Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 52

Evelyn

"Mr. Gray, who gives you the right to speak to me like that?" Devon's voice was deceptively calm, which made it all the more frightening.

I watched Ethan's jaw tighten. "I have every right to be concerned about my sister."

"Sister?" Devon's laugh held no humor. "The same family that cast her out of the pack? The same family that turned their backs on her when she needed them most?" His blue eyes flashed gold momentarily. "And now you come here to what—morally police her?"

Ethan took a step forward, and I could sense his wolf rising to the challenge. "You don't know anything about our family matters, Hall."

"I know enough."

I couldn't stand watching them any longer, so I stepped forward, placing myself partially behind Devon. Both men turned to look at me, and I nearly choked on the competing Alpha pheromones filling the air.

"What's going on?" I asked, placing a tentative hand on Devon's arm, feeling his muscles relax slightly beneath my touch, though his eyes remained fixed on Ethan.

I felt Devon's hand at the small of my back, the gesture both protective and possessive. "We should go," he murmured close to my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

As we moved to leave, I paused and looked back at my brother. Despite everything, I couldn't completely shut him out. "Ethan... I'll be in Seattle if you need to talk." The words felt like extending an olive branch across a vast chasm.

Once in the car, silence stretched between us. It was Devon who broke it.

"Do you know much about Ethan?" Devon asked, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

I sighed, watching the city lights blur past the window. "Not as much as I should. We were never close growing up. But for the Gray Enterprise matters, he's reliable. At least he's not like our father who would let the company fall apart while transferring assets."

Devon's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "You seem to care a lot about the company."

"I don't," I admitted with surprising candor. "Not about the shares, anyway. I just don't want to see what my grandmother Isabel built destroyed by them." I turned to look at him. "I know it sounds contradictory."

Devon nodded, his eyes reflecting understanding. "You want to honor her legacy."

"Yes," I whispered, surprised at how easily he grasped what I myself had struggled to articulate.

When we reached my apartment building, Devon pulled up to the curb. "There's still a lot to prepare for tomorrow's gala, so I won't come up."

I nodded, understanding the unspoken boundary. As I reached for the door handle, Devon caught my wrist gently.

"There's a surprise waiting for you upstairs," he said, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

Curiosity piqued, I hurried up to my apartment. Opening the door, I spotted a large white box on my coffee table, tied with a golden ribbon. Inside lay a stunning yellow evening gown, the fabric catching the light like liquid sunshine.

Carefully lifting it out, I held it against myself and twirled in front of the mirror. The dress was beautiful—elegant yet bold, exactly the sort of thing I would have chosen for myself. I couldn't remember the last time someone had given me a gift that felt so perfectly... me.

---

The next evening, Devon arrived precisely at seven. When I opened the door wearing the yellow gown, he froze, his breath catching visibly.

"You look..." he began, then stopped, seemingly at a loss for words.

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. The dress fit perfectly, hugging my curves before flowing gracefully to the floor. I'd styled my hair in loose waves and applied minimal makeup, just enough to accentuate my silver-gray eyes.

"Evelyn," Devon finally said, his voice low and intense, "I regret inviting you to this gala. Every wolf there will be drawn to you."

I laughed, the sound bright in the quiet hallway. "Is that your way of giving a compliment, Mr. Hall?"

His eyes darkened. "It's my way of saying you're breathtaking."

As we approached the entrance to the grand Hall estate, I noticed two familiar figures arguing with the security guards. Kate stood with perfect posture in a fitted red dress, while beside her, Sebastian Stone gestured animatedly.

"We should be on the list," Sebastian insisted. "I'm Eric Stone's brother!"

The guard remained impassive. "I'm sorry, sir. We have strict orders. Only those with formal invitations may enter."

As Devon's car pulled up, all eyes turned to us. I felt self-conscious as I stepped out, aware of the guards' subtle reactions to the faint white wolf scent that still clung to me.

Kate's eyes narrowed when she spotted us. "Well, if it isn't my little sister," she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "And her... protector."

Sebastian stepped forward. "Mr. Hall, surely you can vouch for us? There must have been a mistake with the invitations."

Devon's expression remained neutral, but I could feel the tension radiating from him.

"She lost control on a full moon and nearly killed a human," Kate said loudly, addressing the guards. My stomach clenched at her words. "She's dangerous—an anomaly that can't control her wolf nature."

Sebastian nodded vigorously. "Mr. Hall, why are you with someone like her? She can't even shift anymore!"

The atmosphere grew charged as Devon's Alpha energy flared, pressing down on them all. Without a word, he took my hand, intertwining our fingers.

"Her wolf is far more powerful than you imagine," he said, his voice carrying across the entrance. Then, looking directly at me with undisguised admiration, he led me past the guards who immediately stepped aside.

As we entered the grand hall, I could feel Kate's venomous stare boring into my back, but with Devon's hand firmly in mine, it somehow mattered less than it ever had before.

---

Devon escorted me to a quiet sitting room where Olivia and Lily were waiting. Lily bounded over immediately, while Olivia's eyes assessed the situation with keen intelligence.

"Kate and Sebastian Stone tried to crash the party," Devon explained to his sister. "They were saying things about Evelyn."

Olivia's elegant features hardened. "That Stone boy returning probably has something to do with their territory. He's likely trying to network with other wolves at the gala." She turned to Devon. "You should talk to Eric and find out what his brother is really up to."

Devon nodded, reluctant to leave me but understanding the necessity.

As he departed, Olivia squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Don't worry about those two. We've got you."

Looking between Olivia's determined expression and Lily's warm smile, I felt something I hadn't experienced in years—the security of a pack that would stand by my side, no matter what.