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10.After

POV: Leila

All I could do was stare. I couldn't hear or speak. It's as if I am underwater, hearing voices speak but too muffled to understand. I think someone was shaking my shoulders. I caught a glance of Axel over Fox's shoulder. I surged up and rushed past Fox. I felt someone grab my hand, but I yanked my hand free. I fell to my knees by Axel's side.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I sobbed. Tears ran down my cheeks.

Axel groaned as he sat up. Joyce and Damon tried to push him back, but he ignored them.

"Lee, calm down. What are you apologizing for?" Axel asked, as he put his hand on my shoulder.

My breath came in short gasps, as I tried to speak, "I- I almost- I hurt you."

Axel clenched his jaw as he keeled in front of me before saying, "Lee, I made you bleed. You made me bleed. That's what this training is about."

I looked away from his gray eyes, unwilling to believe that, but Axel grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him as he continued, "Leila, you listen close now, I wanted to make you use your power. Those things I said were meant to push you over the edge. I should be apologizing to you."

I sniffled and tried to stop crying as I asked, "What? Why?"

"Why should I apologize or why was I trying to make you use your power?" Axel asked softly.

"Both," I cried.

I knew he was pushing me, he always does when we train together, but none of my brothers have ever wanted to force my powers. I was confused and scared after what I'd just done, but Axel wanted it to happen.

Axel sighed before saying, "I went too far. I shouldn't have said what I did about mom. She probably would have thrown me in the lake if she was here."

I chuckled at that, knowing he was right, seeing how our mom had done that before she died.

Axel smiled as he continued, "I'm sorry. Mom could never be ashamed of you, she'd be beyond proud of you."

I shook my head, saying, "It doesn't matter. I shouldn't have lost control. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I knew what would happen. It's okay." Axel insisted.

I could only shake my head as I looked away from him. It's not okay. I could have killed my brother. It doesn't matter that he was manipulating me into losing control; I should have been better than that. Suddenly, I got pulled into the hard chest of my big brother. He wrapped his arms around my back as mine wrap around his neck. I bury my face in his neck.

"I'm sorry, Lee. I shouldn't have forced you into that, but you didn't lose control, not really." Axel told me.

I pull away, looking at him confused as I ask, "How did I not really lose control?"

"Because you never had it to begin with," Axel stated.

Damon snapped suddenly, "Axel, don't."

I stared at them both in confusion as I asked, "Don't what? What are you talking about?"

Axel went to speak, but Fox cut him off as he moved beside Damon, "Nothing. It's nothing, Lee."

I pulled further away from Axel and tried to stand. I stumbled a bit, pain blossoming from my ribs, and felt a hand grab my upper arm to steady me. I felt the unfamiliar sparks that came every time my mate touched me. I glanced up at Lucifer to find him staring at me, his blue eyes dark with concern and anger. I quickly averted my eyes, I forgot he was here. I lost control in front of my mate. One who is already distrustful of witches.

I shook my head, trying to focus on the matter at hand as Axel spoke, "She needs to know."

"Stop," Damon demanded.

I was quick to ask, "What do I need to know?"

Fox stepped toward me and said, "Nothing. It's not important."

"I think I can be the judge of that," I insisted.

"Leave it, Leila," Damon ordered.

I stared at him, surprised. Damon has never ordered me. I don't know why, but hot anger rushed through me at being commanded to do something.

"Stop treating me like a child!" I snapped, Damon looking at me shocked as I continued, "You're all hiding something about me, and I have a right to know what it is."

Axel stood, his arm wrapped around his middle as he winced, he spoke up, "Like I said, you were never in control to begin with. Your priestess told us-"

"Axel," Damon interrupted, "Not here."

I looked around to see the crowd from before as well as the warriors all staring at us in confusion and worry. I noticed some kept glancing beside me, at my mate. I looked up to see anger plain on Lucifer's face, his blue eyes now pitch black in anger. I worried it was directed at me. Except, he wasn't looking at me, he was staring daggers into my brothers, mostly Axel and Damon.

"Let's go to my office." Damon sighed.

Damon, Axel, and Fox began to walk away. The crowd parting for them. I began to follow, moving out of Lucifer's grasp, only to gasp from the pain in my ribs. I realized that I may have a few broken ribs and resisted the urge to groan. It can take a few days to heal from that. A true werewolf would heal in a few hours. I sighed and started walking again. I winced with the first few steps until I adjusted. I glanced beside me to find Lucifer walking beside me. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what. I couldn't have made a good impression and feared he might be rethinking accepting me. We walked inside the pack house, and I was grateful Damon's office was on the ground floor. We all walked inside. Damon sat in his chair, Axel and Fox standing on either side of him. Lucifer was close enough behind me that I felt the rise of his chest with every breath he took. His presence was an unexpected comfort and gave me strength.

I leaned back into my mate as I cross my arms, asking, "Well?"

"The others are coming." Fox spoke up. I could see the guilt clearly on his face, his green eyes sad.

I sighed at being forced to wait. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait long as Ryder and Hunter came into the room, closing the door behind them.

"Okay, we're all here. Now, tell me the truth." I demanded as Ryder stood beside Fox and Hunter stood next to Axel.

It was strange to be in a position like this. My brother's on one side and me standing against them with my mate. It felt wrong.

Damon sighed, glaring at Axel before he spoke, "When Priestess Verity came to you a few months ago she told us that we'd screwed up."

Damon stopped, guilt crossing his features, so I asked, "How?"

Axel explained, "We ignored what you are. After mom died, we treated you like every other wolf, but you're not. When you got a new ability or try to use spells, we stop you. We only let you practice enough to not be sending things across the room when you get mad or making everyone feel what you feel or-"

"Or telling us what we thought before we can even finish the thought," Hunter interrupted, distaste clear in the way his nose scrunched.

I felt a slight rumble through my back as Lucifer growled, seeing the look on Hunter's face. My brother bristled, not liking the anger being sent his way. Lucifer wrapped his arm around my stomach, sparks of heat exploded beneath my skin where he touched me. We are skin to skin since I have on a crop top.

Fox reacted quickly, glaring at Hunter but trying to reason, "We were all in uncharted territory. We just didn't know how to feel-"

"Get to the point." Lucifer snapped, before tightening his hold on me and I tried not to wince.

I looked up at him to see his eyes pitch black and knew he was trying to calm down, probably resisting the urge to punch my brothers in the face. I put my arm across his, holding onto his wrist.

Damon sighed, seeming very tired all of a sudden, "The point is that you have no real training, Lee. You measure your control by how long you can go or how far you can be pushed without using your powers. That isn't control. Priestess Verity told us as much, but we already knew. We just didn't know what else to do with you."

I looked at all my brothers, seeing the guilt on their faces, but I could tell by looking at Fox and Ryder that they were holding something back.

"Is that it?" I asked calmly.

Ryder shook his head, saying, "The Priestess, she also told us that we needed to tell you all this. Because- because now that you have your final ability, your powers will be more volatile. She said that a witch has to use their magic. If they don't, it just builds and builds until it explodes. And no one wants to be around when that happens."

I nodded, agreeing with that. I've felt it, but I didn't have a clue what it was. My mind hasn't been clear and I've felt restless. It would lessen whenever I had a vision, but I don't have those often. That must have been what snapped earlier. I wanted to understand, I wanted to tell them it was okay, but I couldn't. I felt Sia pacing in my mind, snarling and growling, reacting to the anger we both felt.

"How dare you?" I snarled.