Ch. 28：Testing limits

She brought along a small cauldron and lit the logs underneath it that they had set up earlier.
“The water, Luke” she said to Luke who passed her the fetcher he stored the water in. She put it in the cauldron and we all waited until it started boiling.
“The sand to represent the earth” she stretched her hands to Jason. I haven't asked him where he went to pick it up from.
“You did well Jason,” Lyla said after receiving the sand. I turned to him in question “it's from my parents grave. Since they couldn't be here. I wanted them to be a part of this” he explained
I smiled at him. I understood him, but I couldn't understand how she could tell. If the Powers hadn't supported Alpha Matt's decision to kick me out of the pack, I would have loved to have them here too. I know they didn't have a choice, but it doesn't make it hurt any less.
The wind picked up, fueling the fire and blowing the rising steam from the cauldron to our faces, completing the final ingredient. It was a perfectly timed coincidence. She mixed the paste and killed the fire before turning the substance into a bowl.
“Give me your hands” she asked us both and we stretched them towards her. She brought out an old looking vine that looked like it could snap and the littlest stretch of our hands. She tied our hands together with it and it held, surprisingly strong.
I give Jason a questioning look and he shrugs with his free shoulder. This was obviously not part of the instructions my parents left. I'd know cause I've listened to it almost a hundred times now, but I'll go with the flow. Maybe she likes the flare.
“With this, I call on the elements and the spirit to favor you” she rubbed the paste on my head. I could feel the heat of the paste, but it was cool on my skin. The sensation was soothing.
“With this, I call on the elements and the spirit to favor you.” She said, rubbing the mix on Jason's forehead. The wind picked up violently after she did Jason's. Not in a threatening manner, more like an embrace. Wrapping us both in mother nature's arms.
“I want you both to drop your blood on the vine” she shouted over the wind. We did as she said. Questions could come later. The vines started to untie itself at the drop of our blood and the wind finally stopped.
After the last knot was loosened, she spoke up “I want you to visualize water on your fingertips, Luna”
I did as she asked and felt the mist in the air gathering around my hand to form water “good. Now, imagine it in larger quantity.” she said and I did as I was told. The quantity increased so much I had to use both hands to try and control it.
“Water can be used as an offensive weapon and also a defensive one if you learn to control it.” She said, her voice sounded ethereal at that moment “same for air. if you focus enough, you'd be able to lift things or even yourself. Mind you, you can also flame it”
“This is all sorts of freaky” Luke interrupted, “can you do this also? You know as royal beta and all”
“No. I can't, but what compensates for that is my strength. I was granted enough strength so I could protect her. Always.” Josh replied.
“You're basically humble bragging about being stronger than me” Luke squinted his eyes at Josh “yup”
Jason interrupted their banter at that moment “Guys we need to focus here. If you can stop the side talks, that would be much appreciated.”
“Alpha, I want you to think of fire. Those fiery, hot flames. Good. Now, imagine it all over your body”
“My body! Won't I be burnt to a crisp?” Jason bellowed. “It's your fire. It can't hurt you.”
“It had better not. There's still so many things I haven't done with Ares”
“TMI alpha. You don't see me saying all the details about Madison”
“And I about Ashley”
My cheeks were flushed but I still warned him through our link “focus Jason.” “But it's true, there's so many things I haven't done with you Yet”
He was finally able to do it. The flames started from his hands and spread through his body.
“Luna, touch him”
“Wait, what?!” Josh unconsciously moved protectively to my side.
“It won't harm her. It was hers to begin with, although innate. She's just giving it to him. He's made it his, but the flames would still obey her. Besides, you can control the water and the wind. Whichever one will blow him out” she shrugged.
I nodded and stretched my hands to Jason. I could see him fighting a war in his eyes. He didn't want to take any chances if he might hurt me. That's what set him apart from Maverick.
“It's okay” I whispered when he pulled his hands away from mine. “It's okay” I said again, affirmatively before he gave them to me. I manipulated the air to increase the flames, but yet anywhere I touched felt cool instead of hot.
We smiled in wonder. This was just the beginning. Maverick's in for a world of hurt if he attacks.
When we got back to the room, I had to ask the questions that had been bothering me “how does she know the ritual? What were the vines for? How long have you known her? Why did she know what to say? Even my parents didn't say anything about that”
“I’ve known her for a while. She used to come and go when my parents were still alive. She started staying fully after they died. As for the other questions I don't know, beautiful, but my wolf trusts her”
“So does Athena” I whispered. Let's hope she means well.
***
“Wait for me!” Adriana screamed as she ran around with the other kids. They were avoiding bath time.
“Stop running this instant, bean.” Jason followed after her. Child-like giggles fill the air with each escape from the adults.
“Catch me daddy!” she giggled, jumping about. Jason could have easily caught her, but he was enjoying this as much as she was.
“You are gonna fall from there!” he screamed when he saw her trying to jump from the kitchen island. How she got there, no one knows.
Adriana being Adriana, she took it as a personal challenge and jumped. We all held our breath at the sound of her bone breaking when she landed.
Jason and I rushed to her. He lifted her carefully as she bawled her eyes out. The other kids' laughter also seized. I motioned for them to take them away. The sight of Adriana's hand bent at a weird angle might be traumatizing for them.
“Can I try something?” I asked him. “Yeah” his voice was hoarse. He felt his daughter's pain. “Can you close her eyes for me?” “Okay”. He did so.
I closed my eyes and imagined water at my palms and then placed it on her broken hands. Then I imagined the water healing them. By the time I opened them it was already healed and she had stopped crying.
“Can you do that? Did you know you could do that?” He asked, shocked.
That much power made me feel a little dizzy “No, but I'm glad it worked”