Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 42

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

**Evelyn**

After what felt like an eternity of staring at glowing screens, I finally stepped outside the research facility, and the cool evening air embraced my face like a long-lost friend. It was a refreshing contrast to the sterile, artificial environment I had been trapped in for hours.

The testing for Dr. Anderson’s project had been merciless, leaving my mind feeling like a scrambled mess. I fished my phone out of my pocket, where I had silenced it during the intense session, and my heart sank into my stomach. Devon had called and texted me at least ten times, each message radiating more concern about my whereabouts than the last.

The final text was short and to the point: [Call me. Now.]

Panic surged through me. Shit. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, and dialed his number. He picked up almost instantly, his voice laced with a tightness that sent a strange flutter through my stomach.

“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded, the worry in his tone palpable and unsettling.

“I had to go to Portland for some stuff,” I replied, attempting to sound casual while fabricating the lie on the fly. “Just wrapped up and I’m heading back to my place now.”

A heavy silence followed, and I could almost hear the gears in his mind turning as he weighed whether to press me for more details. Part of me hoped he wouldn’t—trying to explain my work with Aurora would invite a flood of questions I wasn’t prepared to handle.

“Are you okay?” he finally asked, his voice softening, a hint of genuine concern breaking through.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just exhausted. It was all last-minute,” I reassured him, though I could hear the fatigue in my own voice.

“Next time, give me a heads up before you vanish,” he said, a note of frustration mingled with his worry. “I was really worried.”

His words struck a chord deep within me, causing an unexpected flip in my chest. After we hung up, I hailed a cab, feeling the weight of his concern lingering in the air.

Once I got back to my apartment, I was completely drained. I threw on some cozy pajamas and collapsed onto my bed, my laptop still open on my desk, the hacker program I had been immersed in blinking at me like a forgotten dream. Within moments, I was fast asleep, surrendering to the exhaustion that had enveloped me.

A loud pounding on my door jolted me awake. I squinted at the clock—6:30 AM—and groaned in annoyance. Who the hell shows up at this hour? I stumbled to the door, half-expecting to see Mrs. Whitmore with yet another one of her cleaning emergencies.

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