Savage Desire
Chapter 15

Back in the hospital room, Gloria, Philip and Stan were very worried. "He's angry at himself for putting Ryan's life in danger." Gloria whispered. "And he's taking it out on him." She sighed. "I think it's my fault." Philip exhaled harshly and began to pace. "I told him he was going soft."

"Why the f**k would you say something like that?" Stan snapped as Gloria gasped.

"When Ryan told me Jeremy didn't go with him to the washroom because he asked him not to, I got angry." Philip groaned.

"Who would have thought someone would actually be bold enough to attack at such a place?" Stan asked stily. "Besides he knew Vincent was out there. He must have thought Ryan was safe just as we all thought."

"I wasn't thinking okay." Philip groaned, combing his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"They'll be fine." Gloria said softly, rubbing Philip's back soothingly. "But wait till you replace your mate darling. You'll see just how difficult it is to go against their wishes." She

chuckled. "Now my problem is that Jeremy always went in for really strong and brave women. I mean look at what Lara made me do to her. She just wouldn't listen to reason. She..."

"What did you do to her Mama G?" Stan asked with a naughty grin on his face.

"I broke her arms." Gloria said with an even wider grin on her face.

"What did I tell you Lip?" Stan shook with laughter. "I knew you would do something brilliantly outrageous like that Mama G." Stan laughed as Philip shook his head in amusement. Jeremy's mother had never liked the relationship between her son and Lara, who was her age. This was more like payback.

"So you see, his kind of around or where they are. they want to."

women wouldn't care who is They would attack whenever

"Yeah, I know what you're talking about, Mama G." Stan said with a rascally smile on his face. "SS for Life." He grinned, making Philip laugh despite himself.

"I've heard you idiots say that before." Gloria murmured with a curious look on her face. "What's SS?" She fixed her hard gaze on Stan when Philip groaned. "Strong and sexy." Stan grinned.

"I see." Gloria said slowly. "Well, it's come back to bite all of you in the arse hasn't it? You boys..."

She trailed of when the door to the bathroom opened to reveal an angry and embarrassed looking Ryan, followed by Jeremy who had an unreadable expression on his face.

"Hey, are you okay?" Gloria asked Ryan softly, glaring at her son who had the grace to look shamefaced.

"I'm fine. Thanks." He didn't go back to the bed. Neither did he sit. He just stood quietly, clearly waiting to be told what to do. He had to be careful in his actions in order not to invite any further humiliating treatment from his mate.

"Shall we?" Jeremy said in a hoarse voice and left the hospital room, followed by his friends, mother and a mate whose thoughts he strangely couldn't read.

That was so unlike Ryan, the alpha thought. The Ryan he knew would be cursing him silly in his mind by then.

When they got out of their cars in front of Jeremy's mansion, they met yet another challenger who stood between them and the entrance. This one was Katie Steven, a drop dead gorgeous black lady, who was not only a warrior but was also a famous model. She wore the tiniest jeans shorts, a sexy black tube top which covered just her boobs, and no footwear. She obviously meant business.

"Katie..." Stan bellowed. Katie was on his squad. She was one of his best warriors and he sure as hell didn't want Jeremy or Philip wounding her.

"Leave her to me, Stan." Ryan said, shocking everyone.

"Ryan..." The warning in Jeremy's voice was clear.

Ryan turned to face Jeremy. "If I'm the alpha's mate, and I always have to stand aside whilst people handle my shit for me, will I ever gain the respect of the pack?" He asked quietly. "Would you respect me? Already, you don't." He said bitterly, noting the regret that flashed across Jeremy's face. "Allow me to stand up for myself." With that, an extremely angry Ryan started towards Katie.

"Good." Katie said as she watched Ryan walk towards her. "Let's get this over and done with, p***y Boy." She began to strip, her intentions clear to everyone present. She was going to fight in her wolf form.

A collective gasp went up from the people gathered, not only at Katie's words, but also at how she intended to fight. They'd already heard that the alpha's mate hadn't been able to defend himself against Camille. The alpha had to step in to save Ryan. A still shocked Camille had already told some friends of hers what had happened on campus. And the news had already spread like wildfire. So seeing a seasoned warrior such as Katie get ready to fight Ryan struck fear into the people. Some screamed. Philip shifted instantly, ruining his clothes. Gloria's hands clutching at her chest whilst Stan reached for a gun filled with silver bullets which he always kept inside his boots for rogues. Jeremy stood quietly, his heart pounding inside his chest, his wolf going crazy inside him. But he kept his cool. He had to trust his mate. Ryan was right. If he was going to gain any respect from the pack, he had to show them that he was strong enough to rule beside their alpha.

Pussy Boy? Really? The double meaning of that name wasn't lost on Ryan. He didn't need to be a genius to get the meaning behind the name. Obviously Katie was not only referring to the fact that he was Jeremy's bitch, but also to the fact that he hadn't been able to fight Camille. Ryan got so furious he began to shake.

"Stand down everyone." Jeremy commanded, shocking not only his friends and mother, but also the people gathered around watching the showdown. And it was quite a number of people.

"She's a warrior, Alpha." Stan rasped, his eyes widening with dread as he watched Katie leap towards Ryan, shifting

midair. "Oh god, Jeremy."

"Stand down!" Jeremy repeated.

Ryan's eyes followed the she-wolf hurtling towards him. He could tell from the gasps and screams from some of the people gathered that they were scared for him. Ryan knew he should be terrified but somehow...surprisingly, he rather felt a sudden energy and calm fill him. He felt himself raising his hand...almost as if everything was happening in slow motion. And then to his amazement, the wolf, which was still in motion...hurtling towards him, froze midair. Ryan heard the shocked murmur that went up from the people gathered but didn't even turn to look at them. His gaze was riveted on the whining wolf which dangled midair as if it was being held up by invisible ropes. To say Ryan himself was shocked would be too mild a statement. He didn't waste time dwelling on it though. He would later, but at that very moment, he needed to tell Katie his piece. Ryan Hicks was no pussy boy.

"Katie...right?" Ryan said with a tilt of his head. "I've always been a gentleman, darling. And a gentleman doesn't fight ladies. The other thing is that I actually feel silly talking to a wolf though I know you can hear me. Last but not least, I'm a very reasonable person so I want to give you the chance to talk back. So I'm going to humbly ask you to shift back."

With that, Ryan slowly brought his raised hand down, lowering Katie's wolf to the ground. The wolf immediately shifted to a naked Katie. Although she didn't look frozen anymore, she didn't look like she was going to move from where she stood.

"Now I know you werewolves don't mind nudity." Ryan said. "I'm one now, but I do mind and I don't think it's fair to the lady to remain nude whilst every other person is covered. Can someone please..." Even before he could complete what he was saying, his friend, Clara appeared beside Katie with a kaftan which she gave to Katie. "Thank you Clara." Ryan said with a quick smile in Clara's direction.

"What are you going to do to me?" Katie asked after pulling on the kaftan. There was a note of fear in her voice. But then, who wouldn't be terrified if a mere werewolf was exhibiting so much power?

"Nothing." Ryan shrugged, moving closer to Katie. "Like I said, I don't fight ladies. Besides I'm thinking you probably want to earn respect or points or whatever, from the pack by...taking me on. I understand. Really, I do." Ryan's intense green eyes bore into Katie's. He neither looked angry nor amused. But the power emanating from him could be felt by everyone present. "Just a word of caution though." He took a pause...for elect. "Don't fuck with me."

With that chilling caution, Ryan walked right past a stunned and shaky Katie, and entered the foyer. He didn't use the elevator. He went directly to the stairs and actually got to the twelfth floor faster than an elevator would have. He began to strip even before he got to his room. And he was under the shower even before his door slammed shut. And as the water poured over him from all six showerheads, Ryan's silent tears mingled with it. What had he become? Could wolves act the way he'd just acted? He didn't think so. Gloria hadn't told him anything of that sort. Besides, he could feel the shock from the people gathered. But it had felt so natural, not to mention exhilarating. He could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. What was happening to him? What kind of monster was he turning into? He'd hated seeing the humiliation on that beautiful lady's face. Was that what he'd become now?

Someone who wielded a lot of power and used it to humiliate others? Although he felt Katie hadn't given him much choice, he still hated what he'd done to her.

Jeremy was in Ryan's room, leaning against the door with his arms folded across him chest when Ryan came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He didn't miss Ryan's slightly reddened eyes when their eyes met briefly. He didn't have to be a genius to know that Ryan had been crying.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy's voice was gru with concern. He was still shaken by the power Ryan had displayed downstairs.

But Ryan headed for the closet without answering him. He pulled on boxer briefs under the towel around his waist, and then went back to the bathroom to hang the towel. When he came back to the room, he went to pull on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Then he went to sit behind the huge mahogany desk in the room.

"How many more must I expect?" He asked quietly whilst booting his computer. "Two attacks alrea..."

"Three." Jeremy cut in. "Mum went to...fight one before she came to the hospital to see you."

"Really? She didn't look like someone who'd been in a fight." Ryan said, searching for a document on the computer as if he was not under attack. "Do I take it your...lover is okay?"

"Ex...lover." Jeremy rasped. "I hear both of her arms are broken." He shrugged.

"Ouch."

"She'll heal."

"Sucks to be her." Ryan muttered staring at the screen. "Is she also as hot as the other two?"

"Ryan..."

"What? You want me to trash-talk your lovers?" Ryan abruptly got to his feet. He looked restless. "Where's your mum?"

"Downstairs." Jeremy responded. "Why?"

"I want to go for a run with her."

"This is not a good time Ryan." Jeremy groaned, rubbing his eyes. "Besides, you heard the doctor. You need..."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine to me." Jeremy said softly as he watched Ryan shutting down the computer. He could clearly see that his mate wasn't himself. All that power must surely feel unsettling. Jeremy wanted to hug him so bad but he just knew Ryan wouldn't welcome it. He was still angry at him for the way he'd spoken to him at the hospital.

"You just have to take me for my word, don't you?" Ryan bent to buckle his sandals and headed for the door. "Later." He threw over his shoulder.

"Ryan?"

Ryan paused at the door with a hand on the handle. He didn't turn to look at Jeremy. "What?"

"Please answer me when I communicate on our link." Jeremy said hoarsely. "I know you can take care of yourself but...please." He whispered.

Without answering, Ryan left the room and his worried mate.

'I hear you broke someone's arms. Ryan murmured.

The wolves of the elderly warrior and the alpha's mate were lying beneath a tree, relaxing after sharing a deer after a long run.

Gloria snorted. 'She's had it coming for years. Trust me. What mother would be okay with her son fucking someone her age? Bitch had the nerve to tell me she planned on killing you. In hindsight, I should have made her come and face you.' Gloria chuckled. 'What you did to Katie... Damn!'

'That was awful. Ryan groaned.

'That was badass.' The brown wolf laughed.

'What was that?' Ryan groaned. 'Am I okay? Jeremy told me I would gain some abilities after he marks me. But he hasn't even done that. Is something wrong with me?' The white wolf sounded worried.

'You're perfect hon. You're the alpha's mate. And a powerful alpha at that. Don't be shocked at anything!'

'It sure did feel good, though. Ryan sighed. 'Thanks, Gloria. For taking care of the other... lady, whoever she is. I hope she's fine though. He said quietly. 'I hate the idea of people getting hurt because of me. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Ebookex.com. Visit Ebookex.com to read the complete chapters for free. Katie...I could feel her humiliation. And I hated it. Even Camille... She could have killed me if she really wanted to. And I could feel her regret afterwards.' Ryan sighed. 'Jeremy says there're going to be more attacks.

'From what I saw you do today, you can handle any attack with cheeky ease darling! Gloria said with so much pride in her voice.

'Yeah, but I'd rather I didn't have to handle any at all! Ryan groaned. Both wolves went quiet, lost in their own thoughts, till Ryan broke it. 'Tell me what happens during a mating ceremony. He asked softly. She'd already explained sometime back that a mating ceremony was for only alphas who found their mates.

'Ryan, Jeremy doesn't want you to feel you have to...

'Yeah, but his ladies won't give me a break. Your son sure does know how to pick em, Ma'am.' Ryan said, making Gloria burst into laughter.

'Tell me about it. Gloria laughed.

'I just want it all to stop. Then, I can also go about my work in peace. Tell me about the ceremony please!

'Well it's actually a celebration. If you must know, the whole pack is already looking forward to it.' She grinned. 'It begins by you picking any warrior of your choice to fight. Some people pick their mates. But like I said, the choice is yours. If you defeat the warrior, the alpha will declare you the winner and then present you to the High Priestess for blessings from Luna. Then he will proceed to show everyone just how proud he is of you.

'And if I'm defeated?'

'That's not going to happen because your mate will step right in and save the day if he feels you're in trouble!' Gloria laughed. 'Then he'll still proceed to declare you the winner, present you to the High Priestess for blessings and...show how much he appreciates you!

'And what if I pick my mate to fight me? What then?'

'He'll let you win. And still show how proud...

'You keep adding that showing how proud he is bit. How exactly is he going to show...

'He'll have sex with you Ryan.' Gloria sighed. 'Right there, in front of the whole pack.'

'Oh my fucking god!' Ryan gasped. 'You must be kidding me!

'I kid you not, honey. He will mark you during the act, to show you're his. The way he takes you will show the pack how much he cares for you, wants you and how happy he's going to make you.'

'Sex does not mean happiness, Gloria!

'Wait till you're given great sex. Gloria muttered, making Ryan thank his stars he was in his wolf form. His whole body would have turned bright red in embarrassment if he were human.

'That is preposterous. Ryan couldn't believe what he was hearing. The whole pack would see his dicks. He couldn't have that. 'With all the pubs...

'No, Ryan. Only wolves from twenty-one going up will be present.

'That doesn't make me feel any better.' Ryan muttered. 'Then after the s*x, what?'

'The various heads will pledge their loyalty to you by kissing the back of your hand. The heads of the warriors, sentinels, hunters, assassins, medics, scouts, pup watchers, and the omegas. Each Beta and Elder would have to pledge to you though, not just their heads. Though they're supposed to kiss the back of your hand, some naughty ones may choose to lick you wherever they want to. It's allowed. It's fun and celebration.

'That's outrageous! Ryan muttered.

'Wait till they do it.' Gloria laughed. 'You'd wish everyone would actually take a lick instead of a mere kiss to the hand. The whole idea is to catch your scent and keep it. There are more potent places to catch a werewolf's scent than the back of the hand if you ask me.' She drawled.

The white wolf's eyes went wide. Everyone knew which part of the body was more potent. 'You think people will actually...

'Honey, we're werewolves. We thrive on getting down and dirty!

'Shit.'

'So after all those kisses and lick, which will probably cause another bout of intercourse, the official part of the ceremony would be over. Then the real fun will begin. It's actually a short ceremony but fun-packed. Will begin around five p.m. and end the following day with virtually everyone passed out.'

'I see. No exchange of rings?'

Gloria laughed. 'If you want a ring, tell Jeremy to get you one. We don't do rings.

'I was just asking, jeez! Ryan muttered. 'Besides, I don't need anything from him!

'Settle down, sweetie. Everything of his automatically becomes yours too, after the ceremony!

'How do you mean?'

'Just what ceremony is expect?'

I said. We're supernatural beings. And that the highest level of bonding. What did you

A shiver slithered down Ryan's spine at the 'highest level of bonding' part. He couldn't help the image that flashed through his head, of Jeremy f*****g him.

'Christ, Gloria, I don't...I don't think I can...take your son again.' Ryan whispered, grateful again that he was in his wolf form. 'He's...ugh...I'm sure you know what he's packing seeing as you lot don't mind nudity and all. If the pack expects to see happiness on my face, I think they're in for great disappointment because I can't pretend to love it when that thing is destroying me.' Not to mention the fact that his own dicks will be on display.

'Ryan, I said he has to prove to his people that he can make you happy. So let him worry about that okay. How he makes you enjoy it is not your headache. You're just going to.

Ryan didn't know what to do. Knowing what he knew at that moment, could he still go through with the ceremony? If he wanted the attacks to stop, he had to do it. If he wanted the violence and humiliation of pack members because of him to stop, he had to go through with the ceremony. Why make enemies when it could be avoided. If he wanted to be able to go to work in peace, he had to do it. He couldn't risk some crazy lover hurting any of his students. If he wanted to be able to move about freely, he had to do it. The thought of no bodyguards was too good to pass on. Basically if he wanted his life back, he had to stop thinking about his dread of Jeremy's dick and the dread of displaying his dicks for all to see, and simply get marked.

'Fuck. The mark...it hurt like a son-of-a-bitch that time Jeremy bit me.' Ryan gasped, remembering the excruciating pain he'd had to endure.

'This time, it's going to be the sweetest pain ever.' Gloria said wistfully. 'You've never experienced anything more

intense and sweet, Ryan. Trust me. You'll probably beg him to bite you every day after that. It's going to be an experience you're not going to forget for as long as you live. Get ready to get your mind blown.'

'Shit.' Ryan buried his face between his front paws. Just the thought of what Gloria described was making him hard. 'Are you going to be there?'

Gloria chuckled. 'Don't worry, I'll leave after the blessings. The members of the council usually leave after the blessing if they want to. Seeing how the thought of my presence bothers you, I'll definitely leave! Gloria couldn't mask her amusement.

'I appreciate it. Thanks.' Ryan muttered.

'So you're going to do it?' Gloria was actually surprised.

'What choice do I have?' Ryan sighed.

'You always have a choice Ryan.'

'Fight those women till one of them finally sends me into the afterlife?'

Gloria laughed, but then sobered up and said quietly; 'Or reject him.'

Ryan gasped at the sharp pain that flashed through him at the thought. 'That's not an option.' He said breathlessly. He knew then, that Jeremy was already a part of him. And there was no way he could destroy part of himself. 'Thanks Ryan. Gloria said shakily.

'Thank you, Gloria. Ryan knew that Gloria would have been in tears had she been human at that very moment.

The white wolf moved closer to the brown wolf and quietly cuddled against her for hours till it was time to leave.

"Talk to Jeremy." Gloria walked slowly beside Ryan as they left the woods. "You'll have to meet the council. I'll arrange for a meeting tomorrow morning."

"Why do we have to meet them?" Ryan asked, taking a leaf out of Gloria's hair.

“Jeremy needs to officially introduce you to us. Then you have to tell us about your plans. Like...when you want the ceremony to take place and whether we're okay with the time."

"Okay. But I want it to be done tomorrow." Ryan said with all seriousness. "The earlier, the better Gloria. I want all these attacks to stop. For as long as they continue, your son is not going to allow me to go anywhere on my own." "Honey, you have both my good self and Joel on the council." Gloria drawled. "That ceremony will take place tomorrow if that's what you want darling."

"You're an angel." Ryan kissed Gloria on the cheek. "Thanks."

"Anytime sweetie. I'll call you in the morning to let you know the time for the meeting, okay?"

"Sure. Thanks Gloria."

"That name had better change after the ceremony." Gloria growled, making Ryan laugh.

And as he rode the elevator to his floor, Ryan was filled with indefinable relief. Although he was still pissed of at Jeremy for the way he treated him at the hospital earlier that day, he couldn't wait to tell him his news. For once, he was going to say something to his mate that he knew would make him happy. Ryan couldn't wait.

When the elevator door finally opened, however, Ryan froze at what he saw! Right there in front of him stood a virtually naked Jeremy, with his fingers tangled in the hair of a very naked female whilst the two of them stared intently into each other's eyes. Rage and pain slammed into Ryan, pushing him to the raw edge of violence. He couldn't have suppressed the angry growl that tore out of his throat even if his life had depended on it.