11

Just as Jon was running out of options, a letter appeared in front of Feyre addressed to her.

It had the Winchester logo. It was from Ryder.

Feyre hesitated for a few seconds before opening it.

'Feyre,

I understand your decision and I am not writing to pressure you.

There's a dinner tonight hosted by the Alpha. My grandfather will be there as one of the guests of honor. Can you come? Name your price.'

He sounded as if he were negotiating a business deal.

He was willing to pay for her time and have her attend as his guest, just to make his grandfather happy.

Feyre's hand tightened around the letter.

She looked at Jon, "Please do have parchment paper?"

"Yes, I will get you some" Jon stood up and left, he came back with parchment paper, a pen and a lit candle.

"Thank you" Feyre took the items from him and started writing.

'Master Winchester

I am in trouble. I'm at the pack prison. Can you bail me out'

She burnt the paper.

She waited for a response for some minutes but there was none.

Disappointment flashed across her face.

“I'm sorry. I don't think anyone can help me.”

Nobody would help her.

Jon looked at her.

He poured her a glass of water and asked the female officer to take her to the holding cell.

“Jon, do you know that girl?”

The female officer asked curiously.

“Yeah.”

Jon didn't deny it.

Saying he knew Feyre might help.

The other officers might be more lenient with her.

“We are friends.”

“Why did she hit someone?”

“Because he deserved it.”

Jon answered flatly.

Four years ago, Jon had been a young and hot headed guard in the training center.

The bullying case had stayed with him ever since.

After saving Feyre and hearing her story, he had volunteered to investigate and help her get justice.

He went to meet her at the healing center.

Back then, Feyre's body had been covered in bruises.

There wasn't a single part of her skin that hadn't been injured.

Jon had wanted to file a report.

But the teachers had threatened Feyre and forced her to stay quiet. Jon had been transferred from the training center to join the pack police.

Later, whenever Jon tried to visit her, the other guards refused to let him in.

They claimed she was weak and needed rest.

“So the man she hit is a terrible person? Then why is she the one being locked up?”

The female officer was annoyed.

"Because he is the son of a beta" Jon answered simply.

The female guard nodded in understanding.

“Hello. I'm Ryder Winchester, Feyre's friend.”

Ryder arrived at the prison with a certified Mooncourt advocate. The Moon court helped to settle cases between werewolves while trained advocates in the pack's law represented the werewolves. The Alpha was the judge.

“Hello. I'm Miss Johnson advocate. We would like to review her case.”

Jon was surprised.

So this was the Feyre's friend, Ryder Winchester?

Wow! She had someone important backing her.

Jon finally felt relieved.

“This way, please.”

He led them into the mediation room.

“Feyre assaulted someone at the Phillips estate today.”

Ryder looked surprised.

Feyre always seemed like a timid little pup.

Who would have thought she could actually bite?

“She wouldn't attack someone for no reason. That man must have provoked her.”

Ryder's voice was cold.

Jon looked at him again and nodded.

“The victim's name is Phil Remington. Four years ago, he bullied Feyre at the training center. This time, Phil didn't touch her. But Feyre smashed a glass bowl over his head.”

Ryder's expression darkened.

“Four years ago?”

His voice became colder.

“bullying?”

Jon nodded. "That happened four years ago. Phil and some other kids from powerful families attacked her. They left Feyre deaf in her left ear, broke the bone in her right pinky, and covered her body in bruises."

The memory of that incident had stayed with Jon. He knew he would probably remember it for the rest of his life.

That year had been difficult for him too. He had felt like a failure because he couldn't protect Feyre.

Ryder stood quietly, saying nothing.

The advocate also remained silent.

No one could tell what Ryder was thinking.

To Ryder, Feyre had been a stranger. Even if she agreed to become his mate on paper, their relationship was only business. Ryder wasn't the kind of person who got involved in other people's problems.

...

When Feyre walked out of the holding cell, Ryder was waiting for her in the yard.

"Thank you..." she said awkwardly.

She never expected him to come personally.

"Am I making you late for your party?" she asked softly.

Ryder looked at her for a moment before answering.

"No, come on let's go" he helped her onto his horse and went behind her, his arms around her.

At first they rode in silence and then he asked, "Why did you hit him?"

"I just... lost control."

Feyre forced a bitter smile. She didn't want to talk about it.

She had already caused him enough trouble.

"That bruise on your leg yesterday wasn't from the rogue attack, was it?" Ryder asked.

Feyre stayed quiet.

Most of the injuries had come from Lydia kicking her into the pond, although some were from the attack.

"You could have told the police," Ryder said with a frown. "If they attacked you first, you had a reason to fight back. If you keep letting people hurt you, they'll continue doing it."

Feyre suddenly became angry.

Did he really think things were that simple?

Did he think they were equal?

"How do you know I never fought back, Master Winchester?" she asked, her voice rising. "Someone like you has a powerful family behind you. Even if you don't fight back, people are afraid to touch you. But what about an orphan? What happens when you have no one behind you? Fighting back only makes things worse."

Her voice shook with emotion.

Four years ago, Phil, Tonya, and Lydia had bullied her because she had fought back.

It all started when Phil confessed his feelings to her and she rejected him.

After that came the stalking and harassment.

She reported him to the training center head. She even called the center guards.

She tried everything.

But instead of stopping, they became worse.