THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 55 - EXPLAIN IT

GABRIEL

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, but the feeling of the scent of jasmine and strawberry couldn’t be a lie. She was… “Why didn’t we know? When…” As Zeus spoke he let a low growl out. He was mad. The kid took close hold of her and he let a low growl out. He wasn’t happy with the boy touching her. His growls got louder, but I saw how she was looking at us, and the kid was afraid. I could see some blood running through his arm. “What happened here?” I said, but Zeus wasn’t answering me, he had his eyes on her as if she could disappear in seconds. I tried to communicate with Zeus but he wasn’t answering, he probably is trying to communicate with her… Could I do the same?

-” Maria can you hear me?”

I could feel the noise shifting into a familiar feeling and then there it was, my sister's link intact and clear.

-”Gabriel the kid needs help, I need to take him to the hospital.”

How is she saying that, as if she wasn’t fully shifted into Nova’s body, as if it was nothing… Was Nova back? I could see her body but…

-”Is Nova?”

-”She is mad with me and I can’t blame her, but we were not letting the wolves take this kid.”

-”What? What are you saying?” “They were not only attacking?”

-”I’m not sure I usually leave the pack territory to shift, but I didn’t notice that Mat was following me.”

Mat… That name sounded familiar. I saw the kid when he was small, 10 or 11 years old. I don't think he is older than 13. What was he doing with Maria? Wait, why is Maria in Nova’s body?

-”Maria, how is it possible you shifted, but the serum should have…”

-”Reduced the amount of serum I take and once in a while I shift, but Mat needs medical attention and I can’t shift back. Please take him to the hospital!”

Zeus started walking towards her, and as if he was afraid to touch her, carefully picked the crying kid from his shirt and lifted him. The kid cried louder. Then Zeus started walking back to our territory. Near the border, the patrol was waiting for me. They had confused looks at the crying kid hanging in our mouth.

-”I know that Kid! He is one of the orphans!”

One member said through the link.

-”But why was he out there?”

-”I don’t know, but I will ask as soon as he stops crying and a doctor checks the cut he has.”

Just as I said that they looked toward his arm and saw the wound.

-”How did he get that injury?”

I heard someone ask, but I wasn’t going to repeat myself. I already said I didn’t know, but I was going to find out all as soon as he stopped crying. Zeus walked toward the hospital without stopping. One member of the patrol followed us until we were in the center of the territory, then he got back to his position. As I approached the hospital, a woman came running and took the kid from Zeus' mouth. I shifted back and followed her into the hospital. There they gave me some shorts and I put them on. I followed closely the woman with the crying kid. She inspected him, and then she cleaned the wound, an action that only made the kid cry even louder. Then she injected him to start sewing up the wound. Before she finished closing the wound, the boy was already asleep.

-What happened to him?

She asked me just as she cut the threat.

-I don’t know if I was going to ask him, but… He fell asleep.

-He cried a lot, he must be tired. Are their parents coming?

That’s when I remember one of the members calling him an orphan, and then I knew who he was! He talked to me before! When we lived in the blue house he entered my room with a big attitude! I knew this kid!

-Or is a family member coming for him?

-No, I will take him.

As I said that I walked toward the boy and picked him up. She didn’t say anything else. I took him to my old room. We had a bed to spare since the twins went back to their old room. It was only me and Maria with three beds and a huge room. “Zeus, I think we should go back with our sister.” “No Gabe, she needs time.” “But intruders were near and she was alone and away from the territory…” “I KNOW THAT!” Zeus' voice was trembling. “I want nothing but to run to her… but what if by the pressure we lose her again… I can’t lose anyone anymore.” Then I understood that even if Maria was not the same I didn’t lose my sister, but Zeus did, Zeus lost Nova and Finn. If I felt alone I couldn’t imagine how he felt. I wasn’t sure about his decision of leaving Maria alone but I decided to respect it. I kept looking at the window and the door, just waiting for her to come back.

-”Gabriel, are you coming to the office today?”

I looked through the window and saw the stars. Harvey was waiting for me to check next week's schedules. I looked at the sleeping kid.

-” Sorry Harvey, could you handle them? I promise I will go early in the morning and check them.”

-”Yes, don’t worry I would leave them in the green folder on your desk.”

-”Thanks, Harvey.”

I kept looking at the window until I heard a noise and as I turned back I saw the kid trying to sit on the bed.

-Be careful with the upper bed…

He hit his head on the top bed as he tried to sit up.

-Why is there something up the bed?

He said while rubbing his head.

-My brother liked them.

-He was a weird guy.

-You knew him?

-Just for a while… but he seemed nice. Why did he leave?

-He didn’t…

-I saw him one night trying to leave but the guards caught him and brought him back.

-Yes he used to do that, but he didn’t leave… They took him.

-The ones that are attacking the packs?

-Yes they…

-Don’t worry, he has alpha blood, we are strong. I’m sure he is alive.

I was amazed by the security of his voice. As if he really knew he was alive. I wish I could be that sure…

-Was Maria also trying to leave? I tried to stop her… I’m sorry I left the pack's territory but I didn’t want her to go.

Then I remembered that I needed to know what happened, I was distracted by my own thoughts about Sam that I forgot about Nova being back.

-What happened?

As I said, he took some steps back.

-I’m not mad but please tell me what happened to my sister she…

-She didn’t do anything bad! She did try to protect me1 She saved me!

This was getting even more confusing than before. “Gabe, ask him to tell you everything but from the beginning!” Zeus was as desperate as me.

-Can you please tell me the whole story, but in order.

-I was outside playing with the other kids when I saw your sister… She was looking at everyone as if someone was following her. So I decided to keep an eye on her, just in case she needed help. Then she kept walking away from the main house and the other houses, she entered the forest but didn’t slow down. She even climbed a tree! I tried to follow her but I am not a good climber and I decided to hide under a bush until the pack members doing patrol passed… Then I continued following her, she didn’t leave a scent back so I depended exclusively on my eyes to find her. Then I noticed she had crossed the line of the border. I didn't know what to do, and then I saw the patrol and I howled, but then a huge wolf appeared and bit my arm! I tried to free myself but the pain didn’t let me shift… Then other wolves appeared and entered our territory and the patrol followed them… I thought the wolf was going to kill me but he just dragged me until I saw a huge white cat… Your sister right? Maria.

-Yes… How did you notice?

-The cat didn’t have a scent, just like her. So I assumed that cat and Maria were one… But her cat was amazing! She ran faster than the wolf and in no time she was beside us. She jumped and landed on his back and bit his neck!

As he told the rest he had a huge smile and his voice was full of excitement. Then the wolf opened her jaws and I fell into the ground and rolled over. The wolf didn’t fight her, he tried to take me but she jumped off the wolf and landed between me and the wolf. She made a strange sound. It was not a growl it was more like the sound snakes make…

-She hissed at the wolf.

-What's that?

I hissed a bit and his eyes got even wider.

-Yes! She made that sound!

-And then What happened?

-The wolf wasn’t backing off, he growled at her! but she wasn’t even flinching. The wolf tried to bite her but she used her paw and a huge scratch appeared on the wolf’s face. Then howls started to spread and the wolf ran away. Your sister stayed with me and she curled me up when some wolves passed running near us. I got scared that they would take me and cried just a bit…

His face looked ashamed as he told me he cried, but he wasn't crying just a bit he was in a full episode of tears and screams, who was he trying to lie…

-Then I saw you. Your Lion is bigger than the twins…

I was about to say something but he looked troubled.

-Can I ask you for a favor…

He finally said.

-Yes of course.

-If we found…

Then he looked up… and then looked back at me.

-When we found my parents, please don’t tell them I actually cried a lot when the attack passed. I promised myself I was going to be stronger and that on the next attack I would fight and protect others… but again I failed and cried again. I didn’t help.

I was trying to follow him, I was sure his parents were dead, they called him an orphan, I… Didn’t he know they were dead? Or did he know something we didn’t know…

-I want to be stronger, I want to protect the members that take care of me, I don’t want to be a burden…

As he spoke I saw myself in this kid… He was trying to handle so much weight… He was trying to do the same thing I did but what he was trying to do was on a bigger scale. I just tried to protect Mom and my sister… But he was trying to get the whole pack under his wing… “Like an alpha…” Zeus said with pride.

-Wait you did say that Sam had alpha blood and that we are strong… with that sentence you are referring to me and Sam?

-And me.

He said with a confident look.

-Don’t get the impression that I am a cry baby, it was just for a moment… In the next attack, I will help fight the wolves! I swear!

I got closer to him and patted his head.

-You are still young, if… If there's an attack here, you should guide pregnant members or other kids to the main house as refugees, not fighting with the warriors…

-I can fight I…

-You are a brave member and a strong one, that’s why we need you to help us protect the ones that are more vulnerable by taking them to the refugee and staying there so if the enemy brokes in you can protect them. The warriors and other members stay out of the main house, but what if an enemy enters and enters the t¿refugee, with just kids and pregnant members you would be their last hope. You are our secret weapon.

His eyes brightened up.

-I am going to be the secret weapon of the kingdom?

-Yes, so you better train and get stronger so everyone feels safe.

-I will I promise!

I wanted to ask about the attack he said happened before this one… I wanted to know more, but the kid had passed through a lot so I just walked back to the window and kept my eyes on the forest, waiting for my sister to appear.

-I am going back home…

The kid said.

-You can stay here, it’s already late and your arm must be hurting.

-It doesn't hurt at all.

He said.

-Well I don’t like to sleep alone, so you can stay in that bed and I will stay in the upper one.

-Okay, but just for tonight.

He said as he yawned and got back into bed. I continued watching the window until I saw Maria walking out of the forest. I exited the room and ran through the stairs. I had so many questions to ask her.