Jason leaned against the cool brick wall of the school, his gaze distant as he tried to make sense of the mess he was in. His mind was a whirlpool of doubts, spinning around Harper Lang, Maya Burns, and the enigmatic Firstborn. It was all just too much.

Jason couldn't shake the feeling that everything Howard had said made sense, but his instincts were screaming something different. Harper seemed like the logical choice—a born leader with that undeniable aura—but something was off. The way she'd crumpled under the pressure, letting the guys take over, it didn’t sit right with him.

His thoughts drifted to Maya, the girl who never seemed to falter. Despite all the craziness, she’d held her ground, spunky and charismatic, like she thrived on the chaos. And that spark when they touched... Jason felt a shiver run down his spine. For a moment, he’d thought he heard the faint strains of the Ride of the Valkyries echoing through the halls.

Jason sighed, rubbing his hand over his face, trying to push the thought away. He had his orders, and Howard had made them clear. Jason was to get close to every Coven member at the school, keep tabs on their every move until they figured out which one of them was the Firstborn. It was tedious, exhausting work, but he didn’t have a choice.

And yet, Harper’s image kept flashing in his mind. Blonde hair and piercing green eyes, but there was a nagging doubt he couldn’t shake. If Harper was the Firstborn, why did he feel so drawn to Maya? There was no logic to it, but magic was rarely logical.

He slammed his fist into the wall, frustrated. He had to stay focused. That kiss didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t. It was just the Firstborn’s magic trying to entrap him, nothing more. He needed to clear his head, focus on the mission.

Meanwhile, Dawson was wandering the school, his frustration mounting with each empty hallway. He had been on edge since everything with Jason started going south, and Sam’s laid-back attitude was only making it worse. He needed answers, and Maya was the only one who might have them. She and Jason had been close, but now, when Dawson needed her, she was nowhere to be found. And where the hell was Angelo?

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Dawson’s fists clenched. He couldn’t remember when things had shifted between Maya and Angelo, but it was obvious now that they were tight. Too tight. The guy had always been a pain in Maya’s side, so what changed? His thoughts were interrupted by the bell ringing, signaling the end of his search. He cursed under his breath and trudged to class, tension radiating from every step.

Miles away, Clarissa and Harper were speeding down the highway, the car cutting through the early morning mist. Clarissa had packed lightly, knowing this trip wasn’t going to be a long one, but it was necessary. She needed to get away from Harvest Grove, if only for a few days. Gale’s warnings echoed in her mind, and she knew there was no time to waste.

Harper sat in the passenger seat, forehead pressed against the cool glass of the window. She was lost in thought, her mind replaying the events of the last few days over and over again. She’d failed. She was supposed to be the leader, the one who kept it all together, but she’d almost blown everything. If it hadn’t been for Maya...

Clarissa glanced over at her niece, her heart heavy. Harper was a Jackson and a Dupont, powerful by birthright, destined to lead the Coven. But back there, she had faltered, letting her emotions get the best of her. If Maya hadn’t stepped in, who knows what could’ve happened?

Clarissa growled under her breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter. Harper needed to be more on top of things, more like a leader. The Dupont and Jackson families were supposed to be the backbone of this Coven, not the Burns, and certainly not the James. She had to make Harper see that before it was too late.

Back at the school, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Sam, Angelo, and Dawson regrouped in the courtyard, each one lost in their thoughts. The weight of their situation was pressing down on them, and with Harper and Clarissa gone, it was up to them to figure out what to do next.

Angelo broke the silence first. “We need to help around Clarissa’s flower shop while she’s gone,” he said, his gaze shifting to Maya, who had been uncharacteristically quiet.

Maya looked up, meeting Angelo’s eyes. She could see the unspoken questions in them. Why was she so willing to take over Clarissa’s shop, the shop of a woman she was supposed to be avoiding? But for now, Angelo didn’t press. She was grateful for that.

They all knew that the next few days were going to be critical. The Coven was in danger, and whether or not they could protect Jason, and themselves, depended on what they did next. Maya just hoped that whatever was coming, they were ready for it.