Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 30

Evelyn

I sank deeper into my bed, exhaling slowly as I stared at the ceiling. Devon had left only minutes ago, but his scent—pine and wilderness—still lingered in the apartment. My fingers traced the silver wound on my arm, noticing how the pain had subsided considerably after his treatment.

"At least something's improving," I muttered to myself.

My encrypted phone buzzed on the nightstand. Aiden's name flashed across the screen.

"Aurora," he greeted me formally, his voice strictly professional. "Dr. Anderson's first test is ready to proceed. According to our agreement, they require our technical support."

I sat up straighter, remembering the arrangement I'd made before all this drama unfolded. "What's their timeline?"

"The test begins in thirty minutes. This is crucial for the entire wolf community," Aiden explained.

"I remember. Send me the secure link. I'll provide remote assistance." I immediately pushed everything else out of my mind and focused on my work.

Propping myself against my pillows, I opened my laptop and entered the system. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I monitored the test procedures and adjusted the algorithms. My silver-gray eyes focused intently on the screen, catching errors others might miss.

A virtual lab environment loaded on my screen, displaying complex molecular structures and simulation parameters. Dr. Anderson's team had created a 3D model of wolf DNA interacting with silver particles, but something wasn't right.

"Their prediction matrix is off by at least 17%," I muttered, quickly typing commands to access the core algorithm. "If they run the test with these settings, the results just won’t match up with reality."

I opened a split screen, running my own diagnostic protocol alongside their simulation. Lines of code reflected in my eyes as I identified the flaw.

"Aiden, tell them to hold the physical test," I said, fingers racing across the keyboard. "I'm rewriting the binding affinity calculations and recalibrating the molecular interaction model."

For the next fifteen minutes, I worked in complete focus, creating a new algorithm. After fixing the algorithm loophole, I started reinforcing the project system’s firewall, building multiple layers of defense to ensure no unauthorized access could get through.

I quickly deployed intrusion detection modules to monitor abnormal traffic in real time, while setting up dynamic rules to automatically block suspicious IPs.

Every line of code was carefully reviewed to prevent backdoors and potential vulnerabilities.

I also enabled encrypted communication protocols to secure data transmission and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.

After twenty minutes of rapid coding and parameter adjustments, I'd successfully optimized the test program, significantly increasing its success rate.

"Tell Dr. Anderson the first phase test can begin now."

Just as I finished, my phone chimed with a message from Sera: [Judge just dismissed all appeals from Jessica's side. You won. Reynolds looked extremely disappointed.]

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. At least one problem solved. But my relief was short-lived when I realized I still needed to handle my university situation. With the silver wound and the approaching full moon making my condition unstable, I had to arrange for a leave of absence.

An hour later, I changed into loose clothing that concealed my wound and checked that my medication was in my bag. Looking in the mirror, I noticed my eyes occasionally flickering with faint golden light—a warning sign.

"Control is getting weaker," I whispered to my reflection. "I need to handle the university paperwork quickly and get back home."

Grabbing my keys and bag, I took a deep breath. "Quick in, quick out. No complications."

---

I'd just exited the administration building after arranging my leave when Jessica's parents ambushed me from the parking lot direction. They'd obviously been waiting.

Mrs. Foster immediately fell to her knees. "Please withdraw the charges," she begged, her face streaked with tears. "My daughter can't go to jail!"

I stepped back, scanning the area suspiciously. This felt like a trap. "Please get up. This is a public place."

Mr. Foster moved closer, his emotions clearly overwhelming him. "She's just a child who made a mistake! It shouldn't ruin her entire life!"

"Kidnapping and intentional harm aren't 'mistakes,'" I replied coolly. "They're crimes. Please respect the legal process."

Mrs. Foster grabbed my sleeve, her loud sobbing attracting students who began to gather around us. "We'll compensate you! Pay anything you want!"

The silver wound started throbbing, responding to my rising stress. My control was slipping. "Let go of me, or I'll call security."

"Enough!" Lily's voice cut through the crowd as she pushed her way to stand protectively in front of me. "Your daughter nearly killed me! That's a crime!"

She turned to face Jessica's parents directly, her normally cheerful expression replaced with unexpected fierceness. "If you continue harassing Evelyn, the Hall family will file harassment charges against you."

The threat of the Hall name worked immediately. Jessica's parents backed away, though reluctantly.

As we walked toward the parking lot, Lily linked her arm through mine. "Your eyes flashed gold just now," she whispered. "The full moon's coming, isn't it?"

Surprised she'd noticed, I nodded tensely. "I'm trying to control it..."

Lily's face suddenly lit up with excitement. "Uncle Devon found a perfect place! A secluded lakeside cabin designed specifically for people like us to heal!"

"I don't think—" I started, but she continued enthusiastically.

"We could go tomorrow morning! They have special moonlight bath facilities that are super effective for silver injuries."

She drove me back to my apartment, continuing her persuasion. "Eve, you're in an unstable condition, and your wound hasn't fully healed. Spending the full moon alone is too dangerous."

Looking out the window, I considered my dangerous state. The last thing I needed was to lose control in a populated area.

"Fine," I finally conceded. "But I'm only staying until my wound heals."

Lily squealed with delight, clapping her hands. "Fantastic! I'll prepare everything. We'll leave tomorrow night!"

As she rambled about what to pack, I wondered if I was making the right decision. But with my control slipping and the full moon approaching, I was running out of options.