THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 47 - BACK AT THE START

GABRIEL

We started running out of the building.

   -Eva can you sniff around and try to find…

She was already sniffing around…

   -I can’t…

   -You can’t find anything?

   -No Gabe, there are too many scents… I can smell at least five wolves but the scents… go in different directions.

   -WHAT?

I was surprised… at least five? How many wolves are surrounding us… How did we miss it?

   -What should I do…

Eva was starting to overthink.

   -Just try to identify which way has the strongest scent…

   -Okay.

She closed her eyes and started taking deep breaths.

   -That way, it has a fresh scent!

She pointed towards the place I saw the kid looking at us.

   -Eva, lead the way and follow that scent!

She started running and Daniel and I were following her really close. She kept running, I looked around and recognized the place… It was the park where Daniel and I saw Crystal. Then Eva ran in front of a small building.

   -This place is full of werewolf scents… I can’t even count them.

I looked around and saw a few people around.

   -Is there any werewolf scent near?

   -What?

Eva looked at me.

   -Is there a fresh scent?

   -Kind off… but no, these all are old scents, as if they are no longer here.

I looked at Daniel and Eva, we were just three… what if this was a trap?

   -I’m going in alone. Stay here with Daniel and if I order it, you run back to our place.

   -What? No!

Daniel looked at me.

   -I’m fighting!

   -You are not, you two are doing what I’m saying.

   -Okay, I will make sure Daniel stays here with me.

Eva looked at me, Daniel turned and looked at Eva. He was about to let out a growl but Eva just looked at him and He lowered his head a bit. “Let's go! We need to find Sam!” Zeus was getting desperate, I looked at Daniel and Eva one more time and then walked towards the building. I tried opening the door and to my surprise, it wasn’t locked. I entered and I noticed the place was a mess. “This place is worse than the twins' bedroom.” Zeus was right, there were even cans of food on the floor, clothes everywhere, and broken plates on the floor and we were not in a bedroom or the kitchen. “Zeus, stay sharp.” I felt the heat on my body increasing and my hearing intensified. I could feel Zeus closer. I kept checking the place but it was empty and messy. “There’s no one here Gabe, they are gone and they didn’t take care to pack correctly.” “But why would they go this fast? They were far more than what we are…” “They didn’t know we were just 3… or 4 now…” “Or they had Sam with them and didn’t want to risk losing them.” I checked every place in the complex but nothing, no one was around, and nothing that indicated that someone had been captivated or held against his will. I didn't find chains or a dungeon. I was about to leave the place when suddenly I heard a sound… “It came from upstairs!” I started running through the stairs. I opened the door and saw an open window. I walked and saw something on the ground. I jumped off the window and landed right next to the thing… I grabbed it and glass fell from it. I turned it around and saw that it was a picture frame. A bunch of kids with a blonde woman were all smiling. 

   -” Gabriel, my brother said that they are almost ready to leave and that almost everything is already packed.”

I sighed.

   -” I’m going. Don’t enter the place.” 

I looked up, the window was far from my reach. I had no other choice but to jump over the fence and go around the block to get back to where Eva and David were. As I landed on the other side of the street I noticed more clothes and stuff laying around. “They escaped by this route!” I tried to smell something but nothing, I couldn’t smell anything! “They are definitely using the catnip to fool or smell.” Zeus was mad and so was I. 

   -Look, Mom! That man has ears!

I heard a girl screaming. I quickly touched my head and felt Zeus' ears. I arranged my hair to prevent them from being seen.

   -It’s just a strange hairstyle. 

The woman pulled the little kid that was still looking at me. “That was close.” “It’s your responsibility Zeus, you should have seen the kid!” “Sorry I was busy trying to smell something!” I just started walking back to where Eva and Daniel were. The track of stuff disappeared in the middle of the street. There were people taking stuff, so this couldn’t be an old track. I kept walking until I saw Eva and Daniel looking at the complex.

   -Let’s go, it’s empty, they flew.

Both looked at me with confusion.

   -Why are you…

   -Long story, let’s go back.

I started walking back.

   -Eva stay sharp, a werewolf could be watching us.

   -Yes, Gabe!

She started sniffing while Daniel was just walking. I saw my sister packing stuff in the car and screaming at David. I decided to go and check the place. As I walked along the stairs I saw a track of stuff just as the one I saw on the street. So they also packed in a hurry. As I was about to open the door, Lucas came from the other side.

   -You are back! Did you find something? What's that?

He said, pointing down. I looked and saw the picture frame in my hands. I forgot I had it.

   -It’s just something I found, but no. No trace of Sam and the wolves are no longer staying there, his place is a mess just like ours. 

Lucas took the picture frame and started looking at the picture.

   -Some of these faces seem familiar… I think I saw them at the hospital.

   -Really?

I was surprised to hear that.

   -Yes, but I’m not sure. I saw adults and they are kids… They could be but I can’t be sure… Maybe Maria remembers them…

   -Let's ask her, but we need to leave this place first. I can’t be sure they are completely gone. They could find out we are only… Six and attack us.

   -Yes.

   -Get the car ready, I’m just going to check the place.

Lucas left the department and I looked at the place. It was completely messed up, there were still plates out and some stuff on the floor. I saw something familiar, I took it and it was the apron Crystal lent to me. I heard a honk and I knew they were ready. I left running and entered the car. I was in the co-pilot seat and Eva, Maria, and the twins looked really tight in the back seat, but no one was complaining.

-Let's go.

As soon as I spoke, Lucas started driving and I was risking no one else. I knew what I had to do, even if I didn’t like the idea. Lucas kept driving without asking me where to go. As he drove, I kept observing David and Eva. She was looking right at one with a smile, it gave me chills and David was asleep… or at least he had his eyes closed. After some hours, Lucas stopped at a gas station and everyone left the car to stretch their legs. Everyone went to the store but Lucas and me.

   -So will I be driving again or will you keep your eyes on the road?

He said with a smirk on his face.

   -What are you implying?

   -That if you are going to keep an eye on Eva it’s better that I take the wheel again.

   -I was not doing that…

   -You were there every five minutes, and she noticed she was so happy she didn’t stop smiling.

I looked at the store and didn’t see the rest.

   -They are probably eating something.

   -I will drive, I need to…

   -We are on the right path. Don't worry.

   -What?

   -You want us to go… There, right?

I saw in his eyes he knew where I was planning to go, but how?

   -I know where we are going, but I can’t say the same for the rest… would you think they will approve?

   -I don’t care if they do, if I make a decision, they need to follow.

   -Aren’t you going to explain it to them or…

   -I’m their Alpha.

   -It’s not the real reason…

   -It is a real reason and the only one they need.

Then I heard David and Daniel’s voices. I looked at the store and they were leaving the place. They had two bags each. Eva saw me and ran and hugged me.

   -I got you some food and something to drink…

   -I need to go to the bathroom.

I pushed her lightly and took her arms off me. As I walked, I heard Lucas's steps right behind me.

   -I’m not going anywhere…

   -I know, but I also need to pee.

   -Lucas…

   -If we are going to where I think we are going, the first thing I’m going to do is not go to the toilet.

   -And what is the first thing you are going to do then?

   -Eat some pancakes…

   -You can do that everywhere…

   -But not the ones your Mom makes.

“Lucas is right, Mom's pancakes are the best ones. I can’t wait to eat some too.” Zeus was happy but more than thinking about Mom’s pancakes I was thinking about Dad and how he would react when we arrived… “Gabe, we need to be prepared… You understand the situation right?” I sighed… “I know.”