Arrow Inferno
Chapter 86: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Going off!

***

The Arrowhead looked totally hot in black jeans, a navy blue t-shirt, and trendy stylish Wolverine boots that had all been part of the stuff that had been delivered to him that morning, courtesy, his mate. The soldier had absolutely loved the boots to Stan's delight. He'd worn them after his shower and jokingly told Stan he was going to sleep in them that day. That was before he'd gotten the call that had gotten Stan so upset.

In one glance, Will could tell there was a problem. And from Stan's stony profile, he had a feeling it was about him. He felt the tension in the room, most of which emanated from his mate. His eyes narrowed as he pulled a chair, straddled it, and then fixed his gaze on his mate. His posture screamed confidence, aggression, and dominance. And that wasn't lost on the friends.

"I supposed this is about my mission," Will said without preamble, his gaze never leaving his mate. "I've told you I'll be careful. What's your problem?" his voice was steady and quiet.

"It's not that simple," Stan growled low in his throat. "You don't know what might trigger you."

"If this is about triggers, then you have nothing to worry about." Will drawled teasingly, a naughty glint in his eyes. "Cause these fingers control all triggers around me." He wriggled his fingers in the air, drawing laughter from Paige and chuckles from Philip and Jeremy.

"For fuck's sake, get serious, Willaims." Stan's expression tightened with fury. "So we have enough gun control huh?" At Will's shrug, Stan muttered, "I guess what we need now is idiot control."

"Ouch!" Will grimaced even as the mirth drained from Paige's face. "Calm down, baby," he said quietly. "I never took you for a worrywart..."

"I'm not being a fucking worrywart, dipshit!" Stan's resounding growl was so shockingly harsh everyone went still. "Better stop talking if you have nothing sensible to say. Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than open it and remove all doubt."

"Shiiiiiit!" Paige's eyes went so wide they looked as though they were about to pop out. Neither Philip nor Jeremy could mask their shock.

All eyes remained on Stan for a moment. Then three wary pairs turn onto Will who continued to stare at his mate, his face, expressionless. But for the small tick along his jaw, no one would have known he was angry. When he spoke, his voice was very quiet and controlled;

"I'm going to ignore that outburst because I know you are upset." His eyes didn't leave Stan's. "But I need you to calm down before this turns into something else...something we will both regret." With that, he turned to the others. "I can't turn my back on my team when they need me."

"We know," Philip nodded.

"Is there anything you can do to minimize or take off the urge to wolf out whilst I'm in the field?" Pleading eyes moved from Philip's to Paige's and then to Jeremy's. "Please, you have to help me." "Way ahead of you." Jeremy gave Will a reassuring smile. "We will find a way."

"Thank you." With that, he stood up and placed the chair back where he pulled it from. "I need to make some calls so see you guys later." Then without a look in Stan's direction, Will left the conference room.

One could have heard a pin drop after the door closed behind Will. Then... "What the fuck were you thinking?" Paige growled at her most aggravating friend. "Didn't you hear anything Jeremy said?"

"I...shit!" Stan grimaced impatiently as he ran his hand over his hair in a sign of frustration.

"Everyone is entitled to act stupid once in a while but you really abuse the privilege, Stanley." Paige didn't hide her exasperation.

"You better go and talk to him," Philip muttered. "In the meantime, we will call a meeting and see what we can do."

Stan nodded and then started for the door. At the door, he stopped and turned around. In as much as they were friends, he knew he needed to respect authority...especially where he was being told the right way to go. "I'm sorry, Jeremy," he said quietly. "I'm just...scared," he whispered the last word.

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to." Jeremy shrugged.

Stan nodded. "I will make things right with him."

"Do that," Jeremy sounded understanding but firm. But his countenance changed immediately after the door closed after Stan. The smile in his eyes curved his lips into a broad grin. "Damn, did anyone ever think we'd see Stan like this? All crazy about another person?"

"To the extent that he acts unreasonably?" Philip scoffed.

"And can't even think straight?" Paige drawled. "Pun soo intended..." They all burst into laughter.

"I hope he's able to appease Will." Jeremy sighed. "Ryan can go for days without talking to me if I so much as raise my voice at him," he chuckled.

"Just days?" Philip raised an eyebrow with amusement. "Your brother can go for a minimum of two weeks," he drawled. "Meanwhile we don't even have any right to look offended when they do it to us."

"The world is just not fair," Jeremy grunted.

"Whilst y'all are complaining, just remember that some of us are with women," Paige said with a straight face.

The full import of her words was not lost on her friend and brother. They all erupted into raucous laughter.

***

As Stan took the stairs to his floor, he called himself every nasty name he could think of. No werewolf, not even an omega, would take it lightly if his or her mate embarrassed him with an outburst as he'd done to Will in the conference room. Somehow, he was even surprised at Will's calm reaction. He'd expected him to flare up and come at him but he hadn't. Stan groaned his shame when he remembered something that Will had told him on the morning after his premier shift. From his reaction in that conference room, his mate had meant every word. And that only made him feel like a dick.

"Shit!"