THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 27 - THE CLOCK IS TICKING

GABRIEL

It was kind of just as I imagined, we failed in every aspect. How to pay for things, wait for the change, and not move too fast or lift things that we were not supposed to lift. For Maria and Eva, things were a bit easier. That and the attention we got wasn’t helping us. The twins and I were taller than the average humans and their constant fights always attracted attention to us. The male humans looked at Eva and Maria way more than I would like. I knew Maria was one of the most beautiful females in the pack and Eva… Well, she was also pretty. 

    -I don’t think any of the humans we have met knows something related to my brother.

    -We need to be patient Gabe.

    -How many months have we been here? And there is no trace of a werewolf near. Not the twins or I have smelled a trace of werewolf scent, just humans, and more humans.

    -Gabe we need to…

    -Be patient I know, but I can’t… I walk around and I can’t sense anything! The twins disappear and I don’t see them till late at night. Eva stays here and watches the TV, Maria also disappears and sometimes she doesn't return to sleep. I’m losing control of everyone and I can’t keep feeling like this.

    -Gabe…

    -You are worse than them, you come and go as you please. I never know if I’m going to see you or you are going to be out for days.

    -I have…

    -You have your reasons I know but I just can’t… We came here to look for Sam and everyone is just doing as they please, I’m the only one looking for him! Do you even remember Sam? My brother?

    -Gabe I remember him… You need to calm down, I can see your ears now.

Lucas's words made me realize the heat in my body, it's been weeks since I shifted and Zeus was getting way out of hand. I took deep breaths and tried to calm down.

    -Sorry I have been on edge lately.

    -I think it’s time for you and the twins to take a break and shift.

    -Where in the house? we would destroy it in seconds.

    -We are going to the outskirts of the town and there you can shift and run at least for some hours.

That could help, Zeus hasn’t spoken to me for at least a few days, he is getting unstable and feral. The attitude he was gaining was way out of my control, we distanced ourselves for some time and now it is hard for me to control him, or even talk to him.

    -You are right, I need to shift before I can’t control myself.

Lucas left the room. I was glad I didn’t feel like talking to someone or trying to act as if I was interested in what people said, I just wanted one thing. I closed my eyes and tried to feel Sam, but I just could feel the twins. I was so far away from everyone else that only the presence of the twins was palpable on the link. I heard the door opening and the twins' voices invaded the howl apartment. I sat on the bed and tried to contain my anger, my despair.

    -The twins arrived, should we go now?

    -Yes.

I stood up and walked to the main door. I felt the twins following me and heard Luca’s steps close. We got down and Lucas opened the car. The ride was quiet. I didn’t know why but no one said a word. I felt Zeus getting impatient every second, he knew something was up and he was about to take control. I used all my spirit to keep him under control but it was in vain. I could feel him slowly taking control. My deep breaths and the concentration weren’t working. I felt the car slowing down. I opened the door and jumped out of the car, as I rolled down I felt my bones breaking and Zeus taking control. When I finally stopped rolling Zeus was in his complete form and completely in control. He started running through the trees. I felt the wins close, they were running right behind me. I noticed Fang closer and Gur was still not in my sight. That wasn’t normal, Gur was faster than Fang. “Zeus something is up with Daniel and Gur.” “They are fine.” He kept running. “Zeus I mean it!” Zeus stopped and started sniffing around. The scent of Fang and David was close, but Gur and Daniel were far, their scent was indeed getting close but at a slower speed than normal. I could sense something else… Lucas? Lucas’s scent was also approaching and at the same speed that Gur. Gur is waiting for Lucas? I saw Fang approaching us while he slowed down.

    -” Where is your brother?”

    -” He is coming with Lucas.”

So I was right, Gur is waiting for Lucas, that’s why he is slower than he usually is. Zeus was impatient, but at the same time, he felt the need to wait for him. Zeus sat and then laid on the grass and earth. The cold sensation in our belly made me relax and for a moment I forgot all the pain in my heart. For a moment my thoughts turned off and the peace returned to my body, I wasn’t thinking or worrying…

    -” Someone please take Lucas I can’t handle it!”

I looked up and saw Gur approaching with Lucas in his back. Lucas was pulling Gur’s mane. It looked painful. As he saw us, Gur fell down and Lucas jumped away before Gur’s body crushed him.

    -You need to run with more stability!

Lucas looked mad. Gur started shaking and he shifted back into his human form, Daniel looked pissed off.

    -I need to run with more stability? You keep pulling me in all directions making me lose my balance! And you kept pulling my mane! It hurts!

Zeus stood up and walked until he was in between Daniel and Lucas. Daniel looked at Zeus and then he looked at Lucas.

    -Zeus said that you are going with him now, and he also said that you need to use your legs to support your body. That lions don’t run as the wolves. The movements are stronger, that you should incline backward and not to the front. 

As soon as Daniel said those words he started his shift back. Lucas jumped and pulled our mane. Zeus let o growl out and Lucas freed our hair.

    -Sorry.

Zeus shook his head and then started walking. As he walked Lucas moved in our back. Zeus kept walking for a while and then he started jogging. Lucas was still moving but his grip on the legs was stronger and he wasn’t pulling our mane. The twins were running close to us. Then suddenly Zeus made a sharp turn and stopped. Then I saw the twins also stopping. Zeus lowered his head and started sniffing the ground really close. Lucas jumped off our back.

    -” Can you smell it too?”

I heard David on the link. I started connecting with Zeus and indeed there was a trace of werewolf scent near. Zeus tried to track it, but then it disappeared. Zeus looked up and I felt dizzy, Lucas had something on his hands. I looked at the twins and they were also stumbling. I felt Lucas pushing me and making me walk away. Zeus kept walking and the mist in my head started to disappear. Zeus laid down and the cold feeling of the ground made my head feel better. The twins were also rolling in the ground. 

    -Gabe are you feeling better?

Lucas was looking at me. How did he know we were not feeling good? Then Lucas went and looked at the twins. I tried to take control but Zeus was not letting me. I felt the ground between our claws and relaxed. Then Zeus stood up and walked towards Lucas. Lucas jumped on our back and Zeus started running. I felt strange like if I was in someone else's body, my connection with Zeus was weak, and right now we felt like strangers. I saw the road and just then I felt the change. Zeus was letting me take control and was taking his form with him. We were now shifting. Lucas felt it and jumped off our back. The shift was painful, the bones breaking were more painful than what I remembered. When I opened my eyes I saw David and Daniel already in human form looking at me. Lucas had some shorts in his hands and passed them to me. No one said a word, but I could see the fear in their eyes. 

    -Let's go.

I took the shorts and put them on. I opened the car door and sat. I was ashamed, why was my shift so painful and long? I am one of the fastest shifters, and now… David and Daniel already had their clothes on. How long did it take me to shift? Lucas started the car and the tins also got inside. The ride was silent. When we arrived at the building I got out of the car and went directly to my room. I laid on the bed and closed my eyes. When I opened them I heard whispers outside. I left the room and saw Maria talking with Lucas. I could hear the twins talking in their room and the TV on in the girl's room. 

    -What’s going on here?

Both looked at me.

    -We didn’t hear you coming out, Gabe…

-That’s not what I asked Lucas, what’s happening?

-Lucas found this in the forest when you were...

I took the plastic recipient and when I was about to open it Maria stopped me.

    -There's no need for you to open it, just look through.

I was confused, but I did as she said. The strange leaves that were inside… I have seen them before…

    -It’s catnip, it’s similar to the one I use for my serum, and apparently, Lucas saw a field full of these herbs.

    -That’s what made us dizzy…

    -Yes, it was.

    -We are close Gabe.

Maria’s voice made me look at her, she was smiling.

    -We are close?

    -Yes to the werewolves that have Sam! This herb is not wild, you need to plant it, this region does not have the appropriate climate for it so someone made that field.

    -Do you think that the wolves that attacked us use this herb?

    -Yes, they know that some of our strongest warriors are werecats! at least they can block you, as their nature doesn't allow them to use wolfbane on their bodies, but they can use the catnip.

    -Do you think they use it daily or just when they attack?

    -If you find the scent of a werewolf, they probably only use it for the attacks.

    -If the field is the size Lucas said, they would need almost all of it to create a serum to spread on twenty wolves. I don’t think they use it daily. 

    -So they are indeed hiding in this city, we just need to find them.

    -Yes, we are close to our brother.

    -Then why haven’t we found them? I have been walking through these streets for weeks and nothing!

    -Maybe we can change the strategy?

Eva’s voice made me turn back.

    -Don’t look surprised, this place is tiny, even a normal hearing could hear the whole conversation.

    -Then what do you suggest?

I said as I sat on a chair.

    -We need to be at strategic points so they come to us.

    -How will they come to us?

    -I have been online and there are many malls around, but one is more popular than the others. I will work in one of those stores, so if a young werewolf wants something I will be there…

    -And how will you recognize they are werewolves?

    -I will use wolfsbane as perfume, if I see someone acting strange I will know.

Her plan was a good one…

    -And we need more money, we are living on the amount we had and it’s all almost gone. 

    -Is that true Lucas.

He looked at the ground.

    -Yes.

    -Why haven’t you told me about that?

    -I told him to stay quiet, I was already handling the situation.

Maria’s voice surprised me. 

    -How?

    -I found a job as a nurse in the hospital.

    -HOW DID YOU DARE TO ACT ON MY BACK!

    -I don’t have to explain anything to you! I’m your sister, not your servant. And I knew you were already stressed looking for our brother, you didn’t need more on your plate.

    -I’m the one who decides if I need more or not, it’s not your place to decide for me.

    -I’m your sister so of course, it’s my concern…

    -We are out of the topic.

Eva said as she approached the table.

    -Maria can keep an eye on us at the hospital, if an injured werewolf needs help and goes to the hospital, she would notice. The healing process they have is unique and Maria is an expert on it, she would easily recognize it.

    -It’s too dangerous! I won’t allow Maria to be there out on her own!

    -What if you stay there as a guard? You could ask for a job as security at the main door, so you can be close to her all the time.