She still remembers the first time she saw him. In fact, she wasn't even sure it was him. A massive being with red eyes and claws and dark hair. A low growl escaping his lips. Lydia was barely aware of who she was. Let alone where she was and why. But despite the dream-like state that she was in, she knew those eyes. Those lost, lonely eyes. She's seen them in her mirror a thousand times.
She remembers running towards those eyes. Dry leaves crunching under her bare feet. Her dark red hair was knotted and wild in the wind, her whole body was bare and free. She was so cold.
How had she gotten out in the woods at night? Her mind was blank; her memory fuzzy. She could barely remember her mother's face or her father's voice. Red eyes, red eyes, she remembered red eyes.
A long, low howl was ringing in Lydia's ears, as if the source of the sound was right beside her.
She turned and saw red.
And then she saw black.
He too remembers the first time he saw her. He caught the glitter in her hazel green eyes. He saw red. Red hair, blushing pink skin from the cold, and red blood from a bite mark. Derek's eyes widened. Lydia. It had to be her. A frantic call from Scott told him that she had disappeared from the hospital without a word and without any clothing. What they didn't know was where she was going. And there she was. In the flesh. Metaphorically and physically speaking. She had caught him staring. Her head cocked to the side as if she recognized him. As if she knew him from another time.
He stepped back. And he hated himself for it. He was barely an alpha for a day, yet he retreated. He had stopped in his place. A little girl was not going to make him falter.
He moved forward. Faster than the human eye could see. Until he was right behind her. Until he could smell her. Earthy undertones and the sweetness of her blood. Until he could practically taste her. He howled to notify the others of their location. And that was when she turned around. He expected to find fear written on her face. But he only found familiarity.