THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 19 - PHONE CALL

GABRIEL

    -This place is…

    -So you are alright?

    -Yes I am.

    -Your brother and everyone else is alright?

    -Yes Dad.

“Why is he asking all of these questions?” Zeus was confused.

    -I was about to send more pack members to look for you! Your Mom is worried crazy, she called you several times.

I checked the phone and I had more than ten missed calls.

    -I left the phone in the room, so I didn’t have it with me during the day.

    -You better keep it with you or your Mom would end up flying to where you are at any minute if you don’t answer your phone… But if everything is alright what are the chargers I got from the credit card? They were large amounts.

    -I bought food and kitchen stuff.

    -In what amounts?

    -For the whole pack… and I also got a new SUV.

    -WHAT? WHY? Did the pack ask you to buy that stuff?

    -No, but I thought they needed it.

    -Why?

    -They have just two old cars and one isn't available and they hunt for food, they didn’t have a microwave and…

    -Gabe you can’t buy all the things just because you assume they need it. If they ask for them tell me and I would see if it’s allowed, it was a big amount just because of an assumption.

    -Well the pack didn’t even appreciate my effort or…

    -Of course, they didn't appreciate it, they didn’t ask for it, there must be a reason Gabe. They have their Alpha injured and a great part of their pack is in shock for the loss in the attack.

    -Their Alpha is injured?

    -Yes… You didn’t even know that by now? Then what are you doing Gabe?

    -I was trying to make things better but they don’t even respect me and they told me…

    -Why would they respect you, Gabe? Because you are my son? They don’t know you, you need to prove your own worth to them. Show them you are trustworthy…

    -They don’t like me because I’m not a werewolf okay? How do I change that?

    -Gabe watch your tone.

    -I’m watching it and I’m telling you the truth! The Luna just told me that I should just be a Beta and Sam should take the Alpha position!

    -And?

    -Sam doesn't even want to be Alpha…

    -I know that you know that, Sam knows that, but the Kingdom doesn't.

    -Then you tell them, they listen to you.

    -That isn’t going to help Gabe, they need to trust their future King, I can’t impose a new King.

    -When you got the throne no one acted this way.

    -Well I didn't have siblings or a choice, my parents were gone…

    -And you were a werewolf.

    -Gabe stop overthinking things and find a solution.

    -I can’t fix that I’m not a werewolf!

    -Then do something else.

    -This pack doesn't want me here…

    -If you already decided that then move, go to another pack, but you would need to go back to the Shadow pack and prove yourself.

    -I can’t prove myself to them because I’m not what they want!

    -Well it looks that they are not what you want either.

    -I tried to help them, Dad!

    -Did you try to help them or you tried to change them?

    -I… I wanted them to do better patroles and that they could have a better life.

    -Gabe just think about what I told you, and if you don’t see a solution then leave, but you are coming back and prove yourself to every pack you leave like this.

    -You don’t get it Dad…

I could hear my Mom’s voice on the back.

    -I’m speaking with him just let me…

    -GABE ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

My Mom’s voice sounded worried. “I miss Mom so much!” Zeus was so happy to hear her voice, and so was I. Hearing her voice brought feelings that I didn’t know I was holding. 

    -I’m okay Mom, everyone is okay.

    -I called you and you didn't answer me.

    -I left the phone in the room and…

    -How is Sam doing? Harvey? Is Simon eating his vegetables, he is getting old and needs to eat a healthier way.

I could hear my Dad talking to my Mom, but I wasn’t sure of what he was saying.

    -So, how's the pack treating you?

“Are we telling her? Isn’t she just going to worry even more?” “I know Zeus, I don’t want to worry her.” “But she also has a cat and the pack likes her, so she could give us some kind of advice right?” “Everyone loves Mom, how could she relate to our situation.” “We can try it, Gabe, because I really don’t know what to do… Having me is causing you trouble.” “You don’t need to feel that way, if it weren’t for you I couldn’t be here, We are together in the good and in the bad.” I could still feel Zeus' spirit and it was low, he was sad, confused, and for the first time, I was also feeling just the same. I decided to ask Mom, I knew she would have no idea, but I hope Zeus would feel better if I asked her.

    -Mom, is there someone from the kingdom that didn’t like you?

    -Someone? All of them didn't like me.

    -Mom stop joking.

    -I’m not! Sabrina was good to me and Kevin but Nelson hated me, and I think Sabrina did sometimes, I wasn’t a werewolf, I didn’t understand their feelings and traditions.

    -But you had the support of the Black Jaws pack! They follow you more than Dad! Crazy aunt loves you and…

    -Well one time we fought to the death, my heart actually stopped during the fight because I pierced it myself.

    -WHAT? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT MOM?

    -She called out a moon fight on me.

    -YOU FOUGHT A MOON FIGHT WITH AUNT OLIVIA?

    -Yes, but we are good friends now.

    -So I need to fight with everyone for them to accept me? 

    -They don’t like you? but no Gabe, you shouldn’t fight. The kingdom is your family and responsibility. You need to show them that you care and…

    -They don’t care if I care Mom! They don’t want me for me, I can’t change that.

    -You are lying right now, Gabriel.

    -I’m not Mom!

Why are Mom and Dad getting on their side! I’m their son!

    -Gabe you are telling me they don’t like you because you are you. But they don’t know you, you have been there 3 days so they don’t know the real you.

    -They don’t care for the real me.

    -Then make them care, show them!

    -It’s not that easy.

    -No one said it would be easy Gabe, but you can accomplish it, and if you can’t can you really be the leader for the entire kingdom?

    -Mom I have so many things on my head right now, it was good to hear your voice. Tell Dad I say goodbye and that thanks for the advice.

    -What advice?

    -We are going to another pack tomorrow, I can’t bear to be here any longer.

    -You can’t leave like this Gabe, you can…

I hear struggling on the other side of the line.

    -Gabe it’s your decision, but remember you need to go back to every pack you leave like that.

    -Yes Dad I will.

    -Then have a good rest and you can text me in the morning and tell me if you are staying or if you are leaving, so I can call the next pack.

    -I will Dad, thanks for the advice, have a good night.

I hung up and threw myself into the bed. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but I never thought it was going to be this hard. I wasn’t able to find the answer or the path that I was supposed to take. If Mom is now loved by so many members and she still had to fight and a moon fight. Now I understand why she was so obstinate to forbid that type of challenge. I never witnessed one but Dad told us it actually made your body ache and the pain wouldn’t go away until the other one was dead. The ones that ran away from the fight the pain continued until the body of one couldn’t handle it and die, until then the other one was in an awful amount of pain. “Gabe if Mom fought with aunt Olivia how are they both still alive?” “I’m not sure Zeus, right now I don’t know if they exaggerated the blood fight or what really happened. I’m just so confused and Dad we know Dad doesn't tell us everything and for some time I also felt like Mom is keeping a secret from us all.” “Why are you feeling that? Have you seen something suspicious?” “No, but sometimes when Mom sees me or I am with her, I feel like something is different within her than when we lived on the Howlers pack.” “She has more things to think now, and more responsibilities.” “I know, but the thing I feel is different… I don’t know it may be just my imagination.” I heard the door and just turned my head to see who it was. I saw Sam’s head peeking inside the room.

    -What are you doing Sam?

He took a step inside and closed the door.

    -I wasn’t sure how approachable you were going to be, Simon told me what the Luna told you.

    -Great.

I laid my head on the pillow and pressed it into my face. I was now embarrassed, my pack members now know what the pack thinks of me.

    -She is nuts Gabe, don’t listen to what she is saying. Dad wouldn’t send me here with that type of intention, he knows I have nothing to do with the pack high ranks. He just wants me to be your support, you and Harvey are here as future Alpha and Beta, Simon is here for protection and I’m just the happy and cheerful good looking support.

“Dad thinks he can be Beta, he told us that Gabe!” “I know Zeus…” “What if he just told us that… but the real intention is for Sam to gain the Alpha position?” “He wouldn’t do that…” “Mom was separated from Dad because she wasn’t a wolf, and so where we were, that didn’t change, she is still not a wolf and neither are we.” “But we…” “None of these wolves like me, and they don’t give you a chance because of me, but Sam is one of them and…” “Zeus stop! Sam is our brother stop! I am not allowed no one to speak like that of my brother. He is just like me, he didn’t ask to be born a wolf, just as we didn't ask to be born a cat. He wouldn’t betray our trust in that matter.”    I pushed Zeus into the back of my mind.

    -I know that, but I just can’t deal with this situation, so we are leaving tomorrow morning.

    -Dad is allowing that?

    -Yes he is, so pack your stuff.

    -But tomorrow they are not going into the city, so the car isn’t…

    -We are taking the SUV.

    -Right I forgot about the SUV.

    -Tell Simon and Harvey to pack, I’m going to sleep.

I heard the door opening and Sam left. I kept my eyes closed, but I could hear them speaking about the matter and I could hear the bags closing. Finally, when their respiration was deep I opened my eyes and saw Sam. He was snoring and in a deep sleep. For the first time, I felt jealous of my brother and that hurt me because I felt as if I was betraying Zeus. I just hoped that in the next pack this could be a better experience and that they could be able to understand and accept the decision. In the morning I stood up and as I started to gather my things the others woke up and started doing the same. We took everything and left the room. As they shifted and started taking things down. I stayed at the edge of the cliff. I heard the steps getting closer.

-You finally approached us, I thought you didn’t want us to tell you when we leave.

The Luna just looked at me.

-Well just wait and I will prove to you how wrong you were, so next time you see me you would feel honored to call me your king.     

As I spoke I felt the heat and I knew my ears were out. I jumped and started falling through the cliff, I used my claws to slow the fall and control the direction. As I landed I saw Harvey and Simon in his human form Sam was still in his wolf form looking at me. Then he let out a loud howl. I knew he was just trying to make me feel better, it was a howl that meant we were going, and he had his head up. He was trying to make me feel he was onboard with me and that he supported my decision. I smiled at him and pet Finn’s head.

-Let's go.

I started walking towards the SUV. Simon followed me and Harvey stayed to wait for Sam. Simon drove back into the city, there I sold the SUV to a used car thing, and then we took a cab that brought us to the airport. The plane was ready,, so I think Dad knew that I was not changing my mind because I actually forgot to text him that I was leaving. We boarded and I closed my eyes, I needed to sleep for a moment because last night I stayed awake with an awful feeling of defeat.