Chapter 29: Echoes of the Past

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. The Hollow felt different now — lighter, as if it had finally exhaled after years of holding its breath. Yet, beneath that fragile peace, Lucien could still feel something lingering, like an old scar that throbbed when it rained. Serena walked beside him, her boots crunching against the fallen leaves. She kept her hand intertwined with his, her thumb rubbing slow circles against his skin, grounding him in the present even as his mind lingered on the past. “We should rebuild it,” Serena said, her voice breaking the quiet as they reached the ruins of the old northern watchtower. The stones were weathered, half-buried in moss, a forgotten remnant of a time when the pack had feared more than just the forest. She crouched, brushing dirt off a broken stone, her fingers tracing a faint, carved rune. “Not because we’re expecting another fight, but because it’s smart to be prepared.” Lucien rubbed the back of his neck, squ