THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 44 - MAPLE

GABRIEL



I was in shock, what the hell was happening.

-Eva what are you saying?

I took a step towards her.

-Gabriel do not get close to her, she is dangerous!

Crystal's voice sounded anxious. She gave a step towards me but Eva growled at her. “GABE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING!” Zeus was right, but what should I do!

-STAY AWAY FROM HIM YOU MUTT!

With those last words, high whimpers and screams started to come from Eva’s mouth as she shifted. “She hasn’t shifted in a while she must be in pain…” Zeus said. I was just astonished to see Eva’s body on the sand convulsing.

-Eva are you, all right?

I tried to get close to her but Crystal pulled me away.

-Haven’t you seen that before?

Of course I had but, I have never seen a transformation that painful, her whimpers were even louder now.

-NO! We need to help her!

As I spoke the whimpers halted and a reddish wolf was standing in four paws where Eva’s body used to be. Crystal looked at me and I saw tears start to flow. She then hugged me. Eva growled and Crystal started running towards the palm trees. Eva… Well more like Maple started chasing Crystal. I wanted to run after them, but I wasn’t able to move. “Zeus?” He wasn’t responding. I was standing, but I couldn’t move my body. I saw the twins arriving, they ran directly at me.

-Gabriel what happened?

David was trying to speak but Daniel made him a sign to keep quiet. Then he pointed at the ground where wolf prints were everywhere.

-It’s impossible I can’t smell a wolf…

David was really confused…

-Gabriel what happened?

Daniel looked at me, I tried to move but I was just not… Daniel touched me and immediately backed off.

-Gabriel you are covered in serum…

-Water! let’s get him into the ocean!

David said while he pointed at the sea. He was right, I did tell them to stay away from the water to prevent the wolfsbane from washing away and then be exposed to wolves that could potentially pass near us. I wasn’t sure the catnip would also wash off, but it wasn’t a bad idea. They pushed me into the ocean, the water was ice cold. “Zeus, can you hear me?” “I can, but I feel sick.” Hearing his voice was good so he wasn’t as affected by the serum as I was… The clothes!

-Ta….tak….take…

-WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING GABRIEL?

David was shouting. I was having a hard time trying to speak and his shouts were just not helping. Daniel pushed David’s face underwater and then looked at me.

-Clothes… off….

I finally was able to say and he just nodded… He freed David that was now complaining and then he started to rip my clothes off me. As the clothes disappeared and the water touched my skin the cold started to disappear and I noticed I was able to move my fingers little by little. Then my legs until finally I was able to stand but while trying to get off the ocean the waves hit me and I fell. The twins helped me get out of the ocean and helped me sit in the sand… Then suddenly noises started to approach us. I turned and saw both shiftings. Their lions were soaking wet. When finally the wolf was in sight I could see Maple standing feet away. I saw the twins they were ready to attack. Gur jumped towards Maple. She wasn’t able to avoid it, Fang was also running towards her. Maple’s movements were slow, and she was whimpering. “ZEUS WE NEED TO MOVE… NOW!” I felt the heat and then a push. My body was moving but Zeus was in control.

-STOP.

As Zeus spoke I felt a strange tingling on my stomach. At the moment he spoke the twins and Maple stopped moving and looked at him. He let out a low growl and both the twins and Maple bowed down, showing their neck a little. Then I felt a pull and I was now back in control. “I got their attention, now it’s your turn.” Zeus said just as I felt his presence on the back of my head. He was still weak.

-Daniel, David…

I slowly took a step towards them.

-She is part of our pack, her name is Maple… She is Eva’s wolf.

-”That’s impossible, Eva is human, she doesn't have a wolf!”

-”Yes, just like Maria and Lucas, they are humans!”

Both were talking at the same time through the link.

-It's complicated, but we will explain it if you just calm down.

I saw Fang start to shift back, but Gur was looking directly at the wolf.

-”I’m not risking my brother's security until she shifts back.”

I knew I was not going to win that argument so I decided to approach Maple. As I walked towards Maple she growled at me… Which caused Fang to roar at her. She didn’t flinch at Fang's roar and just kept her eyes on me.

-It’s okay Maple, I’m not going to hurt you…

At each step I took, she took one back.

-She doesn't like you very much… Are you sure she is Eva’s wolf? Because Eva is crazy for you but this wolf doesn't even want you near.

David said while approaching me. Then Maple turned her head. I started sniffing the air and looking around but saw nothing.

-”Can you please cover! You are both naked!”

Eva’s voice on my head made me jump.

-”Eva? Can you hear me?”

I got nothing back… Maple still had her head turned to the side. It has been years since I saw Eva in this form… The last time I saw her was on my eighteen birthday when she entered the party my Mom made for me and Sam… She did save me there… Why is she acting this way?

-David, Gur, let’s go back to the camping area, we need some clothes to put on.

I started walking back with David following me, Gur kept looking back to Maple that was following us but at a safe distance. I took some clothes out for me and David. We dressed and then I tried again to get closer to Maple but she kept taking steps back. I tried to link Eva, but it was as if she wasn’t there. I sat down looking at Maple, Gur was right next to David.

-Maple calm down… let me talk with Eva?

She let out a low growl, but before Gur could respond I growled at him so he stayed quiet. He just got even closer to David, he was trying to shield his brother.

-Maple, please. I am not going to hurt her… Please let me talk to her.

Her eyes were scared… “She isn’t talking to me either.” Zeus' voice startled me. “Maple isn’t letting me pass through the link, I’m sure she is Maple, but I can’t reach her. I fell for her but she isn’t letting me pass through.” “Zeus I think she is scared…” “Why would she be scared? She is a strong female, Maple is the daughter of one of the best female warriors and Kevin is now the best warrior in the royal pack…” I heard what Zeus was saying but… “She is afraid to be caged again…” “What? What cage, what are you talking about?”

-Maple let Eva out, I promise I am not letting her take the serum again, just let her out.

Her sight intensified. I was right. I bit my hand and let some drops of blood flow, I showed it to her.

-If you don’t trust me, let’s make a blood oath.

She walked towards me. Then she started shaking and a pained whimper started to invade the air.

-” Something is wrong with her!”

Daniel said through the link.

-She is just handling the shift, it’s been a long time since she shifted… David go and bring some blankets from the tent.

When David was back I took the blanket and put it on Maple. Finally, when the wipers stopped I could see Eva’s body. She passed out.

-Eva?

I walked towards her and carried her to the tent. The shift took a lot from her and she couldn’t handle the pain. I just could imagine what she felt when she ended up unconscious. I was about to put her inside the tent when David stopped me.

-If she is a wolf, wouldn’t she feel awful from all the serum we applied on our stuff and inside the tent?

He was right… But I looked at Crystal's tent… I… David walked towards me.

-I will take her there…

-No, I can do it.

As I walked towards the tent, I noticed my senses getting lower. I entered and I couldn't smell anything, this place had definitely catnip around, Zeus was strolling in my mind, I left Eva and got away as fast as possible. “HOW DIDN'T WE NOTICED THAT BEFORE?” Zeus was beyond mad. We worked with her, we talked with her and we never suspected she was a wolf…

-Gabriel are you, all right?

David was right in front of me.

-I think it’s time for you to explain what is going on.

I turned and saw Daniel putting on a shirt. I sighed and sat on the sand. What was I supposed to say? Can I talk about that topic with them… Mom always told me that letting out the information about what the catnip or the wolfsbane can do it’s dangerous… But if I don’t say that, how do I explain what is going on with Eva… Should I mention Lucas and Maria?

-Gabriel you said you would explain to us.

I opened my eyes and saw the twins sitting in front of me. I was not sure how long I stayed there trying to find the words. “I don’t think we have a choice, Gabe.”

-Eva is a wolf…

-Since when?

David asked.

-Since she was born…

-It’s impossible, we have been there, and not once has she shifted or given the scent that wolves have.

Daniel said with accusing eyes.

-When you were just babies, she decided to take a medicine that suppresses her wolf inside of her. Turning her somehow human.

-I don’t get it, why would she want to be human?

Daniel was still doubtful.

-She… I think that’s something she needs to explain herself. What I can say it’s that she has been taking that medicine and that suppresses her wolf…

-That makes sense because her parents are two of the best warriors in the pack and her mother is a pure Aegean Moon blood, it never made sense their daughter was not a wolf.

Daniel said as he stood up.

-What’s her wolf’s name? She was huge, I thought it was a male wolf.

David asked with a spark in his eyes. I felt Zeus growling a bit. I was not happy with the idea of David mating with Eva… Eva didn’t want that… “It’s going to be what happened with Maria all over again, but this time we are going to lose someone else.” Zeus was angry and wasn’t calming down. I stood up.

-I don’t think it’s a good idea…

As I spoke I heard movement. I turned around and saw Eva getting out of the tent. I saw her stumbling. I ran and caught her. She grabbed me and then I lifted her in my arms.

-How are you feeling?

-My whole body hurts… My head is going to explode… Are you all right?

-I’m fine… Are you still in pain? We need to take you back, Maria needs to check you up, we need to make sure you are all right…

She snuggled into my neck while breathing my scent.

-I think I just need time, the shifting was way more painful than what I remembered.

-Eva I don’t want to risk it, let’s take you back.

She just hugged me harder.

-Daniel, David start packing, I will be in the car with Eva.

I wanted to be as far away from the twins as possible. I was still not sure of how Eva felt… What if she was indeed mated to David? Would she go back to take the wolfsbane? But I promised Maple she wouldn’t… Can I stop Eva from taking the serum? Is David going to start taking catnip just as Maria? Daniel is going to kill us all…

-What are you thinking?

Eva’s voice took me back to reality. I looked around and saw the twins packing up. I started walking back to the car.

-Hold on tight Eva.

I slide down on the hill. I kept walking until I saw the car. I tried to open the door but it was closed. “You didn’t bring the keys… and let her off us, the scent of catnip it’s going to drive me crazy.” I sat Eva in the trunk of the car and took some steps back. “Why didn’t you remind me of the keys?” “I was busy trying not to go crazy with the scent. Gabe, ask her to go into the ocean and clean up or something, it’s going to be a long ride in the car and I can’t handle that scent.” “No! I can’t have her exposed to David, until…” “Until what? they are about to be in a car for hours, so I don’t think things could go differently.”