The night after they moved to the ranch, the pack gathered in the living room of the new house, and Melissa said. "Scott and I have decided to make this beef ranch a successful business." She announced.
Isaac smiled. "Since I'm part of this family, I'll help too."
Boyd nodded in agreement. "I'll quit my part-time job and pitch in here as well."
Scott grinned. "Good to hear. But first, we need to deal with the chupacabra or whatever that thing is."
Lydia raised an eyebrow. "What chupacabra?"
Melissa explained. "The previous owners said there's a huge, wolf-like beast with no fur that's been killing their cattle. That's why they sold the ranch."
Scott looked around. "So, who's going to deal with it?"
Stiles pointed at him. "Aren't you coming?"
Scott shook his head. "No, it's probably just a weak monster, like that boar or those creatures we ran into in the woods before."
Stiles smirked. "Then, leave it to me, I'll take care of it."
"I'll go too." Malia chimed in.
Scott nodded. "Okay, but be careful. If it's too much to handle, call for backup."
With that, Malia and Stiles headed into the woods, tracking the chupacabra.
It didn't take long before they caught its scent.
Malia's nose wrinkled. "Oh, I know this smell. It belongs to a scary coyote."
Stiles frowned. "You've seen it before?"
Malia nodded. "Yes. Once, I was eating a deer I hunted, and that thing showed up. It was big."
"How big?" Stiles asked.
Malia thought for a moment. "Almost as big as Allison's wolf form, but it had no fur. Its body was skinny, and its eyes were white."
Stiles tilted his head. "It didn't attack you?"
"It did." Malia replied. "But I was faster. I ran away. Since then, whenever I smell it, I keep my distance, not because I'm scared, but because I thought it was sick and didn't want to catch whatever it had."
As they talked, they spotted the chupacabra lying near a cave.
Malia's eyes glowed golden. "Stiles, let me handle this. That thing bullied me before, and now it's time for revenge."
Stiles shrugged. "Okay."
Malia stepped forward, glaring at the beast. "Do you remember me?" she growled. Then, to Stiles' shock, she began stripping off her clothes.
"What... what are you doing?!" Stiles stammered.
Malia glanced at him. "I want to fight it in my coyote form, and I don't want to ruin my clothes when I shift."
Stiles turned away, blushing. "Malia, you can't just get naked in front of people!"
She smirked. "Oh? Do you like what you see?"
"No!" Stiles protested, his face redder than ever.
Malia raised an eyebrow. "So, you think I'm ugly?"
"That's not what I meant!" Stiles blurted.
Malia walked over, unabashedly confident. "What did you mean, then?"
Stiles stammered. "I... I mean, you're beautiful, but I didn't see anything!"
Malia chuckled. "Stiles, I lived naked in the woods for years. You can look if you want, I don't care."
Stiles locked eyes with her. "But I care. You can't just get naked in front of people."
Malia tilted her head. "Why are you so worked up? It's my body. I can do what I want. Why do you care, anyway?"
Taking a deep breath, Stiles replied. "Because I like you. I want to date you. But I don't want my girlfriend getting naked in front of other guys."
Malia smiled mischievously and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So, you want to date me, dork?"
Feeling her close, Stiles blushed even more. "Yes. Would you go out with me?"
She winked. "I'll think about it."
Turning back toward the chupacabra, she froze. "Where did it go?"
Stiles shrugged. "I don't know, I was looking at you the whole time."
Malia sniffed the air. "I can still smell its scent. Grab my clothes and follow me."
She shifted into her coyote form and darted into the woods, with Stiles hurrying after her.
After some time, they caught up with the creature. This time, Malia didn't hesitate. She lunged at it, her speed and strength overwhelming the chupacabra.
Just as she was about to kill it, Stiles called out. "Wait, Malia! Absorb its power first!"
Malia paused. "But it's weak."
"I know." Stiles said. "But it's better than nothing."
Malia shifted back to her human form and plunged her claws into the chupacabra's body, absorbing its powers. Once she was done, she killed it swiftly. Turning to Stiles, she caught him staring at her naked body. She smirked and said. "Have you seen enough?"
Stiles, momentarily dazed, replied absently. "No, I could look at you all day, and it would never be enough."
Even Malia, who was usually unbothered by nudity, felt her cheeks flush under his intense gaze. She rolled her eyes, smacked him lightly on the head, and said. "Give me my clothes, you pervert." Taking her clothes from him, she went behind a tree to get dressed.
Snapping back to reality, Stiles muttered. "Damn, I can't believe I just said that."
When Malia returned fully dressed, she smirked and teased. "Let's go back, you perverted dork."
Scratching the back of his head, Stiles asked. "So... do you want to go on a date with me?"
Malia smiled and replied. "Okay."
Stiles fist-pumped the air and shouted. "Yes! Finally, I'm going to have a girlfriend!"
Malia rolled her eyes. "Keep shouting like that, and I might change my mind."
"You can't take it back, you already said yes!" Stiles grinned, running to her, scooping her up onto his shoulder.
"What are you doing, you idiot?!" Malia protested. "Where are you taking me?"
"I'm taking you on a date, right now!" Stiles announced. "You like deer, right? Let's go deer hunting."
Malia smirked. "I like the way you think."
Stiles added. "But we're not eating it raw. We'll take it back to the ranch and cook it properly."
"Relax." Malia said with a smile. "I might love deer, but raw isn't my style anymore."
---
When they returned to the ranch, Stiles was carrying a large stag over his shoulder. They found Scott and the pack sitting around a bonfire.
Scott raised an eyebrow. "Stiles, did you two handle the chupacabra? And… what's with the deer?"
Stiles grinned. "Yep! Malia took care of the chupacabra, it was a huge, hairless coyote. As for the deer, I took Malia on a date, and we hunted it."
Scott blinked. "A date?"
Stiles' grin widened. "Yep! I asked her out, and she said yes!"
Suddenly, Stiles froze. "Wait... why do I feel like I'm in danger?"
Scott chuckled and pointed toward Chris. "Well, you did just kidnap his adopted daughter, so he'll probably come after you with a crossbow or something when he's got nothing better to do"
Chris stood up and approached Stiles, smiling in a way that wasn't entirely reassuring. "Stiles, how about you and I have a little chat?"
Stiles gulped. "I'd love to, but unfortunately, I have a deer to skin!"
Chris put a hand on Stiles' shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll help you with that."
Without waiting for a response, Chris guided a nervous Stiles toward the meat-processing area of the ranch.
As he was being led away, Stiles shot Scott a pleading look. "Help!"
Scott laughed and said. "You'll be fine, buddy."
The rest of the pack burst into laughter as Stiles disappeared with Chris.
---
Not long after, Stiles came rushing back, panic written all over his face. "Scott! My dad's been attacked! He's in the hospital!"
Melissa stood up immediately. "How is he? Is it bad?"
Stiles took a shaky breath. "The deputy who called me said he has a few broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and… he's in a coma."
Melissa placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Stiles. He'll be okay."
Scott stood. "Let's go to the hospital."
The pack quickly left for the hospital, determined to uncover what had happened.
To be continued...