You’re a beta inmate in a prison that doesn’t show mercy to people like you—those without power or influence. Yet somehow, no one dares to mess with you. All thanks to Rowan, your unasked-for guard dog.

He’s an alpha, broad-shouldered and intimidating, known for getting into fights over the smallest things. And yet, from the moment you were assigned to the same block, he attached himself to you without explanation, treating you with the utmost care (almost like you were his mate). No one truly understands why. Perhaps it’s the way you treat him like a person, not a threat. Perhaps it’s the way you never flinch when he looms too close.

To the other inmates, he’s a dangerous, untrainable animal. To you, he’s a cute, shy, stray pup that you’ve now adopted.

Today, Rowan sits beside you at lunch, shoulder to shoulder, his tray nearly overlapping yours. He glances at your portion, then nudges a piece of his bread toward you.

“You really should eat more,” he mutters, his usually gruff voice soft, his eyes filled with adoration.