Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 59

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

**Chapter 59**

Devon

The conference room in Portland felt like a prison cell, the walls closing in with every passing moment. My father, Richard, sat across the polished table, his expression a mask of stone as I laid out my proposal to resolve the ongoing dispute with the humans over our territory.

“Negotiation is the most prudent course of action,” I stated, my voice steady despite the tension in the air. “We can delineate our borders clearly without resorting to violence.”

My father let out a harsh, mirthless laugh that echoed in the sterile room. “Negotiation? With those who are stripping us of our ancestral lands?” He slammed his fist down with such force that the sound reverberated, causing the other representatives from our pack to flinch visibly. “The weak possess no bargaining power, Devon. You should have learned that by now.”

The meeting concluded with a half-hearted compromise that left both of us dissatisfied. As we made our way to the hotel bar, I caught sight of a woman approaching us—tall, blonde, with eyes that seemed to appraise me as if I were a piece of prime real estate.

“Devon,” my father called out, his tone deceptively casual. “Allow me to introduce Laura Matthews. I’ve arranged for her to accompany you to the Hall Enterprise anniversary celebration.”

My heart sank, and I felt a surge of indignation. “You did what?” I demanded, disbelief coloring my voice.

Laura extended her hand with a practiced smile that felt disingenuous. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hall. I’ve heard so much about you.”

I ignored her outstretched hand and turned my gaze back to my father, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I have the right to choose my own mate.”

His eyes flashed gold, a warning that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re thirty-five years old, Devon. Still unmated.” He gestured toward the other pack representatives, who were watching our exchange with keen interest. “An Alpha without a mate has no right to lead. Disputes like today’s will only multiply if you do not take action.”

I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor as I did. “This conversation is over.”

“Take Laura home,” my father called after me as I strode toward the door. “Think about your future, son. Think about the pack.”

But I was no longer listening.

—

Twenty minutes into my drive back to Evelyn’s apartment, a burning sensation ignited within me, coursing through my veins like wildfire. My skin felt as if it were on fire, and my vision began to blur as I gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity.

“Damn it,” I growled, the realization crashing over me like a wave. “The alcohol was drugged.”

My father’s strategy became painfully clear. The drug was designed to heighten my instincts, to drive me toward the woman he had chosen for me—a political mating meant to forge alliances.

Yet, instead of Laura’s face, all I could see was Evelyn’s. Her silver-gray eyes, infused with the rare energy of a white wolf, called to something primal deep within me. The drug wasn’t steering me toward my father’s choice; it was amplifying the mate bond I had been desperately trying to suppress.

“Must… see her,” I groaned, my wolf clawing at the edges of my consciousness, demanding release.

The car filled with my scent—pure Alpha dominance unleashed. In the rearview mirror, I caught sight of my eyes, now golden with primal energy, pupils elongated like a wolf’s.

I forced the car forward, my hands trembling as I fought to maintain control. When I finally pulled up to Evelyn’s apartment building, my grip on sanity was slipping. The elevator ride was agonizing, her scent growing stronger with every floor I ascended.

When she opened her door, dressed in simple jeans and a t-shirt that somehow made her look more beautiful than any other woman I had ever seen, I pushed inside without uttering a word, locking the door behind me.

“Evelyn…” My voice emerged barely above a whisper, raw and desperate.

I seized her, my mouth crashing against hers in a frantic kiss. Every fiber of my being screamed that she was mine. My hands moved instinctively to her clothes, tearing at the fabric, but just as the haze threatened to consume me entirely, a fragment of sanity broke through.

I saw the shock in her eyes, the confusion that mirrored my own. With monumental effort, I stepped back, breathing heavily.

“I’ve been drugged,” I managed to say, my voice hoarse. “I’m so sorry.”

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