Rory heard growling, it sounded like a revving engine, getting louder and louder. Teddy was making the sound, and his furious expression was targeting Captain. He remembered what else Sebastian had said—Teddy got protective over his cellmates.

“Guess I shouldn’t have tried your sugar,” Captain muttered.

He got to his feet and puffed out his chest. He no longer looked defeated, but stood like a gladiator ready for a fight, proud, and certain of his ability. The guards got twitchy, waiting for the atmosphere to explode. Rory saw one remove his baton from his belt, and another clutch his radio. Something was about to go down—

“Teddy,” Sebastian hissed. “Ease up, yeah?”

The growling died off. Teddy looked at Sebastian, then huffed, and went back to eating his porridge as if nothing had happened. The prison resumed breakfast, and the guards sagged in relief.

Captain sat back down, but straighter than before, alert to danger. Ollie hesitated, then started on his porridge. He hummed in pleasure, and Rory looked over to Teddy. He was stealing secret glances at Ollie, and his lips twitched—not a smile, but closer to a smile than a grimace or a snarl.

“That was interesting,” Rory mumbled.

He could smell the sweetness, and his gut whined with jealousy. It was worse trying to eat his when Ollie’s smelled so good beside him. Ollie offered him a spoonful, then snorted when Rory narrowed his eyes.

“You want me to get pummeled?”

“Not yet, but after a thousand days, I might change my mind.”

“Screw you.”

Ollie laughed and licked at his spoon like he was enjoying it too much. He was doing it to annoy Rory, but it got the attention of a few other inmates. They looked at him with hunger, and as soon as Ollie noticed, he ducked his head, and dropped his spoon on the tray.

“I think that’s enough,” Ollie murmured.

Rory shook his head in disbelief. “No kidding, that guy across from us is masturbating under the table.”

“No, he’s not.”

The man in question’s body was shaking, and his right hand was hidden beneath the table. His body shook more violently, and his eyelashes fluttered. The guards didn’t intervene, they pretended they hadn’t noticed, but Teddy revved back to life.

He launched from his seat, near enough flew over the table, and smashed the guy onto the floor. He’d definitely been enjoying Ollie’s display, and Teddy punished him for it.

He struck the man’s face, and the floor speckled with red. Teddy was an unchained beast, snarling, and snorting.

“Jesus,” Ollie whispered, then he covered his mouth.

“That’ll teach you for teasing the guys in here,” Captain muttered.

An ear-splitting siren started, and guards rushed into the room. They demanded the inmates return to their cells, and tried to break Teddy and Masturbation Man apart.

“We’ll have to put our gym plans on hold.” Captain sighed.