Chapter 41 : A Double-Edged Sword

*Gemma* Kael and I followed Izar to the next empty house over after our company was dismissed to share a meal with the other shifters hidden somewhere in Cargan. Though I was desperate for food, and I knew Kael was too, we were more interested in securing the next steps in Izar's plan. It was mind-boggling. I was now willingly walking into a secret resistance. We sat across from the Nightguard Alpha on a plush rug, Kael's hand on my knee. Although it was unnecessarily protective, I enjoyed it. "Right," Izar said, propping his forearms on his own knees, "catch me up. Start at a year ago." After Kael regaled him with this past year's events, he repeated once more what happened after he was kidnapped by Hazel. With every word my mate said, I sank deeper into sorrow and guilt. Every single day he snuck out wearing an ugly black wig to gather supplies for his pack, and do everything in his power—which wasn't much—to keep his packmates' morals lifted by making sure everyone wa