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Alpha collaring ceremonies were, of course, kind of a Big Deal. Marriages between any two genders were increasingly common, but an Alpha allowing someone else to claim ownership in such a way was rare. Which is why Stiles was both elated and terrified that Derek had suggested it.
Elated because for all that he was married to a hotter-than-fire werewolf that, admittedly, wasn’t great with his words, this was above and beyond what the human expected. Their wedding had been a small spring affair since neither wanted something huge, but the rumor mill about town had twisted that into something about how Derek’s mother didn’t want to bring too much attention to the union and was maybe even kind of embarrassed about it. Nothing could be further from the truth, Talia had even told Derek in her wedding toast that if they divorced she was keeping Stiles.
So this, this was a pretty clear “fuck you” to all the naysayers in town who thought Stiles was nothing more than a fling for Derek. That once the right werewolf omega came around, he’d leave the human beta.
But he was also terrified because Derek might still say no. He might realize at the ceremony that this went against his instincts and while that wouldn’t make their marriage any less legal, it might cause a rift they wouldn’t survive together. He had a particularly vivid nightmare where Derek bit into his throat while Stiles attempted to collar him in his full shift. Derek hugged him more often after that night, telling him that he had nothing to be scared of.
The choosing of the collar was also a whole Thing. Erica, one of Derek’s betas, brought several catalogs for them to page through. Derek seemed uninterested in most, saying Stiles should choose since he was the one doing the collaring. Obviously that made the human anxious, and even Derek’s hand on his back couldn’t make him stop worrying that he would make the wrong choice.
“What if you don’t like what I choose?” Stiles asks, looking at him.
Derek shrugs. “I’ll let you know if I hate it but I trust you. You always get me gifts I like. You know me better than anyone else.”
Derek isn’t supposed to wear the gifts he gets him all of the time, Stiles thinks but doesn’t say. The collar would be expected basically everywhere. Some Alphas wear thick chokers that look supremely uncomfortable, others wear loose, discreet chains. Stiles wished he could ask anyone who had previously collared their Alpha for an opinion but he has no one. His only other Alpha friend is Scott and while he was dating a cute kitsune, he had confessed to Stiles he would probably never offer anyone to collar him.
The date for the ceremony approaches so he talks to his father, who doesn’t have much to say except to trust his own instincts. He talks to Derek’s pack but all of them insist he’s got a better sense of what Derek likes than any of them. He talks to Derek’s older sister, an Alpha herself, who smiles playfully and says he’s over thinking it.
Which, of course he is. That’s what he does. He researches and over thinks stuff.
Laura seems to take pity on him and drives him to a nearby mall. “Just to look at stuff, you don’t have to make a decision yet,” she says. They don’t immediately go into any store that carries collars, content to walk around and have some pretzel dogs until they’re standing in front of a small jewelry store.
“So, what are the rules?” Stiles asks.
“You’re going to hate to hear this,” Laura says, “but there aren’t any.”
“There has to be rules!” Stiles complains. “How am I supposed to choose the right one if there aren’t any rules?”
Laura rolls her eyes, walks inside the store pulling Stiles with her. “I mean, you of course want to make sure a choker fits him comfortably, and black is the traditional color but I’ve seen some red ones. See anything you like?”
Stiles looks around, not really focusing on anything. He feels lost. Untethered.
They leave the shop after Laura has bought a couple of earrings. She offers to get them dinner but he wants to get back to Derek.
On the way back, however, he changes direction and ends up at Lydia’s place instead. She’s surprised to see him but invites him in and soon they’re both sitting in her garden seeing the sun set while sharing a bottle of wine.
“I just wish he told me what he wanted,” Stiles complains.
Lydia grabs her glass and moves the liquid around. “I think he already did.”
Stiles looks at her, annoyed. “Look, just because we’re mates doesn’t mean we can read each other’s mind or anything.”
“I know that,” Lydia says, sounding mildly offended. “What I’m saying is he already chose you. He wants you.”
“So what? Should I get him a locket with my picture on it?”
Lydia rolls her eyes. Stiles can’t say he loves how many people do that to him as of late. “You always did take things too literal.”
“I just want a clear answer,” Stiles says, beginning to feel like he’s in some sort of prank.
“And you’ve got it,” Lydia says. Stiles looks at her like she just spoke in a different language. “You, Stiles, he wants you to collar him. He doesn’t care about anything else as long as that happens.”
Stiles shakes his head, still confused.
“What if I get it wrong?”
They sit in silence, Stiles’ last words hanging in the air.
“Honestly, considering how much you love him, you’d have to want to get it wrong,” Lydia says.
He doesn’t go back to his and Derek’s place, instead he goes back to his old house. His dad is surprised to see him so late. They talk a little before he goes into his room looking for something. A clue. Anything.
The room feels small, bare. A lot of his stuff has moved over to their new place. He remembers sitting here fidgeting nervously as he waited on Derek to come pick him up for their first date. Part of him sure that he had made up the part where the Alpha approached him at the coffee shop and asked if he was free later. He had always had a crush on Derek, always thought it was better left alone. And now.
That first date had been wonderful, and awkward. They had ended up at the same coffee shop where they usually sat to study, since both of them agreed it was the best one in town. This time, however, they sat at the same table. Conversation flowed mostly easily except for the parts where Stiles would start ranting on one topic or another.
It wasn’t the first time they had been told the coffee shop was closing and needed to leave, but it was the first time they left together.
He looks down at his hand at the platinum band he and Derek chose for wedding rings. Derek has the same one. He remembers how happy he had been when they went out to look for them. How right it felt when they found them, when they saw them on each other’s hands for the first time.
He sighs, rubs his face. “C’mon, Stiles,” he whispers to himself. “How badly can you mess this up?”
-
The collaring ceremony is usually a smaller affair than the wedding but theirs was so small this event seems to have even more people. Stiles suspects Talia also invited some key people that would make sure word got around Beacon Hills. They set up an area in the forest not too far from Hale Manor.
There isn’t anyone who leads the ceremony, just a chair with a red cushion where Derek will sit to receive Stiles’ collar.
The sun is setting when the guests begin to arrive. It’s a casual affair. Derek wears a black suit with a red shirt, a couple of buttons left undone. Stiles wears something very similar, but his shirt is white.
It is one of the few nights in an Alpha’s life were he doesn’t have to concern himself with being in control. As the Alpha’s mate, it’s up to Stiles to choose at what point of the night the ceremony will happen.
It’s close to midnight when Stiles clears his throat and everyone turns to see him expectantly where he is standing next to the red chair. Derek walks to him and sits easily next to him, holding his hand. Stiles clears his throat. Technically he could just offer the collar and be done with it, but a few words are customary.
“So,” he says, his voice a little more unsure than he’d like. He feels Derek squeeze his hand lightly to show support.
“Thanks, everyone, for being here,” he starts. “Except those who are just here to see how I mess this up.” There’s some nervous laughter and Talia, near the front, stands up straighter.
“After Derek asked me to collar him I was a nervous mess. Well, I was a nervous mess before that, too, but now I had a new thing to be nervous about.” Derek kisses the back of his hand, Stiles looks at him and smiles. “But, I do have to admit, I am much less nervous about everything when I’m with you. You ground me.”
Derek smiles back, the look of pure love in his eyes making Stiles weak in the knees.
“I already took enough time out of everyone’s life when I read my unnecessary long vows during our wedding,” Stiles says, earning another laugh. “So, I’ll just say that I hope you like the collar I chose for you. But if not, don’t worry.” He reaches for his pocket and brings out a red velvet box. “I kept the receipt.”
He opens the box. Knows people are craning their necks to see but only concentrates on Derek’s expression. The werewolf’s eyes widen, then he’s turning towards Stiles smiling.
Stiles smiles back, taking the black chain from the box. It’s stronger than it looks, just like Derek who surprises even other werewolves. It’s large enough that he’ll be able to wear it comfortably under or over his shirt. It’s simple, maybe too simple for the tastes of other Alphas, but Derek has never cared what other Alphas think.
“Oh, Stiles,” Talia says, coming closer. “It’s beautiful.”
Well, maybe one Alpha.
Derek bows his head so Stiles can place the collar around his neck. Stiles does so, not unaware of how important this is for Derek and other wolves. He finishes by kissing Derek’s head and then kneels in front of him and looks up so his Alpha can kiss him.
There’s a light applause, and Stiles can hear both Talia and his dad trying to sniff back happy tears.
Derek and Stiles get lost for a second in their long, lazy kiss. It’s Derek’s father who clears his throat and makes Derek remember himself. He breaks the kiss, looks into Stiles’ eyes, and lets out an incredulous laugh. Like he’s the lucky one to be there.
He stands up, pulling Stiles with him. They both look at the gathered crowd together.
“By the sun, the moon and stars,” Derek recites. “I vow to keep my mate and our pack safe from harm.”
“By the sun, the moon and stars.” The crowd repeats, and a louder applause bursts out alongside cheers as Derek’s family approaches to congratulate them. Stiles’ is first hugged by Talia, then his dad, and finally Laura who tells him she never doubted she’d find the perfect one.
Stiles is not sure if she means Derek or the collar.
-
Derek has been looking at Stiles for at least fifteen minutes now. Usually, he would kiss his husband and leave the bed to go to the gym, knowing he’d come back to a groggy Stiles drinking coffee in the kitchen, but today all he can do is feel the weight of the collar with his fingers as he resists the urge to kiss Stiles awake.
“D’rek?” Stiles mumbles.
“Yeah,” Derek smiles as Stiles turns to him. “Sorry, did I wake you?”
Stiles nods. “I heard you move,” he says, before yawning. “Are you skipping the gym today?”
Derek shakes his head and Stiles notices his hands on the collar.
“Do you not-“
Derek interrupts him with a kiss. Just a peck on the lips. “Don’t even start. I love it.”
Stiles smiles. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Of course I like it,” Derek says. “You gave it to me. From now on this will remind me of you.”
Stiles blushes, and Derek can’t help but kiss that blush.
“Are you sure you want to go to the gym?” Stiles asks, his hands brushing Derek’s chest. “We could do some exercise here instead.”
Derek’s eyes flash red.
“Besides,” Stiles continues, his hand moving down to Derek’s abs. “You promised we’d do something special to celebrate today, just the two of us.”
Derek meant the dinner reservations they had for that night, since the night before they were surrounded by guests, friends, and family.
“And,” Stiles kept on, his hand now a warm weight on Derek’s crotch. “I’d like to see how you look when you fuck me wearing nothing but your collar.”
Derek growls, pounces on Stiles like his husband knew he would.
Stiles, after all, knew him better than anybody else.