Chapter 24

**Hey everyone, just giving you a heads up! This is a rated M fanfic, so it will involve lemons! If you would rather not read it, just skip it, you won't miss anything in the storyline Thank you for the reads!**

~Aaden POV~

It was really happening. I was going to marry the man I loved. After giving us a lot of hell, Vlad had agreed to marry us, and I had floated on Cloud 9 since then. Derek and I still suffered occasional bouts of pain from the loss of two wonderful young wolves, but knowing soon we'd be real mates helped us through. This was why Farren had said we could be so powerful. The comfort we could pass to each other, the strength we provided for the other, and the love that kept us in check made us unbeatable.

Farren had been another matter in our marriage. Although I wasn't into the big wedding thing, I still wanted a maid of honor, and she was who I chosen. I'd been told Spencer was going to be Derek's best man, and I had laughed, thinking he at least owed it to him since Spence still held the scar from Derek's teeth on his arm. She had fought me about it, but in the end, I had won and she had to pick out a dress. I was going to borrow a gray one from her, considering she didn't have white and I didn't have time to go dress shopping, and I was just thankful I didn't have to.

I stopped my thoughts there. Yes, it was bad luck to see the bride or whatever the night before the wedding, but I didn't care, and I knew Derek wouldn't. I was fretting, and I needed to talk to him about a few things. It was nine-thirty, and most of the wolves were asleep, so I tip-toed my way to his room and came in without knocking. A thrill raced through my heart knowing that starting tomorrow night, we'd share this room. I held off my panic, and walked over to his bed. He was laying on his stomach, but I knew he was awake now. "What are you doing up? We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow." He murmured. "I couldn't sleep." I replied honestly, lying beside him and draping my arm over his waist. He chuckled before rolling onto his other side to face me and pulling me against him. "You're worried." He said then, not questioningly. "Not about getting married," I admitted, feeling my face redden. "Ah, the virgin nervousness." He laughed softly then. "It's not funny," I playfully complained, smacking his chest. "Yeah it is, I was there once, remember?" I shrugged, brushing a lock of black hair from his forehead. "I know you know what you're doing, but I have no clue. But it isn't just that, I-" I cut off, not wanting to ask him what I was curious about. "What?" He asked gently, pressing his lips to my forehead. "It's going to sound weird," I said. "Try me." "Okay, can, um, can I…? Fuck it, can I get pregnant?" It came out rushed, and I buried my face in the blanket. He actually started laughing.

"What the hell, Derek?" I groaned. "I'm sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all, "I wasn't expecting that. I guess I should have told you way before. No, you cannot get pregnant, not as a human. Which means until I change you, we don't have to-" "I get it!" I spoke over him, giggling, and I hit him with a pillow. "So, when I become a werewolf?" "Yes, then you can. But let's wait on that, okay?" "Uh, yeah, I don't want to bring a baby into this." "Good," he sighed, draping his arm over me, "now go to sleep." Smiling, I shifted to where he was spooning me, and we fell asleep.

~Derek POV~

I felt like a colossal idiot, dressed as I was. We had agreed nothing really fancy, but Spencer had had other ideas. So now, I was wearing new black jeans and a crisp, white button down. He had even made me lay my jacket aside. To make it bearable, I pictured Aaden in her floor length gray dress. It became even better when I pictured the dress falling in a heap to the floor at her feet…

"Earth to Derek!" Spencer shook me. "What?" "They're almost ready to start, are you finished getting dressed?" "Yeah."

He led the way, and I followed him down the hallway to the room we had decided to have the 'ceremony' in. Vlad stood at the end of the room, looking like an asshole as always with that impish grin, but he also looked slightly nervous. We'd asked a big job of him, and he wasn't used to not being an idiot. I came and stood diagonally from him, nodding once before turning my head to the seated crowd. With the wolves on one side, and the vampires on the other, it hit me again when I missed seeing Erica's and Ben's faces. But, it made it a little better when I saw Jared's stupid face. Sudden music made me alert, and my heart began pounding, knowing that within a few minutes, my lovely bride would be stepping through the door. She didn't make me wait long.

When Aaden stepped inside, I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. She was more than gorgeous, with her long, dark hair pinned up and purple shadow lining those glowing eyes of hers. She walked up to stand in front of me, and only then did she look at me. Nervously, I smiled, and offered her a hand, which she took. I was thankful Vlad rushed into the spiel quickly.

"I do." She said, giving me a winning smile. "I now pronounce you husband and wife, now give her a smooch." I could have punched him in the throat for that, but Aaden's laughter stopped me. Instead, I gently leaned in and pressed my lips to hers, sweetly at first and then fully. The wolves burst into applause, happy to now have their Luna. I caught the sight of Jessica stiffly standing, and not looking happy at all. I would have to check on her later. Right now, I was going to take Aaden somewhere special.

Quickly, we changed into regular clothes, and I went out to pull my car around. "See you all later!" she said, and I flipped Vlad and Ethan the bird when I saw them making kissing faces at me. Once beside me, she closed the door, and I drove. Waves of nervousness and excitement hit me, and without taking my eyes from the road, I reached over and took her hand. "I know, I'm sorry," she said, her breath catching. "Don't be. It's okay, but I want you to know that we're going to be careful." I wanted to assure and not scare her. "I trust you." She said, and her emotions hit me again. I had decided sometime last night while she was sleeping that we weren't spending our first night together at that house. There were too many eagerly listening ears, and I wasn't having her first time made fun of by anyone, because ally or not, I'd kill them.

I drove up the familiar mountainside. There was a place, one I'd found by accident, that I wanted her to see. It was a sort of abandoned park, clear and with a water view and near the edge of the woods sat a lonely bench, graying with age. "So," she said, "where are we going?" "A park of sorts. I don't think anyone has been there for years." She said nothing, but I could sense her curiosity and contentment.

~Aaden POV~

When we arrived at the old park, I fell in love with the place. It was cold, so the trees were leafless, the ground hard and the wind blew, but still, I didn't think I'd ever seen a more beautiful place. I heard water crashing on the shore, and walked to the edge of the cliff, and the view made me catch my breath. The sun was just now setting, resting on the water. The grass to my sides laid down as the wind whistled through again, making me shiver. I pulled my coat tighter, then turned to look at Derek. He was standing by his car still, just watching me enjoy it all. All at once, my heart began thundering again. But at the same time, I was ready. Ready to really be his.

Much to my delight, he suggested a walk around. A small path led down to the water, which I childishly ran to stick my feet into, despite the subzero weather. Afterwards, I lost feeling in my toes, but it was worth every second. On the way back, he picked a small wildflower and handed it to me. It was in this moment, that it really hit me. I was now Aaden Christine Hale. Carrow was just my maiden name, and I felt better remembering I no longer shared it with my father. My mother, vacationing in Italy, hadn't been able to attend the wedding, but had sent us a beautiful set of dishes, engraved with gold. Over the course of time, she'd come to like Derek, and I was thankful we hadn't let out the secret.

My thoughts had gotten the better of me, because before I knew it, we were back at the Camaro. Derek gave me a small, playful smile and opened the back door. This was it. No turning back, even if I wanted to.

I climbed in, and he followed me, closing out the cold air. He removed his coat, and I did the same. Leaning into the front seat, he turned up the heater, and put on some music. I felt my eyes darken, and suddenly, I wasn't so nervous. It was Derek and me, with no one for miles. Vlad wouldn't be quick to harass me, Farren wouldn't make things awkward and everyone else didn't get a show.

Slowly, he pulled me to him, and pressed his lips to mine. When he parted my lips, I tasted only his desire. I felt him pulling at my shirt and I took my lips from his to help remove it. I returned the favor by taking off his. Slowly, I ran my fingers down his chest and abdomen, pausing at the button on his jeans. But, a courageous moment helped me undo it, and he growled, sending a thrill right down to my core. I felt my breathing pick up, and he pressed his lips to mine again. As he found the button on my jeans, his lips left mine to trail down my throat and neck. Softly, his tongue traced the exposed skin of my breasts. I heard myself moan, and he slid down my jeans, laying them in the floor. He slid down his own, leaving him in just his boxers, and returned to me, laying his body down between my legs. I felt his hardness against me, and my heart raced. He smiled, moving his hips into mine gently as he undid the clasps on my bra. I felt no shame as he pulled it away and kissed me again, his fingers toying with my hardened nipples. Then he moved his mouth to where his fingers had been, and I felt heat growing down there. I used my knees to try and pull away his boxers, and he took the hint, pulling my underwear down as well. I sat up, running my hand along his length. He sucked in a breath and pressed against me harder. The longing in my core grew deeper, and as he laid me down, I felt like I'd burst. "Derek," I heard myself say softly. He said nothing, but kissed my throat, trailing his lips up to my chin, and I felt his hand slide between my thighs. When he pressed against my folds, I held my breath, soaking up this new feeling. Then he began to move his fingers. The feeling was magical, that's all I could explain it as, and as he moved them, a bubble of heat began rising in my belly, before releasing and spreading throughout my limbs. My breath came in hitched gasps now, and as I was riding the last of the waves, I felt him press inside me just a little. I froze then, and he chuckled. "Don't lock up, I'll be gentle. Relax." He said, and he kissed me again, tracing my lips with his tongue. In one swift move, but not hard, he slid into me. I had been expecting a lot of pain, and although there was some, it wasn't near what I'd been expecting. It was more the uncomfortable stretching. Carefully, he pulled out and pressed in again. I'd never felt something so good in my life. Once I got used to him, he rocked into me, his thrusts getting faster, and I wrapped my legs around him. The familiar bubble rose in my belly again and let loose just as he did, and together, we fell asleep in the backseat of his car.