---- "No! Damon! Whatever you want to do, come at me! Don't touch our son! He's your son too..." Damon's gaze held no warmth as he looked at me. "So what? If you don't hand over my son with Serena today, I'll make sure you and your son die together!" I struggled desperately, only to see another identical silver cage being carried over beside mine. Inside lay Lucas, me and Damon's little pup. I couldn't imagine what torment my little boy had endured. His clothes were torn to shreds, his white pajamas stained crimson with blood. Damon lifted my chin with the tip of his shoe. " Well? Still won't talk?" "T really didn't do anything! Damon! Our son is weak, he can't handle this kind of torture. Please let him go... I'm begging you..."" ---- My pleas only seemed like stubborn defiance to him. I watched helplessly as the silver cage holding my son grew smaller and smaller, the spikes growing sharper and more deadly. "Mommy... it hurts..." My son looked at me with pleading eyes, but I was powerless to help him. Thad only wanted to threaten Damon with that pup, to vent my anger with empty words. I never intended to actually harm anyone. But now I had doomed my own precious son, my little treasure... Overwhelming regret crashed over me like a tidal wave. "The pup has been found! Where?" A pack member rushed to Damon carrying a blood ---- -covered pup. "In... in Aria's bedroom closet. The little one has always been afraid of the dark, probably fainted from fear..." I thought that finding the pup would make him release me and my son, but Damon's next words sounded like they came from hell itself. "Lock them both up! Without my permission, don't let them out!" "No!" My helpless cry echoed as I watched their retreating figures disappear into the distance.