No Better Than The Beasts

Chapter 24- Apple Blossoms

"I haven't been here since Mother died," Derrick mumbled, and suddenly, Jake felt honored. Derrick brought him here? Why? If it was a sacred place for just Derrick and his mother, then why did the prince bring him here?

"Why did you bring me here?" Jake asked, voicing his thoughts. Although he felt very honored, he felt like he was trotting on the wrong land-like he wasn't supposed to be here.

"I...have something to confess," Derrick said, his breath becoming a bit labored from stress. He knew that once he said what he was planning to say, everything will change.

"What is it?" Jake said, becoming curious and concerned. Was it something bad? Was Derrick going to reject him? Would this be good or not? Tons of confused questions swirled through his head. His soulmate was squeezing his hand hard, almost painfully, like Derrick needed the emotional support.

Good luck, Jakey-poo, Pickle said, Pickle has left the chat~

What?! Jake thought, growing more nervous.

"Jake...I-" Jake's attention was fully on Derrick as his soulmate took a deep breath in.

Come on, stupid, you can do it, Derrick told himself and took another big breath in.

"Jake P-Pierce," he confessed, "I-

"I accept you as my s-soulmate."

Silence. Jake's jaw was dropped slightly, not quite registering what was going on.

"You-You mean it?" but Jake already knew the  answer. He could feel exactly what Pickle told him he was going to feel. A storm of feelings, thoughts, everything that was Derrick's invaded his mind. He had this overwhelming voice that echoed: this prince was his, all his. Now, no one can harm his soulmate, no one can touch his soulmate in a bad way, no one could keep the man in front of him away from him. 

By the color of Derrick's cheek's and the growing look of love in his eyes, the prince was feeling the exact same thing. Derrick all of the sudden launched himself at Jake, giving him a willing hug for the first time.

The little flames that tingled across their skin weren't flames anymore, they were wildfires. The sparks were fireworks dancing over their cold bodies. The love they had for each other strengthened like an unbreakable tree trunk, and stemming from that was adoration and happiness. It almost made Derrick cry, but Jake was already shedding tears.

"Y-Yes," Derrick breathed, answering Jake's question.

Jake could only choke out an "I love you."

Derrick didn't even tense at those words, he already knew it, he could feel it in his entire being that it was true. The prince squeezed Jake harder and said something that he hasn't told anybody in a very long time.

"I-I love you too," Derrick choked out, burying his face into the werewolf. He needed that warmth, that comfort, that affection. He's lacked it for so long.

To Derrick's despair, Jake pulled back from the hug, not far though. Just far enough to be nose-to-nose. To stare into those pretty green eyes that he will be looking into until he dies. Those gorgeous green eyes filled with the exact love that filled his heart.

And suddenly Jake's lips were on Derrick's, not moving quite yet, just allowing his prince to realize what was happening.

But Derrick knew what was happening.

Derrick closed his eyes too and began to slowly move his lips against Jake's, which in turn made Jake start moving his. Neither had kissed anyone else before, but Jake knew that someone had to take the lead, so that's just what he did. As his lips were moving he sneaked a hand around the side of Derrick's face and pressed his prince closer to him.

It was magical.

Derrick thought so too. It was his first kiss, but it was amazing. It was magical. It was hot with warmth and panting breaths and fireworks and wildfires, but it also sent chills down his spine like the cold winter they were sitting in. It shook every fiber in his being and took his breath away. I was just like all kisses in those teenage romance books, but better, because it was real.

It was almost unbelievable that this was real. That he was kissing someone he hated weeks ago-that he was kissing someone in general. He thought he'd never find love or his soulmate would hate him, but now it didn't seem like that at all. He was almost crying in happiness, but he didn't cry.

Derrick Rastus never cries.

When they were both reaching their limit with oxygen, Jake pulled away, nuzzling his nose into the side of Derrick's.

"I have been wanting to do that for so long," Jake mumbled, out of breath, onto Derrick's cheek. Derrick leaned into Jake's nuzzling, basking in his werewolf's affection with a smile.

"Hey," Derrick said, gaining an idea, and pulling slightly away from Jake.

"What?" Jake asked, gradually easing out of his love-struck high.

"Want to carve our names into this tree?" the prince asked.

"Really?!" Jake asked in amazement, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I-I don't want it to be alone...I want it to be unique," Derrick explained, "Plus-" a classic Derrick eyeroll-"We already reached a peak of cheesy-ness. Why don't we just go ahead and jump off the edge?"

Derrick pulled a dagger out of his coat. "I didn't bring this for no reason, idiot."

Jake just smiled.

They carved their names into a heart, just like all the other couples do. Laughed and talked for a while before getting too cold.

They climbed down the tree, hopped onto Ollie, and headed home.

Meanwhile, their names stood, carved into the apple tree, uniquely different from any other tree in the orchard.

A connection with the past to the future.

-------------------

2206 words

You are welcome XD

Hope you liked this Christmas present.

Thank you for reading xoxo