Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 27

Evelyn

I sat in the conference room, my posture deliberately relaxed despite the tension crackling through the air. Beside me, Sera arranged her documents with practiced precision, her movements fluid and confident. Across the table, Reynold's cold eyes fixed on Sera with undisguised hostility.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Cooper," Reynold said, his voice carrying a subtle edge that made my wolf senses prickle.

Sera smiled, all teeth and no warmth. "Funny how our paths keep crossing whenever you try to harass innocent people, Morgan."

Jessica's mother, Mrs. Foster, glared at me from beside Reynold. Her expensive perfume couldn't mask the sour scent of her animosity.

"That girl is far from innocent," she hissed, shooting a venomous look at Lily, who sat on my other side. "She's corrupted my daughter and ruined her relationship."

I kept my expression neutral, though I felt my silver-gray eyes harden. Olivia was there too.

"Let's focus on why we're here," Reynold began, his voice taking on a rehearsed quality. "This is a simple civil dispute. Ms. Gray deliberately seduced Brian Miller, Jessica Foster's boyfriend, causing emotional distress to my client's daughter."

I raised an eyebrow. "That's a serious accusation. I assume you have evidence?"

"We don't need evidence when everyone knows what kind of girl you are," Mrs. Foster snapped. "You've been back in Seattle for just a few weeks and already causing trouble. This is clearly a pattern of behavior for you."

"A pattern?" I asked coolly. "Please elaborate."

Mrs. Foster's face twisted with self-righteousness. "Girls like you who throw themselves at taken men—"

"Mrs. Foster," Sera interrupted smoothly, "let's be clear: your daughter attacked my client, causing a serious injury that required hospitalization. She then orchestrated a kidnapping and assault. These are criminal matters, not a teenage squabble over a boy."

Lily leaned forward. "Brian's a player who hits on every girl he meets. He's been through half the cheerleading squad already. Evelyn had nothing to do with him pursuing her."

Mrs. Foster's face reddened. "Even if you come from the Hall family," she spat, looking at Lily, "my daughter Jessica is everything to me. I'll fight for her with my last breath."

Reynold placed a calming hand on Mrs. Foster's arm before turning to Olivia. "Ms. Hall, perhaps you could mediate? Surely we can resolve this without further unpleasantness."

Olivia finally looked up, her blue eyes—so similar to Devon's—flashing with barely contained disdain. "The Hall family doesn't negotiate with people who harm those we care about. And we certainly don't 'mediate' when the facts are this clear."

Sera nodded and opened a folder. "The evidence is unambiguous. First incident: unprovoked assault. Second incident: kidnapping and attempted assault with hired thugs. The police reports, medical records, and security footage all confirm this. We agreed to this meeting thinking you wanted to apologize, not make ridiculous counter-accusations."

Reynold's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You're quite young to be handling such a delicate case, Ms. Cooper. Your reputation hasn't reached my ears yet."

"That's your loss," Sera replied coolly. "My track record speaks for itself."

Reynold leaned back, his expensive suit rustling slightly. "Let's be practical here. How much would it take to make this go away, Ms. Gray? Name your price."

I felt a flash of disgust. "You think this is about money?"

"Everything has a price," Reynold said, his eyes calculating. "Especially for someone in your... financial situation. A student living in an apartment she can barely afford, with a damaged reputation. We can make this painless."

I kept my face impassive, though I felt my wolf stir beneath my skin.

"I'm not interested in your money," I said flatly.

Reynold's smile turned predatory. "Perhaps you should reconsider. After all, your past follows you, Ms. Gray. Three years ago, you were expelled from your own family. There must have been good reasons for such a drastic measure."

The room temperature seemed to drop. Sera tensed beside me, but I remained calm.

"If you have evidence of any wrongdoing on my part, present it," I challenged, my silver eyes meeting his dark ones without flinching. "Otherwise, your insinuations are just hot air."

Reynold continued, his voice taking on a threatening tone. "You're a young woman who's just returned to Seattle. Your family doesn't even welcome you back. I'd advise you to settle this quietly. Otherwise, the troubles coming your way might be more than you can handle."

"Is that a threat, Mr. Morgan?" Sera asked sharply.

"Not at all," he replied smoothly. "Just friendly advice."

I leaned forward slightly. "Some injuries can't be fixed with money, Mr. Morgan. And some actions have consequences that no settlement can erase."

"We're done here," Sera declared, gathering her documents. "We'll see you in court."

Reynold's face darkened as he packed his briefcase. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. As he moved toward the door, I noticed a flicker of unease cross his features—like prey sensing a predator's gaze.

Mrs. Foster lingered long enough to give me one last hateful glare. I allowed myself a small, cold smile in return. She flinched slightly before hurrying after Reynold.

Once they left, Lily exhaled dramatically. "That was intense! Sera, you were amazing! I almost lost it when that woman started talking trash."

"You did well too, Lily," Sera said kindly. "Your testimony about Brian's character was spot-on."

Olivia stood gracefully. "I think this calls for a celebration. There's a restaurant nearby with private dining rooms. My treat."

About half an hour later, we were settled in a cozy private room at The Garden, one of Seattle’s swankiest spots.

Lily had already ordered like half the dessert menu—mostly the meaty stuff.

"This place has the best chocolate-covered bacon in the city," she declared, eyes bright with anticipation.

I studied Sera across the table. "Thank you for your help today. I'm curious though—how did you become involved in my case?"

Sera exchanged a quick glance with Olivia. "I specialize in these types of... sensitive cases."

"What Lily means is that I have connections," Lily interjected quickly. "I know lots of people! Seattle's smaller than you think."

I nodded slowly, not believing her for a second. There was something she wasn't telling me. Before I could press further, the door to our private room swung open.

Devon stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space completely. His blue eyes immediately found mine, intense and searching.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. "I hear congratulations are in order."

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Olivia smiled knowingly, Lily suddenly became very interested in her dessert menu, and Sera straightened in her seat.

As Devon took the empty chair beside me, his familiar scent of pine and wilderness enveloped my senses. I struggled to maintain my composure, even as questions multiplied in my mind.

He lost his temper and stormed out yesterday, and now here he was, sitting right next to me again. I couldn’t read what he was really thinking.