THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 45 - EXPOSURE

GABRIEL

Zeus was right, but what else could I do to protect Eva and David… Left David here and come back later? Daniel wouldn’t be fine with that and with what just happened. What if we are attacked… “GABRIEL, YOU ARE RIGHT, WE COULD BE ATTACKED! WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!” Zeus was right, I hadn't thought about that with all that was going on. “I mind linked Gur and Fang, they are coming right now.” I turned and saw the twins sliding down the hill with their hands full of stuff.

   -We brought all the stuff that we could carry.

I went and took Eva from the trunk and Daniel opened the trunk and started throwing everything inside. I sat Eva in the passenger seat and then went back and helped Daniel and David pack. I kept watching David, he was acting normally… So was it just curiosity that he asked or…

   -Gabriel is better if we go. If wolves are approaching, we could be in danger.

Daniel said as he opened the door of the car. I saw David already inside the car. I got inside the car and immediately started driving. I kept the windows open, the scent of the catnip coming from Eva was strong, but with the windows down it was bearable. Eva played some music and she kept singing all the way. I had limited time, I was in a hurry… I needed Maria to check upon Eva and get Eva away from David as fast as I could. As soon as I parked the car, I opened Eva’s door and carried her up. We entered the apartment and, to my surprise, Maria was there sitting on the couch. 

   -So there you were, Eva…

She said while looking at us. She didn’t look surprised. “Something is odd with our sister...” I didn’t have time for Zeus, so I ignored him.

   -Maria... Eva she…

   -I know, I saw the bottle. She hadn't drunk it for at least two days. Am I right?

   -Yes.

I heard Eva’s soft voice coming from my arms.

   -But she shifted and then the pain was so great she fainted…

   -But I actually feel better now. After I rested and did the trip in the car, I felt better.

Maria sighed and stood up.

   -Let me take a look at you, Eva. Let’s go to our room.

I let Eva down and she walked away from me and entered her room with Maria. The twins opened the door and looked at me.

   -We have the rest of the stuff with us and we also have the car keys that you left behind.

   -Go and buy something to eat. I’m starving.

   -But we have just arrived…

   -If he says we are going, we are going, David.

Daniel said, to my surprise. He usually doesn't behave like this… Is he also sensing something? I was still trying to understand when Daniel grabbed David and left the place. I sat on the couch trying to decide what I was going to do… I went to clear my mind and now I have a bigger problem… We were already at a disadvantage by having only three shifters and now we are going to be just two. I heard the door opening and Maria came out and looked at me.

   -She seems fine Gabe…

   -You weren’t there… the pain, the whimpers… It was not normal.

   -I think it’s normal… The last time she shifted, her wolf wasn’t fully developed. Maple was eighteen, just like her. Now she is bigger, so the pain is reasonable. She hadn't shifted in years, the new size, her body not used to the breaking of the bones. Of course, she was in pain, a forced shift is never easy. 

   -Forced?

   -Eva told me she saw you and you were near a werewolf. She actually pushed Maple out to protect you… I think there’s something going on between Eva and Maple but I didn’t want to get in the middle of that.

I almost forgot about that… Crystal is a werewolf? 

   -I… This trip didn’t go as I planned at all.

   -Tell me about your trip?

   -It wasn’t that interesting… We just camped near the beach and the twins actually behaved… 

   -You didn't see or smell anything different?

   -No, nothing, it was normal. On the last day, the twins left to take a run and I stayed with Crystal, then Eva appeared and started chasing us, telling us that there was a werewolf…

   -WAS YOUR BOSS A WEREWOLF?

   -I don’t know! I never got any off vibe from her. She never gave a scent of a wolf.

   -So why did Eva call her a werewolf?

   -Because she was…

Eva said, coming towards us.

   -I wanted to surprise you, you said you were going for a few days and since it was about to become a week, I assumed you were almost coming back… So I went to meet you, but since Maria didn't support my decision, I had to stop taking the serum and take the bus to the nearest point…

   -You walked there? Did you expose yourself just to get there?

   -I'm not that dumb Gabriel, I am not that dumb. I took some catnip from Maria and sprayed it on myself every once in a while, so you wouldn’t be able to track me and it would be a surprise. But then I smelled a werewolf. I started tracking the scent and I found you.

   -Wait, so you weren’t following my scent?

   -How could I? You used the wolfsbane on yourself, right? Maple wouldn’t be able to find it. 

   -So you took a catnip to pour on yourself so no cat was able to detect you, but you left yourself open to werewolves? When your allies are cats and you need to be careful around wolves?

Maria looked astonished as she spoke.

   -It sounded better in my head… I would go into the forest, become one with my surroundings and then my heart would guide me to you… I would surprise you from behind, you would spin me and then we would see each other and realize we were all that we were looking for…

   -Eva, you put your safety at risk!

Both looked at me.

   -You can’t be like that… Not anymore… What if the werewolves found you before you found us? You would have put me and the twins in danger and at a disadvantage. 

   -I just wanted to be with you…

   -Eva… This is just not… We are not kids anymore… You can’t keep throwing tantrums and expect all the pack to go along with it… Not any more…

   -But we are going to be together forever…

   -Eva…

I walked towards her and grabbed her by the arms.

   -Listen to me… You can’t keep doing things like that. You say you want to stay by my side, but do you know what that means?

   -I do…

   -Clearly, you don’t! You need to put everyone's safety first, you can’t keep moving just towards feelings! I left my pack for that reason… I can't have Luna risking herself for a tantrum. That's no character for a queen.

I let her go and she started crying. Maria ran and hugged her.

   -Gabe, what is this all about?

I was just tired… I knew I was not fit to be the king if I couldn’t protect my brother and then act as if everything was fine. Let someone else find him and I just stayed calm and looked for the best good to the kingdom, which was way out of my hands. I couldn’t put the kingdom first and then Sam got lost… And now? I was not useful to the kingdom and hadn't found my brother. We thought we had a clue but we had been played by the wolves all this time.

   -Gabe… Gabe… 

I felt hands on my back…

-I’m fine… 

I opened my eyes and saw everyone, everyone! Lucas, David, Daniel, and Maria looking at me. I tried to control myself… but then another hand appeared. It was Lucas' hand. I looked at him.

   -You can crumble Gabe, you have been strong since the beginning, it’s okay, we are here for you. 

I cried, and just let my emotions leave my body. When I was calmer, Maria passed me a tissue and then she looked at me.

   -What is going on in your mind?

   -It's just… I feel disappointed… I couldn’t bear the thought of other people looking for Sam and I wanted to be the one leading the search but our Dad wanted me to be the face of the kingdom and try to keep things normal…

   -We left with you to look for Sam.

Daniel said while looking at me.

   -Yes, my brother and I are with you in that feeling. If one of us was missing, we would be as desperate to find him as you are.

David added.

   -I didn’t want to be apart from you…

Eva said with a soft voice.

   -I thought you would need help to adapt…

Lucas said while giving me a light punch.

   -I needed to step up and help you… I'm sorry.

Maria said while she stood up.

   -It’s just not that… 

I looked at Eva and David… 

   -Everyone, I need a moment…

Maria said and at that time I felt something… Everyone just took some steps back. Maria walked closer to me.

   -Tell me, it’s not what I think you are implying?

She spoke with a soft voice, but I knew the rest could hear us. I pointed at her phone and I opened it and opened the notes.

   “I am not sure he had an interest in Maple, but Maple didn’t react to him, and Fang also saw her and didn’t claim her.”

I wrote on the phone and then she read the message and took the phone from me.

   -Then what’s the problem?

I looked at her and kept typing.

   “What if the serum isn’t 100% off and then when they realize they are mates, and then we would revive what happened to you and Lucas?”

She then looked at David and Eva.

   -That could happen… David has wolfsbane on him and that prevents wolves from getting a good scent of him, and she is doing the same but with catnip… If they keep doing it, it could prevent it… 

   -Are you sure about that?

I asked her, she looked at them and then at me.

   -I’m not sure, but that is what it is…

   -I can’t…

   -All of this is outside of my knowledge. I can’t say I’m sure.

She said. I let myself plump on the couch. 

   -What was all that about?

Eva said while coming closer. Daniel had the same look in his eyes that he had when I asked them to leave.

   -Now that we are exposed to werewolves…

   -What?

David interrupted Maria.

   -Since Eva isn’t taking the serum, her scent is going to change and she can no longer use wolfsbane to cover her scent… Wolves will smell her, so we are against time to see if they will find us first or we will. 

   -Why couldn’t the wolves find us earlier?

David said, just as confused as before. 

   -I will explain now… no more secrets…

Maria said, while looking at Lucas.