Arrow Inferno

***

On a vast clearing in the middle of the Achiase Jungle, somewhere in the Western part of Africa, twenty men and a lady stood with bated breath, their eyes trained on a gun-wielding, furious, hunky soldier and his target...a man with an absolutely wicked physique that was complemented by his handsome good looks. The tension swirling in the air around them grew by the second, tenser than the tension usually felt in the air before a thunderstorm. Except for the smirking, sexy, dark-haired lady who looked to be in her mid-twenties, all the men standing around looked panicky.

"Don't do this, Will." The handsome man, who had a Desert Eagle Mark XIX...one of the most powerful and sophisticated guns ever made, pointed at his chest breathed. "Please."

In response to the man's soft plea, the gun-wielding soldier rather released the safety catch on the gun, the sound causing a collective gasp from the men watching. The tension in the air ratcheted up a notch.

"Will, don't." The man, whose life was in danger at that very moment growled low in his throat, a myriad of expressions on his face. There was surprise, regret, desperation, hope, and subtle affection but no fear at all. Somehow, the man looked more concerned about his adversary than he was about getting killed. "You will regret it if you do this." He added softly.

"Wanna bet?" Ian Williams uttered his first words since stepping into the clearing where the recruits of the Arrowheads were being trained by a man who made his blood boil.

Then he pulled the trigger.

***

Months Earlier...

In a quiet hospital room, two siblings...a pretty pregnant lady and a young man of about twenty-five who stood about six feet tall, stood by a bed staring down at a woman who was fast asleep. The IV pumped fluid into her body through a tube stuck to the back of her hand.

"I think she looks better today." Sharon Dennis said tiredly as she looked at her sleeping mother.

"She looks so pale and weak.'' Lt. Ian Williams, Sharon's younger brother mumbled, a worried frown on his face. "I'm not comfortable." He let out a ragged breath.

"The doctor said the swelling has gone down so she's okay for now, Ian." Sharon muttered as she leaned over their mother to tuck in a tendril that had escaped her cap. "We have to stay positive." She stood upright again and turned to look at her worried brother. "Try and look a bit cheerful. I miss the bubbly you."

"I will look cheerful when I know for sure she's out of the woods, Shay." He said as he draped an arm around his sister's shoulder and pulled her closer.

"She will be fine." Sharon said, wrapping an arm around her brother's waist. "Just go do your thing. We will take good care of her."

"You think I can concentrate on work knowing that mum is lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life?"

"You being here will not change anything." Sharon sighed. "I hate seeing the worry in your eyes. Go do something that can get your mind off all this. I will call you as soon as there is any change."

"I'd rather be here." Ian Williams muttered stubbornly.

"Go, Ian."

"You sound like you don't want me here."

"You're right, I don't." Sharon responded smoothly. "Not when you're so panic-stricken and grumpy." She snorted, moving away from her brother to take a seat in the only chair in the room. "Besides, you said yourself that this training cannot be postponed."

"Well, everyone is already there. I'm sure they can keep themselves busy till I get there."

"Hey, it will be good for you." Sharon said softly. "Go." At her brother's resigned nod, she asked. "Which part of Africa did you say the Jungle school is?"

"It's not a jungle school." Will chuckled. "It's called the Jungle Warfare School. And it's in West Africa. Ghana to be precise."

"Great. Maybe you'll come back with an exotic princess." Sharon grinned.

"I won't be seeing any princesses in the jungle, Shay." Will snorted. "Besides no princess in their right minds will spare me a...." He trailed off when his phone started to ring. "Err...I need to take this." Will muttered as he started for the door. "Hello?"

"How is Mrs. Williams doing?" Rosanne Jones, one of Will's colleagues asked without preamble.

"Well, hello to you too." Will said dryly. "The doctors claim she's better. I don't think she is."

"And that's why you're a SEAL and not a doctor." Rosanne chuckled. "Just as they don't tell you how to do your job, leave them to do theirs. When are you coming?"

"I'm yet to decide, Jones. I really don't want to leave but..."

"I think the best thing to do right now is work, buddy."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you've been talking to my sister." Will groaned.

"Well, great minds..." Rosanne laughed. "How is she holding up?"

"You know her...strong." Will smiled and waved at one of the nurses. "I'll call the Admiral and inform him that I'm ready to leave." He sighed.

"Good." Rosanne spoke to someone offline, then, "You can leave tomorrow and be here by Wednesday."

"I'd rather leave on Thursday and be there by Friday. Hopefully, she'll be better by then."

"That's alright. Can't wait to have you here." Rosanne's exaggerated sigh brought a smile to Will's lips. "I need to see a familiar face."

"Just admit you miss me, darling." Will drawled teasingly as he dropped into a seat in the virtually empty waiting area.

"Screw you." Rosanne gave a mock growl, drawing laughter from Will. "Stan is fun but I need you here."

"Stan, huh?" Wil chuckled. "I see you're on the first name basis already."

"Oh, he insists everyone calls him Stan. Even the recruits."

"Really?"

"Yep. He told them to save the titles for you. Oh god, you should see him training those recruits, Will. He's so strong and fast it looks almost unreal." The tone with which those words were uttered gave Will pause.

"You don't say!" Will responded dryly. "So at what point did you start crushing on the guy?"

***

"Dude is one fine motherfucker!" Rosanne moaned, making Will burst into laughter.

"Are you kidding me right now, Jones?" With his eyes filled with mirth and incredulity, Will relaxed into his seat and stretched out his long legs.

"I kid you not, Will." Rosanne groaned. "I have to make a conscious effort not to drool whenever I see the guy. He's a total hunk!"

"You see a lot of hunks in your line of work, missy." Will gave a snort of disbelief.

"Yeah, but there's something about this one, Will." She said. "He exudes so much confidence and has the physical power to back it up. Not to mention the most amazing eyes and sexy body." She let out a groan when Will started to laugh again. "Stop laughing. I'm serious." Rosanne said sternly. "And on top of all that deliciousness he's so down to earth and extremely pleasant. I find that very attractive." She finished with a moan.

"Said the sexually frustrated SEAL." Will chuckled. "Anyway, Jackson did say he was a pleasant guy so I'm not surprised you're saying same. But you clearly need to get laid."

"Well, if I could get Stan to give me some..."

Will dissolved into laughter. "You must be shitting me?"

"I shit you not, fool." Rosanne gave a mock growl. "What I'll do to that body of his if..."

Will let out a low whistle. "Damn, woman. Thank god Jackson is not there to tell you... 'this is very inappropriate'." The two said in unison and then laughed. "Can't wait to see you making a fool of yourself over a guy."

"Well, I have just two weeks to work my magic." She was expected back in the states in two weeks. "I'll need your help to pull it off."

"You sure this dude is worth the effort?" Will asked with a yawn. "I mean for all you know he's douchebag but only pretending to be nice."

"Aw come on..." Rosanne started to protest but Will cut her off.

"Maybe he's a dangerous serial killer in his spare time." He murmured teasingly. "What's the phrase...a wolf in sheep clothing."

"I'm a good judge of character you know." Rosanne said smoothly. "He doesn't give off a serial killer vibe. Definitely crazy but you know I love bad boys."

"That, you do." Will chuckled. "Alright, 'Operation hizzit the skizzins' is on." He laughed when Rosanne shouted a big yes on the other end of the line. "I'll talk to the Admiral immediately after I'm done with you. Hopefully, I'll see you on Friday, yeah?"

"Can't wait. Have a safe trip, sweetie."

"Thanks." Will couldn't stop his amused chuckle even after he hung up. Rosanne always made him laugh.

The petite brunette was one of the only two female Arrowheads...the fun one. Just like every other Arrowhead, she was fierce, smart, and good at what she did which had earned her the respect of her colleagues. Even though they treated her as one of the guys, each guy had a soft spot for her because she was fun to be around. She wouldn't hesitate to tell her colleagues, who she called her wingmen, anytime she met someone she was attracted to. The guys would then give her pointers on how to 'bag the guy'. It was usually fun.

In their line of work, it wasn't easy to meet potential suitors. Ty, one of Will's colleagues had met his wife on the job whilst trying to rescue her from her kidnappers by pretending to be one of them. Jackson, another colleague, met the love of his life when he had to use his house as a safe house to hide from rouge military men. Their tight schedules made it difficult to even go on proper dates. So if Rosanne wanted the instructor who their Admiral had spoken so highly of, Will planned on helping her get him. He didn't think it was going to be difficult at all because what man wouldn't want a sexy willing military chic?

Stanley Norris had been pursued by their Admiral for years, to train their recruits. The man had been over the moon when Stan had finally agreed to train the recruits that year. According to the Admiral, Stan was the best when it came to physical combat. Not only did he own one of the top security companies in the country, but he also personally trained all the personnel. His reputation definitely preceded him. And when it came to the Arrowheads, the country needed the best trainers.

The Arrowheads was a Classified Black OPs task force division of the FBI whose members were drawn from elite Navy Seal teams for special operations and released to join their main teams afterward. The few who were usually selected had to undergo extra training which was more rigorous and grueling than the usual Navy SEAL training. A SEAL could only make it into the Arrowheads division if they excelled in the training. The operations of the Arrowheads were unknown to many inside the organization. It was headed by a Navy Admiral called Admiral Robert Mathias. The Arrowheads were usually called upon whenever there were specific dangerous operations that were usually almost suicidal in description. They were the best of the best.

Stanley Norris had insisted on nothing less than twelve weeks to train the recruits. Will was to assist him throughout the twelve-week training but had unfortunately missed an entire week already due to his mother's surgery. Well, time to join the squad, he thought as he dialed his Admiral's number.

***

"See you tomorrow at dawn, boys?" Stanley Norris said with a mischievous grin as he watched the tired recruits gathering up their stuff from the uniquely designed tree-like shelves on the training grounds. "And bring your a-game tomorrow because each of you will have to throw me." He added and then burst into laughter when all the recruits groaned in unison. "Aw come on don't be pussies."

"Wow, that session was wild." Rosanne chuckled as she joined a laughing Stan. "You really expect them to be able to throw you? I feel sorry for these guys."

"If they simply follow what I taught them today, lifting me up and slamming me down should be a piece of cake." Stan chuckled as he accepted the bottle of water from the pretty Arrowhead. "That is one of the easiest routines I usually teach."

"Err...that didn't look easy at all." Rosanne drawled. "Maybe it was for you though seeing as you aren't even breathing hard." But for his sweaty t-shirt, Stan didn't look like he had exerted any energy at all.

"Time to rectify that." Stan chuckled as he pulled off the white damp t-shirt he was wearing and accepted a dry black one from a soldier. "Thanks, Abe."

"Time for your run huh?" Rosanne asked as her hot gaze run over the ripped abs of the sexy instructor.

"Yep," Stan responded, putting on the t-shirt. Everyone knew his routine. He always went for a run at the end of their evening training. He crouched down and changed his combat boots for black trainers.

"Man in black," Rosanne muttered as she took in Stan's black t-shirt, black combat pants, and black trainers. "Remember not to go too deep into the forest." She repeated what she always said whenever Stan was about to go for his run. "We wouldn't want any wild animal turning you into their dinner."

"I've told you those animals should rather beware of me." Stan chuckled cheekily making Rosanne roll her eyes.

"And don't forget to grab your gun." She said sternly.

"Yes ma'am," Stan replied smoothly as he always did anytime Rosanne reminded him to take a gun. He had no need for guns where he was going. "See you in the morning."

"How about you call me when you get back?" Rosanne suggested. "We can have a drink or something."

"Sure," Stan said and sauntered off with a knowing smile.

He definitely hadn't missed the subtle hints the sexy soldier had been dropping since they got to the Jungle Warfare School. If not for the fact that he wanted to be respectful to Admiral Mathias, he'd have fucked her brains out already. So far, he'd managed to keep things light and friendly between them. In as much as he had no intention of being intimate with Rosanne, he didn't think some fun banter with the lady would hurt anyone. Maybe after he was done with the Arrowheads, he and the lovely Rosanne could meet up and do their own thing. For now, his zipper was going to remain closed, he chuckled as he broke into a run.

So far, Stan had enjoyed training the recruits. They were not as strong as the people he was used to training but what they lacked in strength, they made up for in determination and enthusiasm. That was great. He always made it a point to go easy on them because he didn't want to hurt any of them. They still managed to look beat after each training though which always surprised him. He was glad that Williams, with who he was to train the recruits, was arriving the next day. He would know the limits of the recruits better.

Deep in the forest, Stan made a beeline for the cave he'd discovered on his very first run in the dense jungle. Inside the cave, he stripped completely naked, arranged his stuff neatly in a corner, and then walked out. At the entrance, he took a deep breath, inhaling the earthy smell of the jungle. He'd always loved the fresh smell of nature. The hunky trainer tilted his neck from side to side to loud cracking sounds and then rubbed his palms together almost excitedly. Ocean-blue eyes turned amber as Stan dropped down on all fours. In the next moment, a huge brown wolf stood where Stan had stood seconds earlier. The wolf let out a howl and then charged deeper into the forest.

***

"Alright let's raise this to a thousand bucks." Stan bellowed.

The eyes of each sweaty recruit and the onlookers went wide in shock. Stan had just doubled the prize money for anyone who would succeed in throwing him on his back. The man was six 'three and weighed about two hundred pounds but that wasn't what made it difficult to throw him. He'd taught them well enough to be able to throw even bigger men. What made it impossible to throw Stan was how fast he was. After three rounds, each recruit was feeling defeated from being thrown three times by Stan. The promise of a thousand dollars however brought fresh determination into the eyes of each recruit. The on-lookers were even more excited about what was going on.

"Let's do this." Stan looked almost bored as he watched the first recruit charge at him.

Each recruit was to spar with Stan and then throw him in the end. The routine looked simple but it wasn't. The first recruit spared beautifully with Stan but found himself flying through the air to sounds of ouch from the on-lookers. The next person came at Stan but was also on his back in no time.

Stan was enjoying playing with the recruits. He knew that none of them would be able to win the prize money. He was too fast for them. It was however good to see how determined they were.

"Come on Miller, you can do this." Stan bellowed at the next recruit who was about to charge at him. Not only was he the youngest amongst the trainees, but he was also the smallest. He heard the groan of disbelief from the young recruit and snorts from his colleagues but still encouraged, "Shock us all, buddy."

"Here goes nothing." The young recruit mumbled as he flew at Stan. He definitely wasn't feeling confident. If even bigger guys hadn't been able to best their agile instructor, what could he do?

Stan heard Miller and couldn't suppress the grin that widened his lips. Humans were such fragile beings he thought as he easily sidestepped a punch meant for his side. He didn't think the recruits stood a chance against even fifteen-year-old werewolves.