Chapter Three: Wedded Bliss

Derek had a routine down whenever Beacon Hills was expecting the return of the now young adult werewolves and longtime friends.

Beforehand, he would always allow himself to enjoy Lyra's brighter and easy going temperament, just for a little while. He would help her clean the Hale house and do whatever else she felt was necessary to prep for the evitable gathering that occurred when all of them came around.

And when they arrived, he would give her the space she needed to watch over them, to enjoy her time with them. He would watch the way her purple eyes sparkled in a way they used to when everyone still lived here.

But slowly, he would maneuver himself in preparation for their departure. He did this because he knew by now, his wife was never one to say goodbye easily. So when the others left and returned to their new homes, he knew to expect her either sitting outside on the porch, staying where she had been when they had driven off; or curled up in their faded couch, watching TV listlessly or staring off with a sad look in her eyes.

Today she was out on the porch, her dull blueish eyes looking up at the moon, which sat as a half-crescent in the dark sky. Her brow was furrowed, as if she was thinking of something that annoyed her.

Derek sat down quietly beside her, resting his forearms on his knees. He listened to the sounds of the forest, the distant trickling of the nearby stream, and of Lyra breathing shallowly, as if something was pressing down on her chest.

"Isaac told me something interesting," she said, finally breaking the silence.

Derek, who made sure he would stay close to her until her sadness faded, turned to look at the woman he was madly in love with. "What? Something about college?"

"I wish," Lyra said, but her tone lacked its usual bite. "No, apparently, he wants to ask out someone."

Derek's brow lifted, waiting for her to continue.

"My sister," Lyra stated in a flat tone.

Derek blinked in surprise. "But she's older than him," was all he could think of saying.

"And his Alpha," Lyra continued. "I mean, I noticed they were spending more time together, but I figured that was pack business, not personal business."

Derek frowned. "You don't want them to date?"

Lyra sighed sharply, pushing a hand through her hair. "It's not that. It's just… dating a member of your pack is always tricky. And if, hypothetically, things don't work out…"

"She could kick him out," Derek finished.

Lyra nodded, turning to meet his gaze. "And it's my sister and Isaac…"

Derek understood her hesitation. Not only would a relationship with the pack Alpha run the risk of Isaac being kicked out, but it would also place a strain on them and on others around them, such as Lyra.

"But what if, hypothetically, things do work out," Derek suggested. He shrugged. "Then they're both happy, and Isaac would eventually become even more of a brother to you."

Lyra exhaled again, but more softly this time. "I know. I just don't know though."

"I think you're overthinking this," Derek said simply. "Besides, at the end of the day, it isn't your choice whether or not they end up together."

Something flickered in Lyra's eyes but she nodded, her shoulders relaxing. "You're right." She moved closer to him so she could rest her head on his shoulder.

Derek turned so he could kiss her forehead. He rested his cheek in her hair, which smelled like peaches. "How are you doing though?" he asked softly, taking her hand in his. Noticing they were colder than usual, he lifted them to his lips and blew on them, before rubbing them with his own.

Lyra's lips curved as she gazed at him, her eyes changing now to a soft violet color. "I'm okay. Really. I think each time they leave, it gets a little easier, especially since I know they're all happy where they are."

Derek kept rubbing Lyra's hands, massaging her knuckles and her palms. "I'm glad to hear that."

Lyra smiled again and leaned closer to kiss him gently, then more firmly. When she pulled back, she studied him.

His hair was cropped short, above his ears, and styled in a way that emphasized his facial structure. His eyes were warm and green with those dots of amber, and they watched her as she watched him. His jaw was still covered in stubble and it tickled her when she leaned in to kiss him once more.

Sighing, she snuggled up against him, burrowing under his chin into the crook of his neck, instinctively moving closer as though to draw his comfort and warmth into her own body.

Derek held her gently, letting the silence of twilight creep over them.

Ooo0ooO

The next day, Derek woke up to find himself alone in bed. The side that Lyra slept on was rumpled, since she never made up the bed ("what's the point when you're just going to mess it up again" was her argument).

He rolled over onto his back and listened intently.

The soft sound of humming drifted upstairs, along with the clinking and clanking of dishes and pots and pans.

Rolling out of bed, he followed the noises into the kitchen, where Lyra was. She moved around, alternating between humming and singing quietly, while moving around the kitchen as she prepped what looked like were the makings of pancakes.

Derek leaned against the doorway, watching her quietly.

"I hope that you see right through my walls
I hope that you catch me 'cause I'm already falling- oh!"

Lyra nearly dropped a plate when she saw Derek standing there. Her eyes narrowed accusingly. "You scared me."

"You were singing," Derek said, smiling. "Keep singing."

Lyra kept glaring for a moment before turning slowly back to the stove. But Derek was pleased when she continued her song, and sat down at the kitchen counter to watch and listen.

"I try my best to never let you in to see the truth
And I've never opened up
I've never truly loved till you put your arms around me
And I believe that it's easier for you to let me go

You put your arms around me and I'm home…"

They ate breakfast together in comfortable silence, side by side at the counter, with her stealing bites of his cut fruit and with him rubbing his foot over hers.

When they were done, they left the dishes in the sink, went to chance, and then headed outside. The air was cool despite the sun, and it smelled like the trees and the wildflowers.

Lyra's hand found Derek's as they made their way down the familiar path that would lead them deeper into the forest. Lyra's eyes were calm and happy, and Derek couldn't stop looking at her, how her hair swayed around her shoulder, how her lips bowed up into a small smile.

"Staring is rude, you know," she told him, lifting a brow at him while grinning.

"I think it's a compliment," Derek countered, leaning in close to breath in her, the familiar scent of wolf and wildflowers, along with her fruity body wash.

A rumble came deep from within Lyra's chest, a pleased sound before Derek felt her hands press themselves against his lower back to draw him closer to her. He could feel her warm breath against her collarbone before she brushed her lips against his pulse, which jumped.

Then came her teeth, sinking into the curve of his shoulder as her nails bit into his shirt.

Derek felt his own wolf respond, growling softly, before he had her pressed up against a tree, staring into her eyes, which had taken on a more reddish hue.

She grinned wickedly before raking her hands down his back, effectively ripping his shirt into ribbons before her lips collided with his.

They took each other with a blinding sort of heat that consumed them, and it was punctured with the sounds of snarls, moans, and clothes being ripped off.

When she was nothing but her bra and underwear, both scraps of black lace, Lyra's red eyes flashed before Derek thrusted inside her, and she snarled with pleasure.

His hands gripped her hips tightly, so much it would have left bruises if they did heal so quickly. He drove into her with a purpose, watching as she climbed up and up.

Lyra didn't care that the tree bark was scraping her back or that someone could happen across them at any moment. All she cared about was how the world got hot and blurry whenever Derek slammed inside her. She could feel herself reaching her peak, with the tightening of her inner walls and that coiling feeling growing more intense in her lower gut.

She could only gasp when it crashed over her, when her body pulsed like a heart, and her vision went spotty for a few seconds. Her muscles spasmed and her nails bit into Derek's skin once more.

Derek groaned against Lyra's throat, and he nearly lost his grip on her warm, slippery flesh. He tried to stay on his feet, balancing them both, but eventually they sank down onto the grass, with Lyra laying over his chest, her cheek against his pounding heart.

She shivered, but it wasn't from being cold. Her hair was damp now, and stuck to her temples as they tried to catch their breath.

Derek's gaze drifted to the glinting gold of the rings on her finger when her hand curled against his chest. He closed his eyes then, inhaling deeper.

Everything smelled like good sex, like the flowers and grass, but mostly, like Lyra.

"You know, people will never hike here again if we keep this up," Lyra commented in that shameless way of hers.

Derek laughed. "That could be a good thing."

Lyra's eyes fluttered when Derek's fingers traced over her violet flower tattoo, then the curve of her breast. "True. I wouldn't want anyone to see you naked. You're mine."

Derek and his wolf felt pleased at the possessive tone she now spoke in. So he turned her over onto her back. "And I wouldn't want anyone else to see you, like this…" His hands kept exploring her, tracing her other tattoos, and her damp, golden skin.

Lyra's eyes half-closed and her lips parted when his fingers sank back into her, curling and touching in all the right places. "No, couldn't have that…"

But she didn't finish, because Derek's lips covered her own, and once more they fell into each other.

Ooo0ooO

That night, Derek watched Lyra sleep in a tangle of dark blue sheets. She was naked and her upper body was exposed to his gaze. His eyes drifted over her golden breasts, tipped in pink, the long stretch of her muscular stomach, the curve of her hips…

Then his eyes went back up to her face, which was relaxed. Her eyelashes casted long shadows over her cheeks, and her lips parted softly with every breath.

Derek felt something in his chest constrict. He could remember the first time he saw her, right outside this house, partly hidden as he talked to Isaac and Peter. She had looked at him with such distrust then, and he marveled at how much had changed since then.

So he reached over and brushed the hair away from her face tenderly, and she sighed and murmured in her sleep, speaking one name only.

"Derek."

And he wondered if a love like theirs was often given freely, because he knew he would pay any price if that meant keeping her right here, by his side.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

Author's Note: This chapter included the song "Arms" by Christina Perri. Please review!