Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 101

Devon

The steady beep of medical equipment was the first thing I registered as consciousness slowly returned. My eyelids felt like they were weighted with lead, but I forced them open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lighting. Steel-reinforced walls surrounded me—not standard hospital issue, but necessary for a werewolf of my status. The bitter taste of silver lingered in my mouth, and my lungs felt like they'd been scraped raw with sandpaper.

I tried to sit up, immediately regretting the decision as pain lanced through my chest.

"Easy there, little brother." Owen's deep voice came from my right. "You've been through hell."

I turned to see my brother's imposing figure standing by the window. Behind him, Olivia was arranging flowers in a vase, her normally perfect hair slightly disheveled, suggesting she'd been here for some time.

"How long?" My voice came out as a harsh rasp, barely recognizable even to my own ears.

"Almost two days," Olivia answered, setting the vase down and moving to my bedside. "They had to put you in a special chamber to clear the silver from your lungs. The doctors said it was touch and go for a while."

Memory flooded back like a tidal wave—the explosion at the chemical plant, the cloud of silver particles, my desperate search for Evelyn. My heart rate spiked, causing the monitors to beep frantically.

"Evelyn," I growled, pushing myself up despite the searing pain. "Where is she? Is she okay?"

Owen placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "She's alive. But you need to calm down before you tear open something important."

"That doesn't answer my question," I snapped, letting my Alpha authority seep into my tone despite my weakened state.

Olivia exchanged a glance with Owen before sighing. "She's recovering in another room. She had a silver bullet wound in her shoulder, but that's not all..."

"What?" I demanded, feeling my wolf bristle beneath my skin.

"She's the one who saved you, Devon," Jason said, stepping into the room. My right-hand man looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes. "She and that doctor friend of hers worked for thirteen straight hours to clear your lungs of silver. She refused to rest until you were stable, even though she was injured herself."

I fell back against the pillows, overwhelmed by the information. "She saved me?" I whispered, the rage momentarily replaced by awe.

"According to the medical staff, you wouldn't be alive if not for her," Jason confirmed. "She knew exactly how to extract the silver from your system. Apparently, she's been researching silver poisoning treatments for years."

My chest tightened with emotion. Even injured, she had fought to save me. The debt I owed her was immeasurable, but it wasn't obligation that filled my heart—it was a fierce, protective love that made my wolf pace restlessly.

"I need to see her," I declared, already pulling at the IV in my arm. "Now."

"Devon, you've just regained consciousness," Olivia protested. "The doctors want to—"

"I don't give a damn what they want," I snarled, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The room spun momentarily, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through the dizziness. "Where is she?"

Seeing the determination in my eyes, Jason sighed. "Third floor, east wing. VIP suite. But Devon—"

I was already pulling on a robe, ignoring the protests of my siblings. "Have the doctors prepare discharge papers. I'm not staying another night in this place."

"At least use the wheelchair," Owen insisted, pushing one toward me.

I wanted to refuse—my Alpha pride rebelled at the idea of appearing weak—but I knew my limits. My legs were already shaking from the exertion of standing. Grudgingly, I lowered myself into the chair.

"Take me to her," I ordered Jason, who nodded and grabbed the handles.

As we made our way through the corridors, my mind raced with questions. What had happened after I lost consciousness? Who had shot Evelyn? Was it Austin, or someone else? And where was Ethan Gray now? The last report before the explosion indicated Evelyn's brother was involved.

"What about Ethan Gray?" I asked as we entered the elevator.

"In custody," Jason replied grimly. "Edward Luna's people have him. They're... questioning him."

I nodded, satisfied. Edward's methods of extracting information were notorious but effective. If anyone could get the truth from Ethan, it was him.

When we reached Evelyn's room, my heart nearly stopped at the sight of her. She lay motionless on the bed, her skin ashen against the white sheets. Her shoulder was heavily bandaged, and an IV dripped steadily into her arm. She looked small and fragile—a stark contrast to the fierce woman who had faced down enemies and saved my life.

"Leave us," I ordered, not taking my eyes off her.

Once alone, I pushed myself out of the wheelchair and made my way to her bedside. I took her hand, careful of the IV line, and pressed it to my lips.

"You stubborn, beautiful, reckless woman," I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. "Always putting yourself in danger."

I traced the delicate curve of her cheek with my fingertips. The woman who had stormed into my life, challenged me at every turn, and somehow become essential to my existence now lay vulnerable before me. My wolf howled in distress, demanding we protect our mate, heal her, shelter her from further harm.

"You saved my life," I murmured. "Again. But this time, you nearly sacrificed yourself to do it."

The door opened behind me, and Olivia stepped in. "She looks better than yesterday," she observed, coming to stand beside me.

"She shouldn't be here at all," I growled.

"None of us should," Olivia agreed softly. "But she's strong, Devon. Stronger than any of us realized."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

"When you're both discharged," Olivia continued, "bring her to the territory. Our healers can help her recover, and perhaps find a way to help her reconnect with her wolf."

I looked up sharply. "You would accept her? Even without her wolf?"

Olivia smiled gently. "After what she did for you? I'd challenge anyone who dared suggest she doesn't belong with us." Her expression grew serious. "Besides, I've been doing some research on white wolves. There's more to her condition than we initially thought."

Before I could ask what she meant, the door burst open. Felix Smith strode in, followed by an older man I didn't recognize. The stranger's sharp eyes immediately focused on Evelyn, taking in her condition with a clinical assessment before turning to me.

"Who the hell are you?" the man demanded, his voice carrying the authority of someone used to being obeyed.

Felix cleared his throat. "Devon, this is Dr. Maxwell Bennett. He's Evelyn's and my mentor." To Dr. Bennett, he added, "This is Devon Hall."

Dr. Bennett's eyes narrowed as his gaze shifted to my hand still clasping Evelyn's. "Blackfang's Alpha?" he asked, his tone cooling considerably. "What's your relationship with Evelyn?"

I straightened to my full height, ignoring the pain in my chest. "She's my mate," I stated firmly, my wolf rising to the surface at the perceived challenge.

Dr. Bennett's eyebrows shot up. "That's not possible," he scoffed. "She used to hate you Seattle wolves. Couldn't stand any of you after what happened."

"Things change," I replied evenly, though my grip on Evelyn's hand tightened. "We love each other."

Dr. Bennett studied me for a long moment, then asked abruptly, "Is William Gray still alive? Does he know about this?"

I glanced at Felix, surprised by the question and the familiarity with which the doctor spoke of William. "He's alive. And yes, he knows."

"Good. Take me to see him," Dr. Bennett demanded, already turning toward the door. "It's been too long since I've been back in Seattle."

Felix leaned close to me as Dr. Bennett strode out. "Be careful," he warned in a whisper. "He and William are mortal enemies."

My eyes narrowed as I watched the doctor's retreating figure, wanting to figure out what was going on between them.

With one last look at her peaceful face, I bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Rest, my love," I murmured. "I'll handle everything."