THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 39 - BREAKFAST

GABRIEL

“You are not listening to what I’m saying!” He then just cut out communication.

-I think that what I was trying to say at first before all of this detour, is that mates are complicated… I think it’s not as easy... You find them, love them and be happy forever… I think that even if you do feel attracted to your mate there’s still a part of you that needs to accept it and then there is the change in their life if they are not from the same pack… It’s not that easy.

-But they always told us it was destined… so I thought finding your mate and the rest of the story would go smoothly.

-I think that our parents and the rest of the mates kind of just tell us the pretty version of their story and leave many details out.

-Like what details?

-Ones I had a female patient that apparently was Kevin's girlfriend…

-What Kevin tried to get a mate?

-I think that it was just a girlfriend, she was also a warrior in the pack… Ivory heard about them and fought the girl… It was not that bad, but the girl needed some stitches and then Mom transferred her to another pack… Where she did find her mate, so in the end, it was a happy ending, but as I said mates are more complicated than what they tell us.

-So Kevin had a girlfriend before Ivory… Wait till I tell Eva this…

-No! Why would you do that?

-She needs to know that her mom was not Kevin's first option…

-Gabe it was just a girlfriend, I don’t think it got serious.

-Then why would they date if not?

-You are impossible Gabe… I’m going back up and sleeping.

Maria started walking back up. I stayed there and thought about all that she said… Mates weren’t as easy as I thought they were and I was now intrigued… What have my parents don’t tell me about their relationship? I thought that fighting between pack members was prohibited… Why wasn't I informed about that? What else haven’t they told me… or are they hiding it on purpose? I felt a drop of water and then in seconds, I was soaking wet. “We need to get back…” “I know.” Zeus was right but I had just so many things on my mind that I needed time to cool down. I stayed there in the rain for a while, it stopped raining, and just then I got the courage to get back inside. I opened the door and saw Eva sleeping on the sofa. I was about to bend down to carry her when I felt Zeus getting impatient. “What's wrong?” “Let her sleep there… What if she wakes up and starts talking to us?” “So you want me to leave Eva here? It’s cold and she could get sick.” “Then get her a blanket.” “Why?” “I'm tired and I could use some good sleep…” I was tired and mentally deranged so I just went and took a blanket from my room and laid it on Eva. I laid next to Lucas. He had no Mom and his Dad was still alive… How was that possible?... I had to ask more about that in the morning. I opened my eyes and saw that Lucas was gone. I opened the door and Eva wasn’t in the coach. I looked at the window and the sun was barely out. I took a shower and changed my clothes.

-Are you leaving?

I saw David coming from his room.

-Yes I am… why are you up?

-I took some days off from work until my injury looks better.

-That's good.

I opened the door.

-Can I go with you?

-No.

I closed the door and left the building. I started sniffing around, I needed to check if something was different… “We could go to the hospital and check if there’s any werewolf there?” “Don’t worry Zeus if Maria sees one or suspects we would get a call.” I kept walking and searching… but nothing… Then I looked to my left and saw the coffee shop… It was completely destroyed, it was almost unrecognizable… Except for a bench that was in the front, it was burnt but it was still standing. So I sat there. I finally found a job that didn’t fire me and then the place got on fire… It was just so… I heard steps and turned around. I saw Crystal moving some stuff.

-What are you doing?

-I’m trying to see if there is still something alive here… Wait, what are you doing here?

-Alive? There are people down there?

-No, but look, these mugs are in perfect shape… Well they are dirty but they are fine, I’m looking if there is something else that was spared during the fire.

-Let me help you.

I stood up and started searching for stuff with her. All of the books were lost, their pages were burnt and flying all around.

-I think this place is just…

-I know… but this coffee was my dream, I used all of my savings restoring the place and…

She sat and looked at me.

-I know it’s silly but… I felt at home here.

-I don’t get it… But it is not silly. I didn’t spend that much time working here, but I did as a client so I knew the warm feeling this place had.

-Did you really feel like that here?

-Yes I did.

She started tearing up.

-No I didn’t say that to make you sad.

-No I’m really happy. That was the purpose of this shop…

-To make me happy?

-No… Yes… Not you but no… More like I wanted to make all the people who came here happy, at home… As an orphan, I had problems finding that type of feeling… I had places to stay and I had my siblings with me, but… I never felt that I belonged there.

-But your siblings were there?

-Yes, but we were not always together, some had to go to other cities or other houses…

Then I remembered that she told me her siblings aren't blood related, so they should be other orphans.

-Now… are you still staying in those kinds of places?

-No, when I was eighteen I got my own place with some of my siblings…

She keeps talking but I didn’t find the spark that was normally in her voice.

-So you are not happy there?

She stopped talking and looked at me with wide eyes.

-No! I’m happy… but since we left the foster homes I kind of took the role of the parents and it’s just too much for me.

-It’s worse than handling the kitchen and the clients here?

-Yes, my siblings can be a handful and because of how we were raised, some come and go, so the place is always chaotic.

-I can’t imagine you in a place like that, you are so apprehensive. Your siblings sound like rebels…

-Well I was a rebel too you know.

-I can’t believe that.

She smiled at me and the spark was back in her eyes.

-I was! When I was a teenager I used to escape from my foster house and just hang around.

-Really?

-Yes! I did!

I remembered the smile Sam had every time he tried to escape the pack… If he had lived here as a human would he also try to escape like Crystal? Was he also not feeling at home in the pack like Crystal? Was that the reason he tried to escape so badly?

-Did I say something wrong?

-No it’s just… I remembered something.

-About your childhood?

-Yes.

-Well I don’t know much about you…

She started looking around.

-I didn’t eat breakfast and I’m hungry. Let’s go somewhere to eat and you can tell me about your childhood…

-Why?

-It’s only fair since you know about my childhood and I only know you have two brothers and one sister.

She started walking and I followed her.

-Where are we going?

-I feel like having some pancakes.

-You are always eating sweet stuff.

-Sweet food is the best food!

-I prefer food with cheese or meat.

-I would eat maple syrup and ice cream any day.

The amount of sugar just gave me chills.

-Don’t judge until you try my summer ice cream parfait!

-Thanks but I don’t need that amount of sugar in my system…

-You are not going to say that when you try it!

Then she entered a small house, and as soon as she opened the door the sweet smell of pancakes filled my lungs.

-This is my second favorite place.

She held the door for me and I entered.

-Crystal, do you want the same table?

-Yes, please.

-Is this Mister Grumpy?

-No, he is Gabriel, a colleague from the coffee shop.

-I heard about that, I’m so sorry.

Crystal started speaking with a guy. I got closer and looked at him. He took some steps back.

-Well follow me to your table.

He left some menus on the table and then left.

-I know what I want to order, do you need suggestions?

-But nothing too sweet…

-Those are the best ones… but okay. Do you like eggs? Their omelet here is one of the best ones.

-I will judge that.

-Tony! We are ready to order.

The guy came back and evaded my eyes.

-I would like…

-Same as always?

-Yes.

-Strawberry milkshake?

-You know me so well Tony boy…

-And Gabriel will have the house omelet… right?

-Yes, and an orange juice.

-I will be back with your drinks then.

And he was gone without even looking at me. She looked at me with a strange spark in her eyes.