All Chapters of What Survived The Burn: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Loria’s POVThe pain had finally faded, but my body felt wrung out—like I’d run for days and then drowned. My head rested against Simon’s shoulder as he sat beside me on the bed, our hands intertwined. His thumb brushed slow circles over my skin, grounding me.But I wasn’t looking at him.Neither was Zerina.“Watch them,” she whispered.I was already doing just that.Andy and his Mamaw moved like they’d done this a hundred times—maybe they had. The table under the north window was now covered in items I couldn’t name: bundles of herbs, candles in thick glass jars, tiny vials filled with iridescent dust, a mortar and pestle carved with runes I didn’t recognize.Andy grabbed a handful of crystals—white quartz, bloodstone, smoky obsidian—and moved with quick, purposeful steps, tossing one into each corner of the room. They landed without sound but shimmered the second they touched down.His Mamaw—Audrey—watched him with sharp eyes. The kind of eyes that had seen war, famine, magic, and b

Loria’s POVI sat in the front seat of the SUV, my hands folded over the swell of my belly, fingers tracing slow, unconscious circles against the fabric of my shirt. The world outside the windshield looked dim and half-formed in the early dawn light, headlights catching glints of dew on the grass. But I wasn’t really seeing any of it.Audrey walked in slow, deliberate circles around the car, whispering words I couldn’t hear—words that didn’t sound like English. Her eyes had that far-off, otherworldly look again. Like she was staring into something the rest of us couldn’t see. The bones threaded into her hair clacked together with each step, the sound oddly soothing in its steadiness.Simon stood about five feet away, his arms folded tightly across his chest, speaking low and fast to Caleb and Matt. I couldn’t hear his words either, but his body was tense, all restrained motion. I could feel Zyan just under his skin. Still angry. Still coiled.In the back row, Amy leaned over Anthony’s

Amy’s POVAmy followed Agatha down the hallway without a word.The witch’s presence was powerful, but not in an overwhelming way. It was quiet power—like moonlight instead of fire. Amy didn’t trust her yet, but she also didn’t feel afraid. Her wolf, Polly, was calm. Alert, but calm.Agatha stopped in front of a door and opened it without ceremony.Amy pushed the stroller gently inside, expecting something sparse and practical. She stopped short.The room looked like it had been dreamed up by Anthony himself.It was entirely forest-themed, with gentle greens and browns coating the walls. Delicate, glowing mushrooms were painted into the corners, some of them flickering faintly with real light. Tiny dinosaurs—realistic but soft-edged—peeked out from between painted trees, hiding under leaves and in tall grass. The bedding was thick and cozy, covered in a jungle pattern with little embroidered dinosaurs roaming across it. His small dino suitcase and the matching duffle bag were already s

Simon’s POVThe house was quiet.The kind of quiet that settled into your bones. That hummed with peace and protection, like a blanket pulled gently over the soul. Loria was already asleep, her breath soft and even as she lay curled on her side. One hand rested over her belly, the other loosely clutched the edge of the blanket.I watched her for a long moment, letting the stillness anchor me.She hadn’t slept like this in weeks. Maybe longer.Zyan stirred in the back of my mind, content but alert. She needed this.I nodded silently and stepped away, moving into the small sitting area just off the bedroom. The floor was warm beneath my feet, the windows glimmering with faint moonlight. I pulled my phone from my pocket and tapped Matt’s name.It rang twice before a voice answered—but not Matt’s.“Hey, Alpha,” Caleb said. His voice was calm but alert. “Matt’s sleeping. I took his phone while he’s out. Figured you'd check in.”I ran a hand through my hair and dropped onto the arm of the c

Simon’s POVI barely had time to react.Loria’s voice was still ringing in my ears, sharp and full of command: “Simon get Audrey, we need to have this baby now!”She was shaking, heart pounding through our bond, and the baby—our baby—kicked so forcefully even I felt it like a ripple of fate.I bolted from the room, heart thundering, but I had no idea where Audrey slept.“Audrey!” I called into the empty hallway. “Audrey, I need you—Loria needs you!”I turned blindly, feet pounding down the corridor, every door identical. I didn't even bother knocking. I just shouted. “She’s going into labor!”Then—A door at the far end of the hall burst open. Audrey stepped into view barefoot, her long robe fluttering around her like mist. Her eyes glowed faintly with power.“I felt it,” she said breathlessly, already walking toward me. “The whole house felt it. That kind of magical surge doesn’t go unnoticed.”As if to prove her point, more doors began to open one by one. Curious, concerned faces—w