Chapter 57

"Holy--"

Whatever Brett had been saying was cut off when the small lighter Jo had been aiming at exploded. All of them ducked, except Ryker, who stepped in front of Jo, and Aaliyah, who pushed the boys farther back behind the lawn chairs.

For the past thirty minutes, members of the Monroe family had been finding things to put on the edge of the firepit so Jo could set them ablaze. While she couldn't explode anything on her own, Lexi seemed particularly good at finding things that would blow up. The biggest thing she had tossed a fireball at so far was an old beat-up toddler-sized wooden train engine toy that had been sitting at the edge of the yard. It was weather-worn and moldy, and Malcolm had been meaning to toss it anyways since the boys couldn't use it. It had mostly smoldered, but they had all enjoyed watching her hurl fireballs.

"Aren't you getting tired?" Ryker asked her, his fingers brushing against her lower back.

Jo shook her head. "Since we've been practicing so much, my stamina's gotten better."

"Don't pass out," Brett said, "I'm off the clock."

"Says the guy who wanted her to start with blowing up a tree," Ryker said, giving his brother an exasperated look.

"I didn't know her capabilities ok? I only asked once." Brett smiled at Jo, clearly trying to win her to his side. "You forgive me, right?"

Jo held her hands up. "I am so out of this argument."

"Actually, I think you're exactly in the center," Lexi said, practically skipping up to her. "This is the best secret ever," Lexi said quietly as the boys' conversation dissolved into some kind of semi-wrestling match with Brett's boys trying to climb on and join in the fun.

"I am sorry..."

"Don't," Lexi said, narrowing her eyes at Jo as she interrupted, "I probably would've done the same thing, I get it." They glanced over as Aaliyah came up to them.

"Hey, I'm going to bring the boys and Blake our leftovers for dinner. You guys want to help me pack it up?" They quickly agreed, heading inside and leaving the guys outside for a minute. Jo was on a strange energy buzz--likely the heady mix of sharing her secret and extended use of her fire powers--and she figured it wouldn't hurt to cool down a little bit.

Thinking about Blake was certainly a sobering thought.

"Hey," Aaliyah said, nudging her with an elbow as she scooped some spaghetti into tupperware. "He's a werewolf, he's healing just fine." It seemed like all of them could half read her thoughts...

The werewolves kept talking about how they healed quickly, but as Jo hadn't really seen a whole lot of evidence for herself, it was hard for her to believe sometimes. "You've seen him?" Jo questioned. For some reason she'd been thinking only people with leadership roles in the pack would be able to see him, but she guessed it wasn't like he was actually a prisoner or anything. Well, as far as she knew...

Ryker did have several guys keeping an eye on Blake, but she suspected that was mostly for his piece of mind.

"Just briefly this morning," Aaliyah said. "When I was bringing some supplies for Brett." She glanced at Jo and gave her a reassuring smile. "He was awake and seemed to be doing just fine, already grumbling about wanting to leave."

Jo grinned a little at that---that definitely sounded like perfectly normal werewolf behavior. As they put the lids on the containers, Aaliyah looked at her again. "Want to come with me and see for yourself?"

Jo hesitated for a split second. She knew--a big part of her knew--how much Ryker wouldn't like it. But the stubborn, independent part of her was determined that it shouldn't matter what Ryker thought. They weren't official...whatever yet. Blake obviously wasn't off limits to other pack members. And she could handle herself, as proven. She had every right to go.

"Yeah, actually," Jo said, pretending not to notice Lexi's smirk. "That'd be great."

After tossing everything for the guards and their prisoner in an insulated bag, Aaliyah and Jo headed out the door. Brett and Ryker had wound up in the front yard, talking about something that must've been mildly important because of the serious looks on their faces. Or it could've been fantasy football.

"Where are you going?" Ryker asked as Jo and Aaliyah moved toward Aaliyah's sporty SUV.

"We're dropping off food for your little squad and Blake," Aaliyah said nonchalantly.

Ryker immediately scowled. "We?"

"We," Jo said, flashing him an unamused expression. "Together. Us." She waved her hand back and forth between herself and Aaliyah. "Unless you think we can't handle it."

The war that raged across Ryker's face told her that he very much didn't want to disagree but he also didn't want her to go. He turned toward the woods and huffed and then glanced back toward her. "You really want to do this."

"I do," Jo said.

"It's not like you'll be alone," Aaliyah said to Jo, not paying much attention to Ryker. "I'll be there. Not to mention the others."

"They'll be fine," Brett said, nudging his brother with an elbow. "You worry way too much."

"And you're too laid back," Ryker said, his expression stony.

"Yes, you both have faults," Aaliyah said, "Why don't you two talk about that while we do something productive?" Her smile was bright and teasing, and Jo could see how she and Brett got along so well. They both had a good sense of humor, even if their styles of humor were different, and they were kind and caring people.

Ryker looked at Jo with a gaze that could best be described as tortured. And because, somehow, she already knew him so well, she knew what he needed. What she needed too.

"Can you start the car up?" Jo asked, glancing at Aaliyah. Aaliyah smiled and nodded, hooking her free arm through Brett's to drag him away. Jo moved over to Ryker, tugging at the arms he crossed over his chest until he gave in and wrapped them around her waist instead.

"I know," he grumbled quietly before she could speak. "But you know..."

"I know," she said, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. "But I have to show I'm capable of handling myself."

"Not to my family," Ryker protested.

"To the pack I do." They both knew various members of the pack were guarding Blake, and word would get around about her visiting. Or if she didn't. Ryker sighed, but his expression had faded into resignation. He was giving in.

"Trust me?"

Ryker grimaced. "You know I do. It's Blake..."

"Who injured who worse last time?"

At that, Ryker finally chuckled, resting his forehead against hers as his hands fell to her hips. "My fire girl." His eyes burned into hers as he glanced up, and she knew what he was really saying. I love you.

"My wolf man," she teased back, silently telling him the same thing. He groaned then kissed her forehead before stepping back. "You better go before I tie you up."

Jo couldn't resist. "Is that a promise?"

Ryker's eyes widened and Jo heard a shout of laughter from the other side of the car. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment--oops, she forgot about wolfy hearing.

"Troublemaker," Ryker said, grinning as he shook his head, eyes lit up now with mischief. "I'm going to remember you said that.

"You're in public!" Brett came around the car, his turn to look grumpy now.

"Sorry!" Jo laughed, taking off toward the car. She opened the door and hopped in, waving briefly to the guys as Aaliyah backed out.

"You think we were leaving for a dangerous yearlong war with no way to communicate, the way they're acting," Aaliyah muttered.

"You mean the way Ryker's acting?" Jo asked, rolling her eyes.

Aaliyah grinned. "No, Brett's just as bad too, he simply has years of practice hiding it."

"Great, so it doesn't get better."

"You're telling me you don't secretly love it?"

Fair point. "Well, as long as Ryker doesn't know."

Aaliyah laughed, because they both knew--if Ryker ever had an inkling that part of Jo loved his protectiveness and care for her, well, it would be the end.

They drove along without talking for a little while, the SUV rolling along the old dirt road that led back to the guest cabin while some kids song playing softly in the background. It was a not-too-annoying version of Old McDonald that shifted over to The Wheels on the Bus as Aaliyah broke the silence.

"So, this whole fire thing," Aaliyah said, "You've only been able to do it for a few months? You never showed any signs of it before?"

"Not that I noticed," Jo said. It felt weird to talk about it openly with someone besides Ryker but also sort of satisfying at the same time. Keeping that secret for all these months had been weighing on her, though Ryker had taken some of that burden. "At least, it's not like things were spontaneously combusting around me."

"That'd be awkward," Aaliyah said. She glanced over at Jo, her eyes warm and curious. "How much training have you done with it?"

"Ryker and I practice pretty much every morning," Jo said with a small smile. "Or I practice and he works out."

"Well, if you ever want to practice with someone else, I do a lot of shifting training for our pack," Aaliyah said. "I know it's different, but there are some techniques that we could see if they'd work for keeping your powers under control, too."

"I'd love that," Jo said eagerly. It'd be nice to hang out with Aaliyah, and learning new ways to control her powers would be useful. She thought she was pretty decent at it these days, but it didn't hurt to practice.

"Great," Aaliyah said with a grin. "We'll have to figure out a good time to meet up."

The drive to the guest cabin wasn't very long, and they were met by a wolf not long before the house came into view. Jo was pretty sure it was AJ, but since he and Lincoln were identical, it was hard to tell. This wolf seemed very business-like though.

Charlie came clattering down the steps as Jo and Aaliyah got out of the car. Sandy blond eyebrows rose in surprise as he noticed Jo. He glanced past them and then tried to make it look like he hadn't been looking around to see Ryker. "What's for dinner?"

"Italian," Aaliyah said, pulling the insulated bag out of the SUV. "How's Blake?"

"Annoying," Charlie said cheerfully. "Really, really annoying. Lincoln was threatening to kill him again just about thirty minutes ago, so that's where we are. And Lincoln had to take a break."

Aaliyah smirked. "Well, don't let him get under your skin."

"Tell that to Lincoln."

"Too late for that," Lincoln grumbled as he shoved open a window from the inside where he'd been guarding the living area. He propped his elbows on the windowsill, eyes fixed on the cooler bag Aaliyah was holding. "Dinner?" He held out his hand expectantly and quickly added when Aaliyah sent him a sharp look. "Please?"

"Hmm." Aaliyah laughed and started unloading the containers, handing them out. Jo grabbed one and straightened up. "I'll take this in to Blake." The boys immediately looked at her, shifting uncomfortably as a glance passed between them.

"You're welcome to come with me," Jo said, iron creeping into her tone. "But I am going in."

Charlie's eyes widened and he quickly moved to hold open the door for her.

"Did she just Alpha tone us?" Jo thought she heard Lincoln mutter to Aaliyah behind her. She wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but she had a pretty good idea, and so when she opened the door to Blake's room it was with a trace of a smile still on her face.

"Hi, Blake."