Malevolent Penitentiary: The Alpha’s Prisoner Mate

Chapter 8

***Avery***

Before I could speak, Reece started. “In this prison, information is power. You’ve adapted to your surroundings for years—people talk about you, and many have longstanding grudges. If we gain insight into those grudges, we may find the roots of the betrayal against you.”

“Against me?,” I stated, a cold chuckle escaped me. The feeling embers of defiance burn brightly within. “Who could have a grudge against an eighteen year old?” My question didn’t seem new, they must have considered it.

“They did against your father.” Harlen said as if he knew all too well to have people hating him for his father’s reputation.

“My sister’s safety is my priority, and I will not hedge my bets recklessly. I’ll help you only if your truely mean you will get me out of here.”

“Understood,” Harlen affirmed, and there was a palpable shift in the air as we began to reach a mutual understanding. “Just know we’re in a tight window. Give us something now and, like a show of good fate and we will have you out in no time.”

With that, the tension in the room began to lift slightly, and I unlocked the door inside me that had previously been locked firm. “Then i need to know how sort your emotions are?” I asked, the simplest question that rolled off my tongue felt like a seismic shift.

Reece looked confused slightly, “What does that mean?”

I was staring at Harlen who staring back. “How is that relevant?” A low growl of frustration left his lips.

“You would have told your beta from the first meeting about us.” I empathised us, and they both stiffened.

“I thought your wolf was gone?” Harlen asked.

“Why?” I asked, “Did the guards tell you that I haven’t shifted once in here?” He didn’t answer but Reece’s expression answered it. “It’s how I got everyone in here to fear me. Fight my fights in human form, no they all see I’m not to be messed with.”

A deep breath left Harlen’s nostrils as if he was preparing for his answer. “The bond won’t be a bother.”

I didn’t smile, I had heard how mates can be protective yet possessive when finding their mate. “Ten years ago, what was the coroners time of death for Alpha Blain?”

“The time of death?” Reece asked, confused.

“Ten fifty PM, that evening of the ball night.” Harlen answered.

“And I was found near the body at eleven fifteen. Twenty five minutes after his death.” I said, almost wanting to not admit something to my mate. “Now I know I definitely didn’t kill Alpha Blane.”

“Can anyone vouch for that? I’m sure they would have when you were at trail.” Reece said.

I looked from Reece to Harlen. “I think entered the at eleven, after I was..” I trailed off hesitant from telling my mate about my alibi.

“After what?” Reece asked.

“I was with a male, having fun.” I said as I assumed anger seemed to come off Harlen.

Reece stayed silence and still at what I was saying. He must have a known Harlen’s anger pretty well if he was waiting for him to take lead.

“What’s his name?” Harlen growled, his wolf must have been just on the surface.

“I won’t be giving any names.” I said defiantly.

“The name, Avery.” He demanded slightly letting his Alpha tone loose.

“Yeah, no. I was a hormonal teenager and if my step mother found out or well, my brother, I would have been punished.”

“If you was f*****g someone that night, then he’s your alibi which means the murder wasn’t done by you. It would explain the recent murder being the sand and the same person from ten years ago is still out there. It can’t be you if you’ve been in here for ten years.” Harlen was struggling to keep his emotions in check.

“Will telling you his name change anything? I mean your farther is the reason I’m in here, why should we even acknowledge the bond?” I asked and he was silent.

“It can’t be you prove your innocence.” He growled.

“But how will I know that you won’t just get me to tell you the name and then you’ll leave me here?” I growled back.

I took a steadying breath. The prospect of unveiling the truth scared my very core. Every piece of information I had gathered over the years, every interaction that seemed mundane—I could sift through it all now. Each fragment was a potential weapon, and it was time to turn those weapons toward the darkness that had locked me away.

As I began to think about everything I had learned during my time in confinement, the energy in the room transformed. It changed when Harlen pulled out a photo from the folder and slammed it against the glass that separated us.

I blinked at the image, I honestly didn’t know what I was looking at and he saw that clearly.

“Your sisters hotel room. We dropped her off in hopes we could bring her back here to talk to you. The next morning she wasn’t there, this is what the scene of the struggle looked like. We spent a week tracking down every lead before I told my beta our bond could be enough for you to talk.” I blinked at his bluntness. “Now who was warming your bed ten years ago.” I gave him a strained looked.

“Oh, I’m sure we both had our shares of lovers and bed warmers. No need to be jealous of the past.” I shot at him and looked back at the image. Something in that scene caught my eyes. I didn’t want to show the recognition so I said what I said to have him anger rather than to focus on me.

“I’ll give you the name after I’m out. Right now I need to go back in there.”

Harlen was fuming at my earlier words that Reece had to talk. “You’re not leaving this room, until we have a name.”

“How about you re-question your father if he really seen me that night.” I said as I stood.

“He’s dead.” Harlen said.

“Oh.” I said calmly, I was shocked but I remained calm. “Is he the Alpha that was murdered how I was accused?” Their silence answered my question. “You’ve considered that he may have been forced to lie about seeing me? That maybe he was guilty about sentencing an eighteen year old to the most dangerous prison?” Again silence.

“It’s why we came to you.” Harlen said, “To get your side that no one listened too. If you have had people trying to kill you since I came, then you know something that the real murderer is trying to cover up by sending men to prison to kill you.”

“Well then, I guess you will be back in the morning to get me out.” I turned to leave the room.

“Avery,” Harlen growled as I heard a chair crash on.

“Your not leaving want me to trust you, then return the trust. I saw something in that image and it’s in here with me. Get me out tomorrow because those three men were the second lot to try and kill me. I don’t think the third group would be as easy.” I said and I knocked on the door three times before two guards came in and pulled me away.

The game had changed, and I was ready to play it to win.