CHAPTER 49 - THE SECRETS WE CARRY

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Upon hearing the man's words, I quickly changed into something more modest and followed Egon down the hallway. We hurried through the castle's corridors, our pace picking up as we finally stepped outside. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as we weaved through the town's winding streets.

The urgency in our steps didn't go unnoticed, as several shifters turned their heads in surprise as we rushed past them. Some even left their tasks behind to follow us, intrigued by our haste.

By the time we arrived at the entrance gates a large crowd had already gathered. Impatient murmurs filled the air as people were craning their necks to see what was happening at the front.

When we approached, the mass of people instinctively parted, forming a narrow path for us to pass through. I could feel their gazes on us as we made our way forward.

A line of tall shifters stood in formation before the open gate, forming a barrier between the townspeople and whatever lay beyond the gates. Among them, I recognised Hamlin and his eldest son, Khai, their postures firm and alert. As Egon and I reached them, the shifters stepped aside, revealing the sight they had been concealing.

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart sank at the sight.

A huge crowd of humans stood huddled together, their eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. Many looked gaunt, their cheeks hollow, while their clothes were tattered and stained with mud, blood, and filth. Some wore shoes with gaping holes, others had none at all. I could see the pain etched on their faces, their eyes darting nervously as if expecting danger to strike at any moment.

Amongst the crowd, my eyes fell on a familiar face at the front of the group.

Runelda.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward, wrapping my arms tightly around her. She returned the embrace just as fiercely, and when I pulled back, my eyes flicked to the weary crowd behind her. "What happened?"

"It's a long story," Runelda replied, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "I'll tell you everything. But we've been on the road for so long. You said Amsellhein was safe... Do you think— Can we stay here? Even if it's only for a while?"

"Of course," I answered without hesitation. "You can stay as long as you need to."

My gaze shifted towards Egon, unsure if I had spoken out of turn, but his immediate nod reassured me. He turned to the shifters standing around us, their imposing presence only amplifying the fear among the anxious crowd. He quickly gave them orders to return to their homes, leaving only a few high-ranking shifters behind.

Egon then turned to Runelda. "We recently constructed new homes in the eastern part of our city. You and your people can stay there if they want."

Runelda gave him a grateful nod, the tension in her shoulders easing visibly. "Thank you, Alpha."

She turned to the group of people behind her, gesturing for them to follow her. Slowly, almost reluctantly, they obeyed, their limbs stiff with fatigue and their eyes still wary of their surroundings.

I turned to Runelda as we followed Egon. "Where's Gaspard? Weren't you looking for him?"

Runelda's gaze drifted over the crowd. "He's here, somewhere. He's been helping those who are sick and the ones struggling to keep up."

I nodded as Egon began leading us towards a part of Amsellhein I had never ventured into before. The streets, once bustling with life, were eerily quiet now, with the shifters retreating into their homes after Egon's command.

As we moved further from the city centre, the tightly packed houses gradually gave way to more open spaces of fields and greenery.

We stopped by a river, its waters flowing gently under a stone bridge that led to a cluster of homes on the other side.

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