Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Devon found us an hour later as I was patiently explaining a complex encryption method while Lily took detailed notes.

…so remember, the key exchange protocol is your foundation. If that’s compromised, the entire system falls.”

But I thought the whole point was that the key gets split?‘ Lily asked, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Exactly. That’s why I paused as I noticed Devon leaning against the doorframe, a soft smile playing on his lips.

‘Don’t stop on my account,‘ he said. ‘I’m enjoying watching the master at work.”

Lily groaned dramatically. “She’s a taskmaster is what she is! I just wanted to welcome her home, and now I’m doing practice problems.”

“Ten of them, I confirmed without a hint of remorse. And you’d better ace them, or there will be ten more.”

Devon’s smile widened. ‘That’s my girl,” he murmured, the pride in his voice unmistakable.

Later that evening, Devon found me alone on the back porch, gazing at the forest beyond. He approached quietly, but my heightened senses detected him immediately.

“Your recovery scent is strong,” he said, standing close enough that I could feel his warmth. “The wound is healing well.”

“Better than expected,” I agreed, turning to face him.

Devon’s eyes, dark and intense, searched my face before he pulled me into a deep kiss–our first since my injury. I melted against him, my body responding

to his touch with a familiar heat that had been absent during my recovery.

When we finally broke apart, I whispered, “Take me to the forest. I want to be in nature.”

Devon raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

I nodded. “Something’s different since the injury. I can feel my healing working faster than before. It’s like… like my wolf is trying to reach me again.”

In the forest, under the silver glow of the moonlight filtering through the trees, Devon stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders.

“Close your eyes,” he murmured. ‘Listen to the forest. Feel the earth beneath your feet.”

1 obeyed, breathing deeply of the pine–scented air.

“I was eleven when I first shifted,‘ Devon said quietly. “I was terrified. My wolf was so strong, and I felt like I was drowning in its power.”

“What did you do?” I asked, eyes still closed.

“I learned to swim, he replied simply. “The wolf isn’t separate from you, Evelyn. It’s part of you. Don’t fear it. Listen to it.”

1 concentrated, reaching deep within myself where my wolf had once been so vivid, so alive. For years, there had been only silence, a void where my wolf should have been. But now, faintly, I felt something–a stirring, like the flutter of wings.

I can feel something, I whispered, excitement threading through my voice. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”

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13:23 Sat, Dec 27

Chapter 169

Devon’s

arms encircled

me from behind.

“That’s it. Don’t

push. Just listen.”

For nearly an

couldn’t shift

hour, we stood

yet–1 felt

the in

to closer

my

moonlight,

wolf than

The

reaching

inward

while Devon

supported

me,

his

steady

presence an anchor.

Though I didn’t

shift-

1 had

in years.

Finally, exhausted

but elated, 1 turned in Devon’s

arms.

“Thank

you,” I said

softly.

Devon’s

fingers traced my cheek.

“You’ll

get there. I know

will. you

His

eyes

grew serious.

“Evelyn,

when

you’re

fully

healed, after

the

next full

moon-

1

placed a

finger

against

his

lips.

“I know.

We‘ 11

the

mate bond complete

then.”

*One lunar cycle, I a teasing

said,

smile

playing

on my

lips.

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