Chapter 11

"What the hell is wrong with you, woman?" Sam shouted, standing up from the sofa where he'd been lounging. His eyes were wide with anger. "You could have killed her!"

"I knew exactly what I was doing," Clarissa snapped back, her voice icy. It rankled her that he questioned her control and abilities.

"And that's what bothers me," Dawson murmured. Usually silent and pensive like his mother, this time he chose to speak up. "You're supposed to be our tutor, supposed to teach us to protect ourselves, and yet you knowingly nearly killed Maya. You punished her because she questions you." His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Makes me begin to question you too."

"I'm out of here." Angelo grabbed his bag, slinging the strap over his shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going?" Clarissa turned to him, her eyes narrowing. She had never expected problems from him.

"When grownups feel like they have the right to pick on those they think are weaker, I know to bow out." Angelo shook his head at her before storming out, slamming the door behind him.

Clarissa's heart sank. How could she have let her annoyance cause her to forget that Angelo had endured a lifetime of being pushed around by his drunk father? She should have realized that he would react badly to her dishing out a wakeup call to Gale's stubborn girl.

Clarissa palmed her face. "I should apologize to him."

"To Angelo?" Dawson frowned, completely shocked. "What about Maya? She's the one you tried to kill!"

"I didn't try to kill her. I was just trying to prove to her and the rest of you how serious this is." She frowned at Martha's boy, needing him and the others to understand. "The Witch-Hunters won't care that you're just kids. And you also have other witches out there who won't mind using their magic against you. You need to be able to defend yourselves from these sorts of attacks and send counterattacks as well. Maya's the newest to this coven. She doesn't understand as much as you all do."

"What coven?" Sam interjected, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. He whispered a spell that lit the tip before he took a deep drag, spewing out a blanket of smoke. "Last I heard, a coven is six, and we're now down two members."

"Angelo and Maya will come back," Clarissa said, though her voice lacked conviction.

"Maybe we should all take a break," Jason suggested, joining the rebellion. He ran a hand over his shortly cropped hair. "Things have been intense since Maya awoke. Our powers have grown in strength and intensity, and it has us all on edge. Maybe we just need a couple of days of nothing witchcraft-related to calm down and face the training and our issues with a cool head."

"We need to keep practicing," Harper interjected, her voice steady and mature beyond her years. "I know that Aunt Clarissa is a little...hard...on us sometimes, but it's for our own good. We've read about what the Witch-Hunters did in other towns, especially Salem. They tried to make this a Burning Town as well. We're the descendants of some of the most ancient families. Our coven is an ancient, powerful one. They're going to know that we're forming up again. And we need to be prepared for whatever they'll dish out to us."

"Why?" Sam demanded, letting out another wall of smoke. "Why wait all this time? They obviously knew that there were witches in this town. If you're to be believed, Clarissa, our parents' coven had dealings with them. So why did they just leave everyone alone and are only now concentrating on our generation?"

Clarissa's eyes narrowed as she regarded Sam. He fancied himself a bad boy, but beneath that exterior, he was smart and cunning. He and Maya would be the ones to challenge her most, always thinking of the questions no one else considered. She wasn't used to being challenged. Her own coven had fallen into place quickly once the pecking order was established, but now she needed to ensure these kids understood their roles and that Harper was ready to assume leadership.

"Because," she began, meeting Sam's dark gaze, "they killed your father, and our coven broke apart." The memory was still vivid. "It was the beginning of the end for us. Angelo's father had his powers stripped for his actions by the elders, Jason's mother chose to give up hers, wanting nothing more to do with witchcraft." She turned to Dawson, who looked nothing like his mother but had her good heart. "Your mother distanced herself from any coven activity to keep you and your father safe." She shook her head. "And Maya's mother skipped town." The bitterness lingered in her voice. "The Witch-Hunters realized our coven was done for, and there were no other witches in town I'd join a coven with. They had bigger fish to fry."

"What fish?" Harper asked softly. "You always hint at some bigger player from your days, but you never explain who or what you're talking about."

"You're not ready. None of you are," Clarissa hedged, flashes of the ever-handsome Austen James mocking her mind. "You are all dismissed. I have things I need to do."

With that, she stormed out of the Brew, clenching her fists.

"So, what adventures are we going on this evening?" Steve asked with too much enthusiasm as he slipped into her car, his gear in the bag he placed on the back seat.

Still rubbing her throat and sucking on a Halls candy she'd bought at the drugstore on her way to meet up with her photographer, Maya raised an eyebrow. "Farmer Wilson has had another cow mutilated. That's two in four nights."

"Are we thinking Chupacabra?" Steve's voice was pure playfulness as he waggled his eyebrows, closing his door.

"Chupacabras only drain animals' blood; they don't mutilate," Maya shook her head, reversing out of the school's parking lot and onto the street. "I'm not exactly sure what it is, but Farmer Wilson makes a living from those cows."

"And the mystery intrigues you."

"The mystery intrigues me," Maya agreed, sharing a mischievous smile with Steve. It was still surprising to her that she had managed to rope the handsome senior, who usually serviced the computers in the Chronicle, into doubling as her photographer and sidekick. If someone had told her a year ago that they'd be teaming up for supernatural investigations, she would have scoffed. Yet here they were, driving toward the Wilson property, going over their game plan.

"By the way, what happened to your throat?" Steve asked, raising an eyebrow. "You sound like a chain smoker."

Instinctively, her hand rose to her sore throat. "I think I'm coming down with something."

"Just don't give it to me," he ordered, grinning. "Beverly would kill me if I passed any flu to her. And she'd force me to take care of her until she recuperated—even if I were dying of the same flu."

Maya couldn't help but chuckle at his dramatics. "Okay, this is going to be so awkward, but... is what she offers that good?" She blushed at the boldness of her question.

Steve's eyes widened in shock before he burst out laughing. "I can't believe you just asked me that!"

She groaned and looked out the windshield. "I'm just saying, you complain about her and what she does to you all the time, but I don't see you dumping her. So, whatever you're getting out of it must be great."

Steve's shoulders shook with amusement. "Shut up," he managed between laughs, wiping a tear from his eye. "Well, to answer your question," he said, snorting with laughter, "she isn't a goddess in bed or anything, but she's got a sweet side deep, deep, deep inside her barbed-wire heart."

Maya shot him a sideways glance. "So, deep down inside, you're actually a romantic?"

He snorted again. "I don't know if I'd go that far, but we connect in a way that's not purely physical."

She pondered that, her gaze focused on the road. "So, was she your first?"

"What? No!" Steve turned red, clearing his throat. "Maybe." His blue eyes stared out of the window. "Yeah."

Maya felt more comfortable now that he was just as uncomfortable as she had been. "You hers?"

"Yep," he nodded slowly. "Unless she's a really good actress."

Maya chuckled softly, shaking her head. "What about you?" he asked, turning his gaze on her. "Who was the brave soul to take your Scarlet V?"

She couldn't believe she had started this conversation. "Uh..."

Steve's eyes widened. "Wow. Really?"

Was she that easy to read?

"Whoa." Steve chuckled, looking out of the window again. "I thought it was Jason or Dawson. I didn't realize... wow."

"It's not a big deal," she mumbled, taking the next right. "I just haven't found the right guy, I suppose."

"I don't think I've ever had this conversation with anyone else," Steve commented pensively.

"Me neither," Maya admitted.

They shared embarrassed smiles before she finally came to a stop and parked.

"This is it," Steve declared, clearing his throat as he opened the door and slipped out, staring at the darkening sky. "So, five dollars says it's a chupacabra."

"Hmmm," Maya mused with a mischievous smile as she grabbed her bag and slipped out of the car, slamming the door shut. "Five bucks says it's aliens."

"Aliens," Steve snickered darkly, grabbing his bag and slamming his door shut as well. "Next thing, we'll be talking witches."

Maya snorted at his amusement, taking a moment to appreciate the sunset before turning to him. "Let's get set up while there's still some light."

"My ass is numb," Steve hissed as they lay under the cover of the bushes, their night vision equipment aimed toward the Wilson cows grazing peacefully in the fields.

"Then change position," she hissed back, lying on her stomach with the camera in hand. "Just don't make too much noise and give away our position."

"Yes, Major General!" He saluted mockingly before wincing as he shifted to a different position. "Now my ass is tingling."

Maya's lips twitched in amusement as she tried to feel annoyed by his constant complaints. "Are you always such a crybaby, or is it just with me?"

"Just with you," he quipped. "You're special."

"Lucky me," she rolled her eyes.

"Did you bring anything for us to chew on while we're waiting for Chupie?" Steve asked. "I'm hungry."

"No, I didn't bring anything to eat. We're on a stakeout."

"In the movies, the cops always have donuts and coffee on their stakeouts."

"They weren't tracking a possible supernatural creature," Maya retorted. "Even if it was just an animal, the smell of food and coffee would alert it to our presence."

"Damned animal," Steve grumbled. "I'm hungry."

"Why does Beverly Jones put up with you?" Maya asked, genuinely curious.

His smile turned lecherous immediately. "Because I have a big di—"

Maya reached out and covered his mouth.

He grinned evilly from beneath her hand.

Maya was about to retort when suddenly the cows made a strange sound, catching both of their attention. They turned their gazes to their respective night vision cameras, searching the herd and surroundings for whatever was making the cattle so uneasy.

Suddenly, Steve froze. "What the—?"

Maya aimed her lens in the same direction, trying to see what he saw. After a few minutes of intensive searching, her night vision zoomed in on the figure he had spotted. "Is that—?"

"Oh, fuck!" Steve dropped his camera, the thud causing the creature to stop at the outskirts of the herd and turn its gaze toward them. "It's a werewolf! It's a goddamn werewolf!"

"It's not a werewolf," Maya hissed, pointing to the crescent moon above their heads. "And keep quiet!"

Steve's wide eyes proved he had a lot of questions, but he remained silent, raising his screen to get a better view.

Maya gulped, returning her gaze to her own screen. The creature looked like a pure white wolf at first glance, yet there was something about it that betrayed its abnormality—something in its body, in those eyes that nearly glowed in the darkness.

She followed the creature's movement as it turned and charged the cattle.

Steve's hand reached out and rested on top of Maya's on the grass.

She jumped a little at the touch, sending him a sideways glance before returning her gaze to her screen, watching the massacre unfold. She felt horrible for the cattle but was too afraid to betray their hiding place.

The creature moved with a brutal efficiency, killing the cattle closest to it, but never stopping to consume its kill. It was senseless, vicious slaughter.

Maya and Steve found themselves face to face with a creature that defied all logic. It wasn't the hunger of a predator that drove this entity; it was something far more sinister, a thirst for chaos and pain that left a trail of destruction in its wake.

As they crouched in the cover of night, Maya's keen eyes followed the creature's swift movements with a mix of awe and dread. Steve, equally mesmerized and horrified, let out a ragged breath, his words barely a whisper in the tense air. "What the hell is that?"

Maya's gaze flickered to him, her night vision screen illuminating his wide-eyed expression. "A wolf, but not just any wolf. This thing is on a rampage in Harvest Grove."

"That's no wolf!" Steve's voice trembled, his fear palpable. "It's too big, too powerful. And it's not hunting for food."

With a grim nod, Maya turned her attention back to the house where the chaos had unfolded. "We need to get out of here before Farmer Wilson shows up."

Steve was already on his feet, pulling Maya towards the safety of her car with urgency. The engine roared to life, and they sped away into the night, leaving behind the scene of carnage and mystery.

As they raced through the quiet streets, Steve's initial fear gave way to excitement. "We have it on video! This is incredible!"

Maya, however, remained focused on the task ahead. "We can't jump to conclusions. We need more information before we go public."

Steve's enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but his determination remained. "So, what's our next move?"

"We start by checking if the zoo has any missing wolves," Maya suggested, her mind already working out the next steps of their investigation.

Steve's eyes lit up with a plan. "I know someone who works at the zoo. I can get the inside scoop and keep our source anonymous."

Maya raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I thought you never read the Chronicle."

Steve's sheepish grin spoke volumes. "I may have peeked at it a few times."

Maya glanced at Steve, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Beverly's told me I need to quit if I don't actually supply proof soon that I'm not just hanging around with you because I like you."

Steve chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Is she feeling threatened by our friendship?"

Maya's eyebrow arched as she navigated the corner. "Do you think she has reason to be?"

Steve shrugged nonchalantly. "Can you blame her? You're quite the catch, Maya."

The compliment caught Maya off guard, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Steve continued, his tone playful yet sincere. "You've got this cute, impulsive vibe that's kind of intimidating. And here I am, the only guy you're spending time alone with lately. I can see why she might think there's something more."

Maya's lips curved into a wry smile. "So, you think I like you?"

Steve grinned, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Well, can you blame me for thinking that? I mean, I am hot."

Rolling her eyes, Maya caught sight of the school ahead. "You know, Steve, if a guy has a girlfriend, he immediately loses appeal for me."

"Seriously?" Steve sounded genuinely surprised. "So, if I were single, you'd be into me?"

Maya considered this, casting him a sidelong glance. "Maybe. I mean, you did say you're 'hot.'"

Steve blinked, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, I'm flattered."

Feeling a tad embarrassed, Maya chuckled and changed the subject. "Let's not dwell on hypotheticals, shall we?"

"Fair enough," Steve agreed with a nod. "But just so you know, off the record because Beverly would kill me, if I were single, you'd definitely catch my eye."

Maya's cheeks warmed at the confession, and she turned into the school parking lot. "Noted."

As they parked, Maya thanked Steve for accompanying her. "I appreciate you having my back."

Steve grinned, packing his things into his backpack. "Someone's gotta watch out for you."

Before Maya could respond, her phone rang, startling her. "Hold on a sec." She leaned across Steve to retrieve her phone from the dashboard, glancing at the caller ID with a puzzled expression.

It was Stiles.

Her mind raced with questions. When did he get her number? And why was he calling now?