Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 34

Evelyn

"Marcus, please escort Emma out of here," I said, my voice calm but firm. "And make it clear that she is not welcome to set foot on any pack land again."

The ballroom fell silent. Emma's face twisted with shock and rage, but Marcus—my grandfather's loyal beta—moved swiftly to her side.

"You can't do this!" Emma spluttered, her eyes darting around the room, seeking allies. "William, are you going to let this happen?"

When William didn't say anything, Jonathan jumped in. "What do you think you're doing? You don't get to kick anyone out of here."

I turned to face him, feeling oddly detached from the fear that had controlled me for so long. "The authority of someone who won't tolerate disrespect toward our family name."

Kate's voice cut through the tension. "How dare you speak of respect when you've—"

She was interrupted by the sound of the ballroom doors opening. All heads turned as my brother Ethan Gray strode in, his tall figure commanding attention. Three years in Europe had changed him—he carried himself with new confidence, his shoulders broader, his face more angular.

"I apologize for my tardiness," Ethan announced, moving directly to my grandfather. He carried an ornate wooden box. "The flight from Munich was delayed. Happy birthday, Grandfather."

William's face brightened. "Ethan, my boy. Welcome home."

Ethan opened the box, revealing a collection of dried herbs with an unusual silvery-blue tint. "Moonlight herbs from the Black Forest pack. They're incredibly rare—said to strengthen an aging wolf's connection to their inner nature."

My grandfather's eyes widened in appreciation. "A thoughtful gift, Ethan. Thank you." His reaction was markedly warmer than his polite acknowledgment of Kate's chain earlier.

Emma used the distraction to try slipping away, but Marcus's firm grip on her elbow stopped her. At my grandfather's nod, Marcus escorted her out, her furious glare promising retribution.

The crowd's attention returned to the gift-giving. Kate gave me a smug look. "What about you, dear sister? What did the *Wolfless* bring for Grandfather's special day?"

Her emphasis on "Wolfless" made several wolves shift uncomfortably. For three years, that term had cut deeper than any silver blade. Now, it barely registered.

"Actually," I said, approaching my grandfather with a silver-inlaid wooden box I'd been holding, "I do have something."

I placed the box in his hands. The room went quiet as he opened it, revealing a hand-carved wolf figurine. But it wasn't the exquisite craftsmanship that made William's breath catch. It was the base of the statue, where I'd had an artist engrave a perfect likeness of my grandmother Isabel—his mate who had passed away ten years ago.

My grandfather stared at it, his fingers trembling slightly as they traced the engraving. For a moment, I feared I'd overstepped.

"Evelyn..." he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He cleared his throat. "Thank you."

Kate's smile faltered. Even she couldn't diminish this moment.

William placed the figurine carefully on the table before turning to address the room. "Since we're all gathered here, there's an important matter I'd like to announce."

He gestured for me to stand beside him. "As you know, I've been considering the future of Gray Enterprises for some time." His hand rested on my shoulder. "I've decided to transfer thirty percent of my shares to my granddaughter, Evelyn."

The room erupted in shocked murmurs. Thirty percent was a controlling stake—enough to give me significant power in the company's decisions.

"Father, you can't be serious!" Jonathan was the first to recover, stepping forward with barely concealed fury. "After what she did three years ago? She lost control and attacked a human! She's unstable!"

"That's enough, Jonathan," William's voice carried the weight of his Alpha authority. "My decision is made."

"But the pack..." a female elder spoke up. "The Moonheal Pack has been declining since Isabel's passing. We need strong, reliable leadership."

"Exactly," William replied firmly. "In Isabel's day, our pack was one of the strongest in North America. We provided healing and sanctuary to countless wolves from other territories. Since her death, that legacy has diminished." He looked at me with pride. "Evelyn learned at Isabel's side. She has her grandmother's gift for healing and her strength of character."

Another elder shook his head. "She may have inherited Isabel's skills, but she's a White Wolf. That power is too dangerous. If we give her too much authority and her white wolf emerges fully, it could bring disaster not just to our pack but to all North American wolves."

"And should I stand by and watch Isabel's once-great pack fade into insignificance?" William countered. "We're already merely a shadow of what we once were."

"But—" the elder tried again.

"I've made my decision," William said with finality.

Victoria approached me, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Perhaps, Evelyn, you could allow your father to manage those shares until you're more... settled. For the good of the family."

I met her gaze coldly. "No."

The papers were brought out, and I signed them without hesitation. The weight of what I was accepting settled on my shoulders—not just shares, but responsibility for a legacy.

"Grandmother Isabel built our pack into one of the strongest in North America," I said, addressing the room. "Our territory has shrunk over the years. I hope we can focus on the future of our pack rather than obsessing over an unproven white wolf curse."

Victoria, seeing her attempt fail, quickly changed tactics. "William, a letter arrived from the Stone family today. They're interested in arranging a meeting between Kate and their heir. Shouldn't Kate also receive some authority within the family?"

Kate's face lit up at the mention of the Stone family—one of the oldest and most powerful werewolf bloodlines in the region.

William waved dismissively. "Kate already has shares."

"But not even a tenth of what you've given Evelyn," Victoria pressed.

"Dinner is served," William announced, effectively ending the discussion. "We can talk business another time."

---

After the meal, my phone rang. I stepped aside to answer it.

"Evelyn, it's Aiden. The first test showed some data discrepancies, so we need to run a second validation based on the fixes you made last time."

“Got it, I’ll talk to you later,” I said, wrapping up the call.

As I started heading back to the room, I spotted two people I knew walking into the restaurant. Devon looked sharp as always in his expensive suit, and Lily was right there with him. But there was also this woman on Devon's other arm, hanging onto him like her life depended on it. The second she saw me looking, she practically glued herself to his side.

Something twisted in my chest. I reminded myself that Devon's personal life was none of my concern. I had more important matters to focus on—like my newly acquired shares and the responsibility they represented.

I was about to duck into the crowd and pretend I never saw them when—

"Evelyn!" Lily's voice cut right through the restaurant noise.

Shit.