Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 64

Evelyn

Aiden and I burst through the door of Taylor's hotel room, my medical bag clutched tightly in my hand. What I saw made my blood run cold. A stunning woman with jet-black hair and crimson lips sat perched on the edge of Taylor's bed. Her slender fingers traced patterns on his chest, leaving faint silver trails that shimmered under the hotel room's harsh lighting.

"Who the hell are you?" she demanded, standing up abruptly. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she assessed us.

"I could ask you the same thing," I replied coolly, stepping forward. "Morgan Witch, I presume?"

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Morgan Vich, actually. And you are?"

"Team doctor," I lied smoothly. "Taylor seemed unwell earlier today."

Morgan's laugh was sharp and brittle. "He's fine. Just resting up for tomorrow." She stepped between us and Taylor's unmoving figure.

I caught Aiden's eye. Something was very wrong here. Taylor lay completely still, too still for someone merely sleeping.

"I think we should let him rest," Morgan continued, moving toward the door. "You can check on him tomorrow."

"Actually," I said, firmly planting my feet, "I need to check his vitals now. Team policy."

Morgan's expression hardened. "I said he's fine."

In one fluid motion, Aiden moved behind her, pinning her arms. "Check him, Evelyn," he ordered, struggling to hold the surprisingly strong woman.

"You've infected him with silver parasites," I hissed, turning to face Morgan. "You're planning to trigger his transformation during the competition, aren't you? You've bet on it!"

Morgan's face contorted with rage as she struggled against Aiden's grip. "You know nothing," she spat.

I leaned in close, making sure she could see my eyes clearly. "I know what you are, witch. The silver parasites, the control mark on his spine - those are old magic. Dangerous magic."

Morgan's eyes widened slightly before her expression turned calculating. "And who would believe you? A nobody team doctor?"

"We wolves have long memories. No witch who hunted us ever ended well," I threatened, my voice dropping to a whisper.

Morgan laughed, but there was a brittle edge to it. "You're bluffing. You can't do anything to me."

I traced my finger along the blackened line on her own wrist, a mark that identified her to other witches. "You think I don't know how to break a witch's bond? How to turn your own parasites against you?" I bluffed, watching her eyes widen. "Test me, and find out."

Aiden tightened his grip as Morgan attempted to break free. "What should we do with her?" he asked.

"Take her to the next room and tie her up," I instructed.

As Aiden dragged Morgan next door, I turned my attention to Taylor. His eyelids fluttered slightly - he wasn't as unconscious as he'd been pretending.

"I know you're awake," I whispered, discreetly pulling a cotton swab from my medical bag and gripping it with forceps. "Open your eyes, or I'll let this silver parasite find a new home."

Taylor's eyes flew open, panic flooding his face as he mistook the swab for the deadly creature. "Get that thing away from me!" he gasped.

"How long have you been awake?" I demanded, maintaining the deception.

"Long enough," he admitted, his voice weak. "I heard everything. She—she was going to make me shift during the finals. She said it would be the perfect way to expose our kind." His eyes darted to Morgan, who glared at him venomously.

"You stupid boy," Morgan hissed. "You could have been part of something bigger."

I placed my hand on Taylor's forehead, feeling the unnatural heat radiating from him. "You need to see her for what she is," I told him gently. "She's been using you from the start."

Taylor nodded weakly, pain and betrayal evident in his eyes. "I thought she loved me."

"Love is the easiest disguise for someone who wants to hurt you," I said softly.

---

An hour later, after I grilled her, Morgan admitted she'd bet $100,000 against our team. Hotel security took her away after we told them she tried to drug one of the competitors.

I slumped against the wall, trying to catch my breath. Aiden let out a long sigh. "Well... that's finally over. I'm absolutely wiped out - I need some food."

I couldn't help but laugh, even though I was exhausted. "There's never a dull moment with me around, is there?"

"Evelyn, I know a restaurant with decent food nearby," Aiden said, guiding me toward the exit. "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner!"

We walked through several winding streets until we reached a narrow alley. The restaurant was unassuming from the outside, its wooden sign weathered by years of rain and wind. Inside, the decor was rustic, with old photographs lining the walls and antique fixtures casting a warm glow over worn wooden tables.

"This place looks ancient," I remarked, admiring the patina that only decades of use could create.

"Best kept secret in Vancouver," Aiden replied with a grin.

As we settled at a corner table, a familiar voice cut through the ambient chatter. "Aiden? Oh my God, it really is you!"

A young woman with electric blue hair and multiple piercings approached our table. Her punk aesthetic was striking, but what caught my attention were the faint silver markings peeking out from beneath her collar - similar to the parasitic trails I'd seen on Taylor.

"Fiona," Aiden acknowledged stiffly. "I didn't know you were in Vancouver."

"Surprise, surprise," Fiona drawled, her gaze sliding dismissively over me before returning to Aiden. "You've really fallen far if you're eating in this dump. Bit sad, isn't it?"

Aiden's jaw tightened. "The food's good. What are you doing here?"

Fiona smirked, gesturing to a table across the room where several people with similar punk aesthetics were watching us. "We're competing tomorrow. Venom Strike. You've heard of us? We're the best team in the circuit right now."

I noticed the same silver markings on all of them, though they were trying to hide them with high collars and tattoos.

Fiona turned her attention to me. "And who's this? Your new plaything?"