Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 22

**Where Falling Leaves Whisper Stories Written In Silence by Ryn Jace Reed**
**Chapter 22**

Evelyn

I lay awake for what felt like an eternity, my gaze fixed on the ceiling above me, a silent witness to my turmoil. Sleep eluded me as my thoughts spiraled around one unnerving question: what was my true connection to Devon? The fragments of my mind refused to align, each piece of the puzzle seeming to mock my confusion. Three years ago, his father had orchestrated the suppression of my wolf nature—a punishment so severe that it left me teetering on the edge of being merely human. Yet, ever since Devon entered my life, I sensed a flicker of my wolf awakening within me. The coincidence was too glaring to ignore.

Could it be that Devon was somehow the key to unlocking my wolf once more?

I shook my head vigorously, trying to dispel the thoughts that swirled like a tempest. I needed to concentrate on the pressing matter at hand—the plagiarism accusation that loomed over me like a dark cloud.

As I made my way to school, my mind was a flurry of strategies to tackle the situation with the professor. It was then that I spotted Bryan loitering at the gate, a bouquet of roses awkwardly held in his hand, their vibrant red petals a stark contrast to the dreary day.

“Ugh,” I muttered under my breath, contemplating whether I should turn back and escape this encounter. But it was too late—his eyes had locked onto me with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

“Evelyn!” Bryan called out, adjusting his designer jacket with a flourish that reeked of arrogance. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

I pressed on, hoping my body language would convey my disinterest, but he stepped directly into my path, thrusting the flowers toward me with an almost theatrical flair.

“These are for you,” he declared, his tone dripping with that infuriating confidence of his. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”

I stared at him, utterly taken aback by his audacity. “Are you serious right now?”

“Dead serious,” he replied, his smile unwavering, as if he’d just proposed a grand adventure rather than a relationship. “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and you’re definitely girlfriend material.”

“This is a school environment,” I shot back, my voice icy. “And I can still smell Jessica’s scent lingering on you.”

His bravado faltered for a moment, the mask slipping just enough for me to see the uncertainty beneath. “Jessica and I broke up. She was too clingy, too jealous. You’re different.”

I let out a harsh laugh, the sound echoing in the stillness of the morning. “Let me get this straight. You want me to date you after your girlfriend physically assaulted me? You really are a piece of work, Bryan.”

A chill ran down my spine as my stomach dropped. Students passing by slowed their pace, their curiosity piqued, clearly hoping to witness some unfolding drama.

“Of course, Professor,” I managed to reply, my voice steady despite the storm of anxiety brewing within me.

Once inside his office, Professor Parker closed the door with a soft click, gesturing for me to take a seat. He placed the folder on the desk between us, opening it to reveal printouts of my code juxtaposed with another sample that made my heart race with dread.

“After our previous discussion, I consulted with colleagues and conducted further research,” he said gravely, his tone heavy with the weight of what he was about to reveal. “The similarities between your work and Aurora’s encryption algorithm are far beyond mere coincidence.”

He spread out several pages, each one marked with highlighted sections that drew attention to the glaring parallels. The evidence was damning—I had let my guard down, relying too heavily on my original Aurora code without making the necessary modifications.

“Academic integrity is the foundation of this institution,” he continued, his expression stern. “If you admit to plagiarism now, we can handle this internally. Otherwise, this will escalate to the academic board for a formal hearing.”

Through the glass panel of the office door, I caught sight of Kate lingering in the hallway, her smirk barely concealed, a predator waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.