is that he thinks he's dealing with an animal who can't tell anyone. You bit him and pissed him off. Now spare him some fucking pride.'

"She's gone." Will sobbed. "I wasn't there for her."

'Fuck!' Stan swore.

The wolf could feel his human's agitation and didn't blame him at all. As a human who loved his mate, Stan's deepest need at that moment was to be with Will. But it wasn't the right time. For the very first time, however, the wolf wished his human could take over and comfort his mate because Stan's groans as Will sobbed were so heart-rending.

"I've failed her." Will kept sobbing. "I..." He couldn't seem to stop his tears or his sobs. Not even when the wolf threw back his head and let out a woeful howl. His tears fell fast and his body shook as he let out his grief.

Will didn't know how long he sobbed but he felt a lot better after. His wolf kept licking at his face and whimpering which made him very sad.

"I'm sorry," he croaked, stoking the beast to calm it down. "I'm okay now." He planted tiny kisses on the wolf. "I have to go back home. Jackson is here to relieve me." He went on, his voice still weak and broken from crying so much. "I leave in the morning." He let out a moan when the wolf gave him a long lick on his neck. "Silly Stan did that," he mumbled.

'There we go...' the wolf breathed.

"I don't know what he was thinking. I almost shot his arse." He chuckled shakily. "That wasn't because he bit me though. Maybe it was just a kink of his. I wanted to shoot him because he had the nerve to knock me out. What man knocks out a person to avoid answering a question? That's just fucked up."

'So fucked up, Stanislav.' The wolf chuckled as he licked his mate. But Stan didn't even respond. He was still so much affected by Will's breakdown.

"To be honest I don't even know why I got that angry," he sighed. "It felt as if I was having an out-of-body experience. I'm glad I didn't shoot him. I would have probably shot myself after," he gave a soft humourless laugh. "I feel so close to him it would have sucked to kick the idiot's arse out of this world. This planet would be damn boring without him. And who wants to stay in a boring world?"

Will nearly jumped out of his skin when the wolf suddenly let out a howl. This one was surprisingly not pitiful at all. It seemed as if the wolf was happy about something. Although Will couldn't tell what it was, it amused him. And when the wolf began to lick at his face after his howl, Will laughed.

"Oh god, I'm going to miss you so much," Will chuckled. "I will come back to see you in a month, I promise. I wish you were in the States with me but..." he shrugged, "I guess we can't get everything we wish for."

'Oh this particular wish, you're so getting.' The wolf chuckled. Stan still remained silent.

"I will miss Stan too." Will let out a muffled groan as his face was pressed against the wolf. "So, so, so, fucking much. I can't tell him that though because I'm still pissed off at him."

'He will miss you too.' The wolf chuckled. 'I'm pretty sure after what you've just said...about not wanting to be in this world without him, the idiot would probably follow your arse into that chopper come morning.' The wolf muttered teasingly but Stan didn't say anything. His human wasn't talking but the wolf could feel his emotions. They were jumbled up so much the wolf was beginning to feel dizzy. 'Calm the fuck down, Norris,' it growled. 'You can always wrap up in a week and go to him.' Two weeks was too much.

"I have to go," Will sighed. "It will be daybreak soon. Shit, this is difficult." He let out a shaky groan and hugged the wolf tightly.