Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 82

Evelyn

The hospital corridor was finally quiet at three in the morning. I sat beside Grandfather's bed, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. The machines beeped rhythmically, confirming he was stable after the surgery. My face throbbed where Jonathan—I refused to call him "father"—had struck me.

Jason leaned against the doorframe. "Miss Gray, I can drive you home. You need rest."

I touched my cheek gingerly. "Is it that obvious?"

"The swelling's getting worse," he said quietly. "Mr. Hall will notice."

That was exactly what I was afraid of. Devon had enough to worry about with his own recovery. The last thing I needed was to trigger his Alpha protectiveness over a family matter.

"Jason, please don't tell Devon about what happened with the Grays. He has enough on his plate."

Jason hesitated. "Miss Gray, you know I—"

"I'll handle it," I insisted. "And I'm going to arrange for Grandfather to be transferred to a private facility. Jonathan won't be able to harass him there."

He nodded reluctantly. "As you wish. Shall we go?"

---

It was nearly four when Jason dropped me off at my apartment. The lights were off, and I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Devon had fallen asleep. I crept inside, removing my shoes at the door to avoid making noise.

Without turning on the lights, I headed straight for the refrigerator. I needed ice for my cheek before the swelling got worse. The cool air from the fridge illuminated the kitchen as I grabbed some ice cubes and wrapped them in a kitchen towel.

I closed the refrigerator door and nearly jumped out of my skin when a deep voice came from behind me.

"Why are you sneaking around in the dark?"

The ice cubes scattered across the floor as I spun around, losing my balance. Strong arms caught me, and we both tumbled onto the couch, my body pressed against Devon's warm chest.

"Devon! I thought you were asleep," I gasped, my heart racing from more than just surprise.

His voice was low, his breath warm against my ear. "You were gone for hours. I was worried. What happened?"

The closeness was making it hard to think. His body was warm beneath mine, and I felt a flutter of something that had nothing to do with my injury. It took me a moment to find my voice.

"Nothing... nothing happened," I stammered.

Devon's hand gently brushed my hair away from my face, clearly intending to kiss me. The moment his fingers touched my swollen cheek, I flinched involuntarily.

"What's wrong?" His voice hardened as he reached for the lamp.

"Devon, don't—"

Too late. Light flooded the room, and Devon's eyes narrowed dangerously as he saw my face. The swelling had worsened, and I knew a bruise was forming.

"Who did this to you?" His voice was deadly calm, but I could feel the Alpha rage building beneath the surface.

"It's nothing. I—"

"Who?" A hint of gold flashed in his eyes.

I sighed, knowing I couldn't hide it. "Jonathan. We had a... disagreement at the hospital."

Devon's jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might shatter. He stood up abruptly, setting me aside with surprising gentleness considering the fury radiating from him.

"That bastard hit you?" The lamp on the end table rattled as his control slipped. "I'm going to—"

"Devon, please." I grabbed his arm. "He's not worth it. I'm fine, really."

Devon took several deep breaths, visibly fighting for control. Finally, he walked to the kitchen, gathered fresh ice cubes, and wrapped them in a clean towel.

"Come here," he said softly.

I sat beside him as he carefully pressed the ice against my cheek. His touch was surprisingly tender for a man who looked ready to tear someone apart.

"You should have called me," he murmured.

"You're still recovering," I reminded him.

"I'm well enough to deal with someone who hurts you."

After a few minutes of ice, Devon insisted I take a shower while he prepared something to eat. Despite my protests that it was the middle of the night, he was adamant.

When I emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in my fluffy robe, Devon had prepared a plate of fruit and cheese, along with a cup of steaming herbal tea.

"Special herbs," he explained. "They'll help with the swelling and pain."

I took a sip and nearly spat it out. "This tastes like pond water."

A hint of a smile touched his lips. "Drink it anyway."

As I forced down the bitter concoction, Devon sat beside me. "I've had some of my people stationed at the hospital. William will have round-the-clock protection."

"Devon, you can't—"

"I already have." His tone left no room for argument. "The Gray family situation is my business now."

Too exhausted to argue, I leaned against him. His arms came around me, solid and secure, and before I knew it, I had drifted into a dreamless sleep.

---

I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains. Blinking in confusion, I realized I was in Devon's room. Someone—Devon, presumably—had carried me here last night.

The smell of coffee led me to the kitchen, where Mrs. Whitmore was preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, dear." Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of my face, but she quickly composed herself. "Mr. Hall said to let you sleep in. He had some business to attend to."

"Thank you, Mrs. Whitmore. I should probably—"

My phone rang. Marcus's name flashed on the screen.

"Marcus? Is Grandfather okay?"

"Mr. Gray is stable, Miss Evelyn. But there's been an... incident. Your father was in a car accident this morning."

My blood ran cold. "Is he...?"

"It was just a rear-end collision. He's shaken up but not seriously injured."

I ended the call, my mind racing. This couldn't be a coincidence, not after last night. Devon wouldn't... would he?

The front door opened, and Devon walked in, looking immaculate in a charcoal suit. His eyes immediately found mine.

"You heard," he said simply.

"Did you do it?" I asked quietly.

He frowned. "No. Though I can't say I'm sorry it happened."

I searched his face and found no deception. Still, someone had targeted Jonathan, and the timing was suspicious.

"How's your cheek?" Devon asked, changing the subject.

"Better. Your herbs worked."

The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation. Devon opened the door, and a blur of motion rushed past him.

"Evelyn!" Lily threw her arms around me, nearly knocking me over. "I've been dying to see you! Did you bring me a present from Vancouver like you promised?" She pulled back, her smile fading as she noticed my face. "What happened to your cheek?"

"Just a little accident," I said quickly. "Nothing serious."

Lily looked skeptical but didn't press. "So, my present?"

I laughed, grateful for the distraction. "It's in my bag. Let me get it."

I retrieved a small box and handed it to her. Inside was a moonlight pearl—rare and luminescent, perfect for Lily's collection of unique items.

"It's beautiful!" she gasped, holding it up to the light. "We should celebrate with a shopping trip! I need new boots, and you need... well, everything."

Devon chuckled from the doorway. "Be careful out there. I'll have someone keeping an eye on you both."

I rolled my eyes. "Devon..."

"Non-negotiable," he said firmly. "I need to head to Hall Enterprises. Enjoy your day, ladies."

As Devon left, Lily grabbed my arm excitedly, eager to pick out clothes for me. I smiled, pushing thoughts of the family mess to the back of my mind.