Author's notes: Okay everyone, this is the last chapter! I can't believe I finally finished this story. Lol I'm really actually sad to end it but I hope everyone has enjoyed reading and thanks for all of your amazing comments and support! YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC! THANKS FOR READING! :D As always I apologize for any mistakes. :)
ENJOY!
The next day it was a quarter till twelve when Aurora arrived at the camp site. She was beyond nervous as she parked her car, getting out so she could walk to the edge of the forest.
Biting her bottom lip, Aurora waited anxiously for Derek to arrive. Looking around she wrapped Derek's jacket around her body shivering against the cold. Storm clouds loomed above her head as she reached in her pocket to check her phone.
"I could smell your anxiety from my house." Came Derek's voice from behind her making her jump in surprise.
"Why would you do that?!" Aurora asked in a gasping laugh.
"Sorry princess. Habit." Derek chuckled pulling her into a hug.
"It's good to know you haven't lost your creepy backwoods allure." Aurora said wrapping her arms around Derek tightly.
"Come on. Let's go before it starts raining." He told her leading her to the Camaro.
She followed him, getting in the passenger's seat and buckling her seatbelt. The familiar smell of Derek's cologne surrounded her invading her senses. Sighing contently she smiled at Derek as he settled behind the steering wheel.
"What?" He asked unable to stop the smile that spread across his lips.
"You know what." She said with a small giggle.
Derek didn't reply but Aurora could tell he felt the same way she did. They spent the rest of the drive to Derek's house in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence though. It was peaceful and for the first time in a while Aurora felt comfortable.
Unfortunately, that feeling went away when Derek pulled into the driveway. The anxiety she had felt when she was waiting for Derek at the camp site came back tenfold the more she thought about the conversation they were going to have.
Taking a ragged breath, Aurora followed Derek into the house closing the door behind her.
"Where is everyone?" She asked noticing that the house was unusually quiet.
"Laura and Lydia insisted everyone should clear out when they realized I was going to pick you up." Derek explained.
Aurora nodded grateful for the privacy.
"Do you want to sit?" Derek asked motioning toward the couch.
"Sure." Aurora said taking a seat on the left side of the couch Derek sitting across from her on the loveseat.
Now it was awkward.
"You know," Aurora said breaking the silence that had fallen between them, "I never thought I would miss your stalker text messages but I was wrong." She babbled as she looked down at her hands.
"I didn't send you stalker text messages." Derek snorted rolling his eyes.
"Oh please." Aurora taunted. "Asking where I am every couple of hours is a total stalker move but I'm not even going to lie…I've missed them this past week. I've miss you. So much."
"I've missed you too, gorgeous. Do you want to know a secret?" Derek asked getting up to sit on the cushion next to Aurora.
"Tell me." She said turning to face him.
"I had Laura take me phone so I couldn't send you 'stalker messages' as you so colorfully call them." He admitted taking her hand in his.
"Why?" Aurora asked trying to keep her voice under control. She made herself look over at Derek whose eyes were full of regret. "This past week has been hell for me! I was worried about you. And then after a couple of days I was infuriated. It was like you didn't even care about what we had. I stayed up late, for hours, hoping for just one text, Derek."
"I was trying to give you space. I didn't think you wanted to hear for me." He said bitterly.
"You were the only person I wanted to hear from! How could you be so stubborn and blind?!" Aurora yelled.
All of the anger and heartbreak she had been hiding for the last week was threatening to explode from her like a volcano.
"Aurora…" Derek said trying to keep the situation under control but he only made it worse.
She couldn't stand that he seemed okay with everything that had happened. That his heart didn't appear to be shattered like Aurora's.
"Fuck this." She said getting up from the couch shaking her hand free of Derek's.
"Where are you going?" Derek asked and it seemed that her actions got at least a little bit of a rise out of him.
"Holy shit. Somebody call the press. Derek Hale actually sounds concerned." Aurora spat not bothering to look back at him as she headed for the door.
In a flash, Derek was in front of her, his body blocking her exist.
"Don't do that." He warned.
"Don't do what? Tell the truth?" Aurora inquired resisting the urge to slap him.
"Really? I don't act like I'm concerned? Who's blind now?!" Derek shouted finally letting his emotions go unchecked. "My concern for you is the reason we are having this conversation. I want you happy and safe! Away from anything dangerous like my kind! Even…" He began but his words died off.
"Even what?" Aurora asked narrowing her eyes.
"Even if that means you are off with some guy at the movies instead of where I want you. In my arms." Derek whispered.
"You. Are. Unbelievable." Aurora challenged. "Your decision to dump me was the only reason I was at the movies with Ian." She said his name deliberately satisfied when Derek flinched at it, "You have NO right to be jealous. If the choice had been mine, which it wasn't, you made that perfectly clear, I would have been with you yesterday. Not Ian."
To that Derek said nothing. Aurora, in spite of herself, examined his face seeing that he was struggling with what to say next.
"You gave up on us, Derek." Aurora said before Derek could find his words.
"That's not true." He started but she cut him off.
"Derek. Let me speak, please. You did most of the talking the night we broke up and now I want to tell you how I feel." Aurora stated firmly.
Nodding his head in agreement Derek looked at her with his undivided attention.
"You gave up on us." She repeated. "And you disregarded my feelings entirely."
Derek looked as though he wanted to interject but was fighting it.
"I get that you want to keep me safe and it feels amazing to know that you would do anything to make that happen even if it meant giving me up." Aurora continued. "But I can be safe with you Derek. You have protected me before and you can do it again if the occasion calls for it. I'm not scared and I don't feel like I'm in danger just by being with you. Alex was insane. You can't be sure that you'll encounter anyone else like him again."
"What if I do?" Derek asked sternly.
"Then we could deal with it together!" Aurora shouted. "I'd rather be in danger if it meant I had you."
"Don't say shit like that!" Derek warned.
"It's the truth! But you didn't bother to ask what I wanted! I want to fight Derek. I want to fight for us. You are worrying about things that might not even happen!"
"And if they do? What happens the next time when you get hurt because of something that is my problem?" Derek seethed.
"We will deal with it. And you will take care of me." Aurora said sincerely taking a step toward Derek. "I trust you to keep me safe. I love you."
Shaking his head, Derek looked away from Aurora his chest visible heaving.
"Your trust in me, even from day one, has been astounding." He said after a short silence. "I just don't want to see you get hurt again."
"I won't." Aurora promised rushing forward to throw her arms around Derek's neck. "I will be fine. You will protect me. We can fight. Together."
Derek's strong arms wrapped around Aurora's waist as she felt his body relax against her.
"I'm an idiot." He said lamely.
"Understatement of the century." Aurora shot back.
Pulling away, Derek lifted his hands to rest on Aurora's cheeks looking into her eyes.
"I'm sorry." He said with the utmost sincerity. "I was a coward."
"It's okay, Derek." Aurora told him warmly leaning into his touch.
"No, it's not. I should have listened to you. Pushing you away was the biggest mistake of my life. I should have had at least half the confidence in myself that you have in me." He confessed.
"You were scared. You've been through a lot this past month. I'm not mad, Derek." Aurora told him.
"You should be." Derek said.
"Do you just want an express ticket to the dog house?" Aurora asked before she could stop herself. "I didn't mean it like…" She giggled but before she could finish Derek began to tickle her.
"Dog jokes, huh?" He asked as Aurora squirmed out of his reach. She tried making a break for it but Derek caught her picking her up and putting her over his shoulder.
"Very caveman, Derek." Aurora reprimanded but she wasn't angry in the slightest.
He walked her over to the couch laying her down gently before positioned himself on top of her.
"I've missed you so much." He said leaning down to kiss her.
Aurora arched into his touch opening her mouth for Derek to run his tongue along her's. Before long, Aurora was panting for air so Derek decided to trail kisses down her neck finding a spot to fixate on.
"Great." Aurora scolded Derek breathlessly. "Now I'm going to have to explain the giant hickey on my neck."
"I could stop?" Derek teased as he nipped her neck playfully.
"Don't even think about it!" She said pulling him into another kiss.
"I love you." Derek said between kisses.
"I'm going to need you to say that one more time." Aurora told him kissing his jawline.
"I love you, Aurora." Derek repeated shamelessly.
"I love you too." She said smiling from ear to ear.
Derek then kissed her nose sweetly looking down at Aurora fondly.
"Oh one more thing." She said innocently.
"What's that princess?" Derek asked curiously.
"Just an FYI…If things get tough again and bail? I swear I will turn that beautiful silky black fur of yours into my next winter coat. Or maybe, I'll wrap your ass in wolfsbane like a Christmas present. I haven't decided yet."
Derek's eyes widened at Aurora threat his mouth opening in shock.
"How do you know about wolfsbane?" He asked incredulously.
"My boyfriend is a werewolf. You don't think I did my research?" Aurora questioned raising her eyebrows mockingly.
"I won't run away. Not again." Derek promised with a defeated laugh. "Damn. You're tough, woman." He added with a smile.
"And don't you forget it." She said with a wink.
Leaning in for another kiss, Aurora ran her hands down Derek's back stopping only to tug at his t-shirt. He complied with a cocky smile pulling the fabric over his head and tossing it to the floor.
Derek rocked his hips seductively against Aurora's causing her to gasp. "Easy there, tiger." She laughed feeling Derek's erection pressed against her leg. "We've got all day."
Derek groaned in frustration sliding his hand up Aurora's side. A needy moan spilled out of her lips when his fingertips brushed against her right breast.
"I want you now." He said in a low tone. His voice was enough to make Aurora feel as though her insides were going to melt.
Soon Aurora's shirt joined Derek's on the floor along with her bra.
"I've thought about this. About you." Derek whispered lowering his lips to kiss Aurora's chest.
Aurora was not about to embarrass herself by telling him how much she missed his touch or how bad she needed him at that exact moment. Instead, she ran her fingers through his hair leaning down to kiss his forehead.
"What do you want Aurora?" Derek asked looking up to meet her gaze.
"You cocky son of a bitch." She laughed. "I'm not saying it."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Forget it." She said.
Derek's eyebrow shot higher a shit eating grin plastered on his face.
"Derek. Come on." Aurora whined sliding her hands up his chest to position them on his muscular shoulders. Moving her fingers she massaged lightly watching as Derek relaxed under her touch.
"You aren't going to distract me." He said although his eyes were closed and he looked completely wrecked.
"You're impossible." She said pressing a kiss to his lips.
"You love it." He shot back opening his eyes to look seductively at Aurora. "Now, what do you want?"
"You. I want you Derek. Please." She said forgetting the act. "Please." She repeated grinding her hips upwards.
Derek's eyes flashed red a smirk playing on his lips as he reached his hand between their bodies to unbutton Aurora's pants.
However, before he could, someone made a strangled noise of surprise from the front door.
"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!" Laura screamed covering her eyes with her hands.
Derek, who must have been too distracted to hear his big sister coming up the pathway, was so startled that he actually fell off the couch.
Frantically, Aurora jumped up dashing for her shirt which she pulled on immediately.
"Isn't there protocol for this sort of situation? Like a sock on the doorknob of something?" Laura scolded removing her hands from her eyes when she realized Aurora was descent.
"Why are you back so soon?" Derek asked in irritation. He had recovered from his fall and was now standing in front of Aurora who gladly used his body as a shield. With blood red cheeks Aurora wrapped her arms around Derek's waist hiding her face in his back.
"It's been two hours." Laura said rolling her eyes. "And you said you were going to talk to Aurora not…"
"Okay, okay!" Derek exclaimed putting his hands up. "Point taken."
"I see you two are back together?" Laura asked cheerfully changing the subject.
"Yeah, we are." Aurora said happily poking her head out from behind Derek's body.
"Praise Jesus." Laura teased. "I don't know how much more I could have taken of the tragic hero over there and his mopping around."
"I didn't mope!" Derek exclaimed but it wasn't convincing.
"Of course you didn't little brother. You are so manly and void of emotion." Laura said sarcastically.
Aurora tried to hold in a giggle with no success. Catching Laura's eye the giggle became a full blow belly laugh when she saw Derek's big sister mouth the words 'he was a mess' dramatically as she rolled her eyes.
Derek grumbled folding his arms across his chest staring daggers into at Laura.
"Well, my job here is done." Laura said with satisfaction. "Now. If you will excuse me I have to go try to burn the image of my little brother and his girlfriend being caught in a compromising position out of my mind with bleach." She added acting as though she might be sick.
"Oh shut up." Derek huffed.
"I'll see you later, Aurora. Maybe we can do lunch soon?" Laura asked ignoring Derek.
"Of course! I would love that." Aurora replied with a smile.
Coming out from behind Derek, Aurora made her way over to Laura for a hug.
"I'm so glad you two worked it out." Laura whispered in her ear as they embraced. "You are the best thing that has happened to him in a long time."
Aurora felt her heart flutter as she squeezed Laura tighter.
"Okay, you two." Laura said when they finally broke apart. "I'm going. Make sure you take this party to Derek's bedroom, yeah? I don't want another unsuspecting soul to go through the trauma that just befell me."
"Oh my God, Laura." Derek complained in what Aurora thought was the perfect whiny little brother voice.
"I'm just sayin'." Laura shrugged as she made her way into the kitchen.
Once she was out of sight, Aurora turned to Derek who was shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well. That was embarrassing." Aurora said her cheeks still red from blushing.
"I can't even talk about it." Derek responded.
Aurora laughed walking closer to her boyfriend who wrapped his arms around her.
"In retrospect, the couch was probably a bad idea." Aurora teased kissing Derek's lips.
"I'm going to have to agree with you princess." He said allowing his hands to run down the length of Aurora's body until they settled on her ass. "We should try plan B."
"Plan B?" Aurora asked moaning softly when Derek squeezed her ass.
"My bedroom." He informed her pressing their hips together.
"You're a dirty bastard." She laughed running her fingers through his hair.
"You love it." Derek said with a wink.
"I love you." Aurora corrected.
"I love you too." He replied before picking her up in his arms bridal style.
"You are not carrying me up the stairs!" She protested nuzzling her face into his neck.
"Watch me, princess." Derek taunted as he started to walk.
Aurora rolled her eyes but didn't put up a fight.
"What am I going to do with you mountain man?" Aurora teased as Derek began to ascend the stairs.
"Dunno," He said sheepishly, "but you better figure it out. Cause you're stuck with me."
"Right back at ya, buddy." She replied with a bright smile.