Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 41

Evelyn

The morning after my dinner with Devon—and that creepy phone call about the shareholders' meeting—I walked into school feeling anxious.

However, I noticed it the moment I stepped through the doors—the way people looked at me, the sudden smiles, the eager waves. I was confused about what had caused such a dramatic shift in their attitude toward me.

The fluorescent lights above flickered faintly, casting a sterile glow over the polished floors. The usual hum of chatter felt sharper, more focused, as if the walls themselves were whispering my name. I could almost hear the ripple of gossip spreading through the crowd like wildfire. My footsteps echoed louder than usual, each one a reminder that I was no longer invisible.

"Hey, Evelyn! That algorithm you coded last semester was brilliant. Could you maybe show me how you did it sometime?" A guy from my programming class—who had never spoken a word to me before—was suddenly acting like we were old friends.

Before I could answer, another student approached. "Evelyn! Congratulations on becoming club chair. I voted for you. I've always thought your coding skills were amazing."

So, was it really that simple—just because I became the computer club chair? It was amazing how a little bit of power could completely change people's perception of me.

I forced a smile, knowing damn well this girl had snickered with Kate's friends when I'd been accused of plagiarism. "Thanks," I said flatly, continuing toward the courtyard where Lily was waiting.

My chest tightened with a mix of pride and wariness. This sudden attention felt like a double-edged sword—validation on one side, suspicion on the other. I wondered how long it would last before the whispers turned back into daggers.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Computer Club Princess herself," Lily teased as I dropped onto the bench beside her. Her golden-brown hair was pulled into a messy bun, and she was sporting a bright yellow sweater that matched her sunny personality.

I rolled my eyes. "Please don't call me that."

"But it's so fitting!" She gestured toward a group of students who were not-so-subtly looking our way. "You've got a whole royal court of admirers now."

"They're just a bunch of fake assholes," I muttered, pulling out my laptop. "A few days ago, half of them were probably gossiping about me behind my back."

Lily shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. "That's college politics for you. People align themselves with whoever has power."

"That's exactly my point. It's pathetic."

"Speaking of pathetic..." Lily's voice dropped to a whisper as she nodded toward the campus café entrance. "Look who just walked in."

Kate stood at the café doorway, surrounded by her usual posse. Her perfectly styled brown curls bounced as she laughed at something one of her friends said. Even from here, I could feel her irritation—it radiated off her like heat from a furnace.

"Want to grab some coffee?" Lily suggested with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'm suddenly feeling very thirsty."

I should have said no. I should have stayed as far away from Kate as possible. But something in me—perhaps my wolf, perhaps just plain stubbornness—wanted to face her.

"Sure," I said, closing my laptop. "I could use some caffeine."

The café fell eerily quiet as we entered. Kate's back was to us as we stood in line, but her friends noticed us immediately, their eyes narrowing with hostility.

"So, Kate," Lily said loudly once we had our drinks, "how does it feel to lose the chair position to your little sister?"

I winced internally. Lily had all the subtlety of a freight train.

Kate turned slowly, her face a mask of practiced civility. "Lily Pike. Always the diplomat, aren't you?"

"Just curious," Lily replied with a saccharine smile. "Since leadership qualities are so important to your family."

One of Kate's friends—Sarah, I recognized from the class—stepped forward. "Kate is ten times more qualified than Evelyn. Everyone knows the only reason she got the position is because of her connection to Devon Hall."

My blood boiled. "I got the position because I'm the best programmer in the club. My code speaks for itself."

"Your code isn't the only thing speaking for you these days," Sarah sneered.

Kate placed a restraining hand on Sarah's arm, her eyes never leaving mine. "It's fine, Sarah. My sister can have this small victory." She stepped closer to me, lowering her voice. "Jonathan asked me to remind you to stay away from Friday's shareholders meeting. He said if you show up, he'll make things very unpleasant for you."

My stomach clenched, but I kept my expression neutral. "Is that a threat?"

"Consider it friendly family advice." Kate's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You don't know the first thing about running a business, Evelyn. You'll embarrass yourself."

She was right, and that was the worst part. I didn't know anything about managing a company. My grandfather had thrown me into the deep end without swimming lessons.

As Kate and her friends left, Lily squeezed my arm. "Don't listen to her. She's just pissed that you've got the upper hand for once."

I nodded absently, my mind racing. Despite my bravado, the thought of facing the Gray Enterprises shareholders terrified me. I'd been cut off from the family business for three years. I didn't know the first thing about what was happening with the company.

The weight of the looming shareholders meeting pressed down on me like a storm cloud. I felt exposed, vulnerable, like a novice thrown into a lion’s den. The thought of Jonathan’s warning echoed in my mind, stirring a mix of fear and defiance. I clenched my fists, reminding myself that this was my chance to prove I belonged.

I needed help. And as much as I hated to admit it, I knew exactly who to call.