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Stiles looked down at the book that Peter had given him in preparation for the mating ceremony. Derek had told him that there were several kinds, but he got to chose which version that he wanted to do. He had decided on a public ceremony, with a private mating that would take place once they got back to the loft. Looking back over the ceremony, he sighed. Shadow, as though he was sensing his distress, nosed his way into his neck and huffed.
“I’m fine, Shadow. It’s just...this is really happening. I mean, I’m already married to the man, but this feels a little more...binding,” he whispered, scratching behind the dog’s ears.
“Mischief, if you don’t want to do it, we don’t have to,” Derek said, leaning against the doorframe of his office.
“No, this is important to you. We did the human thing, so now we do the wolf thing,” Stiles said, looking over at his mate.
“Would it make you feel better if I explain a little bit about why the mating ceremony is important, at least to me?” Derek asked, stepping into the office and sitting beside him on the couch.
“Yes please,” Stiles replied, pressing himself into Derek’s side and closing the book.
Derek wrapped an arm around his husband and took a deep breath.
“You know that I can smell you, no matter who else is around. When the mating bite is in place, we will both be able to feel each other, no matter how far apart we are. Peter once explained that it is meant to be an extension of the bond that we already feel, that natural desire to make sure that the other is okay. Nothing that happens will change who you are. There is a difference between a changing bite and a mating bite, in case you were worried.”
“I wasn’t worried, that was the first thing that Peter explained. He knows that I don’t want to be changed, and he told me that he didn’t know how a changing bite would react with my Spark anyway.”
Derek nodded, scratching Shadow’s head as he pressed a kiss on the top of Stiles’ head.
“This is all in your control. You tell me what you want to do and how you want things, and that is what we will do.”
Stiles tilted his head so he could look up at Derek.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
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Stiles took a deep breath, burying his face in Shadow’s fur, as he waited for Scott to come and get him. The ceremony would consist only of shifters and creatures, something that John, Melissa, and Chris all understood. Scott and his pack were attending because Stiles had asked that Scott fulfill the role of family for Stiles. The ceremony was taking place in a clearing somewhere between the Nematon and the old Hale House, connecting Stiles and Derek to both sides of themselves, their beginning, and their connection.
“Are you ready?” Scott asked, coming over to him.
“As I will ever be. I’m excited to be connected to Derek, but this is like getting married all over again. I was so stressed about that.”
Scott rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Man, I have never seen you happier than when you and Derek figured out that you were mates. You are ready for this.”
Stiles took a deep breath and nodded. When they finally made it to the center of the clearing, Stiles immediately felt calmer. He smiled when he saw the pack members standing around, each giving him a smile in return. Even though there were two separate packs, you would never be able to tell, looking at the closeness between them all.
When he and Scott reached Derek and Peter, Stiles had to fight the urge to reach out for Derek’s hand. He simply handed Shadow to Scott and turned his complete attention to Peter. As the eldest member of the Hale pack, he was the person in charge of the entire ceremony.
“When we are young, wolves are taught that the moon is the only source of truth. We are taught that the moon will show us the way when we are in need of guidance. In the case of the two mates in front of me, the moon is also the reason that they found each other.” Peter said. Stiles managed to keep his snide comments in, not wanting to ruin the magic that he could feel simmering under them. “We are gathered here, under the crescent moon, to celebrate the joining of these two mates. Derek, Mieczyslaw, please turn and face each other.”
Stiles and Derek turned to look at each other for the first time in 24-hours. Derek offered him a small smile, which he happily returned.
“You will repeat these lines after me, both of you.”
They both nodded.
“You cannot possess me for I belong to myself. But, while we both wish it, I give that which is mine to give. You cannot command me for I am a free person. I pledge to you that I will be your eyes into which I smile every morning. I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care. I shall be a shield for your back, and you for mine. I shall not slander you, nor you me. I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel, we shall do so in private and tell no stranger our grievances. This is my vow to you. This is the vow of equals.”
As they repeated the lines, Peter lifted their hands and tied them with a cord. The ceremony was very reminiscent of a handfasting, with the aid of magic to actually tie them together. When they were finished speaking, they both gasped as the magic settled into place.
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Stiles awoke the next morning to a warm Derek pressed against his back and a still throb in his neck. He lifted his hand and smiled as he pressed his fingers to the bite mark on his neck. Derek groaned in his sleep, pressing closer.
“Stop touching it, I want to sleep some more,” Derek groaned, pulling Stiles closer.
“I will touch it if I want to. I want to see what kind of reaction I can get out of you,” Stiles whispered, pressing back against him.
Derek immediately grabbed his hips, holding him in place.
“You are playing with fire, little mate. I would hate for you to get burnt,” Derek growled, his eyes flashing red.
“Oooh, that sounds like fun.”
Stiles cackled as Derek rolled him over and pinned him to the bed.