Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 82

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

**Chapter 82**

**Devon**

I found myself pacing back and forth in my room, each step echoing with the frustration that had begun to consume me. It was as if I were a wild animal trapped in a cage, my instincts screaming for freedom. The guards stationed outside my door were a constant reminder of my confinement, their presence a stark indication that I was nothing more than a prisoner in this place. Edward’s men had made their orders clear—no one enters, and certainly, no one leaves.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. It was Jason.

“Did you find anything?” I barked, skipping the usual niceties. My patience had evaporated hours ago, leaving only raw urgency.

“I’m still searching, sir,” Jason’s voice came through, laced with tension. “There’s definitely been a leak regarding the Moonlight Organization. I’ve seen the post pop up on three different underground forums at the same time.”

A surge of anger coursed through me, my eyes flashing gold as my Alpha instincts clawed at the surface, desperate to break free. The wolf within me yearned for the hunt, for the chance to track down the individual who had put Evelyn in jeopardy.

“Find out who’s responsible for this, Jason. I want names, and I want them now,” I commanded, my voice low and fierce.

“There’s more,” Jason hesitated, and I could sense the weight of his next words. “The IP address linked to the leak… it’s traced back to somewhere near the island.”

I felt my heart drop. A traitor was lurking nearby, someone who was too close to the project for comfort.

“That’s not all,” Jason added cautiously. “Dr. Anderson’s assistant has gone missing.”

“What? Since when?” My voice dropped to a dangerous growl, my instincts flaring at the implications. Too many coincidences were piling up, and I didn’t like it one bit.

“Since this morning. She went out for a supply run and never came back. Her phone is off, and her locator chip has been disabled,” he reported, his words sending chills down my spine.

I glanced toward the door, weighing my chances against the guards outside. Even with my Alpha strength, I knew the confined space would work against me. But remaining here while Evelyn might be in danger? That was a thought I could not entertain.

“I need to get out of here,” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to Jason. “Prepare the helicopter. I want it ready for immediate departure.”

“But sir, how will you—”

“Just do it,” I interrupted, my tone leaving no room for argument. “And keep searching for that leak. I want a name.”

Ending the call, I turned my gaze to the window, a sense of urgency gnawing at me. Somewhere out there, Evelyn could be in peril. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, a primal instinct to protect her igniting my every thought.

Suddenly, a sharp, blaring alarm shattered the silence, piercing through my racing thoughts. Red warning lights flickered ominously in the hallway outside my room. I sprang to the door, my heightened senses picking up the chaos of hurried footsteps and frantic shouts.

“What’s happening?” I demanded as one of the guards rushed past me, panic etched across his face.

“Lab explosion!” the guard shouted over his shoulder, and my heart plummeted like a stone.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I charged at the door, summoning my Alpha strength. The lock shattered under my forceful impact, and I barreled past the remaining guard, racing toward the laboratory wing.

The hallways were a scene of chaos, filled with frantic researchers evacuating, some coughing violently as the acrid air filled their lungs. I pushed against the tide of people, my only thought being Evelyn. Each second stretched into an eternity, my mind conjuring increasingly horrific scenarios of what could be happening to her.

As I neared the laboratory section, a burly security guard stepped into my path, blocking my way.

“You can’t go in there!” he warned, his stance firm. “The lab had a silver powder explosion. It’s extremely dangerous for any wolf, especially an Alpha like you.”

As soon as they were out of sight, Edward’s demeanor shifted entirely. He ripped off his silver-resistant protective suit and lunged at me, slamming me against the wall.

“The leak,” Edward accused, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “The online post about Moonlight’s location. It was you, wasn’t it?”

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again,” I growled, my patience fraying. “It. Wasn’t. Me.”

We circled each other, both of us showcasing the supernatural speed and strength inherent to our kind, even in our human forms. Part of me welcomed this confrontation—the tension between us had been simmering ever since I realized his feelings for Evelyn.

“You’re lying,” Edward spat, anger radiating off him. “No one else would have reason to—”

“You’re just angry because of Evelyn,” I interrupted, a smirk tugging at my lips despite the gravity of the situation. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

For a moment, Edward froze, his composure faltering. “That has nothing to do with this.”

“Doesn’t it?” I pulled out my phone, turning it toward him to reveal my lock screen—a photo of Evelyn and me watching fireworks at Lily’s birthday party, her silver eyes reflecting the vibrant colors as she smiled.

Edward stared at the image, disbelief etched across his features. “I’ve known her for years. She would never trust someone who hides in the shadows.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” I replied calmly, even as anger boiled within me. “And who I am to her? You’ll find out soon enough.”

The silver smoke from the lab began to creep through the corridor, making it harder for both of us to breathe. I took a step back, my eyes never leaving Edward’s.

“Whether she loves me or not,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos surrounding us, “that’s for Evelyn to decide. Not you.”

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving Edward standing alone in the silver-tinged hallway, the tension hanging in the air like a storm about to break.