THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 20 - PEACE...

GABRIEL

I felt the plane landing and I opened my eyes. Everyone else was awake and Sam was arguing with Harvey. I looked down and saw a desertic panorama. “I don’t like that climate.” “Let’s stay positive Zeus, we need to create a good impression in this pack.” We got out of the plane and some pack members were already waiting for us. The small car, the lack of interest in our visit started feeling like a deja vu. I tried to stay positive and smile, but as soon as we arrived the atmosphere was just as in the shadow pack. I was already feeling defeated, this pack turned out to be just like the last one… Well at least for me, Sam is having the worst time in here, we found out that the females were the ones stealing his clothes, and in this pack, the harassment was worst for him, they looked at him all the time, they tried to speak with him all of the time, they dressed in small pieces of clothes, they were just so desperate to gain his attention it was awkward for all of us. Sam liked it at first but now he was tired and I could say scared of the females, they were going nuts. We could only bear for two days there and moved into the next pack, which turned just like the last one, and the next one was just the same. Now we were at pack number 5. It had a large pine forest surrounding it. This pack was better than the last ones, that shallow aura that was present in the others wasn’t here. Small kids played, the young pups were training and the Alpha and the Luna were expecting their second child, so the pack was happy. “I like this pack.” “So do I, Zeus now we can actually prove ourselves to the kingdom.” We were taking the morning patrol and the wolves of this pack didn’t seem to mind Zeus' lion form, they saw us just as if we were a wolf.

-” Gabe, let's go back, I'm starving!”

This was the ten-time Sam complained, it was already late and we hadn't had anything for breakfast, and to tell the truth, I was also hungry.

-” Okay, let’s go back.”

The 2 pack members and the rest of my team followed me until we were close to the main house. This pack had small houses for everyone, even the Alpha had a house just for him, but they ate on tables outside. There was a city close, so the number of animals to hunt was low, so their diet was mostly human food, which I appreciated. The Alpha’s food tasted delicious and most of the pack members also knew how to cook, they prepared food, and then they shared their food so every meal was like a buffet. When we arrived some dishes were already empty.

-There are no more biscuits!

Sam shouted, he was still naked meanwhile we tried to dress. I took some shorts and threw them at his face.

-Dress up and stop complaining.

-We didn’t forget you.

The Alpha took a tray full of biscuits.

-I love you!

Sam jumped and hugged the Alpha. They both laughed and Sam took one biscuit, put it in his mouth, and then took one on each hand. I just rolled my eyes. We all ate, and as soon as I finished I went with the Alpha and heard the ideas of the pack members. This pack trained one time per week, this was not a pack of warriors, they live in their own bubble. They have never sent one warrior into the Royal pack, they did go to train but just one time. They are more focused on drawing maps and land strategies. It was a different experience but this was way easier to understand and they were trying to explain to me their form of doing things without treating us like outsiders. Then the Alpha went to prepare lunch, but I continued talking with some of the members. I wasn’t that hungry, the late breakfast let me skip lunch. After they all went I stayed in the office reading the papers. They had many maps of their territory that were so detailed, they knew their territory like the palm of their hand. I was amazed, this pack had everything covered. Then I heard a strange sound outside.

-” GABE SOMETHING IS WRONG!”

I stood up and ran outside, I saw wolves shifting and so did I. As soon as I shifted I started looking for Sam. I saw Simon’s wolf.

-” Where is Sam?”

-” He is with the others, follow me!”

I ran and then I saw a wolf bleeding and limping.

-” They are not sure but apparently some trespassers appeared and are attacking the houses.”

-” They are not sure?”

I was confused, how they can’t be sure! We kept running and indeed there was a fight and kids were crying, Sam was fighting 3 wolves, Harvey was fighting 2 and the rest of the pack… They were just so out of shape. I started helping pack members, but it was hard, these wolves don't smell like rouges, they were a pack. “Why is a pack attacking another pack?” “Don’t know Zeus, let’s try to find their Alpha and capture him so the attack stops and we can have some answers.” We kept fighting, Zeus was just breaking legs, with two broken legs the wolf was out of battle, so that was what we were doing. One by one, they were strong but their fighting style was not the one I knew. They were not part of our Kingdom, their scents… I couldn’t smell them. I was getting dizzy with every wolf I bit. Then I saw a big wolf, he was cream color and his abilities looked superior to the rest of the wolves. “He must be the Alpha Zeus!” Zeus started running towards him but he started running into the forest. He was fast. Then I heard noises back in the houses, but I was close to the strange Alpha so I didn’t go back, he kept running. Finally, I was getting close to him and then I saw at least 10 wolves appearing through the forest. The cream wolf stopped and turned around, he had black fur on his face making it look like a mask. His bronze eyes were looking directly at me. I looked around and the wolves were surrounding me. I was feeling the pressure, I knew I could fight probably 4 wolves at the same time, but not ten, definitely not ten. Zeus didn’t flinch, he stood his ground and then let out a loud growl. Some wolves did back up a bit and he took the chance and run for the Alpha, as we jumped on him I saw Sam, Harvey, and Simon appearing, Sam started fighting and the rest did the same, now with them fighting the other wolves I was fighting the Alpha I bit his paw and pressure it, I was waiting for the sound of the bone-breaking when a loud sound came from the forest. Zeus was startled and the cream wolf took the opportunity and kicked us in the nose making us lose grip and pushing us off him. Then the cream wolf started running again. We took some seconds before we could follow him, my mind was getting blurry, the kick probably affected us. I kept trying to get hold of the cream wolf, my vision was getting blurry by the second, I heard Sam’s howl and I knew he was following me. Zeus also heard it and he gained confidence, we ran faster. Finally, we caught up with the cream wolf, my vision was still blurry but I was not going to back off. The cream wolf was against a huge rock and there was no place for him to run, I ran into him but suddenly I felt another wolf tackling me on the side. When I was about to attack the wolf that tackled me a wave of extreme heat appeared. I had to close my eyes, I felt the air burning my lungs. When it finally disappeared I opened my eyes and Saw Finn over me. Zeus pushed Finn's body so we could stand.

-” WHY DID YOU DO THAT I ALMOST GOT THE CREAM WOLF!”

As I shouted at him I looked around... the whole place was completely burned, the grass, the trees everything was black, a few flames were still lingering but the rest was already ashes.

-” What happened here?”

I was confused, I looked around and the cream wolf was no longer around. Finn stood up and looked around just as I did.

-” I don’t know what happened but..”

He looked at the sky and then started running towards the burned trees. I was about to follow him but I felt Simon on the link.

-” GABE WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM!”

I saw Finn’s silhouette disappearing. “Gabe Finn is strong, he can handle it, we must go. Onyx also contacted me and he seems worried, I think Harvey went into a shock.” “Okey Zeus, let's go.” We started running back to where the houses were. As we arrived I saw chaos and many wolves going crazy, painful howls were everywhere. I tried to understand what was going on, I saw Onyx and ran to him.

-” Harvey what happened?” “Harvey?”

He wasn’t answering me. “Zeus is Onyx answering?” “Yes but what he says doesn’t make sense, he is just trying to contact Harvey, but he isn’t answering even to him.” I was worried for him but the pack was in chaos I couldn’t stay and see what was happening to him, I tried to find someone and then I finally saw the Alpha of the pack.

-” Alpha what happened here?”

The wolf looked at me and his eyes were full of sadness. He didn’t answer, he just howled with the rest of the pack. I saw Simon in human form, he was leaving a house.

-” Simon what happened?”

He looked at me and then he sat. on the stairs.

-We… We failed. When we were fighting everything seemed right, but when you left I just couldn’t let you go alone, it was my duty to protect you and when we saw wolves leaving the fight we knew they were going to attack you… Sam left following them immediately, and Harvey and I didn’t have a chance and we also left the pack fighting alone. When we were fighting you and Sam disappeared so as soon as we took the wolves out we had to come back and help the pack, but it was too late, the pack lost many kids and at least ten members. They didn’t know how to fight, I knew that and I still left them…

Simon cried, and then a low howl started to appear inside the house Simon just left. It was a painful howl, then I understood that the howls were for losing someone, they were departure howls. At that moment pain instantly hit my chest, it was as if part of my heart was ripped off. I looked around and understood this was the pain of the pack, the pain of being torn, of all the loss they are suffering. I couldn’t move, the pain was strong and I still needed to absorb what happened. Then I saw the Alpha shifting back into his human form. Then he kneed and lowered his head until it touched the ground.

-I’M SORRY EVERYONE. I FAILED YOU.

The whole pack got quiet, and all of the eyes turned to the Alpha that was still there on the ground. Then I saw the Luna, she had a scratch on her arm and had dry blood on her clothes, she walked to where the Alpha was and also knelt, her belly impeding her to go lower. As soon as the Alpha saw her he tried to get her up, but she still didn’t flinch.

-I also failed everybody, I wasn’t able to protect the kids and…

She was crying so hard that it was hard to understand her. Then a Female walked to them and also tried to get the Luna up, and then more and more members joined her to try to get the Luna up. It was a soulful scene, I could feel the love of the pack, the feelings of sadness, loss, love solidarity were mixing together. I knew this pack was going to pass all of it together, their bond was strong. Then I saw Harvey, he was shifting back into his human form. I looked and saw some clothes on the ground. I shifted back and grabbed the clothes, I passed some to Harvey and I also started to dress.

-Harvey are you alright?

-I can’t deal with this Gabe… I don’t want to do this anymore.

-What are you saying?

-I can’t be a wolf, I can’t be a warrior I just can’t!

I saw how some pack members looked at us, the least we need is to add problems, so I grabbed Harvey by his arm and pulled him into the forest, so we were away from the curious eyes and the pack couldn’t hear what we were going to say.

-This is not your fault Harvey, this pack doesn’t know how to fight, and…

-But I knew! And still, I couldn’t do anything to prevent it!

-You helped many of them and...

-Many isn’t enough, I trained for all these years to protect all of them, not just some! Then why are we training?

I could feel his voice, he was scared and anxious and there was something else… but I wasn’t sure what it was.

-Harvey calm down, we can’t save all of them.

He pushed me back, I was startled by his action.

-YOU SAY THAT! BUT YOUR MOM DID SAVE EVERYONE!

-Harvey calm down…

-If your parents and my parents were here this wouldn’t have happened, we are nothing compared to them, we don’t deserve to be even part of the royal pack! We can’t help all of the kingdoms, we are just mere normal wolves!

-Harvey stop thinking like that even if my parents and your were here the situation…

-Would have been so different Gabe, we need to stop pretending, we aren’t sure what we are doing, and you try to stay calm but you are lost! We all know it, we left 4 packs until you finally felt comfortable! This mission is already a fail! And now it’s not only the mission but we even failed when the first pack that we visited actually cared for us! We let them down! We did nothing!

Harvey was getting anxious by the second and I was getting angry at his words, I knew he was not being himself… but what he was saying has hurt me and I felt as if he was disrespecting my authority and knowledge. I tried to stay calm, I knew that an outburst on my part would just complicate things.

-Harvey calm down…

-But…

-You see the adults as perfect, well they are not! Mom had to make sacrifices, you think she saved everyone she did not, she had a big loss that day. Believe me, not even our parents can save everyone.

-You don’t get it!

-STOP THAT ATTITUDE HARVEY IT WASN’T A BIG DEAL!

I heard steps and saw Simon.

-Don’t shout, he needs time.

Harvey looked at Simon and then he started running between the trees. I was going to follow him but Simon stopped me.

-He needs time, don’t take at heart what he is saying…

-IT WAS JUST A FIGHT IT WASN’T…

-It was his first real fight.

-What?

-Think about it, you did participate in the invasion of the Wendigos, but he… he kept hidden with the pregnant females and the kids, he didn’t participate. This was the first time he experienced it in his own flesh.

-But this fight wasn’t as bloody or awful as the…

-When we returned… The situation wasn’t good, the pack was losing and the other wolves were killing at pleasure, they had penetrated the safe house and kids were running and crying everywhere. One of the kids ran to his mother but a wolf attacked the mother and Harvey just acted…

-That’s the reason we train to protect…

-The wolf was killed, Harvey killed the wolf and it shifted while he was still attacking. It was a young boy, not more than twenty years old.

-WHAT? But…

-He then just stood there he disconnected himself, he didn’t move anymore until you came back and everything was finished he shifted into his human form. He wasn’t ready for that, no one is ready for their first kill.

I was confused and ashamed, I didn’t know how to help Harvey. I had just one real fight before, I remember being covered in blood but I never actually knew for sure if I killed someone and the wolves that I fought were not… In their mind, they were rogues and… I just sat on the ground and grabbed my head with my hands.

-Harvey is right Simon, I don’t know what I’m doing or what I’m supposed to do. I thought I had it all resolved and that I knew everything that I needed but I don’t…

-No one is born knowing you need to…

-No Simon, for the first time I feel that I don’t deserve the Alpha King position, I’m just not cut for that, all of my decisions have brought nothing but trouble, I should have listened to the first pack and just let Sam have the position. Anyone could do a better job than me.