Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 14

Evelyn

Devon bent down to pick up the pillow from the floor, his expression more amused than annoyed. I watched as he moved toward my bed and gently placed the pillow behind my back, his movements careful and deliberate.

"Did someone come to visit you?" he asked, his voice casual but his eyes scanning the room, noting the scattered flowers and the slightly disheveled state of my hospital bed.

I felt heat rising to my cheeks. Being caught throwing a pillow at an Alpha was embarrassing enough, but the fact that it was Devon Hall made it even worse.

"A self-centered narcissist," I answered, unable to keep the irritation from my voice.

Devon's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the flowers on the floor. Without comment, he walked over, picked up the bouquet, and unceremoniously dropped it into the trash can by the door.

"This is what I brought for breakfast," he said, changing the subject as he held up the paper bag he'd been carrying. "You must be hungry by now."

I nodded, my stomach choosing that exact moment to growl loudly in agreement. Great. More embarrassment.

Devon pulled out an elegant thermos container from the bag and opened it. The rich aroma of oatmeal mixed with berries and nuts filled the hospital room, making my mouth water instantly.

"This is specially made oatmeal," Devon explained as he removed the lid. "It contains ingredients that help with healing, particularly for..." He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "silver-induced wounds."

I tried to reach for the container, but Devon pointed at my right arm attached to an IV drip and my left arm heavily bandaged.

"It's better not to move around too much," he insisted, taking a spoon from the bag. "Let me help you."

My cheeks flushed again. The intimacy of the gesture made me uncomfortable, yet there was something touching about it that I didn't want to examine too closely.

Devon scooped up a spoonful of the oatmeal and gently blew on it to cool it down. He carefully brought it to my lips, his blue eyes watching me with an intensity that made my heart beat faster.

After a moment's hesitation, I opened my mouth and accepted the spoonful. The oatmeal was perfectly sweet and warm, with a subtle flavor I couldn't quite identify. As I swallowed, I felt a tingling sensation spread through my body, and my inner wolf stirred slightly, as if awakening from a deep slumber.

"What is..." I began, tasting the unusual element in the food.

Devon nodded slightly, understanding my question. "I've added something special that helps our kind heal. It will help your wound recover faster."

The feeding continued in silence, our eyes occasionally meeting before one of us would look away. The atmosphere in the room felt charged with an unspoken tension, making me both nervous and oddly content.

After finishing the meal, Devon packed away the empty container. "I'll be working from the waiting room outside," he announced, taking out his laptop. "If you need anything, just press the call button."

I stared at him in shock. "What? You're going to stay here with me?"

"Yes," Devon replied simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"That's not necessary," I protested. "I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for years."

Devon raised an eyebrow. "Or I could contact your family to come look after you instead?"

The mention of my family was like a slap to the face. I fell silent, knowing Devon was aware of my strained relationship with the Gray pack. The thought of Kate or Victoria seeing me in this weakened state made my stomach turn.

"I can handle myself," I insisted stubbornly. "I don't need anyone's help, especially not from an Alpha."

Devon's expression softened slightly. "Lily specifically asked me to look after you. You're her friend, and if I don't take care of you, she'll never let me hear the end of it."

Without waiting for my response, Devon collected his laptop and headed toward the adjoining waiting room. His Alpha presence filled the space with authority, making it clear that his decision was final.

I sighed in frustration but felt too weak to argue further. The combination of the silver wound and the strange tingling sensation from the special oatmeal made me feel drained yet oddly energized at the same time.

I had just closed my eyes to rest when the door to my hospital room burst open without warning. A middle-aged couple stormed in, the woman's face contorted with anger. I immediately recognized them as Jessica's parents, the Fosters.

"So this is where you're staying!" Mrs. Foster's voice was shrill with accusation. "You barely return from Portland and already you're in a luxury hospital room. Did you hook up with some rich man to pay for all this?"

I blinked in confusion, struggling to process the sudden intrusion. Mrs. Foster's words were vicious, dripping with contempt.

"My daughter told me everything," Mrs. Foster continued, her voice rising. "How you've been trying to steal Brian from her! First at school, and now you're pretending to be injured to get his attention!"

"Your daughter is the one who's delusional," I replied coldly, finding my voice. "Brian isn't worth anyone's attention, especially not mine. He came here uninvited, spouting nonsense about Jessica and me fighting over him."

Mrs. Foster's face reddened with fury. "How dare you! My Jessica would never lie! You're the one who came from Portland with your loose morals and—"

She raised her hand as if to slap me, but before she could complete the motion, a strong grip caught her wrist. Devon had returned to the room, his presence commanding and dangerous.

"You dare to touch in front of me?" Devon's voice was low and menacing, his blue eyes glinting with barely contained anger.

The room fell into shocked silence. Mrs. Foster's eyes widened as she looked at Devon, recognition dawning on her face.

"Mr. Hall?" she stammered, her anger instantly replaced by fear. "You're... you're here with her?"

Mr. Foster pulled at his wife's arm, clearly wanting to retreat. "Honey, let's go," he whispered urgently.

I stared at them. 'They’re not going to think Devon’s keeping me, are they?'