Chapter 277

Valerie’s POV

I didn’t think rebuilding a pack would feel this… overwhelming. Not talking of the walls and the roofs.Those are easy. Wood can be cut, stone can be stacked, nails can be hammered into place until something stands again.

It’s the people that are harder. I stand in the middle of the clearing, watching as people move back and forth carrying planks, tools, bundles of cloth.

From a distance… it almost looks normal but there’s a weight that wasn’t there before.

Like everyone is trying too hard.

Like if they stop moving, everything will fall apart again.

“It's going well, isn’t it?” Caelan’s voice comes from behind me.

I glance over my shoulder as he walks up, rolling his sleeves down his forearms. There’s dust o