Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 3

**TITLE: Where Falling Leaves Whisper Stories Written In Silence by Ryn Jace Reed**

**Chapter 3**

The sharp, metallic scent of blood mixed with the sterile tang of antiseptic jolted me back to the realm of consciousness. My chest felt as if molten silver had been poured directly into my veins, igniting a fire that coursed through me, relentless and searing. I forced my eyes open, squinting against the harsh glare of fluorescent lights that illuminated what appeared to be a medical lab.

“Mr. Hall! Thank God, you’re awake,” Jason’s voice sliced through the fog that enveloped my mind. My head of security stood before me, looking worse for wear—his usually immaculate appearance marred by deep lines of worry etched into his forehead, and his tie hanging loosely, as though it had given up the fight against chaos.

I attempted to rise, but a sharp pain shot through my torso, making me hiss involuntarily. I glanced down to see three bandaged wounds, each one meticulously wrapped as if a surgeon had taken great care in their treatment.

“The bullets?” I croaked, my voice gravelly and rough, as if it had been dragged through gravel.

“Gone,” Jason replied, nodding toward a metal dish that held three silver slugs. “Emergency surgery was performed right here in this lab. By the time we managed to trace your phone, you were all alone.”

Fragments of memory flickered in my mind—silver eyes that held a sense of safety, an impossible feeling of tranquility, and a flash of white fur. But more than that, there had been a scent, faint and ethereal, that tugged at something primal deep within my chest. It was an instinct I couldn’t quite name or comprehend.

I closed my eyes, trying to grasp the fleeting image. “A woman. Silver eyes. Her scent was barely there, like wisps of smoke.” Suddenly, my eyes flew open. “Find her, Jason. I want every detail you can uncover.”

“Sir, shouldn’t we prioritize finding whoever tried to kill you first?” he suggested, a hint of caution in his voice.

I fixed him with a glare that could freeze the very blood in his veins. “Do I look like I need reminders about investigating my own assassination? Two priorities, Jason—find out who attempted to end my life and who saved me. Both. Now.”

Jason straightened, as if struck. “Of course, sir. I’ve already dispatched teams to track down the shooters.”

“Good.” I swung my legs off the table, grimacing as my body protested the movement. “Take me to the Center. Michael needs to be informed about this.”

The Silver Moon Medical Center was hidden beneath the guise of a nondescript wellness clinic on the outskirts of Seattle. Jason assisted me through a private entrance where Dr. Michael was already waiting, briefed on my condition and ready to act.

“Alpha Hall,” he greeted with a respectful nod. “Let’s take a look at those injuries.”

Inside the sterile examination room, Michael carefully peeled away the bandages. His eyebrows shot up in surprise as he examined the neat sutures.

“Incredible,” he murmured, leaning in closer. “This surgical technique… I haven’t seen work this clean since Alpha Isabel was alive.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, scrutinizing his expression for any hidden implications.

“The silver extraction is flawless—there’s zero residual toxicity in the surrounding tissue,” Michael explained, shaking his head in disbelief. “Whoever performed this surgery possesses extraordinary skill and specialized knowledge. They clearly understood how to counteract silver’s effects on our physiology.”

A nagging thought danced at the edges of my mind—the way my wolf had calmed during the surgery, as if her mere presence had been… healing? Comforting? The sensation was unlike anything I had ever experienced, leaving me feeling unsettled.

“Are there any wolves with this level of expertise in Seattle?” I inquired, feeling an urgency build within me.

Michael met my gaze, his expression turning grave. “Not since the Alpha of the Moonheal Pack passed away years ago. Their healing traditions died along with him.” The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. “That’s why our recent territorial disputes have been so bloody—we’re lacking skilled healers.”

I tucked that information away, a gifted healer connected to the Moonheal Pack. A white wolf. Yet, the pieces of the puzzle were still refusing to fit together.

In the backseat of my Bentley, Jason handed me a tablet. “I checked the lab’s access logs and the surrounding security footage, sir.”

As I scrolled through the report, I froze at the sight of a photograph—a young woman with porcelain skin, striking silver-gray eyes, and an expression that was both fierce and distant.

“Your medical skills are exceptional. We need healers of your caliber,” I stated, my tone firm.

“You mean your pack needs healers,” she corrected flatly. “I’m not interested in pack politics.”

“This is an opportunity most people would kill for,” I pressed, unaccustomed to rejection.

Evelyn’s silver eyes locked onto mine—a challenge no wolf would dare present to an Alpha. “I’m perfectly content with my current life. I’ve learned to survive without a pack.”

Before I could respond, she reached for the door. “Next time you get shot with silver, find someone else to patch you up.”

I watched her walk away, my heart sinking as she casually discarded my business card into a trash bin without a backward glance.

“Sir…” Jason ventured after a moment of heavy silence. “She’s… different from other wolves.”

I didn’t respond, my gaze fixed on her retreating figure. What was this strange sensation? In all my years, I had never felt such an inexplicable pull, a magnetic connection that defied logic.

“Dig up everything about the Gray family from three years ago,” I finally ordered, determination hardening my voice. “Every detail.”

Jason nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think she was framed?”

I continued to stare out the window, an ache spreading through my chest that had nothing to do with the bullet wounds. My wolf was restless, agitated by her absence in a way that made no sense.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling my wolf stir beneath my skin, restless and uneasy. “But I’m going to find out.”