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11.Lies

POV: Leila

My brothers stared at me in shock as I took a step forward, Lucifer barely loosening his hold. I knew my eyes were emitting a faint green hue. Things in the room began to shake, papers and objects flying against the walls from off the desk. The pictures hanging on the walls went flying across the room, shattering against the opposite wall. My brothers ducked and tried to avoid anything that flew their way. I heard and felt a rush of thoughts and emotions from everyone surrounding me.

Fox was apologizing in his head, feeling guilty and sad. Ryder was thinking of ways to calm me down, feeling upset and guilty. Damon was trying to figure out how to stop Lucifer from tearing off one of their heads; if I couldn't stop being made at them, he felt pain and guilt. I realized he was hurting because he knew I was. Axel was kicking himself for what he did earlier, feeling guilty and angry with himself. Hunter was thinking of ways to make me stop, feeling anger and fear. Lucifer was amazed, thinking how remarkable and powerful I am while also wondering if I would be mad at him if he beat the s**t out of my brothers, starting with Hunter. From Lucifer, I only felt love.

It shocked me enough that the power fighting to get out of me stumbled. He loves me? How can he love me? I just revealed the danger I possess and, apparently, that's without having any control. I can only imagine how dangerous my power would become if I actually had control. He should be afraid of me, like Hunter, not amazed, and certainly not in love with me. But Lucifer isn't afraid and I feel his love.

I focus on that feeling, on my mate's love and thoughts. Objects stopped flying across the room and the oppressive noise and emotions in my head slowly ebbed away, leaving only my mate's. I enjoyed hearing his thoughts for a moment longer before allowing them to fade. I held onto the feeling though, needing something to ground me.

I tried to take a deep breath, but it hurt, before saying, "You had no right to lie to me."

My brothers looked around cautiously, waiting for something else to happen.

"We were just trying to protect you. We didn't want to make you feel like shit." Axel explained.

"You always claim to protect me but all you're doing is lying." I snapped, glaring at Axel before continuing, "You lie about my power. If I had known, I could have been training. I wouldn't have nearly killed you." I yelled.

"Leila, you didn't-" Axel began.

I interrupted, "Yes, I did!"

"We only lied about that too-" Fox tried to say.

"To protect me. So you keep saying, but lying has never protected me. You lied to keep me away from your King, knowing how disrespectful it is for the Alpha's daughter, or sister even, to not show up. If he wasn't my mate, anything could have happened. You lied about dad, and we all know how that ended. If I had known about the rogue attacks, mom would still be alive!" I shouted, trying to control my emotions.

They all stared at me in shock, except Hunter, who growled at me before snapping, "Don't talk about mom."

Lucifer snarled, before saying, "Careful, boy. She may be your sister, but she is my mate."

"That was different, Leila. You were just a kid." Damon offered.

I nodded, saying, "Yeah, well, I stopped being one that day. You'd think we would have learned our lesson then, or with dad. But you just keep lying. Even after you swore to never lie to me again."

"We kept that promise, Lee," Ryder insisted.

"How?" I asked, looking all of them in the eye as they remained silent. I ask again, "How have you kept your promise? When have you told me the truth?"

I wait for one of them to speak, to give me one example, one instance where they told me the truth instead of lying to me. I wish they could give me just one.

Damon sighs as he replies, "Leila, this wasn't our best decision, but until now we haven't hidden anything from you, or lied to you in any way."

Fox took a step toward me as he insisted, "Leila, you know we haven't lied. Until a few months ago, you were helping us with everything. Every alpha, every meeting, every disagreement. You saw it all. We couldn't have lied."

I nodded, looking at Damon as I reply, "I was there. Until every time I tried to be, you told me I wasn't needed. I did everything, until you just kicked me out as if I was a child playing a game I didn't understand. And the minute I'm gone, you start lying to me again."

They were all looking between me and Damon, confused and curious. Damon wouldn't meet my eyes.

I sigh as I say, "Maybe you were trying to protect me, but I've told you all, I don't know how many times, that I don't want to be protected by lies. If that is the only way you all know to protect me, I'd rather you stop all together."

Their faces fell at my words and guilt ate at my insides. No one spoke as I pulled free of Lucifer's hold and turned my back on them. Lucifer grabbed my hand, walking with me as I walked away from my brothers, heading out of Damon's office and up the stairs to my room. I walked into my room, Lucifer behind me, and closed the door. Lucifer let go of my hand and I leaned against the door as he walked into the middle of the room. Despite feeling upset and hurt, and guilty, the sight of my mate standing in my room made it all stop.

Lucifer stood out like a sore thumb in my childhood bedroom. He stood at the foot of my bed, a small smile on his lips, as he looked at everything in the room. Part of me wanted to look into his mind, to see my room through his eyes, but that is an invasion of privacy. Instead, I look around my room, imaging what he sees. My bed sat in the middle of the room against the back wall, bookshelves filled to the point of overflowing on either side. I left my closet open so he could see the small dresser with clothes hanging above it. There is a small desk and chair placed in front of my window. The desk has papers, books and my laptop on top of it, but it's organized. There are also bookshelves against the wall beside the door and beside my desk. Lucifer walked closer to the one beside my desk and seemed to read some of the titles. I was glad about that, since I kept my poetry, classics, and curiosity books on that shelf. I don't really want him to see what else I read.

Lucifer turned to face me, smiling as he spoke, "You really like to read."

I nod as I reply, "I always have. I think my first memory is of reading, or my mom reading to me."

Lucifer walked over to me, putting his big hands on my hips, as he asked, "Are you alright?"

I huffed, saying, "I think I was too harsh on them. They've given me everything and were just trying to protect me."

Lucifer placed his hand on my cheek, running his thumb gently over my bottom lip, and I inhaled sharply at the sting that came from his touch. Lucifer pulled away and held his thumb in front of me. I looked at him confused before looking at his thumb to see blood on it.

"I asked if you are alright?" Lucifer pressed.

I flicked my tongue over my bottom lip, tasting iron and a slight salty sweetness.

I shake my head, saying, "I've had worse."

Lucifer's eyes darkened as he reply's, "That does not make me feel better. Nor does it answer my question."

I smile, ignoring the pain that blossomed from my lip as I tease, "You're very high-handed."

Lucifer smiles a bit as he counters, "And you are very evasive."

I chuckled before saying, "Fine, to answer your question properly, I am in a bit of pain. I think my ribs are broken, but they'll heal soon."

Lucifer frowned as he said, "Maybe I should take you to the pack doctor."

I shook my head, knowing that he'd probably throw me over his shoulder to make me go, saying, "I'll be healed in no time. I've been through this before. There's nothing he can do anyway."

Lucifer didn't look convinced, so I stood on my toes and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, ignoring the pain as I did. His hands found their place on my hips as he bent down for me.

"I promise that if I'm not healed by tomorrow I'll see the doc." I whispered, my nose brushing his.

Lucifer looked between my lips and eyes before saying, "I don't know."

I leaned in closer, my lips brushing his before pulling back slightly to whisper, "Please."

Lucifer slowly nodded before whispering back, "Okay."

I smiled widely as he agreed. I gasp as Lucifer's lips connect with mine, his tongue slipping into my mouth as I do. I did the same. Kissing him back with just as much fervor. When we pulled away, both our chests were rising and falling in quick breaths. I opened my eyes to find his eyes dark with desire. I'm sure mine are the same. I looked down, not able to stare into his fire any longer. I saw his lips and he had red spread across them. I chuckled as I realized what it was.

"What?" Lucifer asks softly.

"I bled on you." I said, bringing my hand up to try to wipe it away.

Lucifer looked confused before understanding dawned on his face.

He frowned suddenly before saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

I shook my head, disagreeing, "You didn't. I didn't even notice. Promise."

Lucifer nodded but still took a step back. I dropped my arms to my sides, already missing his warmth and touch. I walk past him and into my bathroom. I grab a wash rag from a drawer and wet it a bit before walking back out.

I hand it to Lucifer as I say, "For your face." He takes it as I say, "I need a shower."

I walked back to my bathroom and was closing the door as Lucifer muttered to himself, "I think I need a cold one."