Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142

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Evelyn

I stood up, ready to leave Audrey’s villa. The entire conversation had been exhausting–another reminder of the web of lies my family had woven around themselves. As I turned toward the door, Audrey’s demeanor suddenly changed. She lunged forward, grabbing my hand with unexpected desperation.

“Wait!” Her voice cracked. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around as if searching for the right words. “Please, I need your help.”

I stared down at her fingers clutching my wrist, fighting the urge to yank my arm away. “I’ve already told you-”

“Ethan has Sterling blood flowing through his veins,” Audrey blurted out, her grip tightening. “You can’t just abandon him. He’s your brother.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel a strange pang of envy. Ethan had betrayed everyone, participated in countless schemes, and even aided in my kidnapping. Yet here was someone fighting desperately to save him. Where had these passionate defenders been when I was the one suffering? When I was cast out and branded a monster?

“You’re beyond help,” I said coldly, pulling my arm free with a sharp tug. “The fact that you think I’d help the person who assisted in my abduction shows how delusional you’ve become.”

Audrey’s eyes widened with panic. “I’ll make it worth your while! Isabel left a box–it’s in Jonathan’s bank vault. Help Ethan, and I’ll make sure you get it.”

I turned, my expression hardening. “What makes you think I want some old box? If it was so valuable to you, you’d have taken it and run off with Liam to another country by now.” I crossed my arms. “You’re lying. Again.”

“No!” Audrey’s composure crumbled. “The box is real! Jonathan did hide it in the bank vault, but it’s locked and no one has the key. Her voice dropped to a desperate whisper. “I swear I’m telling the truth.”

I studied the woman before me–the mistress who had schemed her way into the Gray family, who had borne Ethan’s child while pretending it was Jonathan’s. This woman had participated in destroying lives for her own gain. Now, with Jonathan mentally unhinged, she was grasping at the only lifeline

she had left: Ethan.

“Even if what you’re saying is true,” I said, “nothing would make me help Ethan after what he’s done.”

I gestured to Jason, who had been waiting by the door. As I turned to leave, Audrey called out, her voice shrill with desperation.

‘What are you really doing here, Evelyn? What do you want?”

I paused at the threshold. “I wanted to see if you’d learned anything from your mistakes.” I looked back at the trembling woman. “But you’re just like Jonathan–too selfish to ever change. A word of advice: if you continue down this path, Liam will abandon you too. Just like everyone else.”

The sound of Audrey’s anguished screams followed me as I walked away, but I didn’t look back. I’d wasted enough time on people who would never change.

Devon

I stood at the window of my executive office at Hall Enterprises, my phone pressed to my ear as I listened to the meeting continuing behind me. When Evelyn’s name flashed on my screen, I immediately excused myself from the discussion, stepping away from the conference table.

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Chapter 142

“Evie, 1 answered, my voice instantly softening. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine,” Evelyn replied. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading to the school today. Jason’s coming with me.”

I felt a smile tugging at my lips. She was reporting her movements to me–progress, considering her usually fiercely independent nature. ‘Good. Make sure

he stays close.”

“Also, she continued, “I’ll need to stay at a hotel for a couple of days. The competition is coming up, and I need to work with Erin and the team on our

approach.”

My grip on the phone tightened. “No,” I said immediately, my Alpha instincts flaring, “Absolutely not. You’re not staying at a hotel. I need you where I can

watch over you and keep you safe.”

“It’s Jack’s hotel, Evelyn countered. “The security is specifically designed for werewolves, and I’ll have Jason with me the whole time. Besides, this is Moonlight Organization business–I can’t exactly have everyone coming to your house.”

My jaw clenched. The thought of Evelyn away from my protection, even with Jason guarding her, made my wolf pace anxiously. “I said no, Evelyn. If you insist on this, then you’re not participating in the competition at all.”

Without waiting for her response, I ended the call. I tossed my phone onto the conference table with enough force to make several executives flinch. I could feel my eyes flash with a hint of gold–the telltale sign of my wolf rising close to the surface.

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