Page 97 of Broken Souls

“Whatever,” I say.

Jayceon unlocks the door and I follow him through. The more I get to know Jayceon, the more I realise what a pushy pompous asshole he is. Not even Axe likes hanging out with him. So maybe he should start paying attention to the one who does, his mate. Maybe this really isn't my business. But I don't think there's anything wrong with just suggesting help at the prison to give Jayceon some free time. I don't understand why Jayceon would even want to spend most of his time at a prison.

We go through the cells we saw last time with the prisoners from Manson's time. Then we go through where I remember Mitchell was. There's a lump under a blanket, which I'm guessing is him. He doesn’t move when we walk past, though. We go into the next section.

“Why didn't Mitchell say anything when we walked past?” I question.

“I beat the shit out of him, remember. At least one of the prisoners is quiet now,” Jayceon says.

“How are Ember and Hannah?”

“They're pissing me off even more than the guys. At least when the guys act out, I can be violent. I definitely have to get one of the female soldiers in here to give those two a flogging.”

“So you're not allowed to punish the girls?” I ask.

But then I imagine Jayceon in a room with Ember or Hannah and beating the shit out of them. Definitely more humane for a female soldier to deal with them.

“I doubt Axe would approve of that, knowing my history with punishments,” Jayceon says.

When we get to the door that Jayceon wouldn't let me through last time, I get nervous. Joel is beyond that door. He's been locked up for six months. I don't know how that has affected him. Jayceon opens the door and we walk through. There are many hallways through this part of the building. He stops in front of a white door that has a little window in it, a covered slip, which would be for food, and an intricate-looking lock system.

“He's in there.”

I step closer to the door and look through the window seeing a white room. There's a toilet in the corner, a sink and a bed built into the wall. Joel is lying on the bed in a heap. I can't see his face.

“It's so small,” I gasp.

I didn't think it would be like this.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Yeah”, Jayceon says.

“But... his wolf,” I mutter.

There is barely room for his wolf to lie around. He's not allowed out of this room except for showers. He's not allowed to go for runs. His wolf could become a shell of who he is. His wolf is suffering because of Joel's decision. I don't know why, but it's making me upset. He's suffering. I know he rejected me, but he's being treated worse than the violent offenders. That doesn't sound right. His crime of rejecting me shouldn’t have been this. But I can't forget he challenged Axe.

“That's his punishment,” Jayceon says.

“Can he hear us?” I ask.

“No it's sound proof.”

“Can I talk to him?”

“I thought you didn't want to,” Jayceon remarks. I just stare at him then he turns to the door.

“Get up.” Jayceon bangs on the door after unlocking a small hatch and sliding it across.

Joel gets up groggily. He has an unkempt beard taking over his face. He's got thick hair. He looks like a different person. His eyes link with mine and he stands up and stops right in front of the window. I can't even try to explain what expression is on his face.

“Why are you here?” His voice doesn't hold the confidence it once did.

“I...I...” I stumble for words.

“I thought you'd like to see her,” Jayceon says wickedly.

“Drop dead, Jayceon,” Joel says with a gravelly voice but doesn't take his eyes off mine. “Leave, Elora,” he says with complete defeat in his voice. He turns around and sits on his bed; sunken shoulders, his head dropped low.