Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 57

Evelyn

I was heading back to Jack's room when I heard raised voices coming from the hallway. My pace quickened as I recognized Jane Swift's shrill tone cutting through the hospital's typical quiet.

"This is your fault!" Jane was jabbing her finger toward Lily, who stood next to Olivia, both looking stunned. "My son is fighting for his life because of you! You're nothing but a disaster, a walking catastrophe for our family!"

Lily's face crumpled, and I felt a surge of protectiveness. I stepped between them before Olivia could respond.

"Mrs. Swift," I said, keeping my voice deliberately calm. "I understand you're worried about Jack. But he's stable now, and the surgery was successful. This wasn't anyone's fault—it was an accident."

Jane's eyes narrowed as they landed on me. "And who are you to tell me how to feel? Some college girl playing doctor?"

"I'm the person who just removed the silver fragment from your son's chest," I replied evenly. "And I know enough about trauma to recognize that lashing out won't help Jack recover."

Philip Swift appeared from around the corner, his tall frame tense but his expression controlled. "That's enough, Jane." His voice was quiet but carried undeniable authority. "Our son is stable. This isn't the place for a scene."

Jane's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her. She turned away, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

Just then, Mr. Pike rushed through the hospital doors, his usually immaculate appearance disheveled. When Lily saw her father, she broke into tears and ran to him.

"Daddy!" she sobbed against his chest.

Mr. Pike wrapped his arms around his daughter. "It's okay, sweetheart. I came as soon as I heard."

Philip approached them, his expression softening. "Mr. Pike, I want to thank your daughter. She donated blood for Jack. Our family won't forget that."

Jane, seeming to regain her composure, stepped forward. "I apologize for my outburst. Jack's accident isn't Lily's fault. I was... I was just scared."

I slipped away while they talked, heading toward Jack's room. Inside, the monitors showed his vitals were stable, but I noticed something concerning about his wound. The tissue around the extraction site had an unusual discoloration—a reaction I'd seen before with lingering silver toxicity.

"We need to start him on a silver neutralizing agent," I told Dr. Reeves, the attending physician.

"We've given him the standard treatment," Dr. Reeves replied, frowning.

"It's not enough. I need you to send someone to New York University lab. My mentor has developed an advanced silver antidote. Tell them Dr. Gray sent you—they'll know what to provide."

Dr. Reeves studied me for a moment, then nodded. "If what you're suggesting works, it could save weeks of recovery time."

Twenty minutes later, I was on the phone with my mentor, Dr. Maxwell Bennett.

"Three vials of silver antidote, Evelyn? Do you have any idea how much wolfsbane and moonstone extract that requires?" His voice was gruff but held the familiar fondness he'd always shown his best students.

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," I replied. "The patient is from a prominent family."

"Swift, yes, I was told. Fine, they're on their way. But you owe me dinner next time I'm in Seattle."

After hanging up, I turned to find Devon standing in the doorway. His face looked drawn, and I immediately noticed how he favored his left shoulder.

"You're hurt," I said, approaching him.

"It's nothing." He tried to straighten but couldn't hide his wince.

"Let me see." My tone left no room for argument.

In the empty treatment room down the hall, Devon reluctantly removed his shirt. I gasped at the large bruise spreading across his shoulder and back.

I reached for a jar in my bag. "This needs my healing salve. The temperature of my hands will activate the compounds, but I need to massage it in slowly."

As my fingers worked the ointment into his skin, I felt Devon's muscles gradually relax. His breathing deepened, and I sensed the tension leaving his body.

"Better?" I asked softly.

"Much." His voice was husky. "You have magic hands, Evelyn."

Once I'd finished treating Devon, Jason arranged a private rest area for us—a small room with a couch and a narrow bed.

"I'll keep watch outside," Jason said before closing the door.

Devon sat heavily on the edge of the bed. "Stay with me tonight," he said quietly. "I need your scent to calm my wolf."

I hesitated, torn between caution and the undeniable pull I felt toward him. "I can stay until you fall asleep."

"Thank you." His eyes met mine, vulnerable in a way I rarely saw.

I sat beside him on the bed, and after a moment of awkward positioning, we settled with his head resting against my shoulder.

"Devon," I said after a long silence. "I need to tell you something."

He tensed slightly. "What is it?"

"I'm leaving the country in a few days. Ethan and I need to handle some family business. We should be back within a week."

Devon shifted to look at me, asking, "Is everything okay? Do you need help?"

"No, it's just... there are some assets we need to secure. Some of my grandmother's properties."

He studied me for a moment, then hugged me tight. "After tonight, I don't know when I'll see you again."

"It's just a week," I assured him, though part of me understood his concern.

We settled back against the pillows, and I felt Devon's breathing gradually even out as he drifted to sleep. I told myself I would leave once he was fully asleep, but the warmth of his body and the rhythmic sound of his heartbeat lulled me into closing my eyes, just for a moment.

'Just five minutes, ' I thought as Devon's arm wrapped protectively around my waist. 'Then I'll go. '

But I didn't go. For the first time in years, I felt completely safe as I drifted off to sleep in Devon's arms.