THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 52 - INCITEMENT

GABRIEL

“What did he mean by that?” Zeus was confused and afraid. “ We can’t lose a strong Alpha! What is he saying!” Zeus was desperate.

-Lucas…

-I don’t want to talk about it, Gabe… Just let me help you. Give me a day to get rid of these things and I promise I will help you. Let me do that.

-I will be waiting then.

-At your service prince Gabriel.

I growled at him and he just laughed.

-Then keep going, the pack needs you.

-I can stay here a bit longer…

I heard a commotion outside.

-I think your subjects think differently.

I rolled my eyes and walked to the door.

-I hope to see you tomorrow at my Dad’s office.

-Yes prince!

I kept walking and when I opened the door I saw a bunch of members surrounding Harvey. He looked overwhelmed and afraid.

-Keep it down, people are trying to get well or at least back on their feet inside the hospital.

All eyes were now on me. Harvey looked relieved.

-Harvey, what is going on?

-They don’t…

-Why am I losing my time in the kitchen?

-At least you are here if something happens, he wants me to go into the city to buy food when we can just hunt!

Harvey kept looking at me with scared eyes. The pack was not happy with the decisions, they felt vulnerable, and they didn’t trust the others to protect their families or friends.

-All the tasks are necessary, we are a pack, and we are not lone wolves fighting for survival.

-We are! Do you think these wolves are going to protect my family if I’m gone?

I could see the tension between members and I was right, they don’t trust each other, and that needs to change. I have seen the wolves and how they attack. They are not lone wolves, they are a team. If we are not a team, we don’t have a chance.

-I don’t think they will. I know they will.

As I spoke, everyone looked at me. I wasn’t used to this, scared eyes, doubtful eyes, skeptical eyes watching my every move. “What can I do, Zeus? What should I say to them?” “They are scared, and they don’t trust each other, even their scents are not mixing. They are on edge and watching our every move, they will notice if we lie or if we tried to hide something.” “So? What do we do?” I wasn’t sure how to manage so many members… so many packs. “The truth…” “What are you insane we can tell them…” “Gabe if we lie they will notice and would not trust us, we need to be honest and win their trust. This pack needs trust. We can’t lie to them. We need to trust them.” I was shocked, I expected an answer from Zeus except for that one. He was sure of what he was saying and calm. I was a bunch of nerves but he was confident that was what we needed to do. I took a deep breath and looked at the members.

-I have seen the wolves we are against.

-What?

-Where?

Many questions started to appear.

-I have seen them fight, I have seen them work. They are not rogues, they are not lone wolves. They are a pack. A team and unity. If we confront them right now, we have no chance to win against them.

I could see them, they looked hopeless and anxious. “Zeus I can’t do it, I…” “Let me take control, Gabe.” I felt the heat and I messed up my hair so Zeus' ears wouldn’t be as visible to the members.

-So if we want to win, and stop these attacks, we need to be a team, whether we like the idea or not… That means we need a routine, we need to divide and split into groups to complete the task. All tasks are necessary, and when some members are out, the ones that stay here keep doing their assigned tasks: patrol, train, eat, cook, clean, and sleep. we need all members to do most of these tasks at least once a day, and if one member tries to do them all by himself he would collapse. If he tries to do just some, patrol, eats, train… He would still collapse and he is just going to be a useless warrior with a burnout body. Right now it’s all I see… burnt-out warriors.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” “Trust me, Gabe.” “ZEUS THEY LOOKED BEYOND MAD AND OFFENDED! STOP THIS! GIVE ME THE CONTROL BACK!” Some members were already growling at us.

-I can perfectly take all of you, but we are not hurting each other. We can’t send more members to the hospital, so if just one of you can make me scream in pain, I would admit you aren’t all just burn out, useless warriors…

Just as Zeus said that they started shifting and some just ran and tried to punch us. Zeus avoided some and received some hits. The pain was getting stronger and I wasn't sure how much we could take. Then we saw three wolves approaching us. Zeus jumped to one’s back and used him to collide with the other two. I could feel my body starting to ache, Zeus was taking my body to its limit… I didn’t want to admit it but I hadn't trained properly in months… So I was probably not in shape to take all of this… I felt a scratch on my back and I screamed… But Zeus didn't even whimper, he turned around and pushed the wolf so hard it flew almost 5 feet away from us. I felt a strange feeling through my veins. The pain disappeared and I felt stronger. Then Zeus turned around and all of the rest of the members froze. The wolf that Zeus pushed shifted back and took some steps towards us.

-Who in the world are you?

As he spoke I started to feel as if I was out of ten cars. I couldn’t move and a strange sound spread through my head. Then I felt someone touching me and I let out a scream that I actually heard, Zeus was no longer in control…

-Get away from him boy!

I could hear someone scream. Then complete silence.

-But I did make him scream, we won!

-Shut up, look at his stomach… He was brought here with a huge injury. You just reopen a fresh wound that doesn't count… And even if it did, ten of us attacked him in wolf and human form… We attacked a single injured man and we could only open a fresh wound… He is right, we have burned out our bodies, at least mine hurts like hell right now… We would die if we went like this to a real battle.

I heard steps approaching me and I opened my eyes.

-Are you alright kid?

The man looked at me, he looked old… If he looked old, how many years did he actually have… 200? 300… I wasn’t sure, the oldest member I knew was a man that was 168 years old and he didn’t look like this man… Mom told me she had met wolves that were more than 300 years old… Could he be one of them?

-Do you need help, kid?

He approached me even closer. I raised my hand and then sat slowly.

-You need to get that checked… But you were right, we need to rest and divide the tasks… How can I help you?

-And who are you?

As I spoke he lowered his head and knelt.

-My name is Omar Ayad, third in command of the sand storm pack… And may I and you be a living reflection of your father, prince.

As he spoke those words everyone near started to kneel… Zeus wasn’t… The man approached me and helped me stand up.

-So you knew who I was all of the time?

-Well, I have seen your father at least ten times in my life, so I kind of suspect it. My luna talked about the wonders of your family.

-Right! the Sand Storm pack, how is Alpha Jack doing?

He didn’t say a word but I could see it on his face. Then I remembered the names of the refugees from the sand storm and not Jack or Meili was on it.

-Sorry I…

-You were not here or there… They fought with all they got. I couldn’t be prouder of both of them. They protected us so we could run. If there are members of my pack alive, it is thanks to them.

He helped me get into the hospital where two doctors started to give me stitches. Well one of them, the other one was just watching the first one do all the work.

-Why aren’t you helping him?

I said to the second doctor and he looked at me with no emotion.

-I’m just checking he doesn't screw this up.

-Why is he learning?

-I don’t know.

-How? Then why?

-I don’t know this guy…

-And you are letting him stitch me up!

Then the other doctor looked at me.

-I’m good at this, my pack was small, I was the closest thing to a doctor… Just let me finish.

I just nodded and saw the other doctor leave, the one that was stitching me up kept during his work, I could feel the pain of the needle.

-Your healing is slow…

When he said that I remembered I hadn't felt Zeus since he gave me back control. I tried to feel him and there he was, but it wasn’t as strong as it usually is. I decided to let him rest… My body was burned out from the sudden explosion of adrenaline and fast movements… If he felt closely as bad as my body, he needed to rest. The other doctor brought a bag of blood, and just then I saw Lucas walking, and he saw me.

-What? What happened Gabriel! I just saw you minutes ago and look at you! Couldn’t you stay in one piece for a day, until I could leave this place…

Then he smiled at me.

-Or are you missing me so much that you decided to join me?

I just looked away from him.

-It’s the second one. Am I right?

He said as he came closer, then He walked faster to the second doctor and grabbed the bag.

-This isn’t for him…

-It’s his type and…

-It’s not for him, this is for wolves…

The doctor was looking at him as if he was crazy. Then the one stitching me looked at my eyes for the first time.

-Are you a human? Should I be more careful?

-I’m not a human…

-And not a wolf?

The other doctor looked worried.

-He is a cat, probably.

Omar said.

-Like the one looking for refugees?

-Yes.

“So there’s where Mom is!” Zeus said. His voice was lower but he was still there. The doctor looked at me and continued what he was doing.

-I will go and see other patients.

As the second doctor left, Lucas looked at the man.

-And who are you?

-What a rude kid… Let me guess Alpha blood? But I can’t smell your wolf…

Lucas looked at me with worried eyes.

-He is…

-I’m not… I am Gabe’s friend, we met at school when we were kids. My mother was a wolf so I knew about the existence of the werewolves and we became friends… He protected me and…

-So that’s how you got so cocky? An Alpha blood.. a Royal alpha blood protecting you… That can spoil anyone I guess.

-So the human here is like your butler?

-He is my best friend!

I wasn’t happy with the way Omar was looking at Lucas as if he was inferior… Lucas is one of the smartest guys I have met and he cares for his pack and his loyalty is always…

-I can see why you got so spoiled human… but be careful when speaking to the wolves, I am patient but many wolves here are not as comprehensive as me, they would have already ripped that head off yours. Prince, you better show him manners and how to properly address his superiors.