"Ms. North, right?" The alpha asks, seemingly as a courtesy. She must already know who Eden is. "Please sit."
Eden does as she's told, numbly taking the seat across the table.
"My name is Catharine Pratchett. I am your legal counsel. I understand at your original 'trial,'" she says the word like it tastes foul in her mouth, "you were not allowed legal counsel?"
Her voice feels like velvet against Eden's skin, like silk sheets,like a raspy cat's tongue lapping at the delicate flesh between her thighs.
"That's correct," Eden says. Her voice cracks on the words, strained from her screaming probably, and she clears her throat, a blush rising up her neck. "Sorry, yes, that's correct."
Catharine hums, jotting something down on a notepad in front of her.
"And what did they say when they sentenced you here, to a male's prison?"
"The judge said... something about needing calming influences here. I think he said something about some sort of special program, but I had no idea what that meant. I had no idea I was going here."
She hums again, scrawling something else out in a loopy elegant hand.
"And they placed you in the general population." She doesn't ask this as a question. Eden nods woodenly, her body feeling strangely out of her control.
"Forgive me for asking this," the alpha says then, her voice carefully polite as she looks at Eden with something like pity. "But have you been abused in any way while you have been here? By the other prisoners or the guards?"
Eden squirms under the woman's questions. They were awful questions. Personal and grating and they brought up memories Eden didn't want to think about.
"I, uh—there's been attempts, yes," she says, her voice hoarse with anxiety. "My first day here, there were–there were a dozen of them or more that tried. But a pack saved me. They took care of me and protected me from the rest. There was another attempt before I got put in the shoe, but I-I don't want to talk about that."
She didn't want to say anything about her mates' involvement in the attack, didn't want to accidentally incriminate them in anything that might have happened.
Catharine nods at that and doesn't press her further, jotting down a few more notes on her paper.
"The pack who you say saved you, what is your relationship with them?"
They're her mates. Could she say that? The information feels personal. Like it was something private, just for them. For some reason she doesn't want to put that in the report. Doesn't want people to think that their relationship had been forced. Doesn't want to sully what they had with other people's incorrect assumptions. It was too pure for that, too good.
"They haven't hurt me, if that's what you're asking," Eden says.
Another nod and a note, and then the alpha female puts her pen down next to her pad and folds her hands in front of her, giving Eden her full attention.
"Good. I am relieved to hear that. Thank you for your time, Ms. North. Now, I have already arranged to have you transferred to the Administrative Segregation Unit—"
When Eden pales and tears well in her eyes, she sees the first flash of real humanity in the lawyer, and her voice is softer when she continues.
"Don't worry, Ms. North. This is different than the Secure Housing Unit. The Administrative Segregation Unit will simply ensure that you are not attacked again. You will still be able to have access to recreational activities, and it will only be for a few days. I already have an emergency meeting before a judge tomorrow to plead your case."
Eden pauses, her voice is tentative when she clarifies, not daringto hope. "What do you mean, only a few days?"
"Ms. North," Catharine says, her voice almost pitying. "The only witness in your case is the police officer who attempted to assault you. You were not given your due process or even a day in court. You were denied your right to legal counsel, and then, after all that, they placed you in here, quite off the books, I assure you. I have never seen such clear grounds for a mistrial. I will have you out of here the day after tomorrow, or I will personally ensure that your case is taken to the supreme court."
Her voice is so firm and confident, Eden cannot help but believe her. She's going to get out of here. She feels relief wash through her, and she nearly sags into the floor.
"Please," she says. Despite all of that, the only thing she can think of is getting back to them. "Can you put me back into the general population?"
The alpha female looks flabbergasted, her perfectly shaped eyebrows pulling down in confusion. "Why on earth would you want that?"
"The pack who saved me," she says weakly. "They're-they're important to me. I want to see them. I need to say goodbye."
The alpha eyes her with a calculating glance but says nothing.
After several long moments, she finally responds, her voice full of doubt. "Alright, Ms. North. I will request to have you placed back in the general population, if you're sure that's what you want. I will be back tomorrow to update you on the proceedings."
