THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 22 - CHANGE

GABRIEL

-I don’t know Mom...

I said just as tears started to appear on my face.

    -I tried, I really tried my best to do what I thought was the best for the kingdom, but I left Sam alone and now his scent is just like the missing kids… It banishes and leads to nowhere. I… I… I think they took Sam.

My mom covered her mouth with her hands and tears started to flow from her eyes. I knelt on the floor.

    -I’m so sorry Mom, I shouldn’t have lost him from my sight, I thought…

At that moment my Dad appeared, he looked agitated, he looked at Mom, and as soon as he saw her crying he hugged her.

    -What’s wrong Queen are you alright are you hurt?

He was scanning all of her body and then he took his hand to his chest and then he looked at me, took a deep breath, and then he looked directly into my eyes.

    -Where is Sam?

I lowered my head. I heard steps and as I looked up he was right where I was and he was sniffing. He also rubbed his nose and then his eyes widened.

    -WHERE IS SAM?

His voice was now desperate. I lowered my head again and tried to gain the courage to speak…

    -I think they took him…

    -HOW? LOOK AT ME! HOW?

I turned my head and looked at him. 

    -We were following the Alpha of the pack that attacked us, but then something happened and all the place burnt down then Sam went running and as I was going to follow him, they told me the pack was having trouble, and I went to check on the pack…

    -YOU LEFT YOUR BROTHER ALONE?

    -I was needed elsewhere and…

    -You must protect your family! How are you expecting to…

My Mom hugged my Dad and he just closed his eyes. I felt the link on my mind, it was my Dad, contacting everyone. 

    -” I WANT TRACKERS IN MY POSITION RIGHT NOW! FIND SAMUEL!”

I knew Mom was trying to calm him down, but Dad’s emotions were transmitted to everyone and he was nervous, afraid, and desperate. In seconds trackers were everywhere. My Dad carried Mom and started walking back. Sabrina was following close. Harvey stayed with me. I was tired, exhausted and I understood that I was not King material at all. “He is right Gabe, we couldn’t protect our family.” I was trying to answer Zeus but I didn’t find the words. He was right. “But you know what… The kingdom doesn't want us! And while trying to protect them we lost someone that loves us! So f**k the Kingdom! We will now just live to protect and guard our family and loved ones! Let’s just do as we wish! and stop making that effort for ungrateful packs that don't even care for us!” I was shocked, Zeus never curses like that and he always placed the kingdom first. He must be exhausted. “Don’t talk like that Zeus, go back and rest. I will also go into a house and sleep, we are tired and thinking nonsense. “No Gabe I’m sane.” “Zeus goes and rest, let’s not talk about this anymore.” I stood up, my body wasn’t responding as I was used to, I felt a piece of me ripping apart, I heard my mom screaming in the distance. Harvey caught me as I lost my balance and then everything went black. I opened my eyes and found a needle on my arm. I looked around and I was at the hospital. “Zeus where are we?” He didn’t respond. Then I saw the door opening.

    -Gabe! Don’t try to stand up, move slowly.

Maria had a smile on her face, I looked at her with confusion.

    -Why are you here?

    -I work here, remember?

    -You work…

Then I recognized the place, this was the Royal pack hospital.

    -Why am I here? What happened…?

I heard beeping sounds increasing, and Maria came to my side and grabbed my hand.

    -Don’t overthink Gabe, stay calm. You just woke up and your body needs time.

    -I don’t have time Maria, Sam is…

    -I know.

I felt her hand adding pressure to mine and saw the sadness in her eyes.

    -But I won’t lose another brother, rest. I will be back with some food so you can eat and start gaining your strength back.

She left the room and as soon as I stopped hearing her steps I took the needle from my arm.

    -I don’t have time for this.

“Zeus?” “Zeus?”... “Gabe?” His voice sounded sleepy. “Zeus! What happened to us?” “What happened? Where are we?” Zeus was just recognizing we were no longer on the pack but in the Royal pack hospital. That’s strange, sometimes even when I’m sleeping he is awake… “We need to go and look for Sam.” “Yes! let’s find our brother!” I stood up and my legs hurt, they were numb and I had to use the wall to help me walk out of the room. The hospital looked normal, slowly we walked out of it and took a crutch to help us reach the main house. When we were about to enter the kitchen the twins opened the door and helped me. They didn’t ask questions or spoke. For the first time, they had a serious expression and they just helped me reach for my father's office. Daniel opened the door and they let me enter alone. As I entered they closed the door. I saw my Dad reading some papers, he just averted his eyes to look at me and then looked back at the papers and continued reading.

    -So you are awake now.

    -Now?

    -Yes, you have spent several days sleeping, you probably exhausted your body at a high rate.

“We slept for days?” Zeus was as surprised as I. I knew I was tired… but I didn't feel that tired. I looked around and piles of papers were everywhere.

    -Where's Mom?

    -She is in our room.

“What? That must be a lie, our brother is still lost there’s no way Mom is not looking for him… Wait, they find him?” Zeus was right, they must have found Sam while we were sleeping.

    -You found Sam?

    -We are still looking.

At that moment I couldn’t take it anymore.

    -You are still looking? You aren’t looking! You are reading the paperwork!

My Dad hit the desk and stood up while looking directly into my eyes.

    -I’m doing my job! Now go! I need to concentrate!

He used his Alpha King tone on me, I could only lower my head and I left the office. Daniel and David were no longer in sight. I started walking with the crutch but as I was about to fall I saw Maria running towards me.

    -Why did you leave the hospital you are not allowed to…

She started scolding me while she helped me come down the stairs. She was acting as if everything was fine… I knew this was not… I needed my brother… I can’t keep… I felt Maria guiding me into my Mom’s private room. It was smaller than the alpha’s office but it was the coziest place in the main house. She helped me sit on Mom’s chair. Then slowly she reached my face with her hand and started cleaning… my tears? I was crying? When I looked at her she also started crying.

    -I’m so sorry Gabe… This is all my fault, I should have been there and helped you… But I’m just so useless… I can’t do anything for you or Sam.

    -Maria don’t… it was all my fault and my decisions that lead to...

    -No Gabe, I can’t… I am as responsible for Sam’s kidnap as you. My decisions separated me from my brothers and made me useless.

    -We would find Sam, Dad says they are still looking for him, and as soon as I recover I would go and…

    -Dad told me that Sam is probably dead…

Her voice shocked her as he said those words. “THAT IS NOT TRUE!” I could feel the heat spreading on my body, it burned. I grabbed my arms, the pain was stronger than what I remember.

    -Try to calm down, your body is still weak, you can’t handle a shift right now…

    -YOU ARE LYING! AND SO IS DAD! MOM IS PROBABLY STILL SEARCHING FOR SAM SHE CAN’T BE IN HER ROOM AND SAM CAN’T BE DEAD!

    -Gabe calm down I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that but I’m not going to lie to you. Mom is in her room, she has been there since they came back. You are right, she is looking for Sam, she is trying to connect with him, she is searching for her essence and praying to the Moon Goddess but she can’t sense him anymore. Dad said…

    -Mom can sense it?

I started laughing. I was relieved that is all they had. 

    -Of course, she can sense him, they probably have him far away and we can’t communicate with him. But I know he is alive, he is strong and he can be really smart if he wants to…

    -Gabe, please…

    -No Maria. I believe in our brother and what you are telling me sounds nothing like Sam. He wouldn’t let himself be killed that easily, he is our brother!

I tried to stand but I stumbled. Maria reached to me and tried to help me, but I moved and evaded her touch.

    -I don’t need your help.

    -Gabe…

    -You already made your mind up, Sam has trained every day, he learned strategies and is one of the best fighters, a pack with that amount of skills would not have been able to kill him. So please stop saying stuff like that it only offends Sam and his capabilities!

I started to walk out of the room. I was using the wall for support, I left the crutch inside and I wasn’t going to go back there. I walked to my parents' room. I opened the door and saw my mom sitting on the balcony. She was meditating?

    -Mom I need to talk to you.

I keep walking at her.

    -Mom?

She was just sitting, I saw the floor and saw a slim cover of dust on her legs. “How much time has she been like that?” Zeus was concerned. I tried to touch her but a cold sensation and sparks made me take my hand back. They were not the normal sparks, they were not warm and comfortable, they were more aggressive. Then I saw her veins changing into a gold color, and just as fast as they changed they went back to normal. “Something is definitely wrong Gabe! We need to help Mom!” I started running as fast as I could and went back to where Maria was, but she was no longer there. I looked around and the house felt empty. “Where’s everyone when I need them!” Zeus was desperate. I tried to mind link, but a headache appeared. I was still weak and I couldn’t even mind link someone. “Zeus can you communicate with…” “I CAN’T COMMUNICATE WITH ANYONE!” He was as frustrated as me. We started running back into my father's office and he was still reading papers.

    -Dad comes quickly Mom is in danger!

He didn’t even bother to look at me.

    -She is fine Gabriel.

His voice was calm and serene, and he still was just reading papers!

    -No Dad, she is not! She is in a trance and strange sparks appear when I touch her! Also, there is something wrong with her body, a gold…

    -I know, she is okay. Artemis says she is just trying to find Sam’s essence, and trying to reach for the Moon Goddess.

That just sounded crazy! How will she contact the Moon Goddess? Does she even exist? Isn’t she just a story so the wolves trust that everything would be alright?

    -Dad this is serious! We need to help Mom and start looking for Sam!

He let a low growl out and looked at me.

    -I told you that no more about this topic! Now go! I can’t deal with you right now!

He used his Alpha King tone again. I had no other option but to leave the room. A hot sensation appeared in my heart. It was different from the burn sensation than my anger made me feel. I walked as I could to my house, and there I started packing. I saw the bag of money my Dad gave me and I also had the money for the SUV I sold. I took them and hid them between the clothes I was packing. I knew what I had to do. I waited for the night to arrive, took the bag, and went into the main house. I entered my fathers' office and he was no longer there. I started reading the papers. There were reports of the search in the kingdoms’ forest. Dad had all the kingdom patrolling the forest near and far from their land. But no one could find traces of a pack. How could a pack that has that many members hid without being noticed? I sat on the chair and tried to think, I looked at the pictures my Dad had on the wall and saw a picture of Mom, Maria, and me. We were at the mall that was near the Shadow pack. Nathen took that picture… Could it be possible? I stood up and started looking for a map. Not a werewolf map but a human map. Then I saw many small cities and one big one near the territory where Sam disappeared. They were human cities, and with all the scents the unknown pack could easily hide there! “But it's a city full of humans, and if the unknown pack is the one that attacked the rest of the packs, and they are hiding there, they have been living there for a long time, they know the territory.” “I know Zeus.” “Wouldn’t they know the city better than us and recognizes us as soon as we arrive?” Zeus had a point, I need to go with a disguise. “And even if you are thinking in a disguise or scent would betray us.” I pushed some books off the desk. He was right… I can’t hide my scent, and they already know it, I fought them not long ago… Unless… “I have a plan, Zeus.” I took the map with me and left the office. As I left the house two silhouettes appeared. Daniel and David were standing and holding two backpacks.

    -We are going with you.

    -No.

    -We are not asking, we also want to find Sam and we are tired of the pack don’t look for him.

    -Yes, we are a family! and Sam being killed is just absurd.

    -The pack isn’t doing enough, the adults are behaving not to the standard. If David was missing and they neglected his search like Sam’s, I would do just what you're doing, and I think Dave would do the same for me.

    -Yes I would, and if someone in this pack can understand how you feel is us. We grew up just like you and Sam. We are helping you find your brother.

Both had serious and determined eyes. “I don’t think they will take a no as an answer.” I sighted.

    -Okay, but if you interfere with my plan you are coming back to the Royal pack.

    -Yes sir!

They both said at the same time. I kept walking to my house. I needed to ask a favor. I opened the door and saw Maria, Eva, and Elliot sitting in the living room. They all had bags. “What is happening here?”

    -We are going with you.

Maria said as she stood up.