Page 75 of Broken Souls

“Mates are hard. It always feels like you owe them something, when you don't.”

“Sounds like you're speaking from experience,” I say.

“I was in charge of the prison long before I met my mate. Yet she has begged me to give up this job because she thinks I'll get hurt. I shouldn't have to give up my job because she has her own fears. She should trust that I have the power to take care of myself.”

“It sounds like she's just worried,” I tell him.

“That's her problem, though. This is my job and I'm perfect at it. I don't need her crying bullshit when I come home with scars all over me from prison problems.”

“Oh, how old are you? Are you married?”

“I'm thirty-four and yes I'm married. That's what annoys me the most. We're wedded adults and she's being immature to be this insecure about my 'safety'.” Jayceon uses his fingers in the air quotes gesture for the word safety.

“I think you're being too macho. She clearly just cares about your well-being,” I tell him.

This conversation reminds me of the letter my dad gave me for my birthday. When he said as a patroller he had to be tough and guarded, which is why he didn't know how to raise his daughter. Jayceon is similar. Jayceon is being too fierce as a warden to understand his mate is just concerned. Maybe it's a male wolf thing, the aggressiveness that comes with their mentality.

“Do you worry about Axe when he leaves the house?” Jayceon raises his eyebrows.

“Well, no. I mean its Axe. He's an alpha. He's unstoppable,” I say.

“Exactly. You believe he's capable. My mate doesn't think that way about me which she should.”

“Oh.”

“Let's get out of here,” he demands. I look to the door I know Joel is somewhere behind one last time. “You don't need to see him,” he says each word slowly and powerfully.

“I know.” I turn and follow Jayceon back out to the front of the prison.

“Come on, I'll walk you home.”

“I'm fine to walk home,” I say.

“No. Axe's place is on the other side of the residential area. He would kill me if something happened to you. Now quit arguing.”

I get more of a demanding persona from Jayceon than I do from Axe. We walk back in silence, then he leaves. I look at Dash's house but it's in darkness so he must be at his mate's. After having a shower, I stop at Axe's room. Should I sleep in here without Axe? There's a calmness in here. Maybe because I know this room belongs to Axe. I get in the bed, lie down then turn on the tv. Being alone in the house is kind of lonely. But living alone is what I had planned after high school. I'm glad I met Axe. I use my phone to call him.

“Hello,” he answers.

“Hi, how are things there?” I ask.

“Good, I made a treaty with the alpha. I spent some time with Carson. Now I'm just in bed. What have you been up to?” Axe tells me.

“I was hanging with Jayceon, now I'm at home.”

“You were hanging with Jayceon? I don't buy that for a minute,” Axe says in disbelief.

“Why not?”

“Jayceon isn't exactly a chill guy.”

“Yeah, I got that,” I say.

“I'm surprised you could keep a conversation with him.”

“Yeah, he's more commanding than you.”

“Not sure if I should be insulted by that,” Axe murmurs.