The whole week I've avoided Derek. I couldn't help it. The pain in my chest was too much for me to take, so I tried to avoid the pain. Seeing him walk across the stage to get his diploma was hard. Especially feeling my soon-to-be husband staring at me hard. When I first met him, it wasn't exactly how I imagined it. Sure, he was big and buff. But he wasn't anything how we made him seem.

/-\flashback/-\

Two days after Derek and I breaking up, I got dressed in my best dress. It was white and was tight around the upper body. Around the waist, there was a silver ribbon. When it got to my hips, the skirt flared out into ruffles until it reached the floor. The neck of the dress was a low square neck and connected to two thick straps. I wore simple white heels.

Around my neck was my family crest on a silver pendant. I put on my diamond stud earrings. For my makeup, I wore red lipstick and gold eyeshadow. Black eyeliner, lip liner, and mascara.

I sighed and brushed my hair down into its curly waves.

A soft knock on my door sounded. I told them the all clear. Dad came in.

"Oh, my darling daughter, you look lovely. A sight for sore eyes."

I smiled at him softly, tears threatening to spill over from how it was his fault in a way. "Thank you, Father."

"I know what you're thinking." He said suddenly. "That it's my fault. I set up this marriage. Ruined the chance for you and that Derek lad. And I agree with you. But, it will make you stronger." He placed a hand under my head to keep it up.

"Red, for passion and strength. Gold for wisdom and wealth. Black for elegance, mystery, and power. All of these things passed down from generations. And it will continue through you."

"Father, what does silver mean?" I asked, wanting to keep hearing his gentle tone.

"It signals a time of reflection and a change of direction as it illuminates the way forward. It helps with the cleansing and releasing of mental, physical and emotional issues and blockages as it opens new doors and lights the way to the future.

"It is fluid, emotional, sensitive and mysterious. It is soothing, calming and purifying. Everything you are, my princess. Speaking of silver and princess, I got you a gift."

"Father, you didn't have to get me anything."

"I know. I wanted to, my jewel. Close those precious little emeralds before I might take them and use them as jewels for my rings."

I laughed at the seemingly coarse joke, but it had been an affectionate joke while I was growing up.

I shut my eyes and felt my father place something on my head. I opened my eyes and looked in my vanity mirror. Resting on my pile of hair was a silver, diamond tiara.

"Diamonds represent status, strength, everlasting love, and beauty. Diamonds also represent purity." I recalled, remembering when I was studying the meaning of things.

He smiled at me.

"May I have a moment of weakness?" I asked.

"You deserve one, my dear."

I placed my forehead on his chest and felt the tears pour down. "I love it, Daddy. I love it. Thank you."

He wrapped his arm around my back,"you're welcome, my prized jewel."

He kissed me on my hair and let me go. He cleared his throat and I dabbed at my eye.

"Now, you have an meeting to get to. Come on. Let's get some joy in those eyes and let's hop to it." I reapplied my makeup as he demanded that from me.

"I know it will be hard, but try." Were his last tender words before he shut the door.

After deep calming breaths, I walked down the stairs. Kincaid was waiting for me with a gleam in his eyes.

His deep voice boomed through the house,"this must be the jewel I have been after. You're as radiant as the sun. Well, not even the sun can outshine you at this glorious view."

He grabbed my hand and kissed it. I gasped,"thank you, Sir Kincaid." My body flushed with the compliment as I bowed.

"You're welcome, my fair lady." I stood and we walked over to the table. He pulled out my chair and then sat in front of me.

Don't get me wrong, it was a sweet gesture, but it didn't feel right. I smelt my own sadness and I knew he smelt it too.

"What is making you fret?"

I steeled myself immediately,"nothing makes me fret. I am the daughter of William Norwood, great grandson of a king. And Elizabeth Norwood, who's great grandmother was married to a knight. I come from strength. So why would anything be making me fret?"

He laughed a booming laugh,"I know. I merely meant, you just look pale and like you're ready to make a run for it." He took a sip of his wine.

I sipped my tea as I thought,'run to Derek's arms.'

"Oh, yes, of course. I am so dreadfully sorry. I lost my temper. A woman never loses her temper. Please forgive me."

"I might consider it, if you tell me what's wrong?"

I looked away for a moment, staring at the picture of a maid of honor kissing a wolf's head. "I just didn't think you would be so…"

"Social?"

"Casual and forgiving." I quickly assured.

He smiled a crooked one,"I've tried that. Being nice. That only got me stepped on in life. But I assure you, I will never hurt the future queen of my heart."

How I longed for those words to come out of Derek's mouth. If I focused enough, I could imagine it. That made me give a smile,"thank you, Sir Kincaid."

"I'll drop the formalities if you do too." He baited. Digging in to our meal of stewe stekes of mutton. I jellied up my bread and ate.

We made small talk from there. After dinner, he took me on a walk around the forest. He had wanted to show me off to the Hale Pack. But I quickly declined. I suggested to invite them to the wedding. He had agreed after much persuasion.

/-\end of flashback/-\

The day of my wedding, my mother and cousins came busting in my room to wake me up. They quickly got me in the bath and scrubbed clean.

They quickly got me in a smock, next they helped me put on my stockings, then my corset, then my Spanish Farthingale. After that my petticoat and kirtle and forepart. And finally my partlet, and my gown and sleeves. They put my shoes on my feel and began doing my hair. They put one or two clips in my hair to keep me from placing it behind my ear during the ceremony, and placed the same makeup from when I first met him on my face. My mother softly placed the crown on my head and patted my back. I quickly drunk down some water so I could stay hydrated during the wedding.

My father came in a held out his arm, "you look like a thousand stars."

I smiled,"thanks, Father. But between you and me, I can't breathe." He patted my hand with a smile. Walking down the grassy isle was kind of hard. Especially since I saw every Hale except Derek.

When we got to the end, Father placed my hand in Kincaid's. "Take care of her." He begged.

I smiled with a sad smile as he kissed my cheek.

"DEARELY beloved frendes, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of his congregacion, to joyne together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable state, instytuted of God in Paradise, in the time of manes innocencie, signiflyng unto us the mistical union that is betwixt Christ and his Churche: which holy state Christe adourned and beautified with his presence and firste myracle that he wrought in Cana of Galile, and is commended of sainct Paul to be honourable emong all men, and therfore is not to be enterprised, nor taken in hande unadvisedly, lightly or wantonly, to satisfye mennes carnall lustes and appetytes, lyke brute beastes that have no understandyng ; but reverently, discretely, advisedly, soberly, and in the feare of God, duely consideryng the causes for the which matrimony was ordeined.

"One was the procreation of children, to be brought up in the feare and nurtoure of the Lorde, and praise of God.

"Secondly, it was ordeined for a remedy agaynste sinne and to avoide fornication, that suche persones as have not the gifte of continencie might mary, and kepe themselves undefiled membres of Christes body.

"Thirdly, for the mutual societie, helpe, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, bothe in prosperity and adversitye, into the whiche holy state these two persones present, come nowe to be joyned.

"Therefore if any man can shewe any just cause, why thei may not lawfully be joyned together let hym now speake, or els hereafter for ever holde his peace."

I took in a deep breath. I couldn't breathe with this corset on. They tied it too tight.

"REQUIRE and charge you (as you wil aunswere at the dreadful day of judgement, when the secretes of all hartes shalbe disclosed) that if either of you doe knowe any impedyment, why ye may not be lawfully joyned together in Matrimony, that ye confesse it."

I found myself hoping he would hurry this up. I think I can only tough this out for about five more minutes.

"I object." Derek's voice came down the the outside wedding isle like a bunch of church bells.

"Derek." I breathed. "What are you doing?"

"I told you I would protect you."

"There's no need. Kincaid won't hurt me."

"But I want you, too. And I made a promise. I would fight."

Kincaid gave a chilling laugh,"don't you see? She was already promised to me. There's nothing you can do about it."

"She is not a possession. And there is. I challenge you for the right to mate with Helena."

The gasps were deafening as I finally passed out from lack of air and shock.

When I came too, Mom was ferociously fanning my face.

"Dear Heavens child! Why didn't you tell us you couldn't breathe?" She scolded.

"Remember Lady Anne's wedding?"

"You were always a liar then." She defended.

I laughed as Mother sighed out, "she's alive and well!" I stood up and saw that the chairs were moved from the backyard. The things have been moved around to look like an arena.

Talia came running up to me with a glass of water and crackers. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Dear."

The setting of the wedding finally caught up to me and I felt my legs give in. "What are we going to do? I can't let them fight over me!"

"Derek's a stubborn boy. There has got to be something that can stop them."

My eyes opened wide and I ran to the library, followed by Talia and Mom.

"Wait! Sweetheart! No running in the house! Plus, I can't move like I use to!"

I slid to a stop in front of the library door and opened it. Immediately going to a section where I know the book is at.


"WAIT!" I shouted as I saw them getting ready to fight. (A/N: More than likely what I'm about to write isn't true. I don't think anyway!) "In this book, it says killing on a wedding for a bride is wrong. If you want to win the heart of the woman, you must win at these three challenges: patience, strength, and courting. The winner of most of them, gets me."

A bunch of sighs echoed around the room. I slumped down into a nearby chair.

"So, no fighting?" Kincaid asked disappointed.

"None." I said sternly.

I was ushered to my seat beside my father so I could watch the challenges go by.

"The first challenge; patience! Patience is needed for when the mate is pregnant with pups and needs to release the hormones." I announced. I read through the book. "No! Not doing that. That's just...Mom. You should look at this."

She came over and read it. "No! Absolutely not. That is not appropriate."

I bit back a laugh as my mother went on and on. My dad whispered in my ear, "she saw the picture?"

I nodded. He joined me in my laughter. She glared back at us. We went silent and straightened ourselves out.

When she was asking for another test, we laughed behind our hands. Talia came beside me and whispered in my ear.

"Oh. That's a bad idea. They'll-oh." I muttered distracted by the idea of seeing them doing it. Totally lost in my own world for a second.

"Helena!" My mother snapped.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry, sorry." I said, making a face. "Anyway, you two will sit through the thing that annoys you most. Derek, you'll be sitting through…"I took a deep breath. "Your ex girlfriend gossip."

"So, you?" He joked.

I snorted, much to my mom's displeasure. "A woman does not snort!"

"Sorry." I feigned a giggle. "Pleased? And Derek, you know I don't gossip. Much." We shared a smile at each other before I cleared my throat.

"Kincaid, you will be listening to a bunch of 'stupid American songs' as you like to say. Even though I couldn't agree with you more."

He groaned and sat down.

"I feel the happiness radiating off of you." I smiled.

He rolled his at my attempts to cheer him up. But a gentle smile graced his lips.

"Get the timer ready, please." I commanded politely. Two of the most trusted people here whipped out there phones and went to the stopwatches.

"Oh, both of you will be allowed to take breaks. But that will lose you some chances of winning." My father pointed out.

The glare that passed in between the two as Kate showed up was scary. I did not want to be the receiver at all.

"Are you ready?" I asked them both.

"On my mark." They got ready and got ready to start the music and Kate.

"Start the timers." They began to play some of the most annoying songs the same time Kate started talking

I immediately covered my ears,"this is torture!" I ran in the house with the others as the priest watched the battle.

"Their patience is limitless." I complimented in disbelief.

"They have to be." Mom said as she helped me out of the cone as I like to call it. The dress was flared out enough without it.

"Hmm." I hummed, looking at Derek. I was without a shadow of doubt in love with him. But I knew that I could have a future with Kincaid too. He's not as bad as I thought he would be. I wonder how I would choose between the two. I sat at the table inhaling as much food as possible without Mom looking. When she was, I was taking bite by bite. She nodded her approval and turned. I rolled my eyes and finally asked the time we've been dying to ask. "How long have they been like that?"

Julie took out her phone,"30 minutes. 31 now."

I sighed,"if we don't-"

"AH!" Kincaid shouted, tearing apart the speakers and breaking them to pieces.

I sped out of the house, "KINCAID!"

I took his face in my hands and forced him to look down at me. "Calm down. Come back to us. Come back to me."

He took in deep breaths. "There we go. In and out. In and out."

He brought his eyes back to the black eyes I'm use to. "There. We can't have you mauling anyone apart. Can we?"

He laughed dryly and I walked to the podium. "The winner of this-SOMEONE SHUT THAT GIRL UP!"

My cousin out of nowhere slaps the mess out of Kate. Kate fell unconscious in seconds.

I cleared my throat,"alrighty then. Can someone erase her memory of this. And ice that wound. Anyway, the winner of this round is Derek Hale."

"The second challenge, strength. Strength is determined in more ways than one. Not just by muscle, but by heart as well. If you can show your strength in the most impressive way, you will be declared winner of this round."

"The priest will be the judge and I will either back him up and deny him. Either way, his vote declares the winner. You have ten minutes to decide what you want to do. Spend them wisely."

"And no, you can not fight." I answered before Derek or Kincaid could ask.

"Oh, Derek lost this round." I heard Laura whisper.

Mom came beside me,"well, actually. If you can not think of anything, you are welcomed to pull the biggest fallen tree we can find in the woods and drag them out. My brothers will drag them to the same spot to start. The first one back wins."

They've decided to do my mother's race. As long as there is no blood shed.

After Derek and Kincaid chose there tree. We got started.

"Ok. No sabotage or cheating. That's the rules."

They nodded to let me know that they accept the rules.

"You ready?" I asked them both.

"Ok, start."

They both started pulling their heavy trees through the woods. Having to stop every once in a while to make a path way and everything else. I made my way back through the woods worried about those two. While waiting for someone to show, I had to be a great host for the wedding guest. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Some people like to be stubborn." I joked.

That got a chuckle from a them. The tension settling down.

"While we wait for them, those of you with little children, please take this time to either feed them or take them to a babysitter. I was once a child and I know that event like this will only keep them entertained for seconds." All of them sat there. Determined to see who I end up with. "Very well, then. If I can't make you leave, please help yourself to some of the food we have prepared."

Wow. I can't believe my voice. I sounded so strong and authoritative. Yet gentle and kind.

About fourty-two minutes later, Kincaid came out the woods with a victory shout. He looked like he got in a fight with nature. I hid my laugh behind my hand as I imagined that happening.

"Good job, Kincaid! You are the winner. But, I do wonder, where's Derek?"

"Here!" I heard a voice rasp. I gasped and rushed my way over.

"Derek? What happened?" I placed my hand on his cheek and examined a wound that wasn't closing.

"Another wolf…hunted…hunters…got cut…wolf's bane knife…helping her…barely made it out." I sat him down and immediately looked at the wound.

"You're lucky," I murmured, placing some burned wolves bane on his face. The wolf's bane didn't have that bad of an affect on me since I'm half wolf right now.

He growled in pain.

I soothed him,"it's ok. It's ok." I kissed his cheek. I turned to face the crowd.

"What Derek has done was brave. As I have said before, strength isn't about only muscle. It's about heart. But, I regrettably announce that he was not the first to cross the line."

I leant up so the priest could whisper in my ear. "Oh. Ok. Wait, are you serious?" I brought my head back to normal, "it seems the priest has given Kincaid one and a half points. Derek gets a half!"

Relieved sighs were heard from "Team Derek" as I like to call them. The people clapped and I sighed.

"The last and final challenge. Every mate wants to feel loved. Even after marriage. Courting let's your mate know that there's still a connection. Prove that you can make your mate feel like the most special person on earth, while letting her/him keep their purity."

I took in a deep breath and gave my own proposal, "everyone has given a challenge alternative but me. As it's known, I fall in love with words and actions. But mainly words. If you can write a poem about having me as a mate, I will choose a winner and marry without a word."

"Before any of you speak, you have an hour to go to the library type up a poem and don't put your name on it at all. No trace of any familiarity. Just a stanza."

"And the winner of this challenge will win me. No matter the points you have. Do you two understand?" I asked, authority flooding through my voice, making me wanna puke.

They nodded and I dismissed them both.

"Mom, may I speak to your for a moment?"

She followed me after nodding and I sat on my bed.

-Derek's POV-

I had no idea what I was going to right. There was so much, but so little time. And I'm not good at making a rhyme.

I looked at the time, and suddenly, it came to me.

-Helena's POV-

When they came back, a man came and placed two sheets of paper in front of me with the letters "A" and "B" on it. I took a deep breath and began reading.

Your eyes shine like new stars.

They can melt the coldest hearts.

The gift to see through my scars,

Will be the greatest of all the arts.

I bit my lip to keep the tears at bay. That was beautiful. My heart wrenched at the thought of someone writing that for me.

I dabbed at my eye and opened B.

You're the only one I think about.

Before I sleep, I see your smiles.

If you take your leave I will cry out,

But for you I'll run a million miles.

The poem brought tears tears back to my eyes and I tried not to make any quick decisions.

I read the two poems over and over again and let the tears loose. They were both so beautiful. But I had to choose one. I thought hard. I sighed as I came to a decision.

"The both of you have put up a interesting fight. But I have chosen my victor, my future husband. I hope that the defeated opponent won't hold a grudge."

"The person I choose is B."