Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 49

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

**Chapter 49**

**Evelyn**

My cheeks flushed a deep crimson as Devon’s question lingered in the air, heavy and charged. Did I truly see him merely as Lily’s uncle? His face loomed mere inches from mine, his breath warm and intoxicating against my skin. Overwhelmed, I instinctively pushed him away, craving a moment to gather my racing thoughts.

“I… I think I need to shower,” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper, a desperate plea for an escape from the tension that crackled between us.

I hurried to the sanctuary of my bathroom, shutting the door behind me with trembling hands. Leaning against the cool wood, I took a deep breath, attempting to quell the rapid beating of my heart. What was unfolding between us? The intensity in his gaze was unnerving—not out of fear, but because of the emotions it stirred within me, feelings I wasn’t quite ready to confront.

As dawn broke, the comforting aroma of coffee and sizzling bacon wafted through the air, pulling me from my restless slumber. Devon had already taken the initiative to prepare breakfast, still dressed in yesterday’s clothes yet managing to look effortlessly composed.

“Good morning,” he greeted, sliding a plate piled high with eggs and bacon toward me. “You should eat something substantial. Family gatherings can be draining.”

“Just be careful,” he added, a note of caution threading his voice. “If they give you any trouble, don’t do anything reckless.”

“I can handle myself,” I replied, determinedly finishing my breakfast. “And I don’t need you to drive me to school today.”

Devon observed me as I grabbed my leather jacket and keys, ready to mount my Ducati. “That bike is—”

“Perfect,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “Fast, reliable, and entirely mine.”

As I revved the engine and sped through the streets of Seattle, the rumble of my motorcycle provided a fleeting sense of liberation. Yet, Devon’s words from the previous night echoed in my mind, refusing to fade away.

In class, the professor droned on about encryption algorithms, but my mind was elsewhere. I feigned note-taking while dissecting the Gray family data that Devon had helped me unravel the night before. The shell companies my father had established formed a convoluted web of deceit, but now, with clarity, I could see the patterns emerging.

Once the class concluded, Lily bounded up to me, excitement radiating from her as she waved an ornate envelope.

“Eve! I’ve been searching high and low for you!” she exclaimed, thrusting the envelope into my hands. “It’s my twenty-first birthday invitation. You absolutely have to come!”

I stared at the embossed silver card, feeling a swell of emotions. In werewolf society, turning twenty-one was monumental—the age when one’s ability to control their transformation was deemed complete.

“Thanks, Lily. I’ll do my best to make it,” I assured her, though uncertainty gnawed at me.

As we navigated through the bustling cafeteria, I caught snippets of gossip from Kate’s table that made my stomach churn.

“…that abnormal white wolf…”

“…lost control and attacked someone…”

“…how can she even show her face here…”

Lily squeezed my arm reassuringly. “Ignore them. They’re just jealous because you’re smarter and prettier.”

I forced a smile, but her words stung, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

During lunch, I was abruptly jolted from my thoughts when Megan, one of Kate’s friends, purposefully bumped into me as I balanced my tray, sending it crashing to the floor. A sharp edge sliced across my palm.

“Oops,” Megan said, feigning concern. “You should really be more careful.”

Pain shot through my hand, but I maintained my composure. “You’re right. I should definitely be more cautious about the company I keep.”

In a moment of defiance, I pushed back against her, causing Megan to stumble and fall onto her backside, eliciting laughter from the surrounding crowd.

Kate rushed over, her expression a mixture of concern and indignation as she helped Megan up. “I’m so sorry about my sister,” she said loudly, her voice dripping with insincerity. “She’s always been… unstable.”

I turned away, heading to the medical office to tend to my hand. The cut wasn’t deep, but it throbbed with every heartbeat, a reminder of the chaos that surrounded me.

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