Chapter 56

"You don't have to tell them if you don't want to."

Jo looked into the mirror to meet Ryker's eyes. She had taken a careful shower and was currently doing her best to comb out her messy hair while ignoring the ache in her shoulder. The clothes she was wearing had been borrowed from Lexi, just like the comb. Eventually she was going to have to go home.

"It's all right," she said, offering him a half-smile, "I promise, I do want to tell them."

Ryker frowned. He was in the doorway to the bathroom, his eyes stormy. "You're sure."

"Very sure." She set the comb down and judged herself in the mirror. Eh, decent. Her hair was still damp, but she didn't want to ask about a hair dryer right now. Lexi was a bit grouchy.

Ryker came forward and picked up the comb, their eyes meeting in the mirror as he asked a silent question. Jo shrugged but nodded, and he slowly drew it through her hair.

Okay, you could tell the man had spent some time combing his younger sister's hair for her.

Jo tilted her head back, eyes closing in pleasure at the soft scrape against her scalp. She'd been doing her own hair for so long it surprised her how good this felt. Not to mention it was so much easier to have someone else do this while her shoulder hurt.

Ryker placed a kiss against her neck as he combed, then another, then...

Jo laughed, opening her eyes. "That's not combing."

"Let me take care of you my way," Ryker grumbled, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her back against his chest in a sort of hug.

"Your way isn't very productive."

"But it's much more enjoyable," he said with a smug look as he moved her hair behind her ear to kiss the sensitive spot below her ear. Jo shivered, suddenly finding the need to clutch his arm to stay upright instead of leaning against him. Ryker chuckled softly against her ear, the warm air heightening her sensitivity.

"Ryker," she growled, pushing at his arm. "Now is not the time! We're about to go have a serious talk with your family."

"Dinner isn't even ready yet."

"I can smell it already, so that means it's close!"

He sighed and pressed his forehead against her head for a moment. "We could skip dinner."

Jo couldn't help but laugh. "And how would that help anything, exactly?

"I mean, I'd be happy with the arrangement."

Jo rolled her eyes and pushed at his arm again. "Well, sometimes, and I know this is going to come as a shock for you, it's not all about you."

Ryker snorted. "I know you're teasing, but I never said it was about me. I'm more concerned about you here."

"I think your family can handle the news," she said, sliding out from his grasp as he loosened up. "Like I said earlier, they should know what I'm capable of."

"I hope you're capable of handling a lot of questions," Ryker said, setting down the comb he had still been holding. "They're going to be curious."

"Sort of expected that," Jo said, feeling less chipper than she was trying to force herself to sound. She wanted everything to go relatively smoothly. This was Ryker's family, but...it was also going to be hers, one day. Or now. It was hard to say with all this werewolf stuff, but she was starting to feel accepted by them. She didn't want that feeling to go away just because she was changing the dynamic a little bit. Maybe they would be happy that she could help protect them or at least protect herself.

They finally went down to dinner, Ryker's hand resting against her back as they entered the dining room area. For her comfort or his, she wasn't sure. It looked like Lexi was the main chef, busily ordering her two sous chefs, Brett and Malcolm, around. Aaliyah was currently coaching Conner and Talon on setting the table, with limited success.

"Can I help?" Jo asked, giving Aaliyah an amused look.

"You might need to straighten the napkins after Talon sets them," Aaliyah said with a quiet laugh as she eyed her youngest. Jo grinned as she also turned to watch the three-year old drop a napkin cheerfully in front of a chair, pat it, and then move on to the next place setting.

Hey, she was impressed he knew to put it in front of a chair.

"Got it," Jo said, leaning forward to quickly fold it. Behind her, Ryker moved into the kitchen to assist in finishing up dinner. It looked fairly simple-spaghetti, bread, and salad, but he had mentioned about his dad and Brett being terrible cooks. Apparently the only things they were semi-decent at was grilling.

"I help!" Talon said, grinning up at her proudly.

"Yeah, you're doing a great job too!" Jo said, nodding at him. "You set and I straighten, we make a perfect team!" Talon held out his hand for a high-five which Jo promptly returned.

"I'm setting the silverware!" Conner interrupted, eyeing his brother. Oh yeah--Jo had never had to worry about sibling rivalry growing up but she knew it was a thing.

"Yeah, you're a really big help too!" Jo said enthusiastically, smiling at him. "There's barely anything to do with y'all helping!" Satisfied that his contribution had been acknowledged, Conner gave her a very confident nod.

"That's what I told mama." He gave his mother a long-suffering look that seemed way too old an expression for a kid who was only five.

Aaliyah rolled her eyes while Brett called out from the kitchen. "If he wants to take over all the chores don't argue with him, Aaliyah! I'm in full support."

"That man," Aaliyah said, shaking her head with exasperation. "If he had his way we'd be living in a pigsty."

"I heard that! I'm just trying to teach our children good habits at an early age."

"Mhmm." Alliyah was smiling, even if Brett couldn't see it. "If that's your excuse."

"I tried to teach him early and see what good that did me," Malcolm grumbled, bringing out the salad dressings to leave on the table. Jo looked away to hide her amusement and met Ryker's gaze. He winked at her, eyes lit up with humour as well, before turning back to the pasta he'd just drained of water.

Jo couldn't help the warmth that stole through her--she loved the interactions in this family, the way everyone was close to each other. It was kind of crazy to think this could one day--no, would--be her family too. Was basically her family already. There was a comfort in that, especially with the news she had to share.

It did make her wish she could be as open with her own parents. The house invasion had really brought home the physical distance between her and her parents, but there was also an inevitable emotional and mental one as well. There was just too much she couldn't share with them. Not yet at least. So at least, until she felt she could share what was going on with her, she had Ryker's family to lean on for support.

Or at least she hoped she would.

Jo sidled up alongside Ryker, her arm brushing against his. He was busy getting the last bits of pasta out of the drainer and into the serving bowl. "Is there anything else I can help with? I mean, my expertise is definitely being a table setting assistant, but I'm also decent with desserts."

"I think we're having ice cream," Ryker said, "But if you want to go ahead and get the bowls out for later, they're in that cabinet." He pointed over at a cabinet close to the fridge. "Since you're so good with dinnerware and everything."

Jo smirked and bumped her hip into his leg before she headed over to the cabinet, weaving around Brett and Lexi. Lexi offered her a semi-apologetic half-smile and joined Jo as she got out enough bowls for everyone.

"Sorry I got mad earlier," she said quietly, "I'm just...I like knowing things."

"It's okay," Jo said, "I'm going to explain everything today. I didn't want to keep things from you, but this is all new to me. It's still weird talking about it." But she was going to do it today. If she could tell the Monroes, maybe one day she could tell her own parents.

Lexi leaned against her for a moment, shoulder to shoulder. "I think the weirdest thing about you is that you like my brother, no matter what it is you're going to tell us."

"I heard that," Ryker growled. He grabbed the bowl of pasta and tossed one of the noodles at Lexi.

She caught it and grinned a little bit. "Good."

After everything was carried out into the dining room, they all settled around the table, and Jo ended up between Aaliyah and Ryker. Everyone passed the bowls and most of them started in on the salad and a conversation about the upcoming birthday party.

There was a steady and consistent avoidance of talking about the Duncan pack and Blake, but probably everyone was avoiding it because of the kids at the table. Both boys seemed especially intent on creating spaghetti mountains and letting "meatball boulders" slide down them. Jo was willing to bet that Brett had created that particular game.

It wasn't until dessert that Jo felt it might be the right time to share what had been going on with her. Things felt like they were winding down for the night and she didn't want to wait too long and someone not be there or be ready to leave just as she dove in.

"Hey y'all," Jo said, her voice shaking a little despite her attempt to stay calm. Ryker's hand immediately went to her thigh, his thumb rubbing soothing circles--she didn't have to say or do anything for him to sense that this was the moment she needed him. "I have...um, something I want to share." Jo's eyes darted to Lexi. "A few of you might already have an idea..." she looked at Ryker, who gave her an encouraging nod, then back at the others. "But as...well, my future family I guess..." she was blushing as Ryker gave her thigh a quick squeeze, "I felt you should know."

Malcolm's expression was guarded, as if he was afraid her news would upset his whole family and pack. But Brett's gaze was open and encouraging, Aaliyah's simply curious.

"I'm, well, supernatural too." She focused on the table in front of her. "Or, I think I am. Ryker and I aren't sure. Because it isn't like you."

She paused, and thankfully Ryker spoke, giving her a second to collect herself. "Jo and I have been trying to figure out her capabilities and limitations before we said anything. We agreed that we wanted to wait before sharing anything." He emphasized the 'we,' making sure his family knew this was a joint decision. Not just Jo's choice to withhold information from them.

Jo nodded. "What I can do, it's actually a big part of the reason I came here. It scared me, and Ryker's been helping me figure it out." She twisted her fingers together under the table until Ryker's big hand closed over both of hers. Jo gave him a small smile, then looked up. "The best way I can think of to describe it is that I can create and manipulate fire."

They all stared at her for a minute, then Lexi sagged back in her chair. "So many things make sense now," she said, laughing. "Damn girl, you're good at keeping secrets!"

"Language," Malcolm said, although it seemed more of an automatic correction, no force behind his words. He was studying Jo intently. "So you can control it?"

Jo nodded. "I can now. That's what Ryker was helping me with." Under the table, she turned her hand over and squeezed Ryker's hand.

Malcolm stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Interesting. No offense, but it makes more sense now why you'd be the mate of an alpha."

"Dad!" Lexi rolled her eyes while Ryker sent his dad a fierce glare.

"So," Brett said with a quiet chuckle, his eyes twinkling mischievously, "please tell me I don't have to be the one to deliver fire-wolf alpha babies in the future."

Jo's mouth dropped open while Ryker groaned next to her. The speed of these werewolf relationships sometimes...

"I'm certain that's not in your job description," Ryker said, making a face at Brett. "We'll figure that out later."

"Much later," Jo said. She rolled her eyes at Brett.

"You just couldn't resist, could you," Aaliyah said, turning toward Brett, somewhat exasperated but with a deep well of affection in her eyes. She probably loved his jokes, on some level. Jo wondered exactly when Conner and Talon would be bombarded by Dad Jokes.

"I've actually heard about people with powers like that," Malcolm said casually, digging a spoon into his bowl of ice cream. He pulled out a fudgy, sprinkled heap of Neopolitan ice cream. "Not exactly firestarting, but similar things."

Jo was stunned, and she wasn't the only one. There was a moment of silence before all three Monroe siblings started asking questions.

"Why didn't you ever tell us?"

"Why would you keep something like that to yourself?"

"When'd you hear that? Tuesday?"

Malcolm stayed silent as he enjoyed his ice cream. "It was just a rumor. But apparently it's true."

"I think information like that would be good to know, Dad," Ryker said with a grumble in his tone. "It could've made things easier."

"Or it could've just made you more anxious," Malcolm said, shrugging. He looked at Jo. "I don't know any of them myself, but people mention them from time to time. More often lately than they used to."

"So...like mutants?" Jo said, not entirely comfortable with the word.

"I don't know about all that," Malcolm said, "Probably more like us. Still supernatural, like you said earlier. But different from a wolf."

"You don't smell any different," Lexi said. Her eyes suddenly sparkled. "Can you show us how you light stuff on fire?!"

"Um..."

"A fire!" Conner said excitedly. Jo had half-forgotten the kids were there, but it wasn't like they were going to tell anyone. She didn't think. If they did, no one would believe them... "Can we make s'mores again?"

"Only if Jo starts it this time," Brett said.

"I think you've had enough dessert," Aaliyah told Conner before she glanced at Jo. "But I do sort of want to see what you can do."

Jo reached over and tapped Ryker on the leg before she stood up. "Maybe I can wash dishes first, then set something on fire?"

Lexi grinned. "Set the dishes on fire. Two birds with one stone."