Page 107 of Second Chance Mates

“It was pathetic,” he spits.

I suppress a growl and the desperation of my wolf to shred him to pieces. Instead, I lean up to grab his wrists and stab the head of the screwdriver against his index fingernail. It cracks and chips off within seconds. His finger is practically split in two, and he yells out curse words. The sight of his tendons pouring out of his ripped skin is something I’ll never get out of my head.

Like Kayden, I don’t wait. I hit the next nail and the next.

Lucien’s head hunches over, and I step back when yellow, mushy liquid escapes his throat. My nose retracts quickly, and my stomach clenches at the foul stench.

“Goddess,” I grumble. “You’re fucking pathetic.”

He continues to whine from his mutilated fingers.

“We haven’t even got to the best bit yet,” I say, using the screwdriver to tilt his chin. “Wait till I chop off your non-existent cock and make you fucking eat it.”

I throw the screwdriver to the floor and glance over at Damon, who is missing half his teeth and crying thick tears. Kayden hooks his pliers into the belt hole of his jeans. “You got a new idea?”

“A part of me wants to slit their Achilles heel and watch them attempt to crawl their way out of here. Now, that would be entertaining.”

Kayden flashes me a crazed smile. “I think I’ve seen that in a movie before, sick bastard. Let’s do it.”

“You’re enjoying this.”

“A little too much,” he agrees.

I walk across the cell and pull on a lever, which tightens the chains a couple of inches. Lucien groans at the new strain on his arms. Damon’s moans aren’t even human. Their feet barely graze the floor, and they begin to twist from side to side, all their weight hanging off their wrists.

Kayden steps forward, and I grab his shoulder to tug him back. “Leave them for now,” I state. “We keep on like this, and they won’t last the next hour. We leave them for a couple more minutes and resume.”

“Alright,” he sighs. “I think it’s time to get more creative.”

I nod once. “I’m open to all ideas.”

My blood thrums in my veins like a shot of adrenaline. I flick my eyes between the two monsters and smirk at our devious work. It’s only the beginning. I don’t want a single regret from this situation, so I’m going to take it in my stride.

This is for Ava. This is for my future Luna.

36

AVA

“I’ll go easy on you, I promise.” Lucy flashes me a playful smile.

I groan. “Don’t make me regret this.”

“Where are you guys going?” Jaxon’s voice interrupts us.

We both glance at him as he steps out of the kitchen door and onto the patio. “Lucy is taking me for a run,” I say, lifting my hands to tighten my ponytail. “I needed time to stretch my legs and get out of the house for a bit. I still need to build up my stamina.”

Jaxon’s eyes sparkle at my new determination. “That’s my girl.”

My cheeks flush at those three simple words. “Be ready to pick me up from the floor when I get back because I might be unconscious.”

“Have more faith in yourself.” He walks towards me and slips an arm around my waist. “I do. I always have.”

I flick my gaze between his dark blue eyes. There is a huge smile on his lips that encourages me to believe in myself—if he can, why can’t I? Today is a chance to prove it’s mind over matter, even if my lungs want to give out.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Lucy beckons her head towards the trees.

I step away from Jaxon’s grip and give him a firm nod. He shoots me one right back. “See you later.”

---