Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 123

Devon

I rushed toward the abandoned chemical plant, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. After confirming the location with Aiden, we split up–he went to notify Edward, while I couldn’t wait another second knowing Evelyn was in danger.

My SUV’s engine roared as I pushed it to its limits, gravel spraying beneath the tires. The dilapidated structure loomed against the darkening sky, its broken windows and rusted exterior sending a chill down my spine.

When I reached the entrance, I pulled out my phone and called Aiden one more time to confirm Evelyn’s exact location.

‘Aiden, I’ve reached the chemical plant. Where exactly is Evelyn?” I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice.

“In the innermost room. Edward and I are on our way,” he replied, his voice crackling through the speaker.

“Good. I’m going in. You guys get here as soon as you can.” I hung up and took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever was waiting inside.

Just as I reached for the door handle, a deafening explosion ripped through the air. The shockwave slammed into my SUV, nearly flipping it onto its side. Fire erupted from the building, engulfing my vehicle in flames. I threw myself from the car just as a second explosion sent shards of metal and glass flying in all directions.

“Evelyn!” Her name tore from my throat as I fell to one knee.

The air filled with a sickening scent–silver particles, atomized and billowing outward in a deadly cloud. My skin crawled as my wolf instincts screamed in warning. Silver in this form was lethal to werewolves, infiltrating the lungs and bloodstream within seconds.

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Despite the danger, I lurched forward, my body already beginning to react to the silver. I could feel veins bulging beneath my skin, my fingernails elongating as my wolf fought to surface, desperate to save my mate. A guttural growl escaped my lips as I staggered toward the burning building.

EVELYN!” I roared again, each step becoming heavier as the silver invaded my system.

The heat from the flames singed my skin, but I pushed forward, covering my mouth with my arm. My vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. The silver poisoning was setting in rapidly, my enhanced healing no match for the concentrated toxin,

With one final surge of strength, I broke through the doorway, only to be met by a wall of silver laden smoke. My lungs seized, my legs buckled, and the last thing I saw before consciousness slipped away was the inferno consuming everything in its path.

‘I failed her,‘ was my final thought as darkness claimed me.

Evelyn

I woke up disoriented, my body screaming in pain. The sharp burning sensation in my shoulder told me immediately what had happened–silver poisoning from a gunshot wound. I tried to move but found my wrists and ankles bound with thin silver chains that burned against my skin, preventing me from shifting.

The room was dark, but my enhanced senses picked up the smell of damp earth and antiseptic, with an underlying metallic scent I recognized as my own blood. I was lying on a cold concrete floor.

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Chapter 123

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1 strained against the chains, wincing as they burned deeper into my skin. They were thin enough that they wouldn’t kill me, just enough to keep my wolf subdued and prevent me from healing properly.

The sound of a door opening made me freeze. Heavy footsteps approached, and suddenly light flooded the room as someone switched on a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. I squinted against the sudden brightness, making out the familiar silhouette of my brother.

“Good, you’re awake, Ethan said, approaching me with caution. He knelt beside me and loosened the chains around my wrists. “You have half an hour to get that silver bullet out. The supplies are on the table. I can provide this much.”

I sat up slowly, my vision swimming from the pain. On a small metal table nearby, I spotted a surgical kit, gauze, antiseptic, and silver–neutralizing

compounds.

Without hesitation, I grabbed the surgical knife and, with practiced precision, located and extracted the silver bullet from my shoulder in less than five minutes. I cleaned and dressed the wound, my movements efficient despite the pain.

‘You’re even skilled at treating yourself,” Ethan remarked with curiosity in his voice.

I glanced up at him, keeping my expression cold. “You know something, Ethan? When Jonathan kicked me out of the territory, he sold me to Viper.” I watched his expression carefully, noting the shock that flickered across his face. “I was taken to a small island in Europe. Every day was filled with killing. Only those who won could survive. In the end, only three people made it out alive, and I was one of them.”

Ethan’s face paled. “I never heard Father say anything about that.”

“Why would he admit it?” I scoffed, tying off the bandage. “Besides, after it happened, Grandfather took you abroad.”

I studied my brother’s face, searching for any sign of the boy I once knew. “How did you get mixed up with Austin anyway?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, refusing to answer.

“You’re really disappointing William, you know, I continued, deliberately using our grandfather’s name to provoke him. “He’s always protected you, and this is how you repay him.”

Ethan’s eyes flashed with anger, but before he could respond, I launched myself at him, catching him off guard. Despite my injured shoulder, I moved with deadly precision, pressing a silver–laced scalpel against his throat.

“Ethan, since you now know about my past, you should understand that I have a hundred ways to make a werewolf never shift again,” I whispered, my voice eerily calm.

Before he could react, I plunged a syringe filled with sedative into his neck. Ethan’s eyes widened in surprise, then slowly dulled as the drug took effect. He slumped to the floor, unconscious but alive.

Working quickly, I freed my legs from the remaining silver chains. My hands were shaking, but not from fear–from rage. Three years of being hunted, of living in fear, all because of my own family’s betrayal.

I reached into Ethan’s pocket and retrieved my smart watch and sent the signal again.

As the signal pulsed, I leaned against the wall, my strength fading. The silver poisoning was still in my system, and the exertion had taken its toll. My Caught in the explosion? The image of him searching for me, walking into that death trap, made my heart clench thoughts turned to Devon. Had he been

with fear.

Please be alive, I thought desperately.

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