Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 60

Devon

I watched through the café window as Evelyn gracefully handled the confrontation with Audrey White. Her composure was remarkable—no trembling hands, no raised voice, just calculated precision as she dismantled her opponent's defenses one by one. Pride swelled in my chest, but something still nagged at me.

"Sir?" Jason's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"How did she manage to transfer all that money so quickly?" I muttered, more to myself than to Jason. "Audrey's accounts should have had multiple security protocols."

I turned off my phone and leaned back in the leather seat of my SUV. The café scene continued to play out before me like a silent film. Something shifted in Evelyn's posture—a subtle change that told me the conversation had reached its conclusion.

Through the window, I saw Aiden excitedly grab Evelyn's arm. "Ev, you were amazing! A few seconds to hack into the system and transfer millions—I've never seen anyone code that fast!"

My breath caught. So that was how she'd done it. Not through financial channels or legal maneuvers, but through sheer technological brilliance. The pieces started falling into place—her computer skills, her mysterious ability to access secured information, her constant vigilance about digital security.

The café door opened, and Jason slid into the driver's seat beside me.

"That was... unexpected," he said, still processing what we'd witnessed. "The way she handled Audrey and Ethan—she didn't even flinch when he threatened her."

"No," I agreed, my eyes still fixed on Evelyn through the window. "She didn't."

Jason cleared his throat. "Should I have someone look into her background more thoroughly? If she has that level of hacking ability—"

"No," I cut him off firmly. "I trust her, Jason."

"But sir—"

"She's not a threat to us." I turned to face him. "Maybe she doesn't trust me enough yet to share everything. When she's ready, she'll tell me herself."

Jason nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. "As you wish, sir."

---

Evelyn

That very night, after Jonathan's scandal broke, my phone rang. It was from Marcus.

"Evelyn," his voice was grave. "You need to come to Northwest Memorial immediately. Your grandfather has been hospitalized."

My heart sank. "What happened?"

"The news about Jonathan's affair with Audrey broke this morning. The public humiliation was too much—he collapsed during a meeting."

I expected it, but not that quickly.

Hours later, I rushed through the hospital doors, the antiseptic smell hitting me as I made my way to William's room. My grandfather lay still against white sheets, his usually commanding presence diminished by the hospital setting.

I gently touched his forehead, feeling his elevated temperature. After checking his chart and vitals, I pulled out my notebook and wrote two prescriptions I learned from my metor.

"I'll be here every day, Grandfather," I whispered, arranging the pillows to make him more comfortable. "I'll perform the healing ritual myself."

The door burst open, and Kate stormed in, her eyes wild with fury. "You!" she spat. "You're nothing but a curse on this family!"

I turned slowly, keeping my body between her and William.

"You seduced Devon just to get revenge on our family, didn't you?" Kate's voice rose hysterically. "Now Sebastian has called off our engagement because of this scandal! This is all your fault!"

She lunged toward me, hand raised to strike. In one fluid motion, I caught her wrist and delivered three sharp slaps across her face.

"The first is for Grandfather," I said coldly. "The second is for me. And the third is for the honor of the Gray family that you're so eager to destroy."

Kate stood frozen, her cheek reddening from the impact.

"You're a grown wolf, Kate," I continued, my voice steady. "Yet you still can't control your animal instincts or your jealousy."

Marcus appeared in the doorway, his expression grim. He took Kate by the shoulders and firmly guided her from the room. Before the door closed, I caught a glimpse of her eyes flashing gold with wolflike rage.

When silence returned, I sat beside William's bed and took his hand.

"Grandfather, I've completed the task you gave me," I whispered. "The family assets are safe now." I stroked his weathered hand, noting how thin it had become. "The chaos in the Gray family began long ago. You don't need to worry about them anymore."

I dipped a cloth in cool water and gently wiped his forehead.

In the hospital lobby, I nearly collided with Victoria. She looked disheveled, her usual perfect makeup absent, her eyes lacking their typical sharpness.

"Evelyn," she said softly. "May I speak with you privately?"

Curiosity won over reluctance, and I followed her to a small hospital garden.

"Please," Victoria began, her voice uncharacteristically vulnerable. "Show mercy to Jonathan. Whatever his faults, he's still your father."

I studied her face, searching for the manipulation that usually accompanied her requests. Finding none, I was even more disturbed.

"Is that why you're here?" I asked. "To beg for the man who betrayed not just the pack, but you personally? He was sleeping with your sister, Victoria. Does that mean nothing to you?"

She flinched as if I'd struck her. "Family is complicated, Evelyn. You wouldn't understand—"

"No, I understand perfectly," I cut her off. "I'm grateful I left the Gray family three years ago. Otherwise, I might have ended up like all of you—wolves who've forgotten what it means to have true wolf spirit!"

I turned and walked away, my footsteps echoing against the hospital tiles.

The moon was rising outside, bathing everything in silver light that revealed truths long hidden in darkness.