THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 23 - THE PLAN II

GABRIEL

I was confused. They are coming with me?

    -How did you… You don’t even know where I’m going.

Maria took the bag from the ground and picked it up while looking at me.

    -You are going to go and look for Sam right? I’m going.

    -Me too!

Eva picked her stuff too, and so did Elliot.

    -Wait… Why should I take you?

Maria smirked at me.

    -I'm smart and I am also Sam’s sister. He needs me now and he stayed for me when I needed him, I'm just returning the favor and you are not making me change my mind.

“If you want your plan to work we do need Maria with us, Gabe.” Zeus was relieved that Maria wanted to come with us… But would I be able to protect her in a strange city?

    -I will also be there.

Eva said with a smile on.

    -If my sister is going then I will go.

Elliot said with a serious expression. I liked my plan better when it was just me, but now I had a bunch of stubborn people wanting to join. I sighted…

    -I have a plan and I’m pretty sure it could work, but it isn’t going to be easy and you can’t come, Elliot, I can’t accept wolves on this trip.

    -WHAT? WHY?

    -I can only say that. Maria, you can come. 

    -What about me?

Eva said with teary eyes.

    -No Eva stay here with your brother.

    -I don’t want to! I thought you were never going to wake up! and what if this time they capture you! I don’t want to leave you!

    -Eva, please...

    -No I’m going… You said you can’t take wolves, and right now I’m not a wolf! I’m… just let me go with you please.

I looked at Elliot, who was now crying, he didn’t want to part from her sister but he just as me understood that if we didn’t take Eva she would follow us on her own and that could be even more dangerous for her. He just nodded at me.

    -Elliot you are going to be our eyes in the pack. I want to know all that is happening and every new discovery you are going to let us know. I will find a way to communicate with you, but you must not tell anyone that you can communicate with us. That must be kept a secret.

“What if our Dad uses his command on Elliot?” Zeus had a point, Elliot can’t lie to the Alpha King command except… I bit my hand and blood started running. Elliot saw it and he understood so he also bit his hand. Then we pressure the new injuries together.

    -With this blood pack we protect our secret, it’s a pact between us, and no one else is included.

Elliot said as we felt the connection forming between us. I wasn’t sure a blood oath would really prevent my father from taking out the information from Elliot, but it was our only option.

    -Everyone let's go. 

Eva hugged Elliot and then we left the house. When we were about to enter one of the cars, I smelled a familiar scent. I placed the backpack in the trunk with the rest of the bags and turned to see my Dad walking toward us. Everyone just looked at my Dad, no one dared to move. I walked closer to my Dad but then he stopped walking.

    -What do you think you are doing?

    -We are going to rescue Sam.

    -I TOLD YOU TO STOP THAT NONSENSE! 

I could feel everyone started to get anxious, just by my Dad’s presence.

    -I will not.

    -What did you say to me? I’m your father and your King!

    -You are acting like a king, not like a father!

    -Gabe you need to understand! The kingdom needs you! Stop looking for someone that isn’t there anymore!

    -NO!

    -The pain you felt! the pain your mother felt that day proved that Sam was gone! You both know it!

    -He is not dead!

    -Why are you just like your mother? I can’t keep doing things on my own, Gabe please come back and help me. We need to find a solution and help the kingdom, this is getting out of my hands I need help, I need my family…

    -I will go and look for Sam.

I saw my Dad start to vibrate. I knew Kygo must be about to explode right now.

    -DON’T YOU DARE TO GO! COME BACK TO THE ROYAL HOUSE THIS SECOND!

He used his Alpha tone. I saw Daniel and David about to take a step and the heat that I felt on my chest was back.

    -Don’t you dare to take another step!

I said to them and they stopped moving. My Dad looked at me with concern.

    -Don’t do this Gabe…

    -I don’t have a choice, Dad.

I entered the car and the heat extended to all my body, I felt strange bonds appearing and then a sudden pain that made my body curl. Maria pushed me into the copilot seat and then she started driving. I saw David and Daniel also in pain. Maria was crying and Eva was trying to soothe the twins. I heard a loud and deep howl and knew my Dad was saying goodbye. Then many howls united him, they were sorrowful and painful howls. Suddenly everything went black. I opened my eyes and saw the road, it was still dark outside.

    -How long was I out?

    -Not much, ten-twenty minutes… So I’m driving but I don’t know where we are going.

    -Yes about that, first, turn all the cellphones off.

    -Why?

Daniel complained.

    -Just do it!

They took the phones out and turned them off, I turned off my phone and Maria’s phone.

    -The pack has these numbers and the phones have GPS on them. I don’t want them to know where we are, because they could come and look for us.

    -I don’t think they will do that.

David said with a sorrowful voice. I just ignored his comment.

    -Maria is going to prepare some wolfsbane…

I saw Eva getting paler. She looked at the twins. They didn’t know she was already taking it. “I think she must be afraid. She probably thinks you are going to tell them.” “I would never tell them if she doesn't want them to know.”

    -We will use wolfsbane as lotion or perfume. It will cover our scent from a wolf if we get near them…

I saw Eva’s color coming back, she was relieved that I wasn’t exposing her secret.

    -If we get near them?

    -Isn’t that thought dangerous and numbs our senses?

The twins were coming up with many questions.

    -It’s not dangerous or causes any effect if you are not a wolf.

    -Okay, but what about the part if we get near a wolf? Aren’t we going to attack them and rescue Sam?

    -It’s not going to be that easy, we are going into human cities and…

    -HUMAN CITIES? REAL HUMAN CITIES?

The twins looked anxious, they have never left the Royal Pack, and they probably never thought they would visit a human city… Less stayed there undercover.

    -Another rule is no ears, no shifting, no powers.

    -What? How will we control that?

    -You can’t control your cats yet?

    - I can but David still struggles.

    -That is not true! You have more conflicts with Gur than what I have with Fang!

    -For your information, Gur could kick Fang’s but any time any place! It’s harder to control because of that!

    -That is not true! It’s your lack of mental strength that makes you struggle because Fang is way stronger than Gur!

“So now we are babysitting two stubborn cubs.” Zeus was trying to calm down their lions, which were apparently also fighting between them. I took the map from my back and saw the cities, there was one big one and some small ones near. I knew the big one could be a big challenge. I decided to go to a small city, just for Eva and the twins to adapt to human life. Maria and I already lived with humans for some time, so I hoped that she could help me guide them. We are going to this place. I showed her the map. Maria looked at me.

    -And how do you plan to go there?

    -In the car of course.

    -I get that part, but I don’t know how to take us there, at least turn the phone up and show me the GPS.

    -We can’t do that.

    -Then I can’t assure you I can read the map.

    -I can read it for you sister… right now just go south and we will be on our way.

She rolled her eyes at me.

    -It’s going to be a long trip, so let's just relax and…

    -Can I chose the music?

    -Why should you choose music when I'm older!

    -But your choice in music is awful Daniel!

    -I’m choosing the music, so please just stop fighting.

I turned the radio on and just tried to sleep, I knew I had to take the wheel when Maria wanted a break, and it’s better if I could actually get a nap first. When I closed my eyes, I felt empty, something was missing, and the heat on my chest was still there. I felt a new weight on my shoulders, and the need to stay alert was stronger than before. It’s probably the responsibility of being the oldest member in the group. I slept until Maria woke me up. Then I kept driving. We just stopped to eat at restaurants and to fill the gas. When we were tired we stopped at a hotel and stayed the night there. Days passed until we finally arrived at the first town the map showed. It was a small city, like in the howlers pack, but it had a hotel nervy so we stayed there, we couldn’t rent an apartment because they asked for many papers we didn’t have. I just had my papers that my Dad gave me when leaving the pack for my trip, so it was complicated.

    -I hate this room, it smells and it’s just too small.

    -Can we at least get a room for each of us?

    -No, and stop complaining, we need to get you two in better shape, every time you get a strong feeling your ears pop, that could be a risk for our cover.

    -We know we need to act human, but it’s so boring.

Trying to teach the twins was harder than I thought. “How did Mom have us hide our ears thru all our time living with humans.” “I think we were smarter than them.” I left the room and went to try to breathe fresh air. I was out of ideas and we hadn't had a single clue since we arrived. I saw Maria leaving her room. 

    -Are your roommates as annoying as mine?

    -I know Eva, she is quiet and understands the situation.

    -When she is around you... but lately, he's been acting differently.

    -She can’t be worse than the twins.

    -No one can be worse than the twins.

    -I don’t know how to teach them, they are not getting better.

    -You are being too strict with them. Back in the pack they never had to control their ears. This is all new for them.

    -But I need them to control it, how are we going to act as humans if their ears keep showing! 

    -You can use the tricks Mom used on us.

    -What tricks?

    -Like the long hair…

    -Long hair?

    -Yes, Mom let our hair grow as tall as needed to cover our ears if they showed, so the people around wouldn’t notice.

    -I get it now… but their hair is really short now… It can take months for it to grow.

    -Then use a cap.

    -A cap…

    -Yes, if the ears show they would be covered.

    -That could actually work… wait my favorite Batman cap was to cover my ears?

    -Yes it was.

    -It was a cool cap thought. 

I saw a car approaching the hotel, it was driving directly to the hotel. 

    -Look Gabe, we are not going to be the only guest.

    -This could be our opportunity. Eva and the twins can interact with the person that is about to check-in. Do you think they are ready?

I looked at Maria she hadn´t answer. She was looking directly at the car that was parking.

    -It looks like it's going to be only one person, so I think they can take it.

I looked back at her and she was still looking at the car. When the car door opened I couldn’t believe who I was seeing.