Page 103 of Second Chance Mates

“Let me in there,” I shout.

Jaxon’s head whips to me quickly. “What?”

“Let me in there.”

“What are you thinking, Ava?”

I chew on the inside of my lip hard enough to draw blood. “Ask the guards to hold them back. The pair of them. I know I’m safe. Aren’t I?”

His eyes waver for a second. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive,” I say, even though my gut is flooded with tremors.

Jaxon curses softly before gesturing to the guards to open the bars and hold Damon and Lucien. I take two steps to the entrance before looking at the floor. It’s now or never. This is the only chance I’ll ever get.

I walk towards Damon first. The sight of his face makes me want to run. I refuse the horrific memories to haunt me. I only allow this new thought of knowing they’re about to be killed in the most gruesome of ways. His lip continues to curl as he eyes me up and down.

I have the upper hand. I have the upper hand.

“You coming back for more, pretty girl?” he grunts with a wink. “You used to scream for me to stop–”

My knee raises and connects with his groin so hard I think it might split him in two. The loud groan of pain gives me a burst of satisfaction. Before his legs can buckle, I raise my knee and do it again, twice as hard. I use every ounce of frustration and hatred I have for this man who ruined my life.

He cries out, struggling against the two guards who refuse to let him go. “Fuck you, asshole,” I snap. “You will never touch me again. Especially after I make Jaxon chop everything off.”

My heart pounds in my chest like an alarm, but I hold onto the adrenaline that is coursing through my veins. I turn towards Lucien who is staring at me from under hooded eyes. I glance down at his wound and grit my teeth. He deserves worse than I’m planning.

I lean down and stick my fingers into his open wound, scissoring them as quickly as possible. His blood leaks down my hands as I push the wound wider. I’ve never heard a man scream the way he does. “You fucking bitch!”

“This is not even a fraction of the pain you made me feel,” I spit through my teeth. “But I know your fate will be worse than mine. Jaxon will not take it easy on you. I hope he makes you suffer until you’re pleading for him to finally kill you. It’s what you deserve.”

Lucien growls, “I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

I dig my fingers deeper, and he cries out to the ceiling, gritting his teeth together to relieve some of the agony. “You should be very,” I push harder until I hit bone, and he hisses, “very scared.”

“Fuck you.”

“It’s not nice being helpless, is it?”

My eyes burn, but I will not shed a single tear for them. I stand, ripping my fingers from his wound. My entire body trembles as I balance back on my feet and walk out of the cell.

I don’t meet Jaxon’s eyes. I exit the dungeon and rush up the stairs until I can see sunlight. My eyes glance down to find my entire fist covered in his blood. Once I hit the fresh air, I take down a large gulp, shaking uncontrollably.

My throat tenses, and I buckle. I drop to the floor on my hands and knees. Bile shoots up from my stomach and lands on the forest floor. I groan at the acid that burns my insides and makes my body slump forward. Jaxon is behind me in an instant, tugging my hair into his hand and rubbing circles on my back.

It was only a matter of time before my stomach decided to empty itself, but I did it. I faced them, and now, I’ll never have to see them ever again. I’ll never have to worry about going back to that hellhole.

“I got you, baby,” Jaxon whispers.

My abdominals clench, but nothing else comes up. I groan and wipe my mouth with my clean hand. Then, I start sobbing. Fresh, hot tears fall down my face. Jaxon rolls me into his side and wraps me up in his large arms, cradling me close to his chest.

“It’s over.” He kisses my head. “You did it. They will be gone by tonight, okay? I am so proud of you. I know this is hard, but you did it because you are the bravest person I know. I am so grateful to call you my mate.”

I sob harder at his words and latch onto him.

“I hate them. I hate them. I hate them,” I chant breathlessly.

Lucien’s blood is everywhere. The thought makes me gag, and I need to get it off now. I can’t bear another second, knowing it’s on me.

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