THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 16 - ARRIVING

GABRIEL

We drove until we reached a city, it’s been years since I have come to the city. My Mom is the one that orders the food and the pack members are the ones that come here and purchase the food and clothes. We drove directly to where the plane was. I left the car and saw my dad taking an envelope from… a human? “Well, he does smell like a human.” Then my Dad came walking towards me. 

    -Inside this envelope, are all the legal documents Sam, Harvey, Simon and you could need. I’m also giving you some money and cards so you can pay with them or take more money out.

    -Why would we need that?

    -You don’t need it, the packs are taking care of everything, but your Mom insisted to give this to you in case you need it.

I took the envelope and then Dad handed me a suitcase.

    -In the suitcase is the money and the cards. I looked at the plane and Harvey was already walking inside, and Sam was hugging Maria.

    -Where is Simon?

    -He is already inside.

I nodded and walked towards my siblings.

    -Gabriel…

I turn to see my Dad.

    -I know you are going to do a great job out there, and your Mom…

    -You didn’t tell her, right?

    -I told her you were leaving tomorrow.

    -You are gonna get in trouble Dad.

    -I think I can manage, just come back in a month to check if she didn't kill me.

    -I will.

I saw Samm getting on the plane, and Maria cleaning some tears from her face. This was going to be the first time that I was going to be apart from her.

    -We will be back in no time.

    -I know, it’s just that the house is going to be really quiet without you.

I hugged her.

    -We will talk on the pane every day I promise. 

    -Take care Gabe, I know you are meant to do this but please call if anything happens or if you feel confused, and if you want to come back don’t think it twice, I will help you with everything I can.

    -Thank you.

    -And please take care of Sam, he is not that smart and gets in trouble really easily.

    -Don’t worry Harvey will keep an eye on him and I will be there also so he is going to be fine.

    -Remember he doesn't like raisins and he needs all the lights out to wake up in a good mood and…

I smiled, even though they fight constantly with each other they really love each other.

    -I will take care of everything, you stay safe and go visit Mom more often, she will need your company more than ever.

    -I will don’t worry.

I kissed her forehead and started walking up the stairs. As soon as I entered, a person closed the airplane door. I went and sat next to Sam. I looked at the window and saw Maria and Dad waving. Then the plane started moving.

    -Don’t worry Gabe, I talked to Eliot and he will keep an eye on Maria. 

    -Well, I think that she doesn't need an extra eye. Why does Eliot need to be living under the same roof as her? She is strong, capable, and…

    -You like her we all know.

Sam’s voice was irritated.

    -But I still would feel more comfortable if Eliot stays with Eva and Maria.

    -Because of their condition?

Harvey’s question made me turn back.

    -Stop it, Harvey, you know Eliot is not interested in Maria, and as you mention Maria and Eva have troubles shifting so if anything happens Eliot will be there for them.

I sighted. No one in the pack knows about Maria and Eva, and what they take. Mom didn’t want more members taking that choice so it was a secret from everyone else. The flight was quiet, Sam fell asleep and so did Harvey. When we landed as soon as I took a step out there were three members of the Shadow Pack waiting for us. We entered some cars and they took us away from the city to their pack land. When we finally arrived there was no one waiting for us, the ones that picked us up from the airport, took the things out of the cars and then left on the cars! leaving us in the middle of the woods with our luggage.

    -Maybe they live on the top of the trees?

Sam said as he lifted his sight up.

    -Wolves don’t live on trees… Or do they?

Harvey said. I turn and saw Simon yawning.

    -Simon can you track a trace of…

    -The scent of wolves is really strong right in front of us, so we should be close.

I took a sniff and he was right. We walked with our luggage for ten minutes and then we found a giant rock in front of us, it was the size of a mountain.

    -It appears the pack is over that rock.

    -And how are we supposed to clime that?

Harvey said with fear. The rock was really tall and there was not much space for us to climb it. I knew Zeus could do it, but could werewolf claws clime this?

    -Finn can do this without a problem.

Sam was full of confidence. “Gabe let us shift! I just made a bet with Finn and we must be the first one to arrive!” Sam looked at me with determination.

    -Enjoy been the second brother. 

He started to undress himself and Harvey picked the clothes from the floor I did the same and Simon was picking my clothes. 

-“You take Harvey, I will take Simon.” 

-” Okay!”

-” Simon get on my back, Harvey you are going with Sam.”

-Isn’t it better if I go with you, Gabe.

-Sorry pup, the alpha has spoken.

Said Simon as he sat on my back with me and his luggage.

    -” Grab yourself from me, this is going to get rough.”

I started climbing and could feel Simon having trouble to keep his grip.

    -” Don’t dare to let go, Simon!”

    -Trust me is the least I would like to.

The mountain was very steep and it was as if I wanted to get a grip on a rock with my claws, I needed to be in constant movement so the weight of my body wouldn’t bring us down. Zeus was having a hard time and I couldn’t blame him, I was also having a hard time and he was the one in control of the body right now. I was trying to see if Sam was doing okay, but he was so focused that he wasn’t answering thru the mind link. I could hear Harveys shouts off and on, so I knew they were still okay. Then Finn passed us, he started jumping and passed us just when we were about to get on the top. As he ended the climb he howled, a howl of victory. “Well that was amazing, he is indeed our brother.” “So, what do we lost Zeus?” “Nothing much, I just told him that if he arrived first he could have 3 days our share of the desert.” “It’s not that bad, and at least, he seems motivated now.” I shifted back and started dressing when two pack members arrived and bowed in front of Finn.

    -Gabriel it’s an honor to have you here.

Finn turned his head to look at me.

    -” They don’t know you are not a wolf?”

    -” That’s what it looks like.”

Finn gave them his back and started shifting back.

    -Sorry you got it all wrong, my oldest brother is Gabriel, my name is Sam.

He said completely naked and with a huge smile. The members were confused and they looked at me. Then a woman approached us. She was dressed in complete black and she looked old… not old gray hairs but old, just like my Dad.

    -You look just like your father when he was young.

    -You knew our Dad?

Sam asked.

    -Yes I knew him, I was part of the Royal pack until I found my mate and became the luna of the Shadow Pack.

“Is this the reason Dad wanted us to visit this pack first?” “I don’t know Zeus.”

    -Come follow me, we have a room ready for you.

I looked around and saw many females staring at me. “Gabe they are not staring at us, they are staring at our brother.” I turned my sight and indeed, Sam was still naked. I grabbed his clothes and threw them at him.

    -Put something on, we are being watched.

    -Well they can watch all they want.

    -Sam…

    -I’m on it!

He said as he started to dress up. I followed the luna into a house, it was big but it looked small in comparison to the royal packhouse. Then she opened a door.

    -Here we are hope you have a pleasant stay.

I looked around and there were only two twin beds inside.

    -I’m sorry, where are the rest of the rooms?

She turned and looked at me.

    -The rest? This is all we have available, in fact, two-pack members are staying on sleeping bags in the room next door so you could have their room during your stay.

She said and then left. I saw Sam arriving with the rest.

    -Well what are our rooms?

    -This one.

    -This is mine or yours?

    -We are sharing.

    -That’s okay.

    -This room is for the four of us.

    -WHAT? No that must be a Mistake brother, we can’t fit in there, I can share it with you but this is just too small for the four of us!

    -It’s what we got.

    -I will talk to the old lady so she can assign another room at least.

I grabbed his arm and stopped from walking away.

    -I said that this room will do.

I looked him directly into his eyes as I spoke. I saw Harvey and Simon entering the room with luggage. I let go of Sam and entered the room. I saw how the luggage occupied half of the available floor. “This is too small for all of us.” “You heard the Luna, there are already two members sleeping on the floor so we could have this room, we can’t have another two members sleep on the floor, just for our comfort.” Zeus was nervous, nothing had evolved as he thought it would. First, we were left in the middle of nowhere, then we are giving this small room.

    -Okay I think we can share the space if some sleep on the floor.

Sam said as he entered the room, but then he realized the floor was almost full with the luggage.

    -So we are putting the luggage outside blocking the hallway?

I said.

    -We can put half out and…

    -No Sam, you are sleeping with me, and Simon and Harvey are sharing the other bed.

I could see Sam’s face getting red with anger he just threw himself into the bed and looked at me with daggers.

    -Well you are the leader of this mission, what do we do next?

    -Nothing, we will wait for them to call us.

I sat on the bed next to Sam, and Harvey and Simon did the same in the other bed. Minutes passed, and no one was coming to get us. “Gabe I’m hungry.” I looked at the time and we were already waiting for an hour. I stood up. Gabe looked at me.

    -Did someone call us?

    -I will go out and see what is happening.

    -I will go with you.

Simon said as he stood up.

    -Good luck with that, call me if they serve food, and remember you owe me your deserts for three days, Gabe!

    -Yes.

I walked out and Simon was following me. I started looking around the house and it was just rooms and rooms. All the rooms looked just like the one we had, nothing was personalized, even the sheets were the same. I finally found the kitchen but it was really small, I looked for food but it was completely empty, nothing but spiderwebs and dust.

    -I don’t think they cook in this pack.

Simon’s voice distracted me.

    -If they don’t cook what do they eat?

    -They hunt.

    -And?

    -That’s it, they hunt.

    -At least they would cook the meat on the stove?

Simon walked at it and try to start the stove but nothing happened. 

    -It’s not even connected, and as you see they don’t have a fridge. So their diet is just what they hunt.

    -Don’t they get bored with the raw meat flavor?

    -You get used to it, it’s not that bad.

I heard steps approaching and saw Sam with a sleepy face and Harvey walking right behind him.

    -Did you found food? I’m starving.

    -We are hunting today.

I said.

    -I don’t feel like raw meat today, but you can go I will make a sandwich or something.

    -There is no human food here.

    -What? There should be at least a cereal? frozen waffles? Cookies? 

    -There’s nothing at all.

    -What? Not again, I don’t want to go back to just raw meat.

    -Again?

    -Yes before Mom came back that was mostly our diet, just hunting.

“So that’s why Simon said it’s not bad and that you get used to it, he also had this type of diet in the past!” “Then Zeus, we must try this diet.” I walked out of the kitchen.

    -Then let’s go hunting.

As we walked out I saw many females eying us.

    -What are they doing Simon?

    -They are checking you out, they know the future alpha hasn’t found his mate, so the unmated females have a chance to impress you, so they can become queen.

    -What? why would they want that?

    -Status, in the werewolf hierarchy it’s really important.

I was uncomfortable with all the looks I felt, and try to ignore them. “I don’t know how much of these I can bear Zeus.”