THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 05 - EIGHTEEN BIRTHDAY

GABRIEL

I wake up to the sight of Mom with a cake and Eva, Nelson, Kevin, and Elliot in my room singing Happy Birthday. I could hear Dad singing with Chris, Brittany, Sabrina, Ivory, and Harvey in Maria’s room. Mom suddenly stopped singing and walked near my bed, she let out a big scream, Eva grabbed the cake and Mom jumped out of the window. I rolled my eyes and looked at Eva.

-Sam is not in his bed, right?

-There are only pillows there.

-He had to do this on our birthday.

I saw Elliot already biting the cake he was holding.

-Is that my cake?

-No, this is Sam’s cake.

-Then you can have it.

Eva was looking at me, and I swear her eyes were about to take heart shapes.

-Is there something I can do for you, Eva?

-Do you see something different in me?

She said with a full smile on her face.

-That you are trying to steal my cake?

She walked closer to me.

-Come on Gabe, please…

I sighed and closed my eyes, I took a deep breath and I could smell her scent, but there was just that, same as always vanilla with some hints of mint.

-No, nothing different.

She sat on my bed, then she looked at me.

-Well, I think on my birthday you will notice.

She smiled, I saw Elliot and he was also smiling, then I heard the door opening and saw Lucas with Xavier. They came running into my bed and almost smashed Eva. She was fast enough to evade them and save the cake, but Lucas snatched it and started eating it.

-You came to see me or to eat the cake?

-Both.

He said with his mouth full of cake. Eva let out a tantrum and left the room.

-She is pretty. Who was she?

Lucas was looking at Eva… Do I feel jealous? Uncomfortable?

-She is none of your incumbency, and give me my cake back you are finishing it!

-No please, I will never ask again!

He said as he engulfed the rest of the cake! I was… I didn’t even taste my birthday cake!

-Didn’t your Mom tell you why we are all here?

Xavier said, with some fear in his voice. I was still shocked about the cake issue, but if my Mom called them there must be something on her mind… I looked at Lucas, who was currently licking the plate.

-Well your Mom organized a party and all the unmated warriors and strong females are here.

Xavier said.

-So Jayden and Emile…

-They have a mate already, so they weren’t called.

I was confused. Lucas looked at me.

-I’m here for the food, but the rest of my pack is either interested in your sister or in you.

-What?

-They are hoping to be your mate or your sister’s, right Xavier?

I looked at Xavier and he let out a low whimper. He lowered his head and instantly Lucas opened the door of my room and he walked away. Lucas closed the door and looked at me firmly.

-Don’t look at him like that, he really thinks of you as a friend, but you just looked at him as if you were going to kill him.

-THEY ARE TRYING TO STEAL MY SISTER!

-What if they decide to stay in your pack? Then you wouldn’t be afraid of her living, would you, right?

He had a point… But still, my sister was not going to be played around.

-You are probably making up stories in your head, but Xavier is a good friend and a good man, anyone in my pack is, and they would give their life for you or anyone in your family, so you should feel honored by that fact.

I took a deep breath.

-Let’s just think of that if it happens… Now I would like to go and see what my mom made for breakfast.

-Yeah, about that, you aren’t allowed to be out, your mom has all day prepared and asked me to keep you in your room until the party for tonight.

-A party?

-More like a match party…

-How did you accept that?

He looked at the other side… and that’s when I understood it.

-All the food you can eat…

-With homemade cake Gabe. I couldn’t say no to that… She is even making cheesecake brownies.

I had to admit that those are really good… And my mom knew Lucas very well so of course, she was playing the food card. I laid down on my bed and just closed my eyes. Wishing this day could go to an end faster. I stayed in my room and by midday Sam was found and ended up back in our room, but mom tied him so he was sitting and tied into a chair. He was laughing about it, well he laughs almost about anything… The day was actually great, Xavier came back and we played video games and ate food… I stopped eating when I saw how many brownies Lucas was eating. He said that he didn't feel like throwing up, but I did feel like it so I stopped eating and just drank water for the rest of the day. I actually forgot all that mom had planned and enjoyed myself… Until I saw her opening the door with a big smile.

-Guys you should dress up and prepare yourselves for the big night!

Xavier stood up and bowed, I saw Lucas and he was as fat as he could be, I’m surprised Lucas hadn't exploded with everything that he ate.

-I’m dead Mrs. Miller.

-I can see that Lucas…

-I will go and get ready.

Xavier left the room and Mom looked at Sam that was still trapped on the chair.

-I will untie you, but if you dare… Hear me Samuel Miller if you dare to run away I will cut all of your precious hair with my own claws.

Sam gulped, he didn’t care about many things but his hair was his treasure.

-Okay Mom I promise I will behave.

-That’s my baby boy.

Mom untied Sam and he went into the bathroom as fast as he could.

-I want you and your brother in a black-tie attire okay?

-Yes, Mom!

She smiled at my answer and left the room. I looked at Lucas and he was sleeping. When Sam finally left the bathroom I entered and tried to be ready as fast as I could. I couldn’t make Sam wear the bow tie or the vest, but I did make him comb his hair back so the look could be more appropriate. As we were finishing Mom opened the door, she was wearing a blue dress and had her hair down.

-YOU BOTH LOOK SO GORGEOUS!

Then she took our hands and I saw my Dad walking with Maria by his arm, going down the stairs. I heard claps, Then my mom walked down with us, I was on her right arm and Sam on the left. Then I saw all of the pack clapping and Maria and Dad all dress up also. I didn’t see anyone that wasn’t from our pack, or the young ones… But mom was happy and I didn’t want to say anything. The night went more peacefully than I thought, my mom made a feast, and everyone sang happy birthday to us three cakes were set up and this time I did try mine, and it was delicious. When it was getting late I saw some pack members kind of getting sleepy so I was hoping mom would say we were ready to go back to our room. She took a champagne cup and started looking around, she didn’t have to even make a sound and everyone was already raising their cups and getting quiet for her to talk. “Mom’s amazing.” Zeus was as amazed as I was… The devotion the pack has to the Luna is even bigger than to their alpha king.

-I want to say thanks to all of you here, we are a family, and we care for each other, and for that, I will owe you for the rest of my life your love for my family, your love for my three beautiful kids…

Tears started to appear in my mom’s eyes, and dad hugged her by the waist and she sighted, while she cleaned her tears.

-Sorry I’m getting emotional… but as I was saying thanks for all of your support during this trip called life. Today my babies turn eighteen years old and they are old enough to find mates and…

Now the tears were rivers and she was even having trouble breathing. My dad hugged her and she hid her head on his chest.

-Sorry everyone, but this is a hard moment, our only three children turn eighteen today… It’s hard to lose your three kids…

I saw my dad’s eyes and I knew he was about to lose it just like my mom. I walked to them and put my hand on his shoulder.

-Hi everyone, I don’t know if it’s taboo to do your own birthday toast or not, but as you can see my parents are… kind of getting under pressure so I think I speak for all my family, that our loyalty and our hearts belong here and we couldn’t be prouder or thankful for the people that surrounded us, we hope to keep living up to the expectations you have on placed on us.

I raised my cup that had water because mom was pretty strict about the alcohol on minors.

-A TOAST TO ALL OF YOU AND FOR A LIFE TOGETHER!

Everyone cheered and clinked cups. Mom and Dad hugged me and Maria and Sam joined the hug. Then Mom cleaned her tears and looked at all the packs.

-It’s time for my kids to go and join the youth.

Everyone started clapping. I looked at my siblings, they seemed as confused as me. My mom took my hand and Sam’s hand and started walking out. I saw my dad looking at her and she stopped walking.

-Really Zac?

She let out our hands and walked away and took Maria’s hand.

-You take the guys then!

She stormed off with Maria while my dad was about to cry… Again… “Can’t we just go back to our room?” “I will try Zeus.”

-Dad you don’t have to take us anywhere, can we just go back to our room? We can tell Mom we went…

-She would kill me if I don't take you to the party she planned…

-But you didn’t want to take Maria…

-It’s different, Gabe… She is my baby.

-She is just seconds younger than me Dad.

-Five minutes is a great difference, Sam. When you have your own kids you will understand this pain.

I saw a carp in the garden and my dad stopped walking.

-Just go in there I will see you enter, and won't move until you are inside.

Sam looked at me with some kind of fear, and he should, I had the same feeling… Mom could have done anything, so every step was getting my heart beat harder and faster. When we entered it was worse than my worst nightmares, Sam got closer to my ear.