Arrow Inferno
Chapter 124: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks ~ Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… The fixers!

***

Jeremy smirked as he watched the chopper land in the clearing. Trust Stan to go for the chopper he thought, amused. Ryan was still asleep after keeping him awake throughout the night. He hoped the three experts who were getting out of the chopper would help him understand what was happening with his mate.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Stan shouted with a concerned look as he jumped out of the chopper whose blades were still whirling.

"What do you mean what happened to me?" Jeremy frowned with confusion.

"You look sick, man," Stan stated bluntly as he strolled towards Jeremy. "You look like you haven't had any food or any sleep in weeks. What the fuck is going on?" He asked, giving Jeremy a one-armed hug.

"I feel fine, asshole." Jeremy growled, extending his hand to shake Dr. Sanders'. "How are you doc?" He smiled at the head physician of Stanwood pack.

"I'm good, Alpha." The elderly doctor responded, observing Jeremy warily.

"See the way he's looking at you?" Stan rasped. "You look sick. Tell him doc."

"Give Jeremy a break, Stan." Deloris chuckled as she hugged Jeremy. "He doesn't look so bad."

"Meaning I do look bad." Jeremy drawled with a resigned look on his face.

"You look...drained." The old woman with them, their resident sorcerer observed with a frown. "What's this I'm hearing about an insatiable mate?" Her shrewd eyes flickered around. "Ahh... I'm hoping the three of you can help me figure out what's going on." Jeremy said. "Hello, Michelle." He smiled at Dr. Sander's nurse who'd come with them. "How are you?"

"I'm very well, Alpha. Thanks." The pretty nurse said shyly with a blush. Mated or not, her AA was hot as fuck, she couldn't help but think.

"Mich, I told you, no eye-fucking Alpha Jeremy," Stan said dryly. "His mate loses his shit when the alpha is eye-fucked."

Jeremy chuckled. "Leave her alone, Stan." He was used to being lusted after. Even as a preteen, he'd received irrepressible sexual interest from the opposite sex to his mother's annoyance and his father's amusement. "I need to wake Ryan up so he can get ready for you." Jeremy addressed the elderly folks. "In the meantime why don't you head over to the restaurant for some breakfast?" With that, he turned towards the Villa.

"I'll join you guys later," Stan told the other four as he fell into step beside Jeremy. "God, this Island never loses her magic." He muttered.

"I know right." Jeremy chuckled.

"Now what exactly is the problem, Jer?" He asked his friend. "What's wrong with Ryan?"

Jeremy sighed. "I'm just concerned about him, Stan." He groaned. "He constantly wants sex."

"Dude, who wouldn't want a mate who constantly wants to be dicked?" Stan snorted. "Are you shitting me right now?"

"You know me, fool." Jeremy rasped as he opened the door to the luxurious villa. "I'd be even more thrilled than you to have..."

"Stan!" The two friends heard Ryan's shout from the top of the stairs as soon as they stepped into the elegantly decorated living room. Then Ryan was running down the stairs with a burst of infectious laughter that made the two friends laugh. "Why is it that you're looking all rested and fresh when your mate is looking as if he's just returned from a war-torn country?" Stan asked with surprise, drawing laughter from Ryan and a cuss from Jeremy.

"I

I guess I'm having more fun," Ryan responded laughingly, getting to the foot of the stairs in no time. Then he began the short run towards the two standing by the door, the joy in his eyes at seeing Stan obvious for both men to see. Then... Jeremy heard it before Ryan did. The quickened breath, the low growl, that pained sound...

"Are you alright, Stan?" Jeremy turned his head to look at his friend. Perspiration had suddenly burst across Stan's skin. His eyes had shifted. "Stan?"

"Back off Ryan..." Stan growled, stretching forth his hand as if to ward off an attack. "I need to get out of here." Then with a loud anguished growl, he turned around and made a mad dash for the door.

"What's wrong with..." But before Jeremy could complete his question, Stan was rushing out of the door as if the hounds of hell were at his heels. "What the fuck?" Jeremy muttered, staring at where Stan had disappeared to. "He wanted me, Jer." Ryan gasped, the look on his face a cross between incredulity, hurt, and alarm.

Jeremy turned to look at his mate. He was thinking so hard he felt dizzy. First Nash, now Stan. Although one was mated and the other wasn't, they'd both been obviously affected by Ryan. Could it be the same thing that had affected his staff? His mate? How about the alphas? He remembered how they'd all seem to be drawn to Ryan. Jeremy remembered thinking that Ryan's lust for him was so strong he was probably unknowingly affecting the alphas as he'd done in the arena some months earlier. That could however not be the case now because the females seemed not to be affected by whatever was affecting the males. What in blazes was going on?

"Jeremy..." Ryan whispered, staring back at his mate with pained eyes. "What's wrong with me?" There was so much distress in that question Jeremy quickly closed the distance between them and crushed his mate to his chest. "What is happening?" He asked in a small voice. "I only wanted to hug him." He added in an anguished whisper.

Jeremy tilted Ryan's head back with a finger under his chin and looked down into the face of the man he loved more than anything in the world.

"I know. Don't beat yourself up." Jeremy said quietly, pushing Ryan's hair back from his face. "Go take a shower and eat your breakfast." The calmness in Jeremy's voice soothed his mate. "The table has been set in the dining room. I'll bring them in about an hour to see you, okay." Ryan nodded. "Are you okay?"

"No," Ryan whispered.

"Hey... I'm sure there's an explanation for all this." Jeremy growled softly. "Everything will be fine." He closed the gap between their lips and kissed Ryan softly. "Better?"

"If you want to make it better, you know what to do." Ryan breathed, drawing soft laughter from Jeremy.

"Let's wait for them to finish checking you out." Jeremy pressed a kiss against Ryan's forehead. "Whatever it is we're dealing with is serious, baby. I promise you can have me as many times as you want after they finish whatever." "Promise?"

"Promise. Now go on. Delia baked some croissants for you. They look scrumptious." Jeremy turned Ryan around to face the stairs. "Let me know when you're done." He lightly slapped Ryan on the arse. "Go on."

Jeremy waited till Ryan disappeared up the stairs before leaving their villa. He was more curious than ever to know what was going on with Ryan.

***

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to join us?" Deloris grinned as she looked at Stan. "Never thought I'd see the day Stanley Peters would run in the face of lust." She laughed.

Stan sat at the table with a grunt. "Wanna save today's date somewhere?" Phillip's head beta growled as he signaled the lady at the bar to bring him some alcohol.

"You okay, buddy?" Jeremy asked quietly.

"Nothing a shot of whisky won't fix." He rasped, filling his glass to the brim with some Jack Daniels. He downed it at a go and refilled his glass.

"Trying to get drunk are we?" Jeremy muttered, sipping his coffee.

"I need it," Stan muttered. "Never been so scared in my life, Jer. I can't tell you what happened." He took a large sip. "Just know that you would have killed me if you'd known." "What? That you wanted to fuck my mate?"

"Oh shit. You knew?" Stan asked with widened eyes.

Jeremy nodded. "Now you understand my problem?" "Shit," Stan whispered. "Who else..."

"Let's just say, every male who comes near him..."

"Fuck! Almost as if he's a female in heat." Stan muttered.

Everyone froze. One would have heard a pin drop. Stan had voiced out something that had already crossed the minds of the AA, the doctor, and the warlock but none had been bold enough to voice it out. Every eye was on Jeremy. He stared wide-eyed at Stan.