Chapter 118. True Motivation

*Maddox*

I am growing leery of interrogating prisoners in the dungeon, but I have no choice since I don’t trust anyone else to speak to Austin. He’s still bleeding from the injuries he sustained when he ran from me. All he has on is a pair of ratty old shorts, and he’s sitting on the dirty dungeon floor, both arms chained to the wall behind him so that he can’t even lower his arms.

I stare at him for a moment. He’s breathing heavily, and I’m not exactly sure why. I don’t see any new injuries, so I can’t imagine he’s been beaten by my guards, though if they did lay their paws upon him, I’m certain it would be for good reason. So… why is he so out of breath?

“Austin,” I begin, “explain to me why you began the uprising during the executions.” I use my Alpha voice and command him to answer me. It doesn’t always work. Some people are so disloyal, so criminal in nature, they can simply ignore me when I compel them to do something.

I can see that he is struggling wi