The day of Theo's birthday and the holiday Thanksgiving was soon approaching, and everyone in the chimera pack had noticed their leader was getting more upset as the week progressed. His real parents were tortured and killed by the Dread Doctors years ago, so Theo didn't have anyone to spend his special day with except for Tracy, Donovan and Maia. The other members had families they were celebrating with during the break.

Tracy had asked Maia to talk in private, and she brought along Donovan who didn't seem like he was in the greatest of moods to talk with her. Except Tracy could never tell if Donovan was in any sort of mood or emotion in general, so she ignores his irritating looking face from her mind.

"What do you want?" Donovan asks.

"I have an idea," Tracy said.

"For what?"

"To plan a dinner."

"Oh! Is this for Thanksgiving?" Maia asks curiously.

Tracy smiled, and nods her head.

"Yes, and it's technically Theo's birthday."

"Yeah. I know."

"Duh! You're best friend!"

Tracy watched Donovan's shoulders sink, and he whispers in Maia's ear who became confused by his reaction. Tracy couldn't deny that Theo spent a lot of time with Donovan even if it was about chimera pack duties, and chuckles at the thought of them actually referring to each other as best friends forever or BFFs.

"Technically, no."

"That's not what you told–"

"Anyway! What do you want us to do, Tracy?"

"Whatever you need, tell us."

Tracy grinned.

"Well, this dinner can't happen on Thanksgiving since everyone else will have to celebrate with their living families." Tracy thoroughly explains, "but luckily this holiday happens at the end of this week which means we can plan it on the following weekend. I figured we'd do it that day, and invited all the other chimeras… obviously."

"Sounds great!"

"Will this include Josh?"

Maia nudges Donovan in the side.

"Don't be jealous."

"I'm not! He's an annoying pest!"

"This includes the entire pack, Donovan. That includes him, too."

"Fine. We'll go over and invite Josh."

"Thank you."

Donovan reveals a small smirk.

"I can't promise we won't get into any fights–"

"Fine. I'll just paralyze you again."

"Don't you dare!"

Maia and Tracy giggle at his response.

"Just make sure everyone can attend, and don't tell Theo!"

"What? Why wouldn't we?"

"It's a surprise!"

"Right. Got it, Tracy."

Donovan smiled at Maia's excitement about this.

Together they stopped by Josh's house, and informed him of the chimeras sudden weekend plans. Donovan almost growled at him when he noticed him ogling at Maia, but then Josh's mother interrupted by throwing a sandal at his head. Apparently, he was suppose to be helping his mother prepare their meal instead of talking to his friends at the front door much to Donovan's delight at watching him get cursed out in Spanish.

Hayden and Corey were on board with the idea including Zach and Beth who had to call to reschedule her shift at the diner. That left Gretchen Abernathy. Known as a pariah of Devenford Prep (according to Brett Talbott), and willing to do anything to get into a guy's pants even if it meant killing the obstacle standing in her way of doing so. Why Theo thought she would make a great addition to the pack, Donovan would never know the answer.

"Do we have to invite her?" Maia asks.

She scrunches up her face.

"I've heard things about her, you know."

"What? That she likes sex?"

"Well… yeah…"

"So? What's wrong with that?"

Donovan kisses Maia's cheek, and tightens his grip on her hand.

"She probably talks bad about us, too."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well… We have sex all the time–"

"Not all the time!"

Maia's face was blushing, and Donovan found it adorable.

"Why is your face so red?"

"Cause you're embarrassing me!"

Maia turns her head away.

"It's not funny!"

"I'm sorry."

Donovan wraps his arm around her waist, and pulls her closer.

"I just wanted you to realize…"

"That what? We're…"

Maia couldn't think of the right word.

"We're… I don't know!"

"Calm down! It's not that serious!"

"Do you think so?"

"Course!"

Donovan and Maia kissed.

"Sex is the most normal thing about us, don't you think?"

Maia let out a loud laugh.

"You're right."

The couple walks up to a foster home.

"Is this the place?"

"According to Tracy's text…"

"What do you think happened to her real parents?"

"I heard they were in a car crash."

"Like, a bad one?"

"Yeah. That's why Gretchen was chosen by the Dread Doctors to become a chimera. She was taken to the hospital from the crash site, and went through surgery as a baby because of a foreign object puncturing her tiny lung."

"Wow. How sad…"

"Not really," Gretta replied.

They both turned to find her carrying a bag full of her stuff.

"It's about time Theo changed his mind."

"His mind about what?"

"Living with you!"

Gretta gazes up at the foster home.

"Finally! I've been waiting to leave this hell hole for a while."

Then she noticed the couple's confused faces.

"That is why you're here?"

"Actually, we came to talk to you–"

"Tracy is throwing a surprise birthday/Thanksgiving dinner for Theo!" Maia quickly interrupts her boyfriend, "she wanted the entire pack to come over this weekend. Pretty much everyone is on board including us, and you're the last person we need to know is coming."

"Hm? Saved the best for last, huh?"

She eyes Donovan up and down seductively.

"Sounds fun to me."

"Really?"

"I'm totally in!"

Gretta smiles at Donovan.

"But as long as I get to live with the rest of you."

"Fine. That's no problem."

"Goodie! Let's get going, losers!"

Maia rolls her eyes, and her hand tightened around Donovan's.

The three of them traveled back down the street, and through different neighborhoods to reach the chimera house. When they returned inside the home, Tracy and Theo were surprised to find Gretchen walking in the house behind Donovan and Maia. Theo quickly recognizes the large duffel bag filled with Gretchen's things, and shrugs.

"You're staying?" Theo asked nonchalantly.

"Am I that obvious?" Gretta asks.

"Kind of."

"I guess it's alright." Tracy said.

"Trust me. It's better than living in that awful house!"

Gretta turned to face Donovan again.

"At least our guard dog came to pick me up…"

"I wish you'd all stop calling me that." Donovan says, annoyed.

"But your face is so similar to a Rottweiler!"

She squeezes his face in her hand, and made a coo noise.

"Aw! How ferociously adorable!"

"Quit it, Gretchen."

"Then call me Gretta, dog."

"Ugh."

Maia felt her heart beat grow faster the more they interacted.

"I think we should go upstairs." She spoke.

"Are you feeling good, Maia?"

"Yeah. I'm perfect."

She looka up at Donovan, and passionately kisses him.

"What was that for?" He asks, suspicious.

"I want her to know what's mine."

Maia glances back at Gretta who doesn't even notice her.

"Forget her. She's just playing..."

"I'm not so sure."

Donovan felt Maia's talons slightly grow from her nails.

"Hey, calm down…"

"Well, Donovan? It's time to rest."

"Right. Rest."

Maia dragged Donovan by the hand upstairs to her room, and Gretta watched on amusingly as the jealous female chimera gave her one last warning look. Tracy sighed shaking her head, and continued going through the take-out menus on top of their dining table. Theo was the only one who paid close attention to the couple.

When they arrived in the bedroom, Maia locks the door behind her and jumps on top of her boyfriend who almost didn't catch her. They were intensely making out with each other with Donovan feeling Maia's skin getting hot to the touch, but manageable. She ran her fingers through his hair, thrusting her hips against his body, and basically begging him take his clothes off while her own started to sizzle off from her increasing body heat.

"Maia… baby…" Donovan gasps.

"No, don't." She stated, also gasping.

Maia shoves his face into her neck, and places his hand on her boob.

"Please… I need this…"

Maia's eyes started glowing brighter.

"Y-You're too hot!"

Donovan's skin was turning red, and he let go of her.

"Come on… ugh..."

"No! What's wrong with you?!"

Donovan watched as Maia sadly closes her eyes, groaning due to the uncomfortableness of her sexual urges. Her body was lain across her bed squirming, and Donovan's heart nearly stopped when he saw steam coming out of her mouth.

"No! Not in the house!"

He picks her up and takes her into the bathroom.

"Ugh! Donovan!"

"I know, I know! Hold on!"

Donovan turns on the shower head to cold water, and places Maia inside and becomes surrounded in a large puff of smoke. Once it was cleared, he looks down to find a naked Maia at the bottom of the tub surrounded by black scorch marks. She was breathing heavily and her hair was damp.

"W-What…"

"Hey, are you okay?"

Donovan knelt down and places a hand on her shoulder.

"What happened to me?"

"I'm not sure."

Suddenly, Donovan heard footsteps creeping up behind him.

"Really, again?" Theo interrupts.

"Listen, I know what this looks like, but–"

"This is out of control."

"No, it's not!"

Theo crossed his arms, staring heavily at Donovan who stood up.

"We can handle this! We can fix this!"

"This is my problem."

Donovan grew angry at this.

"Back off."

"I gave you time."

Theo looks down and over at an exhausted Maia.

"This relationship is over."

"No it's not!"

Theo managed to flip Donovan on his back when he tried to attack him.

"Calm down. Don't make me get Tracy."

"Ugh! LET GO OF ME!"

"What's going on here?" A voice asks.

Donovan looked up to notice Josh enter the bedroom.

"Why are you two fighting?"

"We're not!" They both yelled up at Josh.

Josh raised an eyebrow.

"You sure?"

Both Theo and Donovan stood up from the floor.

"It's a good thing you're here."

"It is?"

"Maia is available."

"No, she's not."

"Donovan just broke up with her."

Josh's eyes grew wide, and he turned to face Donovan.

"Is that true?"

"Like hell it is! Theo you can't–"

"Technically, I'm forcing him to break it off."

"What? Why would you…?"

"I thought their relationship could teach Maia to control her emotions and lessen the chances of her having a meltdown. Unfortunately, I was wrong."

"It's not your decision!"

"Enough!"

Theo's eyes glow, and his fangs stick out.

"You are done."

He grabs Donovan's arm and drags him out of the bedroom. Josh walks over carefully into the bathroom to find a naked and vulnerable Maia in the tub, and she was shaking. He pulled a dry towel hanging off the sink, and uses it to cover her body.

"What happened to you?"

"I almost caught myself on fire again." Maia says.

She sadly stared off into space.

"Where's Donovan?"

"Uh…"

Josh turns his head back at the bedroom doorway.

"He's talking to Theo downstairs."

"What? Why?"

"I guess… About this?"

Josh gestured to herself, and Maia sighs.

"Figures. I'm a mess."

"No you're not."

"Could you ask him to come back?"

"Yeah. Are you sure?"

"Yes. He's always been gentle with me after a meltdown."

"Donovan? Gentle…?"

"Please, Josh?"

Maia stares up into Josh's eyes, and he sighs.

"Fine. Wait here one moment."

Josh knew he couldn't argue with Maia's puppy dog eyes, and left her bedroom to travel downstairs. Donovan and Theo weren't anywhere inside the house, so he used his superhuman senses to search for them. He managed to locate them in the backyard with Donovan shouting at the top of his lungs about how Theo was behaving like a hypocritical jerk.

"What's going on?" Tracy asks, annoyed.

Josh turned to stare at her.

"Where's Maia?"

"Upstairs getting herself… cleaned up."

"Huh. It happened again?"

"Yeah."

"Bet I know why."

Tracy glares over at Gretta who shrugs.

"Not my fault." Gretta said, asking, "but is what I heard true?"

"Wait? Are you listening to their conversation?"

"Theo and Donovan's? Yes."

Gretta smirks.

"What are they saying?"

"Theo is trying to break them up…"

"Well as cute as they are, Donovan isn't really the best for Maia."

"What? You believe that, Tracy?"

"Donovan is damaged."

Tracy gave Josh a serious look.

"Damaged people shouldn't date each other."

"Agreed, but I can!"

Gretta gives Josh a cheeky wink.

"I would take what Theo offered you, and forget about it."

"Wait. What did he offer you?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

Tracy was getting annoyed, and Josh was panicking.

"Stop it, Gretchen! It's a secret!"

"Not after this…"

"Will someone tell me what's going on?!"

Josh sighed.

"We might of messed up."

Tracy stares at Josh who was trying not to look at her.

"Tell me everything. Now."

After a while, Theo and Donovan returned inside the house to find an upset Tracy and a guilty looking Josh in the living room. Maia and Gretta were no where to be found, but Theo's sixth sense was alerting him of danger. Then he noticed Tracy's tail was gently swaying in the air behind her, and her eyes were yellow with black slits.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Always tell the truth, huh?" Tracy replies.

"What do you…?"

"That's why we're different from Scott!"

Tracy glared up at Theo.

"You hypocrite!"

"Josh! What the hell did you say?"

"I told her everything." Josh responded.

"Tracy, I wasn't a part of this."

He pointed over at Josh, and then back behind him at Donovan.

"It was all their idea."

"Oh really?"

Tracy pointed her paralytic claw at Donovan.

"Talk. Now."

"We made a deal."

"That you could have Maia?"

Donovan nods.

"Why?"

"Josh wanted her, too, but Theo decided between us that I was better suited to be in a relationship with her. Having two unpredictable powers like electricity and fire were a recipe for disaster, and besides… she never showed interest in him. The only thing Josh wanted was to have sex with her like every other girl he sets his sights on–"

"That's not true!" Josh yells, his eyes glowing purple, "I'm not just some crazy drug addict party boy! That's why I was left with Gretta, right? Because everyone assumed we'd hook up because of her sex drive, but she was far from what I wanted! Hayden already has a boyfriend, Tracy… everyone knows you like Theo, and Beth is a lesbian so she wasn't going to go anywhere near me unless it was to act as my wingman."

"What are you saying?"

"I've always really cared for Maia!"

Donovan's eyes grew white, and his fangs shot out.

"I FUCKING KNEW IT!"

Theo placed a hand on his chest.

"It doesn't matter."

"Get out of my way…"

"You're someone else's problem now, Donovan."

"Like who? Gretchen?"

"I wish you'd all stop calling me that."

Gretta came strutting down the stairs with a smile on her face.

"Like my outfit, Donovan?"

Donovan looks up at Gretta unamused. She was wearing a short leather black skirt that basically revealed her laced thong and butt to the entire household, a V-neck tight red sweater which stopped just above her belly button, black fish leggings, and red high heels making Gretta inches taller than she actually was.

"Well?"

"You're a slut."

"Said the kettle to the pot."

Gretta struts past Josh, and straight toward the front door.

"I'll be back in a couple of hours!"

She eyed Donovan.

"Unless you've changed your mind?"

"I haven't."

"Wanna bet on that?"

Gretta blew a kiss at Donovan, and left.

"There's no way I'm dating her!"

"You don't have to." Tracy interrupted Theo, "no one should make you."

Donovan frustratingly storms upstairs to his room.

"I knew this was a bad idea."

"Yet you allowed them to go through with it."

"Tracy, I'm sorry."

"You're a terrible leader."

Tracy stormed upstairs herself after this.

"Josh?"

"Don't talk to me."

"Fine. I just want to say one thing."

"What is it?"

"Treat Maia with respect."

Josh stared at the worried look in Theo's eyes, and nodded. When he returned upstairs to Maia's room, all the lights were shut off and she was hidden underneath her bed sheets and blankets. Josh sat down on the bed next her, and she didn't budge.

"Hey, Maia?" He asked.

"I don't wanna talk." She responds.

"Then listen."

Maia remained quiet.

"I want you to know that I'm still your friend."

"Friends don't lie."

There was a moment of silence.

"You heard then?"

"I heard everything, Josh."

More silence.

"Maia…"

"Just go away!" She yells, and Josh stood up.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, and walks downstairs to leave the house.