Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 189

Chapter 189

Evelyn

Morning light streamed through the curtains, warming my face and gently pulling me from a deep, dreamless sleep. I blinked slowly, taking inventory of body. Despite yesterday’s emotional collapse, I felt surprisingly comfortable–though my stomach growled fiercely, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since lunch the previous day.

Rolling over, I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 10:23 AM. I shot upright, shocked.

“I slept that long?” I murmured, running a hand through my tangled hair.

In the bathroom, I splashed cool water on my face, letting the sensation clear my thoughts. The mirror reflected a woman who looked more rested than I expected, though faint shadows still lingered beneath

my eyes.

“Miles’s betrayal hurts,” I told my reflection, “but maybe this is an opportunity to reassess the entire project.”

I examined my body, noting with surprise how quickly I’d recovered. My hands no longer trembled, and the bone–deep exhaustion had receded to

manageable fatigue.

“My wolf is getting stronger,” I whispered, feeling the subtle shift of energy beneath my skin–not the terrifying loss of control I once feared, but a comforting presence, like embers glowing in a hearth.

For a moment, my eyes flashed silver in the mirror, startling me. But instead of panic, I felt curiosity. The glow faded quickly, but I’d seen it–proof that my

control was improving.

‘I’m not afraid of you anymore,” I told the wolf inside me. “We’re going to figure this out together.”

After dressing in comfortable jeans and a soft sweater, I made my way through the mansion’s upper hallway.. hunched over a tablet, her face scrunched in concentration.

e grand staircase, I spotted Aileen

“Morning, I called softly.

She jumped, then beamed when she saw me. “Evelyn! You’re up! I was just checking the security system and found a vulnerability in the eastern perimeter cameras, I’ve already patched it.”

“You’re learning fast,” I said, genuinely impressed. “You’re a natural Moonlight member.”

Aileen’s grin widened at the praise. “Thanks! Hey, have you had breakfast?”

My stomach rumbled audibly in response. “I’m starving.”

We took the garden path to reach Lydia’s restaurant at the edge of the property. The morning air carried a freshness that invigorated me, so different from the sterile environment of the lab.

The morning air feels amazing,” I said, inhaling deeply. “So much better than being cooped up inside.”

I paused near a rose bush, captivated by dewdrops glistening on the petals. “Look at these–they’re so alive in the sunlight.”

As we passed the central fountain, I caught my reflection in the rippling water. For a split second, my eyes flashed a pale gold that hadn’t been there before.

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Chapter 189

“My wolf is especially active today,” I murmured, more to myself than to Ailee

She noticed anyway, peering curiously at my face. “What’s it like? Your wolf form, I mean. Is it hard to control when you’re emotional?”

“The emotional swings definitely make my wolf more present,” I admitted. “My senses sharpen, everything becomes more intense. But… I hesitat realizing something I hadn’t acknowledged before. “I’ve never actually seen my complete wolf form. Not fully.”

“Really? Aileen sounded surprised.

I nodded, feeling a strange mixture of anticipation and apprehension. “It’s complicated.”

Lydia was wiping down the counter when we entered the restaurant. Her eyes softened when she saw me, and she immediately poured a steaming I coffee, sliding it across the counter before I even sat down.

‘Devon came by early this morning,” she said, her tone gentle but matter–of–fact. “Said you needed to rebuild your strength.”

“He’s right,” I admitted, gratefully accepting the coffee. “And thoughtful. I definitely need the energy.”

Lydia nodded knowingly and disappeared into the kitchen, returning moments later with a platter loaded with protein–eggs, bacon, sausage, and a st pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.

“After everything that’s happened, you need more than just calories,” she explained, setting the feast before me. “Your healing abilities drain you more you realize.”

I dug in ravenously, barely pausing between bites. ‘God, Lydia, this is exactly what I needed. Nothing satisfies like your cooking.”

When I’d finally cleared the plate, Lydia shooed me toward the back door. “Go sit in the sunshine for a while The morning light will help you recover completely, and you need to let yourself settle.”

Following her advice, I settled onto a cushioned lounger in the restaurant’s private garden, tilting my face toward the sun. The warmth penetrated deep my muscles, and I felt myself truly relaxing for the first time in days.

I hadn’t been there long when rapid footsteps approached. Aiden appeared, laptop clutched in one hand, his expression a mixture of urgency and discover

“Evelyn, I found something. I was checking Miles’s activity logs this morning and it’s much bigger than we thought,” he said, dropping onto the bench besi

1. me.

I immediately straightened, my peaceful moment forgotten. “What did

you find?”

Aiden flipped open his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. “I traced the complete path of the data leak. Miles wasn’t the endpoint–he was just the middleman.”

My eyes narrowed. “Who was he working for?”

“See for yourself.” Aiden turned the screen toward me, showing security footage from outside the research facility. The timestamp indicated it was from the night before Miles’s betrayal was discovered. A woman with auburn hair partially hidden beneath a cap was attempting to access the side entrance of the building.

Despite the disguise, I recognized her instantly. “Emilia Redwood. Devon’s ex.”

Exactly. Aiden swiped to another screen showing bank records. “And look at this–the payment to Miles came from a shell company that traces back to

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Chapter 189

Redwood Holdings.”

I studied the evidence, my mind racing. “It takes serious money to bribe someone like Miles that quickly. Not many werewolves in Seattle have that kind of

cash on hand.”

“There’s more.” Aiden pulled up additional footage showing Emilia meeting briefly with Miles in a coffee shop three blocks from the lab. “This was two days before we caught him.”

“What the hell does Emilia want with our research?” I muttered, staring at her face frozen on the screen.

My phone rang suddenly, interrupting our analysis. Kate’s name flashed on the screen, surprising me. I answered cautiously.

“Kate? What’s-”

“Evelyn!” Her voice was high with panic. “Sebastian and Adalyn are here. They say they’re taking me away-” There was a commotion in the background, and Kate’s voice dropped to a terrified whisper. “Help me, please. They said they’ll-

A loud crash cut her off, followed by the sound of breaking glass and Kate’s scream. Then the line went dead.

S

MARE

I grabbed my keys anu spimvu

breaking every speed limit between Sterling Mansion and Gray territory.

My heart pounded against my ribs, not from exertion but from a primal rage building inside me. How dare they? After our agreement? I could feel my wolf stirring, clawing just beneath my skin, demanding to be released.

As I screeched to a halt outside the Gray family mansion, the scene confirmed my worst fears. Two black SUVS blocked the driveway, and a team of men in suits–clearly Stone family security–were attempting to force their way through the front door. I spotted Marcus, our elderly Beta, trying to hold them back, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead.

“Step away from the door,” I commanded, my voice eerily calm despite the fury coursing through my veins.

One of the larger guards turned, sneering. “This isn’t your business, lady. Walk away before you get hurt.”

A cold smile spread across my face. “This is my family’s territory, and you are

trespassing.”

The guard lunged at me, his meaty hand reaching for my arm. Big mistake. I sidestepped with supernatural speed and delivered a powerful kick to his chest. The impact sent him flying backward into two of his colleagues, all three crashing to the ground.

a

The remaining guards rushed me at once. Time seemed to slow as my senses heightened. I could hear each heartbeat, smell their sweat and determination. I

third. Within three minutes, I had systematically dodged the first punch, twisted another guard’s arm until bone cracked, and swept the legs out from dismantled over a dozen professional security personnel.

The last guard backed away, eyes wide with fear. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in his sunglasses–my eye

ilver.

Through the now–clear path to the door, I saw them: Adalyn in her pristine designer suit, her son Sebastian holding Kate’s arm in a painful grip, and Kate, pale and terrified, one hand protectively covering her pregnant belly.

“You have exactly three seconds to release my sister,” I said, stepping over the groaning bodies of their security detail.

Sebastian’s grip tightened. “This bitch is carrying Stone heirs. She belongs to us now.”

My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “One.”

Adalyn stepped forward. “Ms. Gray, don’t be unreasonable. We’re simply retrieving what belongs to the Stone family.”

‘Two.”

Sebastian twisted Kate’s arm, making her whimper. “You’re outnumbered, Evelyn. Always trying to play the hero when you’re nothing but a-”

“Three.”

I moved faster than human eyes could track, breaking Sebastian’s hold on Kate and placing myself between them in one fluid motion. Kate stumbled backward into Marcus’s steadying arms.

You dare enter Gray territory without permission?” I asked, my voice razor–sharp. “You attack our Bets, attempt to remove a Gray family member by force,