Arrow Inferno

***

It was always a great honour for a pack to have the Alpha of Alphas as a pack member. The home of the AA usually became the headquarters of werewolves worldwide. The headquarters had been Russia for years because Sasha was the AA till his death at the hands of the Wyatt Clan. Now the headquarters was going to move to California, and all the attention was going to be on Stanwood Pack. It also meant that the livelihood of Jeremy and his mate was now the responsibility of every pack in the world. Had Jeremy not been wealthy, he would definitely have become wealthy with the new position. As AA, his wealth was only going to multiply in spades.

"That's a huge honour but also an enormous responsibility, man," Phillip said, his eye filled with so much pride.

"And that's why you're going to help me, Lip," Jeremy said.

"How?" Phillip folded his arms across his chest.

"You're going to take over Stanwood," Jeremy responded. "It's your time to rule Lip. I can't combine the problems in every pack worldwide with my work here. It's all yours. Change the name if you want. I don't mind." "But this is one of the biggest packs in the world, Jer." Phillip's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm just a new alpha. I can only head a small..."

"This is your pack Lip." Jeremy cut him off. "You've been doing this with me since I took over from Uncle Joel. Managing Stanwood will be a piece of cake. They can't ask for a finer alpha. Say yes, Lip." Jeremy stared at his friend. "Please." Phillip looked at Jeremy. He couldn't believe he was actually begging him to become the alpha of a great pack such as Stanwood. It was the greatest honour anyone could have given him. It was Jeremy's birthright for goodness sake. And he was stepping aside to let him take over. Phillip knew that if he attempted to say another word, he would break down. So he just nodded and stretched forth his hand to Jeremy for a handshake.

"Come here," Jeremy growled and drew his emotional friend into a powerful hug.

Phillip virtually never cried. But Jeremy had seen his flushed face and just knew his friend was going to lose it. And even as Phillip sobbed quietly on his shoulder, an equally emotional Stan wiped the tears off his own cheeks where he sat. Jeremy signaled him to join them for a group hug. By the time the three men separated, each had to wipe his eyes.

"Will you be my head Beta, Stan?" Phillip croaked.

"Try choosing anyone else and I'm gonna wangchang the twerp's arse into oblivion," Stan growled, assuming a karate posture with an arm stretched out with knuckles sticking out and a foot pointing down.

The guys laughed as they threw themselves into the couches and turned their attention to the Olympic Games that was showing on TV.

"The name stays," Phillip said softly. "It's still your legacy Jer. That's not going to change."

"It's our legacy, Lip," Jeremy responded softly. "I'll inform the council before my next meeting with the alphas on Sunday," Jeremy said, draining the glass of scotch that stood on the coffee table. "You have to come for the meeting with the alphas too Lip. I need to introduce the new alpha of Stanwood Pack to them." He grinned.

"Fuck, I can't believe we're getting the AA, guys," Stan shouted excitedly. "Will you guys be flying on Sunday or going by road?" He asked.

"Lip can choose to fly or drive," Jeremy said quietly. "I'll be using the bike. It will give me a chance to think. Besides, I've missed it."

"Are you okay, Jeremy?" Phillip asked. It was obvious that his friend wasn't himself. Jeremy had been making an effort to appear normal but he couldn't fool him. He'd known the alpha since he was a baby. Jeremy was like a kid brother to him. So he knew when Jeremy was struggling. "I know it's going to take a while for you to..."

"I'll never be okay, Lip," Jeremy whispered, staring into his empty glass. "What happened to me in there...it's going to take a long time for me to... Fuck!" He slammed the glass on the coffee table but fortunately, it didn't break.

"Hey..." Phillip moved to sit beside Jeremy. "Easy... One step at a time. You're home now. That's all that matters. I know it's not going to be easy but try not to think about it."

"Maybe you need a vacation," Stan said. "Go somewhere with Ryan. Just the two of you. Forget about everything and have fun. That should help get your mind off things.

"That would be brilliant." Phillip nodded. "In fact, I think you should." He added, getting to his feet and stretching. "Paige and Ryan just got back," Phillip informed Jeremy and Stan. "She just asked me whether we're here." The two had gone to the school to work on something. Well, Ryan had claimed he had to go and see to whatever it was, himself. Paige had insisted on tagging along. "Speaking of Ryan," Phillip abruptly sat back down and trained worried grey eyes on Jeremy, "is he okay?"

"Why do you ask?" Jeremy murmured, avoiding his friend's eyes.

"Jeremy..."

"I'm just going through some shit alright?" Jeremy groaned.

"What kind of shit besides the obvious?" Stan asked, moving closer to sit on the rug at Jeremy's feet.

"I can't... I can't look at Ryan without..." He trailed off and growled deep in his throat. "Fuck." "Without what?" Stan asked.

"It's the kiss isn't it?" Phillip asked quietly. He knew that Jeremy would have problems with that.

"Dude, get real." Stan groaned. "The guy thought he was dreaming for fucks sake."

"I know," Jeremy muttered. "And I get it. He thought he was kissing me and all that but at the end of the day, it hadn't been a dream. And it hadn't been my lips. And that pisses me the fuck off."

"Ooo jealousy, thy name is Jeremy." Stan purred, leaning back on his elbows.

"No, it's not you twat." Jeremy growled as Phillip tried to stifle his laughter. "I'm..."

"Don't tell me you've never had a dream in which you've wanted to be naughty," Phillip said quietly. "Or a dream which seemed so real you..."

"Oh, I have." Jeremy gave a humourless laughter, remembering his most recent dream in which Ryan had given him the most amazing blowjob. In the dream, he'd come so hard and brutal. But he knew it had only been a dream because he hadn't seen any evidence of his cum when he'd woken up. "And I get what you guys are saying but...it's difficult."

"So make it easy, you fucker." Stan growled. "That man shouldn't be made to feel guilty because he's done nothing wrong. It seems so wrong to be punished for what he had no control over." "Fuck, now you two are making me sound like a jerk." Jeremy groaned.

"You are acting like one." Phillip deadpanned. "I can imagine what the poor man is going through right..." He trailed off when the door opened to reveal Ryan and an obviously tensed-up Paige.