Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 121

The acrid smell of chemicals burned my nostrils even through the thick black cloth covering my eyes. My mouth was sealed with what felt like duct tape, and my wrists were bound tightly. The hard surface beneath me was cold and unforgiving–concrete, most likely.

I focused on my breathing, trying to calm my racing heart. Panic wouldn’t help me now. I needed to assess the situation, figure out where I was and who had taken me.

The sound of footsteps approached, heavy boots against concrete. I tensed as rough hands suddenly grabbed my head and yanked the blindfold off. The dim light was still enough to make me squint after the darkness. When my vision cleared, I found myself staring into an unfamiliar face–Eastern European features, high cheekbones, pale blue eyes that held a dangerous glint.

“You are the girl Samuel wants to find?” The man’s accent was thick, his English broken but understandable.

I couldn’t respond with the tape over my mouth, but I glared at him defiantly. My eyes darted around, taking in my surroundings. I was in what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse or factory. Rusty metal barrels lined the walls, labeled with faded hazard symbols. The air was thick with the smell of industrial chemicals that made my sensitive nose burn.

A chemical plant, I realized. ‘Abandoned, judging by the dust and cobwebs.‘

The man watched me with amusement as I assessed my surroundings. “Smart girl. Looking for escape? There is none.”

The distant sound of an engine drew the man’s attention. He straightened, listening as car tires crunched on gravel outside. Heavy metal doors creaked open, and headlights briefly illuminated the space before going dark.

I twisted my head, trying to see who had arrived. The sound of confident footsteps echoed through the space, and when the figure stepped into the dim light, I couldn’t hold back the shock that coursed through me.

My brother, Ethan, walked toward me with a cold smile on his face.

“Good job,” he said to the man, who nodded and stepped back, giving Ethan space.

Ethan approached me slowly, his eyes fixed on mine. With a quick, painful motion, he ripped the duct tape from my mouth.

“Hello,” Ethan said, his voice dripping with false warmth. “It’s been a while.”

I felt my lips curl into a cold smile despite the situation. “So you’re the one behind this. I should have known.”

Ethan circled me like a predator, his eyes never leaving my face. “You always were the clever one, weren’t you, Evelyn? Always one step ahead.”

“What do you want, Ethan?” I asked, my voice steady despite the fear curling in my stomach.

“What do I want?” Ethan laughed, the sound echoing off the concrete walls. “That’s a loaded question.”

He crouched down to my eye level, his expression hardening. ‘I want what should have been mine all along. What grandmother gave to you instead of me.”

You mean William’s territory,” I stated flatly.

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Chapter 121

“Not just the territory,” Ethan snarled, his composure cracking. “The control rights, the Alpha position–everything that should have been mine by birthright!”

I studied my brother’s face–the face I’d once trusted, the brother who I thought would protect me. “The Gray family’s legacy was never meant to be yours, Ethan. Not because of me, but because of your own choices.”

His hand shot out, gripping my chin painfully. “Don’t lecture me about choices. Grandmother always favored you,

while I stood in the shadows.”

“That’s not true,” I said, wincing as his fingers dug into my jaw. “Isabel gave you every opportunity. You were her favorite–her grandson, the child of her firstborn son.”

I saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes that I knew this part of our family history.

“You should have had the purest bloodline, Ethan. But what did you do with those opportunities?” I continued, my voice gaining strength. “When you were eight, you refused to attend the pack gatherings. You called Isabel a ‘toothless old wolf. At thirteen, you rejected wolf training traditions. At seventeen, during the full moon, you howled at our sick grandmother that she was a ‘damn old thing that should die already.“”

Ethan’s face contorted with rage, and before I could react, his hand cracked across my face in a vicious slap. My head snapped to the side, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

“You don’t know anything!” he shouted, his control slipping.

I turned back to face him, my eyes narrowing. “Have you ever considered that this was all Jonathan’s plan? After your real father died, he took you in,

poisoned your mind, spoiled you, corrupted you–all to ensure you’d never be able to challenge him for the Alpha position.”

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. He stood abruptly, turning his back on me. His shoulders were tense, his breathing heavy. I’d struck a nerve.

“Enough of this,” he finally said, his voice controlled once more. “This isn’t just about family drama, Evelyn.”

I sighed, feeling exhaustion wash over me. “Why don’t you ask your real master to come out of the shadows?”

Ethan stiffened, and I knew I’d hit the mark. He wasn’t working alone.

From the darkness behind the stacked barrels, a figure emerged. Tall, with deathly pale skin that seemed to glow in the dim light, and eyes so cold they sent a chill down my spine. He moved with an unnatural grace, appearing suddenly before me as if he’d teleported.

“Aurora,” he said, his accent heavier than Samuel’s. “Finally, we meet.”

I kept my expression neutral. “I’m Evelyn Gray. Just a regular student.”

The man laughed, the sound like ice cracking. “Such modesty. Your reputation precedes you.”

I studied him carefully, taking in the aristocratic features, the family resemblance. ‘You’re Samuel’s brother. The White family heir?”

In a flash, he was in front of me, his hand wrapping around my throat with inhuman speed. His grip tightened, cutting off my air supply as he leaned in

close.

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