Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 54

Evelyn

The murmurs of the crowd faded as Devon gently took my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine with a confidence that made my heart skip. The formal introduction as Gray Enterprises' director was over, and now Devon was leading me away from the curious stares and whispers.

"The boring part is done," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "Now for the real celebration."

I glanced back to see Lily waving excitedly as she followed us with Olivia. Devon led us toward the dock where an even more impressive yacht awaited—sleek and modern with "Moonchaser" emblazoned on its side in elegant silver lettering.

"Is this your yacht?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Devon's lips curved into a smile. "This one's for fun, not business."

As we boarded, the warmth of Devon's hand sent tingles up my arm. My inner wolf, dormant for so long, stirred slightly in response to his touch. It was faint, but unmistakable—a flutter of recognition deep within me.

On board, Jason appeared with several garment bags. Devon took one look at Lily's elegant dress and shook his head.

"You're not fishing in that, are you? You'll scare away all the fish."

Lily's eyes lit up. "Fishing? Yes! I was hoping we'd do this!"

Jason handed us the bags. "Outdoor clothes, as requested, sir."

We changed in separate cabins. The clothes were simple but high-quality—jeans, comfortable shirts, and light jackets. When I emerged, Jack was already on board, chatting with Devon.

"Knew I'd find you all here," Jack said with a grin. "Same thing every year. Devon's basically raising his own daughter." He nodded toward Lily.

Devon's eyes found mine, warm and intense. "I spoil those I care about. What's wrong with that?"

His scent suddenly intensified, filling the air between us. My heightened senses caught it immediately, and something primal inside me responded. I looked away, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

On the upper deck, Devon pulled Olivia aside while Lily dragged me and Jack to the fishing spot. I overheard snippets of Devon and Olivia's conversation.

"What if she surpasses you one day?" Olivia asked. "Her white wolf blood might be even more rare than your Alpha status."

Devon's reply was immediate and sincere. "That would be my honor. A pack needs the strongest leader, regardless of gender."

His words stirred something in me—a respect that went beyond attraction.

Meanwhile, Lily was challenging Jack. "Think you can finally beat me this year?"

"In your dreams," Jack replied, rigging his fishing rod with practiced ease.

Lily's competitive spirit flared. She cast her line with too much force, and before anyone could react, the hook caught Jack's shirt. His surprised yelp turned to panic as Lily instinctively jerked the rod, sending him over the railing and into the water.

Without thinking, I kicked off my shoes and dove in after him. The cold water hit me like a shock, but I cut through it with inhuman speed. Jack was struggling, and I could see blood in the water—the hook had caught more than just his shirt.

I reached him just as Devon and Eric plunged into the water nearby. Devon's eyes found mine, wide with concern. I could sense his fear—not for Jack, but for me. The seawater would mask my scent, making it impossible for him to track me if we got separated.

We managed to get Jack back to the yacht. As the crew helped lift him onto the deck, I examined the wound. The fishing hook had pierced his chest, and I could smell something wrong—silver particles from the water had entered the wound.

"He needs surgery," I said urgently. "There's silver in the wound. We have two hours before it spreads too far."

Devon's eyes flashed with understanding. "Jason, get the helicopter ready. Now."

As I pressed a clean cloth to Jack's wound, Devon noticed my fingers turning slightly red where they touched the areas contaminated with silver. His brow furrowed with concern, but he said nothing.

The medical helicopter arrived within minutes. As we loaded Jack in, I gave precise instructions about what would be needed at the hospital. "I need a sterile room with no cameras or recording devices," I told Devon quietly. "And I'll need to do the surgery myself."

Devon nodded without question.

Lily, pale and trembling with guilt, suddenly collapsed. Marianne rushed to catch her, assuring us she'd take care of her daughter.

At the hospital, Devon arranged everything with impressive efficiency. In a quiet moment before Jack was wheeled in for CT scans, I turned to Devon.

"I need you to keep my abilities secret," I whispered. "My healing skills, my wolf abilities—I don't want to draw attention."

"Of course," he promised, his eyes serious.

The CT results were worse than I'd feared. Silver fragments had migrated dangerously close to Jack's heart. The hospital's werewolf specialists were unavailable—too late in the evening.

"We need werewolf-specific blood plasma," I told the hospital director. "His body will reject human blood."

"Our supplies are low," the director replied.

Devon stepped forward. "Use mine. Alpha blood has stronger healing properties."

The director looked skeptical. "And who will perform this procedure? You're just a medical student," he said to me.

Devon's voice was calm but authoritative. "Her skills far exceed what you imagine. This is our family's legacy."

As we walked to prepare for surgery, Eric intercepted us in the hallway.

"Devon, think about this," he warned. "Jack is from the Swift family. If anything happens, his father won't let it go."

Devon's response was immediate. "I trust her."

I paused, hearing those words. Three simple words that meant everything. Trust—something I hadn't experienced in years. Something I thought I'd never have again.

With renewed determination, I pushed through the doors to scrub in. Devon's trust was not something I would betray.