Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 32

Evelyn

Sage had just sent Lily outside to fetch some pure spring water from the mountain to aid the ritual. Now, it was just the two of us left in the room.

She showed a small wooden box filled with what looked like dried plants and crystals. "These will help relax your muscles when the change begins," she explained, arranging the items on a small table. "Your condition is unusual—being cut off from your wolf for so long has created quite a barrier."

I nodded, trying to hide my nervousness. "Will it... hurt more than usual?"

"Transformation is always uncomfortable," Sage replied diplomatically. "But with proper preparation—"

A sharp alarm cut through the air, making both of us jump. The door burst open as Jack rushed in, his expression tense.

"Brian Miller and a few others have broken into Moon Valley!" he announced, looking directly at me.

My heart dropped into my stomach. "What? How did he—"

Devon appeared behind Jack, his face a mask of controlled fury. "Take Sage over to the north side defenses and make sure to find Lily too—keep her safe!"

They nodded and quickly left, leaving Devon and me alone. I could feel panic rising in my chest as silver-gray eyes met his blue ones.

"Don't worry," Devon said, his voice low and reassuring. "You're safe here. I'll handle this."

As Devon turned to leave, I caught movement at the window. Before I could shout a warning, Brian's face appeared, pressed against the glass. His eyes gleamed with malice, and I noticed with horror the silver dagger clutched in his hand.

"Found you, Miss High-and-Mighty Grey!" he called through the glass, his voice slightly muffled.

Devon was already moving toward the door, but Brian was faster. He smashed the window with his elbow and vaulted inside before Devon could reach him. I instinctively backed away, feeling a sharp pain in my chest as my wolf reacted to the threat and the proximity of silver.

"How many times did I try to get your attention?" Brian spat, ignoring Devon completely, his eyes fixed on me. "But you always rejected me! No woman rejects Brian Miller!"

"So you told Jessica I was afraid of silver?" I managed to say, fighting to keep my voice steady. "You deliberately encouraged her to hurt me with it?"

Brian's smile was smug and cruel. "Smart Grey girl! Jessica was so easy to manipulate. That stupid girl actually thought you were trying to steal me from her!"

The moonlight suddenly broke through the clouds, streaming through the broken window and bathing me in its glow. The timing couldn't have been worse. My body began to tremble uncontrollably, the combination of Brian's presence, the silver, and the moonlight triggering my transformation.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping as pain shot through my limbs. The change was starting, but something felt wrong—terribly wrong. "No... not now..." I groaned.

Brian stumbled backward, horror washed over his face as he watched my eyes begin to flicker with golden light. "So the rumors are true... you really are a monster!"

I looked up at him through a haze of pain, feeling my eyes fluctuating between silver-gray and gold. My nails lengthened and then retracted, the transformation process clearly stuck somewhere between human and wolf.

Brian raised his silver dagger, but before he could move toward me, Devon grabbed his wrist from behind. Devon's eyes were blazing gold now, the Alpha power radiating from him in waves.

"You've made a fatal mistake," Devon growled, his voice barely human.

With a swift movement, Devon disarmed Brian and knocked him to the ground. "Get him out of here," he ordered to the security team that had just arrived at the window. "And find out how he got past our perimeter."

As soon as Brian was dragged away, Devon rushed to my side. I was curled up on the floor, my entire body shaking violently.

"Help me," I gasped. "Something's trying to break out... but it's trapped... I can't complete the change."

Devon called for Sage, who rushed back into the room and began examining me, her hands hovering over my trembling form, sensing the energy flow.

Suddenly, Sage frowned, her hands pausing over my chest. "This is... a seal?"

"What seal?" I managed to ask between waves of pain. "What are you talking about?"

Sage looked up at Devon, her expression grave. "There's a powerful sealing spell in her body, blocking her wolf from fully manifesting."

I stared at her in shock. "A seal? Inside me? I don't understand... I just thought I couldn't transform properly..."

"Who has the power to place such a seal?" Devon demanded, his voice tight with concern. "How strong would they need to be?"

Sage shook her head. "This is beyond an ordinary werewolf's abilities. Only the oldest Alpha families would possess this technique."

A violent spasm tore through my body, making me cry out in pain. Sage's eyes widened in alarm.

"The moonlight's energy is fighting against the seal's energy," she warned. "This conflict will only make her suffering worse!"

Devon immediately gathered me into his arms, releasing calming Alpha energy. "Evelyn, listen to my voice, follow me..."

I struggled in his embrace, the pain almost unbearable. "I can’t understand… why? Why would someone seal my wolf? What did I do wrong to deserve this?"

William clearly said it was Devon’s father who suppressed my wolf, but now there’s talk of it being sealed. So which one was true?

Devon's gaze was steady and determined as he looked into my eyes. "I don't know who did this, but we'll find the truth together."

"The seal is too strong," Sage explained, her voice heavy with concern. "I'm afraid she won't be able to complete her transformation tonight."

"I'll stay with her," Devon decided. "I'll use my Alpha energy to help stabilize her condition."

I clutched Devon's hand, terror filling me as another wave of pain washed over me. "If the seal is removed... what will I become? Am I really the cursed wolf they say I am?"