That weekend I spent it all with Derek at his house, trying to forget about all the worries of life for a small moment. This week has been really hard and I needed some form of a getaway just to feel recharged. I packed my own bag when I got home on Friday, by four-thirty Derek and his mum had picked me up in their minivan.

Derek introduced me to a majority of the pack, showed me around the mini-village they have set up in the mountains, away from any people. There are about six houses designed to house a family of four, then they have two mini-stores for essentials, then the main house which is Derek's house, it also doubles as a meeting house.

Everything is very open and light surrounded by high trees and bush, the houses are all done in either brick or dark wood with lots of nature-based decorations. Most places are connected with dirt paths, except a driveway leading to the front of the main house, which connects to the massive parking garage on the side of the house where everyone parks.

"So darling," Derek asked, holding my hand as we walk along one of the smaller dirt paths that are next to a small river, "what do you think of this all?"

I smile, glancing up at the tall trees than back at Derek. His eyes seem to glow brighter when he's here, they sparkle like a natural golden and his body seems to come to life more just being here.

"It's truly beautiful, I see why you love it here," I smile.

Derek chuckles and spins me around, my light pink summer dress twirling around me. I laugh as he picks me up and deeply inhale the fresh air surrounding us as the sun warms my cold skin.

We continue to walk along the path, the soft dirt feeling amazing on my bare feet. I haven't felt this free and calm in a long time. Derek suddenly stops and pulls me into him, looking deeply into my eyes.

"Evangeline..." he whispers, creasing my cheek, a dazed look crossing his face.

"What is it?" I ask him, taking his hand in mine, worried about why he suddenly looks so serious.

"You know that one day I'll be the alpha, and it'll be my job to lead the pack, Jason as my beta," he said, lightly stroking my cheek, "and you'll be my luna, this will be your home one day too, and you'll help me lead."

"When we graduate next year, this will be where we'll live, in the house, together, forever, and I-"

"Derek, I would love nothing more and you know that," I cut him off, smiling at him. He doesn't smile back though which worries me.

"Eve," Derek drops down onto one knee, my hands in his, "I want you to marry me."

My eyes widen as I stutter a response, this is out of nowhere, I can't accept this my parents wouldn't allow me to get married at sixteen! "Derek, how can I accept this?" I questioned, my body still trying to come out of shock. Derek quickly stands up and cups my face, realising what he's done.

"I don't mean right now silly," he chuckles, warming my heart, "you're my soulmate, my one true love, and I want to be tied to you forever officially as soon as possible. I want the world to know that a woman as beautiful as you is mine."

He sighs, closing his eyes for a brief second, I guess he was just as worried about this as me. "This isn't an actual marriage proposal, more like a promise until I can actually get you an engagement ring," he chuckles softly, a boyish grin on his face as he holds my hands, "promise me?"

"I promise you, Derek Jace Lightwood," I whisper, looking into those gorgeous deep brown eyes that sparkle with joy.

He smiles, looking down at me. "Evangeline..." he whispered.

"Don't say it," I tell him, slowly pressing my lips to his.

He pulls me in closer as we deepen our kiss, holding each other tightly, afraid the other will disappear.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this beautiful moment but-" we both pull away and see Jason standing there, a worried look on his face- "Derek, you're needed back at the house."

Derek looks down at me then back at Jason, a serious look now on his face. He takes my hand in his before we start running, but I'm faster. We race back to the house and I bet them there by a couple of seconds, Derek takes my hand again, walking inside.

Jason is now standing outside the meeting room, waiting for us, Derek looks down at me worried for a second before looking back at Jason. He tightens his grip on my hand as Jason opens the door for us, we walk inside and the door is closed behind us.

Once inside, Derek stands next to his mother and father, never once letting go of my hand, two others next to them. The beta and his mother's handmaiden, at the other end of the table, six people dressed in black and red robes, faces covered, stand behind a man in the chair.

I feel Derek's body stiffen but also rise in heat from anger. I hold his hand with both of mine, trying to calm him down, I can also feel his anger within me which is weird. It's like a hot fire but a steady calm one, it isn't raging just yet but it's close.

"Thank you for joining us Derek," says the man in the middle of the opposite end of the table. "This must be the mate?" He asks, looking me over, making me uncomfortable.

He looked no older than thirty and his skin was a sunkissed topaz like he had been tanning all his life. It was also silky smooth, no sign of ageing like it was frozen in time.

His eyes were black where colour was meant to be but had the smallest flickers of gold in them that almost looked like the cinders from a burning flame, it was terrifying.

His hair was a coal-black that looked like it had tints of red in the light. It was pushed back on the top with a little loose strand hanging on his forehead with slightly shorter sides, what amazed me is how there was no visible product yet his hair was perfect.

He also wore a suit that was completely black except a wine red dress shirt, a few buttons were undone at the top giving him a casual business look. Who is this guy?

Derek holds my hand tiger as he claws slowly pierce my skin, it stings a bit but nothing I can't take and won't heal from. "Derek, let her go, come here," he gestures me over to him.

Derek reluctantly lets me go and I cautiously walk over, keeping a confident persona. "Don't be afraid," he said as I walk a little closer, feeling overpowered by how tall he is.

He stands and adjusts his blazer, towering over me. He had to be at least six foot six, my five foot four height was nothing compared to him. He puts his hand out and I slowly place mine on his, shaking his hand.

"Vampire, interesting," he smiles, dropping my hand.

I speak for the first time since entering, trying to keep my composure. "I'm not just a vampire," he doesn't look shocked at this, more amused.

"Oh, I know. Your mother is Rosalee Wilson-Ryder, most powerful banshee since the 1500s, a vampire too. And your father, Aiden Wilson-Ryder, most powerful vampire since Dracula but he has Shadow blood in his veins," he said, how does he know all this? "You probably have it in you too, as well as your brothers."

Okay, this man sounds like a stalker.

"What do I call you half-breed?" He grins wickedly, looking at Derek. Derek hits the table but his father puts a hand on his shoulder, he purposely did that to get a rile out of Derek.

"Evangeline," I respond, gritting my teeth and clenching my fists. I can feel my eyes flicking different colours and my fangs trying to grow.

"Derek I expected better. More pure, less hybrid," he said, shoving me roughly. I fall into the wall, almost going through it.

Derek tries to come over to me but his dad stops him, Derek looks at him, eyes golden but flickering red. "She's a mix of almost three different species, that isn't allowed. What a disrespect to your family," the man taunts, sitting back down.

I stand, slowly breathing and I can sense how angry Derek is getting so I intervene before it gets worse. "Excuse me," I said, walking over to where the man is sitting. I shove his chair back against the wall and stand in front of him, he looks shocked yet impressed.

His minions go to attack but he waves them off. "I don't appreciate people talking to me like that, I hope you treat me with some respect because I have as many rights as you do," I grit, eyes glowing red now.

"That's hilarious," he chuckles, standing up but I shove him back down in his seat harshly.

"Treat me, with, respect," I demanded, his eyes flashing purple before he shook it off.

"Mind tricks," he muses, "maybe you deserve a bit of respect hybrid." He stands up, straightening out his blazer as if I didn't just threaten him. Who is this guy and why is he so arrogant?

I glare at him, my eyes returning to normal now, "don't test me, I could create your worst nightmare if I wanted to."

He chuckles to himself, placing a hand on my shoulder. I look down at his hand then back at him, one eyebrow arched. "You have a fire in you. I like that Mrs Ryder," he waves his other hand and his minions begin leaving.

He removes his hand and I step back, still cautious about him. I turn around and walk back to Derek who takes my face in his hands, eyes filled with concern. "That will be all for today," the man says, the others bow to him and begin clearing the room.

Ace's hand lands on Derek's shoulder but he doesn't look away from me. "Son, come on," he says, trying to pull him and I out of the room.

"Actually Ace," the man speaks loudly, making him look at us, "I want to talk to the both of them."

Ace looks at Derek, fear present in his eyes but leaves us anyway, closing the door on his way out. Derek and I look over to the man who is now sitting down in the chair, cigar smoke swirling him.

"Now, that was very bold what you pulled back there Mrs Ryder," he speaks, taking a long drag of his cigar, smiling. "But do you realise who I am?"

I shake my head and he scoffs to himself. "Of course you don't, lover boy here would never tell you," he mocks, looking at Derek who is beginning to fume with anger again.

"I like to check in on all the high ranking supernatural, just for fun. We all have to stay in touch considering I'll be seeing every single one of you in Hell when you die," he shrugs, standing up and walking over to us.

Wait a minute-

All supernatural go to Hell when we die since we are considered unnatural and unholy, but if this guy will see us there, that could only mean one thing.

"Lucifer Morningstar, nice to finally meet you, Mrs Ryder," he grins, eyes going completely red.

Derek suddenly stands in front of me and glares up at Lucifer. "Okay, now you've done your introduction, what do you want?" He growls.

I take my hand in his, hoping to calm him down. He looks back at me, a soft look coming over his face. He smiles down at me and then looks back up at Lucifer who is smiling cockily.

"I've noticed a rise in supernatural coming through my gates, and I know you both know about this-" Derek and I look at each other shocked, he's helping us?- "Now, I'm not allowed to intervene with any human affairs, or the man upstairs will get upset."

"But I will warn you both, I can see what you're going to face, people will die. Word of advice, prepare yourselves, because the man behind this, won't stop until he's dead," he tells us, walking towards the door.

"Just be careful," he opens the door and walks out, leaving Derek and I in stunned silence.

If the Devil himself is warning us about being careful and telling us to prepare, I'd hate to see what X has in store for us. I look up at Derek and he looks down at me, his jaw clenched, I place my hand on his cheek and he seems to snap out of whatever was occupying his thoughts.

He looks down at me, then closes his eyes and places a soft, long-lasting kiss on my forehead. "I won't let you die Eve," he whispers, pulling me into a hug.

After a moment of reflecting, Derek takes me up to his room where we'll be sleeping. He opens his door up and flicks on the light switch. His room is huge, but also very open, on the opposite side of the room are two sliding doors that lead out onto a wooden balcony.

He has a dark wooden bookcase between two doors, it is packed to the rim with books, vinyls and trophies. His double bed faces the bookcase and has a red duvet and pillows, his desk is also placed in the corner of his room and has his laptop and a few other books sitting on it.

His room is surprisingly tidy with only a few things lying about. His room is mainly done in darker tones but his letterman jacket stands out the most as it's draped across his chair.

"Everything okay?" Derek asks, walking into his room. I follow behind him and close his door.

"Yeah. I just, love your room," I smile, walking over to his bookcase. I skim my finger across the spines of the books, admiring his collection.

Since dad has been alive since the thirties we have a much more impressive collection in our house but I admire Derek's. I stop at a certain book and turn to face Derek, a smile on my face.

"Twilight? Really?" I laugh, putting in back to see the whole saga lined up too.

He chuckles and walks over to me, "I need a good laugh sometimes." He looks at his books, clearly looking for something, "but this one is my favourite," he pulls out a book from the top shelf, showing me 'To Kill A Mockingbird'.

"That one's alright but I prefer 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' if you've read it?" I question, looking for it on his shelf.

Derek smiled at me then pulled the book out from beside me. "I haven't yet, but I'll get around to it," he smiles down at me, "but for now, here."

Derek hands me the book and I smile, taking it from him. I sit it on his desk so I remember to take it with me, Derek takes my hand then leads me outside on the balcony. He pulls me in closer to him as he looks up at the rising crescent moon but I am looking at him.

He looks down at me and smiles, holding me tighter. I decided it would be funny to poke Derek in the side because I know he's ticklish there, he jumps away from me, screaming. I laugh at him as he pouts but out of nowhere he tackles me onto the couch he has outside and begins tickling me.

"Derek! Stop it!" I giggled but he didn't stop, it only made it worse.

His tickling slows as he looks at me, his eyes glazing over and darkening. I look back at him, my breathing shaky, he slowly lowers his face so our noses are now touching, then he closes his eyes, breathing slowly and heavily.

We've kissed before but this time feels different.

He opens his eyes, looking into my blue ones with a fiery gaze. He leans closer, brushing my lips lightly before pressing them on mine, slowly moving them. I close my eyes and dissolve into the kiss, it feels like I'm on fire but not with lust, with passion and love, like a candle softly licking the air.

He slowly moves backwards making me follow him with need, need for his lips on mine. Soon he's sitting upright with me in his lap, he deepens the kiss ever so slightly making it more needy and passionate. We are both taking time to savour this kiss, we have all night and no distractions so why not?

My arms wrap around, over his shoulders and sit there while his hands sit on my thighs and move under my dress. His warm hands feel comforting compared to my cold skin, it feels like my body is on fire in the most beautiful way, burning with an everlasting sensation of his love for me.

We pull away for a moment to catch our breath, Derek cups my face and smiles, a tint of pink coating his cheeks. "Eve, I'm so happy you're mine, you make me feel complete," he grins, I smile, my eyes still closed.

I could have not asked for a better soulmate than Derek. He makes me feel safe and protected while also filled with the utmost love for him. I'm so glad I get to spend the rest of my immortal life with him by my side.

"I pray no harm ever comes to you and we can live in this world with each other forever," he breathed, I opened my eyes to see the soft glow of the moon illuminating Derek's face.

His eyes look black, but still warm and inviting instead of cold. His brown skin looked softer in the moonlight, but it was warm and comforting, making me feel at home.

"I pray for the same, Derek, I do," I smile at him, feeling sparks exploding from my chest. I feel like we've just said I love without actually saying it, but we've proved to each other that we do love each other and we're just waiting for the right moment to say those three meaningful words.

Now is not the time. Maybe later, but not now, I can wait and so can Derek, but for now we hold each other tightly, watching the moon move across the sky, as I listen to his heartbeat and embrace his warmth. Derek is my soulmate and nothing could change that, not even death.