Disclaimer: I do not own Darkest Powers... or Derek...* goes and cries*

Chloe's POV

Derek and I have been going out for almost two years now. He told me I was his mate a year and a half ago. We had been taking things a little farther than we had before, but he seemed more and more hesitant to do more. I asked him why that was. This is how that went.

*Flashback*

I was sitting on my bed reading a book when Derek walked in my room. I looked up from my book to ask what he wanted but, before I could open my mouth to do so, I saw that he was drenched in sweat and his green eyes were bright with fever.

"Just give me a sec." I said as I quickly pulled on my shoes and the sweater at the end of my bed.

As we walked out of the safe house we had just moved to, we looked around the backyard for a patch of trees or some small forest. It took us a while and the longer we looked the more Derek's muscles writhed under his skin. When we found a suitable spot Derek stripped down to his boxers. No matter how many times I had seen him in this condition, my face heated and coloured. Then it began. His Changes were coming easier now, faster even. His spine shot up at a seemingly impossible angle, fur grew out of the skin under my hands as I rubbed his shoulders, the popping and cracking of bones making me wince.

When his Change was over he laid down in the clearing, motioning for me to come closer. I did and we cuddled for a little while like we usually did. After about ten minutes Derek jumped up, leaving me on the ground. I glared at him and he pranced excitedly around me. My glare softened and he came up to me and prodded me towards the yard. Derek wanted to play tag.

I dashed out into the open yard. When I got there I turned around to see Derek loping towards me ,as if we were not playing tag , but as if we were on a slow stroll. His emerald green eyes met my ocean blue ones and with out warning he sprinted towards me. In my surprise I was frozen to the spot as Derek crashed into me. I fell to the ground and he stood over me defining that he was no longer it, then got off me and danced back , making sure I couldn't tag him back.

We played tag for a good while before Derek's body decided to Change back. When he had Changed back and dressed he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his nose in my hair and inhaling deeply.

"Mm…You smell good."

"And you must be tired."

"I'm not tired as long as I have you here"

"Oh really? And what if I was to go to Canada?"

"I would follow you."

"Would you?" For my answer he gently placed his lips upon mine. I broke the kiss only long enough to turn around and then I smashed my lips on his, pouring all my love for him into the kiss. He kissed me back with just as much love and passion. As we continued to kiss , I played with the hem of his shirt. He quickly pulled it off with out to much interruption to our kiss. We , unfortunately, had to come up for air. As soon as I could breathe we continued to kiss. This time my shirt came off. But before we could go any farther, he pulled back. He always pulled back. I felt a shard of hurt sting me.

"Why do you always pull away? Is it me? Did I do something?" I felt close to tears.

"No, it's not you. You didn't do anything." My face must have shown what I was feeling because he looked guilty.

"Then what's wrong? Tell me. Please Derek. I thought we had no secrets."

"If I tell you you'll probably run away in terror and think I'm a monster." Derek muttered.

"I promise I won't leave and I could never think you are a monster Derek. There is nothing you can do or say that would make me think that."

He let out a shaky breath. "IloveyouChloeyouaremymate." He said it so fast I didn't catch what he said.

"What was that? I didn't hear what you said." I said confusion in my voice.

"Okay…. One more time… I …..I love you Chloe. You are my mate. My one and only. You are it for me." Derek said it really slowly, then looked away from me.

"Derek. Look at me." He raised his gaze to meet mine. "I love you too." And then I kissed him softly "You are it for me too."

He looked at me in shock and awe and love. "But I don't know what a mate is , though I'm sure it is very significant, so please explain."

Derek let out a shaky laugh. We sat down on the ground, me in his lap.

"Mates are when a werewolf chooses a life partner, well when a werewolf's wolf chooses a life partner. We are extremely protective of our mates and it's kind of like marriage, in a way, because we are committed to that person no matter what. Our mates are the only people we will ever be attracted to and the only people who can carry our children." He blushed at the last part. "Also when we, um, do it for the first time we have to bite our mates in a spot they specify, and then we will become an official mated pair and we will be mentally connected." If possible Derek's face got even redder.

"Wow. That's amazing. I am honored to be your mate Derek. I wouldn't ask for anything else." I had the biggest grin on my face as I told him this.

*Flashback over*

Now before you ask, no Derek and I haven't become official mates…yet.

However, now that we finally convinced Kit and Aunt Lauren, mostly Aunt Lauren, Derek and I are moving in together! And I have some celebration plans for our first night there, if you know what I mean.

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