Imperfections are Beautiful

Stranger in Beacon Hills

Peter smiled as he watched Lydia sleeping.  She had her head on his chest and he realized for the first time that she mumbled when she slept.  He heard her say something about school, several things about that Channing Tatum guy, and he even heard his own name once.

He glanced at the clock and saw that she had to get up for school.  Sighing, he lightly nudged her shoulder.

"Lydia," he whispered.  Her mom was home and he didn't want her waking up to hear a man's voice in her daughter's room. 

"Mmm.." Lydia rolled onto her back and stretched a little.  "A few more minutes."

"Lydia, you have to get ready for school," he told her.

"Fine," she pouted and got up.   She went to her dresser and  picked out an outfit.

"I should go, huh?  See you outside in a few minutes." He left through her window and went to fetch his car a few blocks away.

He drove it to the front of her house and waited.

To distract himself from thinking about her getting dressed, he turned the radio on.  It was some default station that the car was set to because he didn't really listen to music. 

The music droned on as he spotted a figure across the street.  The morning light was poor and Peter had to tap into his wolf sight to see him better.  The guy was just standing there, watching the car.

At that moment, Lydia had came out and got into the car.  "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" He looked away from the figure for a brief second and when he looked back, it was gone.  "Uh, nothing.  I just thought I saw something."

He put the car in drive and took her to school.  When they got there, he got out to open her door for her.

"Oh, there's Belle! I'll see you later, okay?" She kissed his cheek and walked off to catch up with Belle.

He got back in the car and sat there for awhile, watching for her to enter the school safely.  Something about that man stirred up Peter's cautious side. 

Lydia reached Belle and the other girl spun on her.  Peter was about to get out of the car when he saw Scott going towards them.  Lydia's friend stood in a threatening stance.  Was she mad at Lydia?  Peter figured it was because of the set up with Stiles.

Scott led Lydia away and positioned himself between the girls.  Peter felt better that Scott was there; he wouldn't have to ask Lydia to skip school because of Belle and the alarming feeling he got from the stranger.

Stranger.  He was definitely going to check that out.  He pulled out from the school's parking lot and drove back to where he hid the car the night before.

Was the guy something supernatural?  Did he know something about Peter or Lydia? The way he watched Peter's car was suspicious.  Maybe it was just one of her neighbors... Not likely, the guy wasn't dressed like he was loaded with money.

After he had gotten out of his car, he headed for the place where he saw him.  He sniffed for a scent, which there was one.  All too obvious, as if the guy wanted Peter to find his scent.  It smelled like the red hots candy.

He followed the trail to the woods.  Why did everything happen in the woods?  It went in a straight line.  The guy must've known where he was going.

Then it stopped.  The trail went cold.  Nothing.  He spun around looking to see if the guy was still there but he didn't see anything except for trees.

"Something that obvious should have been taken with caution," a voice said.  Peter couldn't tell where it came from.

"What are you?"

"What are you?" The voice repeated Peter's question.  "Following a scent into the forest.  Like a bloodhound."  It started laughing.

"Where are you?"

"Right here," the man stepped out from behind Peter as if materializing from the air.  "I know who you are.  Peter Hale.  I've lead you here to ask you to join me."

"Sorry, I'm not into boy bands."

"And I'm not into sarcastic sociopaths.  What do you say?"

"No."  The guy seemed evil, just the thing Peter needed to stay away from.  He had to do good things to get into Scott's pack.

"Very well then..." The voice faded and so did the figure.

Peter was alone.