Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 74

**Chapter 74**

Evelyn

“I’m Evelyn,” I stated with a composed demeanor, my heart steady despite the tension in the air. “Part of Team Peace Keepers.”

Fiona’s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise dancing across her features. “The last-minute replacement? Seriously?” She let out a laugh that dripped with derision, her disdain palpable. “Do yourself a favor and step aside. Out there, we’re going to wipe the floor with you.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, laced with mock concern. “Tell you what—I’ll even make it sweeter for you. Five hundred cash if you just walk away right now. No questions asked.”

I tilted my head, a playful smile gracing my lips as I feigned innocence. “Five hundred? That’s adorable.” I paused, matching her tone with an air of nonchalance. “How about a counter-offer? I’ll give you five hundred thousand to just disappear. Deal?”

Fiona’s face flushed a deep crimson, anger radiating off her like heat from a flame. “You think you’re funny? You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

“Actually,” I replied, my calm unwavering, “I think I do. Those silver markings on your neck tell me everything I need to know.”

Her hand flew to her collar, pulling it up as if to hide the evidence. Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint sparking in their depths. “What did you just say?”

Before I could retort, her team approached our table, their presence looming over us like a storm cloud. A tall, lanky guy with similar silver markings sneered down at me. “Problem here, Fi?”

“Nothing I can’t handle, Jackson,” she replied, her gaze still locked on mine, refusing to break. “Just this bitch thinking she can talk to me like that.”

There was something unsettling about them—an eerie synchronicity in their movements, almost robotic, and their skin bore an unnatural pallor. But what sent a chill through me was the faint silver gleam in their eyes, reminiscent of Taylor’s before I had extracted the parasites.

Suddenly, Fiona lunged at me, her movements erratic and wild. Instinct kicked in, and I grabbed her arm, executing a perfect shoulder throw that sent her crashing into an empty table. The moment my skin made contact with hers, I was taken aback by how cold she felt—like touching a corpse, lifeless and frigid.

Chaos erupted around us as Aiden sprang to his feet, confronting the advancing team members with a fierce determination. Tables toppled, and dishes shattered as patrons scrambled for the exits, panic rippling through the restaurant.

As Fiona staggered back to her feet, I caught a clearer glimpse of the silver markings on her neck. They weren’t merely designs; they writhed and pulsed beneath her skin, alive and menacing. The same grotesque markings were visible on all her teammates, far more extensive than Taylor’s had been.

The confrontation was brief but fierce. Aiden proved to be surprisingly formidable, taking down two of the larger guys while I kept Fiona and another team member at bay. But the tide turned when the wail of police sirens pierced the air, blue and red lights flashing ominously through the windows, signaling the end of our skirmish.

The police station was stark and cold, the air thick with the smell of stale coffee and the sterile scent of decor that felt as lifeless as the walls around us.

“Evelyn!” Taylor’s voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up to see him rushing toward us, concern etched deeply into his features. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I assured him, though the tension in my chest lingered. “How did you find us?”

“Aileen tracked your phone,” he explained, casting nervous glances at the police officers nearby. “What happened?”

“Nothing serious?” His voice dropped, thick with intensity. “You’ve been in Vancouver less than a day, and you’re already getting into fights and being arrested?”

“They didn’t arrest me,” I clarified, rolling my eyes. “They just brought me in for questioning. And hey, they threw the first punch.”

The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken worries. When Devon finally spoke, his voice was steady but fierce. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, Evelyn. That’s all I ask. I need to know you’re okay.”

His words struck a chord deep within me, resonating with a truth I couldn’t ignore. “I’m okay, Devon. I know how to take care of myself.”

“I believe you,” he replied quietly, though I could sense the weight of his concern. “Doesn’t mean I don’t lose sleep over it.”

After we hung up, I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling around Fiona and the silver parasites. They were different from what I’d seen in Taylor—more advanced, more deeply embedded. I needed to grasp the full extent of what we were facing.

The next morning, I called a team meeting in my room, determination coursing through me. “From now on,” I announced, “I’m taking charge of our strategy for the competition. Taylor, you’ll need to take this herbal mixture three times a day.” I handed him a small bottle, my eyes locking onto his. “It will help neutralize any remaining silver in your system.”

“Tomorrow, we’re up against Venom Strike, so we can’t afford to be sloppy,” I continued, scanning the faces of my teammates. “No one leaves the hotel alone, and no visitors in your rooms tonight. We stick together, adhere to the plan, and we win this thing.”

I refrained from sharing the real reason behind these precautions—that somewhere in Vancouver, someone was using silver parasites to control werewolves, and we were now directly in her crosshairs. That revelation would have to wait until we fully understood what we were dealing with.