Rise of the Banished She-Wolf (Evelyn) novel Chapter 88

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

The following afternoon unfolded as I had anticipated. Charles’s guards arrived at my cabin door, their presence a grim reminder of my captivity. With a silent nod, they indicated it was time to accompany me to him.

As I stepped into the lavish atmosphere of the yacht, my gaze locked onto Charles. There he stood, his expression smug and self-satisfied, as he gestured grandly toward the dining table, impeccably arranged with fine china and sparkling crystal. The opulence of it all felt like a cruel joke. Four armed guards were positioned at each corner of the room, their vigilant eyes fixed on me, ensuring I posed no threat—a notion that only fueled my defiance.

“Join me for lunch, Ms. Gray,” Charles declared, his tone smooth and deceptively inviting. “I insist.”

“I’d rather starve,” I retorted, crossing my arms defiantly, feeling the heat of my anger rise.

His smile remained plastered on his face, yet a coldness crept into his eyes. “Impressive surgery—you extracted those particles flawlessly. But the silver poison coursing through her veins will reconstitute within twenty-four hours without my cure. She’ll be trapped in a relentless cycle between life and death, a torment that will gnaw at her very soul.” He glanced at his platinum watch, as if timing my misery.

My fists clenched at my sides, rage bubbling beneath the surface. This monster knew precisely how to manipulate my emotions. Aileen was innocent in this twisted game, just a girl caught in the crossfire of our supernatural conflict.

“Fine,” I spat through gritted teeth, reluctantly pulling out the chair opposite him. “But don’t confuse this with capitulation.”

Charles snapped his fingers, and waiters emerged, each carrying covered silver platters. The irony of silver serving dishes for a werewolf was not lost on me; it was a taunt I refused to acknowledge.

As the waiters unveiled the dishes, I scrutinized each one with suspicion.

“Truffled ribeye with Beluga caviar, and a bottle of Château d’Yquem Sauternes? You really are throwing your money away,” I quipped, my disdain palpable as I made no move to touch the food.

Charles beamed at my mockery, as if I had offered him a compliment. “This is merely a taste, my dear. If you were mine, you would indulge in far more than this.”

He cut into his steak, savoring it with an exaggerated expression of delight, eyes closed as if he were experiencing the divine. Then, in a move that felt like a challenge, he extended his fork toward me, offering a piece from his own plate.

I studied him carefully. If he was willing to eat it first, perhaps it wasn’t poisoned. But as he turned to pour the wine, I seized the opportunity. With swift determination, I grabbed the plate containing his half-eaten steak and stood abruptly.

“Thanks for the meat, Charles. Enjoy your meal!” I called out, backing toward the door, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

His expression darkened, shadows flickering across his features. “Sit down, Evelyn.”

“I’ll eat in my room. I prefer dining alone,” I shot back defiantly.

Before he could react, I slipped past the guards and into the corridor, my heart pounding in my chest. As I walked away, I caught the tail end of Victor, Charles’s right-hand man, speaking in the dining room.

“She’s too defiant, sir. This one needs to be taught respect.”

Charles’s chilling response sent a shiver down my spine. “I’ve become quite adept at training disobedient wolves, Victor. It’s almost an art form.”

I quickened my pace, dread pooling in the pit of my stomach. Whatever “training” he had in mind, I had no intention of becoming part of it.

Eventually, I found Taylor in a small cabin, heavily guarded. The atmosphere felt stifling, the tension palpable. The guards wore strange tinted glasses that reflected light in a way that made me uneasy. I suspected they were designed specifically to detect werewolf eye-shine.

“Brought you lunch,” I said, sliding the plate toward him, my heart aching for the situation we found ourselves in.

Taylor looked worse than I had ever seen him—dark circles under his eyes, his skin ashen and drawn. “They won’t let me see Aileen,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Is she okay?”

“She’s stable for now,” I replied quietly, glancing at the guards to ensure they weren’t eavesdropping. “I did what I could, but she needs more time to recover.”

He picked at the steak, his appetite clearly nonexistent. “This is all my fault. I should have protected her better.”

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