Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 63

Evelyn

I spent the entire afternoon replaying Devon's words from lunch, unable to focus until evening finally brought some relief.

The evening breeze drifted through the open window as I sorted through my closet, picking out essentials for my upcoming trip. My laptop and a small silver case containing special medical tools were already packed. I needed to make sure I had everything necessary for the competition.

"You're leaving again?" Mrs. Whitmore's voice startled me. She stood in the doorway of my bedroom, concern etched across her face.

I turned to face her with a reassuring smile. "Just for a gaming competition in Vancouver. My friend invited me to help his team."

Relief washed over her features. "Oh! A competition. That's wonderful, dear. I thought... never mind." She waved her hand dismissively. "When will you return?"

"In about a week, maybe two if things go well." I zipped up my duffel bag. "The prize is five million dollars."

Mrs. Whitmore's eyes widened. "Goodness! No wonder you're going."

After she left, I continued packing.

I'd barely finished packing when a firm knock echoed through the apartment. The familiar scent of pine and wilderness reached me before I even opened the door. Devon.

"Going somewhere?" His voice was controlled, but his clenched jaw betrayed his annoyance as he spotted my packed bags.

I sighed. "Mrs. Whitmore called you, didn't she?"

"She was worried." Devon stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "And rightfully so. Were you planning to tell me at all?"

"I was going to call you tonight," I said, crossing my arms defensively. "I only decided yesterday."

Devon's expression softened slightly. "Where are you going this time?"

I walked to the kitchen counter and picked up the official invitation. "Vancouver. For a gaming tournament. My friend Taylor's team needs help, and the prize is substantial."

Devon followed me, his towering presence filling the small kitchen. "Do you need money that badly, Evelyn?"

I laughed, the sound surprising even me. "For the house restoration? Absolutely. I'm practically penniless at this point."

A reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "You could have asked me."

"I don't want to ask you for everything, Devon." I turned to the refrigerator, pulling out containers of food I'd prepared earlier. "Dinner?"

We settled into a comfortable routine, eating together like an old werewolf couple, the tension gradually dissipating.

"So, Vancouver," Devon said, setting down his fork. "How long will you be gone?"

"About a week, maybe two if we make it to the finals." I pushed my plate away. "I'll be careful."

Devon reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. "I'll come see you when I finish my business here."

"I'd like that." I smiled, though anxiety fluttered in my chest.

"Promise me you'll stay safe." His blue eyes darkened with concern.

"I always do."

---

The flight to Vancouver went smoothly. Aiden was already waiting at the airport and drove me straight to the hotel he'd booked.

The Vancouver skyline glittered in the evening light as I checked into the hotel Aiden had arranged. The entire fifteenth floor had been booked for the gaming team, providing privacy for us.

"Evelyn!" A voice called as I entered the suite. Taylor Green, with shocking green curly hair, bounded toward me, arms outstretched.

Aiden intercepted him with a swift kick.

I froze, inhaling deeply. The scent hit me immediately—silver mixed with something unnatural. "Taylor," I said carefully, "how long have you been feeling sick?"

His smile faltered. "What? I'm not—"

"Cut the crap," Aiden said, pushing him toward the couch. "Show her."

His symptoms... they remind me of something from my grandmother's manuscripts - an extremely rare silver parasite.

In the privacy of the suite, I removed a special silver needle from my case. "This will tell us how much silver is in your system," I explained, pressing it against his skin.

The needle turned black instantly.

"Shit," Aiden muttered.

"What's happening to me?" Taylor's voice cracked, fear replacing his earlier exuberance.

I examined his eyes, noting the unnatural glaze. "You've been bewitched. This was identical to the symptoms of a rare silver parasite I'd read about in my grandmother's old manuscripts."

"Parasite?" Taylor's face paled. "Like a worm or something?"

"Exactly like a worm," I said, opening my medical kit. "And we need to remove it now, before it reaches your heart."

Using specialized forceps, I carefully extracted a silver-white worm nearly 20 centimeters long from Taylor's forearm where I'd detected the entry point. The creature writhed in the light, its segmented body glistening with a metallic sheen.

Taylor promptly vomited on the expensive carpet.

"Call the hotel doctor," I instructed Aiden. "We'll say food poisoning. The rest of the team can't know what really happened."

---

With the competition approaching, my sudden addition to the team clearly didn't sit well with the others, so I had to prove my worth.

"So you expect us to believe you're some gaming prodigy who can save our asses in the tournament?" A tall team member named Arthur crossed his arms, skepticism written across his face. The entire team had gathered in the hotel's private lounge, eyeing me suspiciously.

"No," I replied calmly. "I expect you to test me."

Aiden smirked. "Five against two. You and me versus all of them."

The challenge was accepted immediately. Within fifteen minutes, we were seated at the gaming stations, my enhanced senses giving me a slight edge as I absorbed every detail on the screen. My wolf might be suppressed, but my reflexes were still far beyond human capability.

Thirty minutes later, the team stared at us in shocked silence.

"Holy shit," Arthur finally said. "She's a fucking battle queen."

I smiled, scanning each team member carefully, searching for any signs of silver infection like Taylor's. Nothing yet, but I'd keep watching.

Our impromptu integration session was cut short when the suite door burst open. A teenage girl with purple-streaked hair rushed in, her eyes wild with worry.

"Why are you here playing a game?" she demanded.

"Aileen, calm down," I began.

I recognized her immediately. Taylor's adopted sister, the daughter of the Green family.

Her eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name?"

"I can't reach Taylor!" Before I could answer, she continued, " I saw her girlfriend go into her room, then the door got locked. I'm really worried!"

Aiden and I exchanged alarmed glances. "Girlfriend?" I asked carefully.

"Yeah, Morgan. She arrived this morning."

I grabbed my jacket. "Aiden, we need to go. Now."