Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 79

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

I retrieved my secured phone, the one I used exclusively for discreet communications, and sent a quick text to Jason.

[Need complete intel on the Moonlight organization. Priority targets: Evelyn Gray, Aiden, Edward, Taylor. Report directly to me.]

As I stepped out onto the balcony, a weight settled in my chest. This was an unfamiliar side of Evelyn, one I had never witnessed before—completely unguarded, radiantly happy, and free from the relentless vigilance that defined her life in the city. Here, surrounded by people who understood both facets of her identity, she appeared… liberated.

“You’re staring at her again,” a voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to see Anne leaning casually against the doorframe of the balcony, her expression oozing with smugness.

“Are you watching Aurora?” she continued, her tone almost teasing as she took a step closer. “I wouldn’t get too friendly if I were you. She’s not what you think. The world’s top-ranked hacker? Get too close, and she’ll uncover all your secrets.”

A surge of something primal and protective coursed through me. My eyes flickered with a golden hue before I could rein it in, and I stepped toward her, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl.

“Who do you think you are to judge her? Get out of my project team. Now.”

Anne’s eyes widened in shock, her earlier confidence evaporating, replaced by genuine fear as she instinctively backed away from the barely contained storm of my rage. I turned my gaze back to the sprawling research facility below, my mind racing. The evening sun cast long, dramatic shadows across the grounds, and a cool breeze wafted in from the nearby coast, carrying the salty scent of the ocean. Should I reveal my true self to Evelyn? Or would that put both of our positions in jeopardy?

A sudden movement near the water caught my attention. I saw Evelyn and Aiden strolling along the shore, their shoulders brushing against each other in a casual display of camaraderie, each of them equipped with diving gear. Laughter floated through the air, a rare sound for Evelyn, whose defenses were almost always up in Seattle.

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