"So what do we know about this guy?" Tom says. The man and woman look at each other a little nervously before continuing. "Not much." She says. "We've not had the opportunity to get close. He works at Cerberus." "Where Mahealani works." Tom says with a scowl. "Yes so we can't really do much there." The man says. "He is staying at the campground on the preserve in the gated off section. We went to look around his camper but Jessica spotted security cameras all over the thing so we stayed in the trees." Jessica sighs "We couldn't get close to the camper let alone get inside without being seen." "Security cameras?" Tom says. "Who has security cameras on their camper out in the middle of a deserted camp ground?" "Either someone who is paranoid or has something to hide." The man says. "Any chance this guy is one of us?" Tom asks. Jessica and her partner look at each other. "If he is." The man finally says. "He deserves an award. He has Isaac wrapped around his finger. He doesn't look move talk or act like a hunter. If anything he seems more like…." The main trails off. "Prey." Jessica says. "Someone who would want or need someone to protect them. If it's an act it's brilliant. The whole pack was all over him last night scenting and comforting him." "Even Hale?" Tom asks with a raised eye brow. Jessica nods with a gleam in her eye. "I want you and Bill to stick to this guy and figure out what he is up to. If he is up to anything. Try and figure out a way to get around those cameras. Hell kill power to the park maybe you'll get lucky and he's not running a battery backup. If he is then find the drive the cameras feed to and take it with you. Make it look like a break in. I'd rather not alert him or the pack to our presence but we need to know more about him. If he's a hunter we need to find out what he's up to. If he's not well…..we'll just have to remove him from the picture. We don't need any more wolves."
Isaac is standing on the porch of the Hale house staring out in to the woods. Unconsciously looking in the direction of Paul's Airstream. Derek comes walking out and offer's him a cup of coffee. "He's a nice guy." Derek says simply. Isaac turns and smiles. "He's my nice guy." Happiness broadcasting off Isaac like radio waves. "What are your plans for telling him about us?" Isaac frowns slightly. "I'm not sure. He's been hurt…literally so badly in the past that I'm worried he will be scared of us. There is no rush right?" Isaac asks looking at Derek. Derek shrugs his shoulders "No but you can't claim him without him knowing and it's not a good idea to leave your mate wandering around in the woods without knowledge of what's going on around him." Stiles comes out and hugs Derek from behind. "You and Paul doing anything today?" Stiles asks. "I figured I'd text him in a little bit and see if he was interested in doing something." Isaac says with a frown. "What is it?" Stiles says. "I wish he was here already. I want him by my side. He's mine I don't like waiting. We uh... we kissed last night." He finishes with a small smile. Stiles's eyes light up as he releases Derek and steps around him to look at Isaac. "Really? First kisses are awesome!" He says turning to look at Derek with a shy smile on his face. "So how was it?" Stiles asks with a huge grin. Isaac blushes and get a faraway look in his eyes. "It was soft, sweet, perfection. He was nervous but not scared." Isaac finishes with a smile.
Paul is walking through the snow to the gas pump where he'd left his Forerunner. After paying for his gas and grabbing something to drink he'd cheerfully headed back out in to the snowy morning loving the weather. Nearly to his vehicle he slips on some black ice and nearly goes down. He's caught just in time though and hauled back up right. Turning to thank his rescuer he's surprised to see Jeff from work. "Hey Jeff thanks for saving me." Jeff beams at Paul brightly. "No problem Tex I imagine you probably don't have much experience in weather like this." Paul chuckles at the nick name "Ice yes, snow not so much. What's got you out in this weather?" "Just out doing my duty saving attractive men from hurting themselves." He replies cheekily. Paul exhales slowly looking in Jeff's happy brown eyes. "Well then I guess the very least I should do is buy you lunch." Paul says after a moment's thought. Jeff's smile grows impossibly wider. "Have you been to Ella's yet?" he asks pointing to the diner across the street. "Nope." Paul says with a smile. "Well if you can make it back to your car without maiming yourself I can run over and get us a table. I'm parked on that side of the road anyway." Paul laughs at that and says "Sure." Walking over to his Toyota Paul pulls out of the station and crosses the street. Once he's in the parking lot he rushes inside to get out of the cold. He sees Jeff waving to him from a booth by the front window. He walks over and slides in. "So what's good here?" He asks looking at the menu. "Pretty much everything it's the kind of food most people wish their mom made." Paul frowns slightly but says nothing. Jeff gives him a brief look but says nothing.
Moments later they are laughing and talking about work. Neither of them notices the car passing in the street slow down briefly before resuming its speed.
From Danny: You need to hurry things up with Paul
Isaac looks at his phone and makes a questioning noise.
To Danny: What do you mean?
From Danny: He's at Ella's with Jeff looking…interested
Isaac's eyes flash yellow and he has to restrain himself from breaking the phone. He'd been on his way to ask Paul out to a late breakfast but now he wheels his wrangler around sliding recklessly in the snow and heads towards town.
Their lunch finished Paul and Jeff are enjoying desert. Jeff is talking about the snow and how cold it gets occasionally reaching out and touching Paul on the hand. Isaac pulls into the gas station across from the diner and glares at the two. His wolf is snarling at him and demanding that he go eviscerate this fool arrogant enough to touch his mate. Jeff's body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions all clear indicators of his interest in Paul. Paul is being demure and smiling shyly and not appearing to be bothered by Jeff's advances. Isaac's heart breaks when he hears Paul's heart jump every time Jeff touches him or leans close. Isaac's phone rings. He knows who it is without even looking. "I have to get out of here before I fucking kill somebody." "Easy there Cujo, where are you?" Stiles says sliding out of bed pulling the blanket up over Derek before exiting the room. Isaac's fury blasting across the pack bond having woke him up. "Across from Ella's watching my mate enjoy being hit on." Isaac throws the Jeep into gear and pulls out of the station racing away from the disappointing scene. "Come home you don't want to do anything crazy." "It's fine I'll just.." "Isaac.." Stiles says Alpha mate authority and warmth coming across not only in his voice but over the pack bond. "Come home pup we'll figure this out OK? I'm making breakfast." Some of the tension leaves the furious wolf's shoulders as he nods his head. "OK I'm on my way."
Back at the diner Paul and Jeff are about to leave. Paul while flattered by Jeff's advances is a little put off by his aggressiveness. "Jeff I don't want you to take this the wrong way. You're... awesome, funny, sexy as hell but..." He starts. Jeff sighs and says "Uh oh here comes the friend zone." Paul chuckles and says "No nothing so severe it's just that. Well...I've met someone we've only just barely started…... something I'm not even sure what yet. I've never been able to date more than one person at a time it just feels wrong. I don't want to see anyone else right now. Is that cool?" Jeff smiles an easy smile. "Totally OK. I knew you were a good one Paul I hope things work out for you and Mr. Lucky. It's my fault for not stepping up sooner. If you think it would be OK maybe we could still have lunch once in a while?" "Absolutely." Paul says with a relieved smile. The two get up and walk out of the diner. Jeff gives Paul a one armed hug. "Watch out for ice OK? I'll see you at work Monday." "You bet, see you later Jeff." Paul says turning and walking to his Toyota. He pulls out his phone and sends a text.
To Isaac: Good Morning! Sleep well?
Isaac snarls at his phone and has to stop himself from throwing it out the window.
From Paul: Check engine light came on so I'm dropping the Forerunner off at the dealership. Thought you might want to go walk around in the freezing cold with me. I'll be at the square.
For the second time that day Isaac cuts the wheels hard and does a sliding u turn in the middle of the street.
Paul is looking at the same painting he'd seen with Isaac the other day when he feels someone behind him. Turning he sees Isaac standing just a few feet away. An unusual expression on his face. "Hey there." Paul says smiling. Isaac stares at him for a moment before quietly saying "Hi." Paul steps into Isaac's space with a look of concern. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine." Isaac says looking over Paul's shoulder at the painting. "You like it? Second time I've seen you looking at it." Turning back to the painting Paul grins. I do, I just don't have any place to put it. I'm tempted to buy it and have them store it for me." I'm sure it'll look fine in yours and Jeff's bedroom. Isaac thinks scornfully. "I need to talk to you." He finally says noticing Paul's look of confusion. "OK." Paul says. Isaac takes his hand and pretty much pulls him out of the store and across the street.
As they are crossing the sidewalk on the other side Paul stumbles and Isaac yanks hard to keep him on his feet. "Isaac!" Paul yelps at him in pain rubbing the shoulder Isaac had nearly dislocated. "That hurt what is your problem?" Isaac spins around teeth gritted. "My problem?!" "My problem is that not 24 hours after I kissed you you're off mooning over Jeff at Ella's. Was I just a place holder until someone better came along?" Paul's eyes go wide "What?! How did you.." "Never mind how I know, I thought we had something do I mean so little to you?" Paul stumbles back a few steps eyes wide. "You can't see him I won't allow it. You haven't even given me a chance!" Isaac growls out. "Isaac stop please." Paul whimpers panic and fear overwhelming him as Isaac advances on him menacingly. "Stop this please." Paul stumbles back several more steps and falls down. Isaac takes several steps towards him but stops when the wave of terror hits him in the face like a glass of ice water. Paul is covered in snow whimpering "Please don't hurt me." Backing away from him on the ground tears streaking his face. "Paul I'm sorry let me help you." "NO!" Paul yells "Stay away from me." He pleads finally getting to his feet Paul turns and starts to run away. Isaac surges forward and grabs Paul's shoulder "Paul please I'm sorry!" Paul rounds on him so quickly Isaac doesn't see the uppercut that connects cleanly with the underside of his jaw. There is a loud crack as his head is snapped back by the force of the blow. Paul whimpers in pain and darts across the street cradling his hand as Isaac shakes his head trying to clear his vision. As the pain dies down reality sinks in and he realizes what he's done. He quickly pulls out his phone and calls Stiles. "What have you done?" Stiles says with a touch of anger. "Stiles! You have to help me." Isaac rasps out between sobs that are starting to overtake him as the enormity of his mistake sets in. "It's Paul…I've scared him…He was with somebody else and I got mad and he's run away." Isaac manages to get out. "Oh Isaac..." Stiles says. "Can you make it home or do you want me to come get you?" "What am I going to do Stiles he's going to hate me now I've made my mate hate me." Isaac cries out all but collapsing onto a bench.
He winces slightly when he feels Stiles yank on the pack bond in a way that everyone knows means to check in. "Where are you? Town square right?" Stiles asks using the bond to get a rough idea of Isaac's location. "Yes." Isaac replies with no emotion. "Scott and Danny are closest to you." Isaac hears Stiles talking on another phone "Scott go get Isaac and bring him home, have Danny track Paul and make sure he's OK. Isaac was upset and Paul got scared. Make sure he is safe." Returning to the phone he was talking to Isaac on "OK Scott's coming to you Danny will make sure Paul is OK just sit tight OK? Isaac?" Not caring to hear anymore Isaac lets the phone drop from his hand into the snow as he falls back further onto the bench. Staring at the fountain he and Paul had made their wishes at Isaac shudders tears raining from his eyes. He ignores Stiles's voice still coming from his phone as his world crashes down around him.
