Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 44

Evelyn

Facing Jonathan's interrogation, I didn't flinch. Instead, I slammed the documents onto the table one by one and said calmly, "Perhaps we should look at these first." My voice was quiet, but it instantly silenced the entire conference room.

The evidence I'd gathered with Devon's help was spread across the polished table between us. Jonathan's face had gone from red to purple as I methodically explained what I'd found.

"Just because you don't want me to inherit these assets," I said, sliding the final document toward him, "doesn't mean you get to move them offshore. These resources belong to the entire pack, not just you."

My father slammed his fist on the table, making the crystal water glasses jump. His eyes flashed gold as his wolf surged forward.

"You dare lecture me about pack responsibility?" His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "You—who lost control and nearly killed a human three years ago?"

I held his gaze, refusing to flinch at the mention of that night. The night that had changed everything.

"You really think I've forgotten what happened that night?" I kept my voice even, watching his expression shift. "What *really* happened, Father?"

Uncertainty flickered across his face before his mask of anger returned. "You were unstable then, and you're unstable now. The pack needs steady leadership, not a white wolf who can't control her shift."

"Is that why you've been siphoning money to accounts in the Cayman Islands?" I asked, tapping the paper between us. "For steady leadership?"

His nostrils flared. "I have twenty percent of our territory's controlling interest backing me. Six elders support my position as Alpha. They'll never accept you."

I smiled then, pulling out my phone. "About those elders..."

With one tap, I sent the files I'd prepared to every elder in the Gray pack—detailed records of their various indiscretions. Robert Coleman's silver trade with hunters. Thomas Wright's territory boundary violations. Margaret Wilson's Blood Moon Ritual Interference

Robert charged in, his face contorted with rage. "You little bitch! How dare you—"

My eyes flashed silver as I rose to meet him. "How dare I what, Elder Coleman? Expose that you've been selling silver weapons to hunters who've killed three of our kind in the past year?"

Robert lunged at me, but I stood my ground. My wolf, though still partially sealed, stirred beneath my skin, lending me strength.

"Enough!" My grandfather's voice thundered through the room as he stepped between us. The other elders who had followed Robert in now hung back, looking anywhere but at me.

"Miss Gray," Thomas Wright cleared his throat, "perhaps we can discuss this privately?"

"There's nothing to discuss," I said. "I've already filed for a pack monitoring order against Jonathan. He is forbidden from leaving Seattle territory pending investigation."

My father's face twisted with fury. He stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot.

Before I could react, my grandfather partially shifted, his hand becoming a massive clawed paw that sent Jonathan flying across the room. He crashed into the credenza, sending splinters of mahogany in all directions.

"You will never touch her again," William growled, his voice barely human.

Jonathan picked himself up, straightening his now-ruined suit. "This isn't over," he spat, storming toward the door. "The pack will never follow a white wolf."

After he left, Robert tried to slink away, but two pack enforcers appeared in the doorway. "Elder Coleman," one said formally, "you're required to appear before the council for judgment."

As they led him away, I turned to face the remaining elders, who watched me with new wariness in their eyes.

"I have copies of everything," I said, pulling out a hard drive. Then, to their visible shock, I dropped it on the floor and crushed it beneath my heel. "But I believe in second chances. You have one month to return all misappropriated resources to the pack. Do this, and we'll consider the matter closed."

The relief on their faces was palpable, mixed with shame and grudging respect.

"Now," I continued, pulling out a folder, "let's discuss something more productive. I've drafted a proposal to acquire Moonlight Games, a small but innovative gaming company that—"

"Video games?" Elder Wright interrupted, frowning. "The Gray pack has always focused on traditional industries—logging, construction, real estate."

"The world is changing," I replied calmly. "Either we change with it, or we get left behind. Moonlight Games has developed technology that could secure our financial future for generations."

They didn't look convinced, but no one dared to object further. As we moved through the rest of the agenda, I felt William's approving gaze.

With his backing, my proposal was approved, and the board immediately held a vote, officially appointing me as the new CEO of Gray Enterprises.

---

Devon

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I sped down the rain-slicked highway toward Seattle. The border dispute had been messier than expected—a territory challenge from a rogue Alpha that had required my personal intervention. A whole day of diplomacy and displays of dominance had left me exhausted, but it was finally resolved.

I glanced at the clock: 9:47 PM. Rain hammered against the windshield, reducing visibility to almost nothing, but I pressed on. The need to get back to Seattle—to Evelyn—pulled at me like a physical force.

I rolled my aching shoulders as my phone rang through the car's speaker system. "Mr. Hall," Jason's voice crackled through, "just checking on your ETA."

"About an hour out," I replied, easing around a slow-moving truck. "Any updates on Evelyn?"

"She had the meeting with the Gray Enterprises board today. From what our security detail reported, she handled herself impressively. Confronted her father about the offshore accounts, outmaneuvered the elders."

I felt a surge of pride warm my chest. "And Jonathan? How did he react?"

There was a pause on the line. "Not well, sir. He... he struck Miss Gray."

My vision blurred red for a moment, my wolf howling with rage beneath my skin. The steering wheel creaked under my grip, and I forced myself to loosen my hold before I snapped it clean off.

"What happened after?" I forced out between clenched teeth, tasting blood where my canines had lengthened against my will.

"William Gray intervened immediately. Quite forcefully, from what I understand. Jonathan left, and one of the elders—Robert Coleman—has been taken into custody by pack enforcers."

I nodded, focusing on breathing evenly, pushing my wolf back down. "And Evelyn? Is she alright?"

"Physically, yes. She continued the meeting afterward, even presented some acquisition proposal. She's... formidable, sir."

A small smile formed on my lips despite my anger. "Yes, she is."

After ending the call, I pushed the accelerator harder, sending the SUV surging through the downpour, completely forgetting about my injuries.

Rain continued to lash against the windshield as Seattle's distant lights began to appear on the horizon. My determination hardened with each mile. I would protect her, whether she wanted my protection or not.