Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 60

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

**Chapter 60**

**Evelyn**

“Mr. Gray, who gives you the right to speak to me like that?” Devon’s voice was deceptively calm, an unsettling veneer that masked the storm brewing beneath.

I could see Ethan’s jaw tighten, the tension in his posture unmistakable. “I have every right to be concerned about my sister,” he replied, his tone steady but laced with underlying anger.

“Sister?” Devon’s laugh echoed with a harshness that felt like ice. “The same family that cast her out of the pack? The same family that turned their backs on her when she needed them most?” His blue eyes flickered with a golden intensity, a warning of the wolf lurking just beneath the surface. “And now you come here to what—morally police her?”

Ethan took a step forward, his body language shifting as if he were preparing to confront a rival. “You don’t know anything about our family matters, Hall,” he shot back, his voice low and dangerous.

“I know enough,” Devon retorted, his gaze unwavering.

I could no longer bear the escalating tension, so I stepped in, positioning myself partially behind Devon as a shield. Both men turned their attention to me, and I felt a wave of competing Alpha pheromones envelop me, thick and suffocating.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly as I placed a tentative hand on Devon’s arm. I felt the tension in his muscles ease a fraction beneath my touch, but his eyes remained locked on Ethan, a silent challenge.

Devon’s hand found its way to the small of my back, a gesture that felt both protective and possessive. “We should go,” he murmured softly into my ear, his breath warm against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

As we turned to leave, a pang of reluctance tugged at my heart, compelling me to glance back at Ethan. Despite the rift between us, I couldn’t entirely shut him out. “Ethan… I’ll be in Seattle if you need to talk,” I said, my words feeling like an olive branch stretched across a vast chasm of hurt and misunderstanding.

Once we were settled in the car, an uncomfortable silence enveloped us. It was Devon who finally broke the stillness.

“Do you know much about Ethan?” he asked, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, the city lights blurring past like fleeting memories.

I sighed, my thoughts drifting as I stared out the window. “Not as much as I should. We were never particularly close growing up. But when it comes to Gray Enterprises, he’s reliable. At least he’s not like our father, who would let the company crumble while shuffling assets around like a game of cards.”

Devon’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles whitening. “You seem to care a lot about the company,” he observed, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

“I don’t,” I admitted, surprised at my own candor. “Not about the shares, anyway. I just don’t want to see what my grandmother Isabel built destroyed by them.” I turned to face him, feeling a mix of vulnerability and resolve. “I know it sounds contradictory.”

Devon nodded, his expression softening. “You want to honor her legacy,” he stated, his voice understanding.

“Yes,” I whispered, taken aback by how effortlessly he understood the struggle I had faced in articulating my own feelings.

When we finally arrived at my apartment building, Devon pulled up to the curb, the engine purring softly to a stop. “There’s still a lot to prepare for tomorrow’s gala, so I won’t come up,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I nodded, fully aware of the unspoken boundary he had set. As I reached for the door handle, Devon gently caught my wrist, his touch sending a ripple of warmth through me.

“There’s a surprise waiting for you upstairs,” he said, his expression enigmatic in the dim light, leaving me intrigued and eager.

With a flutter of anticipation, I hurried up to my apartment. Upon entering, my eyes were immediately drawn to a large white box perched on my coffee table, elegantly tied with a golden ribbon. My heart raced as I approached it, curiosity bubbling within me.

Inside, I discovered a breathtaking yellow evening gown, the fabric shimmering like liquid sunshine in the soft glow of the room. As I carefully lifted it out, the weight of the garment felt both foreign and exhilarating. I held it against myself and twirled in front of the mirror, marveling at its beauty—elegant yet bold, it was precisely the sort of thing I would have chosen for myself. I couldn’t recall the last time someone had gifted me something that felt so perfectly… me.

“She lost control on a full moon and nearly killed a human,” Kate declared loudly, her words slicing through the atmosphere like a knife. My stomach twisted at her accusation. “She’s dangerous—an anomaly that can’t control her wolf nature,” she added, her voice dripping with disdain.

Sebastian nodded vigorously in agreement. “Mr. Hall, why are you with someone like her? She can’t even shift anymore!”

The atmosphere thickened, charged with Devon’s Alpha energy flaring to life, pressing down on everyone present. Without uttering a word, he took my hand, intertwining our fingers with a firm grip that felt both reassuring and empowering.

“Her wolf is far more powerful than you imagine,” he declared, his voice resonating with authority as he addressed the guards. Then, looking directly at me with undisguised admiration, he led me past the guards, who immediately stepped aside, their expressions shifting from hostility to respect.

As we entered the grand hall, I could feel Kate’s venomous stare boring into my back, but with Devon’s hand firmly clasped in mine, it somehow mattered less than it ever had before.

Devon guided me to a quiet sitting room where Olivia and Lily awaited us. Lily bounded over immediately, her energy infectious, while Olivia’s keen eyes assessed the situation with a perceptive intelligence.

“Kate and Sebastian Stone tried to crash the party,” Devon explained to his sister, his voice steady. “They were saying things about Evelyn.”

Olivia’s elegant features hardened, her expression shifting to one of fierce protectiveness. “That Stone boy returning probably has something to do with their territory. He’s likely trying to network with other wolves at the gala.” She turned to Devon, her tone serious. “You should talk to Eric and find out what his brother is really up to.”

Devon nodded, a look of reluctance crossing his face as he prepared to leave me, but he understood the necessity of his departure.

As he stepped away, Olivia squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry about those two. We’ve got you,” she said, her voice a balm to my frayed nerves.

Looking between Olivia’s determined expression and Lily’s warm smile, I felt something I hadn’t experienced in years—the security of a pack that would stand by my side, no matter what challenges lay ahead.