Rise of the Banished She-Wolf Chapter 91

Evelyn

Richard's words hung in the air between us, his expression unusually gentle as he looked at me.

"I misjudged you before, and I caused you pain," he said, his voice lower than I'd ever heard it. "I want to apologize and ask for your forgiveness."

My throat tightened. The Alpha King of the Northwest territories was apologizing to me—a Wolfless, an outcast. I felt my eyes grow wet as I shook my head.

"This isn't your fault," I said quickly. "It never was."

Richard moved closer, his imposing frame somehow less intimidating than before. "I used to think like many others—that white wolves were dangerous, unpredictable, a threat to humans. Three years ago, relations between humans and our kind were particularly unstable. I felt I had no choice but to support the decision to exile you." He sighed heavily. "But Devon has told me who you really are. I've chosen to believe him, and I've spent months searching for evidence. Finally, I found it."

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small USB drive, offering it to me. "This contains proof that you weren't the monster they claimed you were. There's other evidence too—things you should see. You can review it all when you get home. Whether you choose to make it public... that's entirely your decision."

My hand trembled as I took the drive. In that moment, I realized I didn't care as much about the evidence itself as I did about what it represented. The Alpha King of the Northwest packs—the most powerful werewolf in this part of the country—was treating me like I mattered. Like I belonged. After three years of being treated like a pariah by every werewolf except Devon, the feeling was overwhelming.

Devon stepped forward, placing his hand gently on my back. "I think we should go," he said softly. "Give Evelyn some time to process this."

I nodded, still unable to form words around the lump in my throat.

As we walked to the car, I found my voice again. "I want to see my grandfather," I said. "Can we go to the care facility?"

Devon's eyes softened. "Of course."

---

When we arrived at the care facility, Marcus was waiting at the entrance. His weathered face broke into a warm smile when he saw me.

"Miss Evelyn, it's good to see you," he said, bowing slightly. "Your grandfather has been asking for you."

I followed Marcus down the hallway, Devon a reassuring presence behind me. When we entered my grandfather's room, I saw him sitting in a chair by the window, leaning heavily on a walking stick with an intricately carved wolf's head. At the sound of our footsteps, he tried to stand, his movements stiff and labored.

"Don't get up!" I rushed forward, helping him back into his seat. "Your heart hasn't fully recovered from the last episode. You shouldn't be moving around so much."

William's eyes crinkled as he smiled at me, then shifted his gaze to Devon, his expression hardening. "What is he doing here?"

"Grandpa, it's just Devon. You've met him before," I said, placing my hand on his arm. "He's helped me a lot."

Devon stepped forward, his posture straight but not challenging. "I came to speak with you, sir."

"What about?" My grandfather's voice was gruff.

"I wanted to tell you that Evelyn and I are together now."

The words had barely left Devon's mouth when my grandfather's face contorted with rage. He raised his wolf-headed cane with trembling hands.

"Grandpa, stop!" I moved between them, my hands raised. "Please listen to me!"

"Listen to what?" William growled. "That you're throwing yourself away on a Bloodfang Alpha? After everything their kind has done?"

"He saved my life," I said firmly. "I was in danger overseas, and Devon risked everything to protect me."

"That doesn't justify this!" My grandfather's face was flushed with anger. "Do you have any idea who he is? He's not just any Alpha—he's the son of the Alpha King! His future is already decided!"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "I know what you're worried about, but Devon will protect me. For three years, I was alone in Portland with no one to rely on. His presence in my life has made me feel loved for the first time in so long."

William's anger seemed to deflate slightly, replaced by something that looked like guilt. "I failed you," he said quietly. "I couldn't stop them from driving you away."

"You mean the incident three years ago?" I asked cautiously.

My grandfather nodded, his eyes sad. "I never believed you lost control and attacked that human. Not for a moment. But my word wasn't enough to change anything."

"I have evidence now," I said, touching the pocket where the USB drive sat. "But it might hurt my father if I reveal it. If you don't want me to—"

"I couldn't protect you back then," he interrupted, his voice firm despite his frail appearance. "This time, the decision is yours to make. As long as our pack stops declining, I trust your judgment."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. I remained by my grandfather's side, watching as his gaze drifted toward the window, his thoughts seemingly far away.

"Isabel was extraordinary—the Alpha of the Moonheal Pack with healing abilities like none I'd ever seen," he said suddenly, a wistful smile touching his lips.

I blinked in surprise at the mention of my grandmother. William rarely spoke of her.

"You were just like her," he continued, his eyes finding mine. "Even at three years old, you showed the same talents. Whenever Isabel was diagnosing someone, you'd drag your little stool over and sit beside her, watching everything she did with those serious eyes of yours." He chuckled softly.

I was struck speechless by this sudden rush of tender memories.

Devon moved closer, his voice gentle. "You must have been very proud when Evelyn started showing her grandmother's talents."

William nodded, his expression softening. "More than you can imagine."

"Then why..." Devon paused, choosing his words carefully. "Why didn't you stand up for her when she needed you most?"

My grandfather's eyes clouded. He looked at me, then away, shame evident in his expression.

"The pack was in a precarious position," he said softly. "Jonathan had secured important alliances, investments... If his position had been compromised..."

"You had to make a choice," Devon said, not accusingly but with understanding. "Between your granddaughter and the future of the pack as you saw it."

William's hands trembled slightly on his cane. "I thought I was doing what was best for everyone. I believed Jonathan would be a worthy leader. I was..." His voice cracked. "I was wrong. And you paid the price, Evelyn."

The admission hung in the air between us. I felt a strange mixture of pain and relief—pain at the confirmation that my grandfather had chosen the pack over me, but relief that the truth was finally being spoken aloud.

"If I had known what kind of Alpha Jonathan would become," William continued, almost to himself, "if I had known how he would squander everything we built... I never would have let him drive you away. That's my greatest regret."

Swallowing the painful lump in my throat, I changed the subject. "Grandpa, the restoration on Grandmother's old house is almost complete. Would you like to come see it when you're feeling better?"

William's eyes filled with tears, grateful for the reprieve. "I'd like that very much, little one."

---

Outside the facility, Marcus approached me with a small silver-inlaid wooden box etched with wolf symbols.

"Miss Evelyn, your grandfather asked me to give you this," he said, handling the box carefully. "It belonged to Isabel. She asked William to pass it to you on her deathbed."

I examined the box, noticing intricate locks and mechanisms built into its design. "What's inside?"

Marcus shook his head. "No one knows. Not even your grandfather."

I accepted the box, feeling its weight in my hands. It seemed impossibly heavy for its size, as if the secrets it contained added to its burden.