<h4>Chapter 251: Mallory’s Birthday</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    I sang along with everyone else, our voices blending into a slightly off-key but cheerful version of the birthday song.


    Mallory closed her eyes for a brief moment, made a wish, and blew out the candles with a bright smile. Everyone pped and cheered, while Noah was still hunched over his phone, snapping pictures of every possible angle like a professional photographer on a mission.


    We were all seated around a long wooden table in one of Lakeshire’s most popr cafés, the kind that always had a waiting list no matter the day. The warm yellow lights overhead made the chocte frosting on Mallory’s cake look even richer, and the sweet scent of vani and coffee lingered in the air.


    Rowan and Kyros immediately took charge of the cake-cutting, their usual banter surfacing as they argued over whether the slices should be perfectly equal or just "roughly" equal. Seleneughed at them while Ria sipped hertte like this was her weekend entertainment.


    I reached for the gift bag I had kept under my chair and slid it toward Mallory.


    "This is for you," I said with a small smile.


    Her eyes widened when she opened the box and looked at the gift. "No way... you got me the newunch set?" She pulled out the lip oil collection box, cradling it like it was something sacred. "Eva, these are sold out everywhere."


    "I know," I shrugged lightly. "Was lucky to get them on time."


    She grinned and leaned over to hug me tightly. "This is such a wonderful gift. Thank you so mucg."


    I smiled back, but there was a faint heaviness tucked somewhere in my chest that I couldn’t quite shake.


    <fn51f0> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find{n}ovel</fn51f0>


    It had been three days since the Alpha Selection Ceremony in the Nightshade Pack. Three days since River confessed he liked me... since we discovered we were mates. And three days since I told him... everything.


    The memory of that evening still made my stomach twist. I had bared myself to himpletely - my past, my secrets, the parts of me I didn’t like showing anyone. And after all of that, he didn’t push or question me further. He simply looked at me for a long moment, then told me I should return to the mansion.


    At first, I tried to argue - my work at the ceremony wasn’t done, and I didn’t like leaving things unfinished. But he had been firm, saying it would be easier for him to focus on the rest of the ceremony once I was somewhere safe and away from Ethan’s eyes.


    And... I hadn’t exactly fought him on it. The truth was, I was really terrified ofing across Ethan again.


    The next morning, I learned from Draven that the one who had won the championship and imed the title of Nightshade Pack’s new Alpha was one of River’s men. The way Draven described it, the battleground had been a bloodbath. And with one night’s work, he had gained control over one of the biggest and richest packs in the region.


    He had yed his cards perfectly.


    Since then, River had been buried in work - managing his new Alpha, establishing control over Nightshade Pack, securing alliances. I had only seen him in passing, catching glimpses of him eithering into the mansionte at night or leaving early in the morning. He wasn’t there for meals, nor for the so-called "bonding time" Draven insisted we all have every evening.


    And I hadn’t told Oscar or Draven about the mate bond yet. I kept telling myself I would do it before the holidays ended - four days from now - but every time I thought about saying the words, my chest tightened. As for what was going to happen between River and me... I didn’t know. And I couldn’t bring myself to think about it too much.


    "...Earth to Eva?"


    Mallory’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She was grinning, already halfway through her cake slice. "You spaced out. Were you daydreaming about something, or should I say someone?" She wiggled her eyebrows.


    I rolled my eyes. "No."


    She smirked but didn’t push further. "Well, anyway... I’m spending the evening with Jasper. And Lily."


    I blinked. "Lily?"


    She lowered her voice just a bit, though our friends were busyughing at something Noah had said. "It’s my first time meeting her."


    She leaned in, whispering like it was some top-secret mission. "You have toe with me. Please. I’m begging you."


    "Why?"


    "Because I’m nervous, okay? I have met grumpy, battle-hardened warriors and scary Alphas, but an eight-year-old with a sharp mind? Terrifying." She made a pleading face. "I don’t want to mess this up. And Lily already knows Jasper’s dating me, so if she hates me, I’ll know instantly."


    I bit back a smile. "You are worrying for nothing. Lily is the sweetest and kindest person I have ever met in my life. And I’m sure she’s going to love you. Besides, do you think my presence will make her like you?"


    "I think your presence will make me less awkward," she admitted. "And maybe keep Jasper from fussing over every little thing I do."


    I pretended to think about it. "So, you want me to be your emotional support human?"


    "Yes!" She brightened. "Exactly."


    Iughed softly. "Fine. I’lle."


    She let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "You are the best."


    By the time the cake was gone and the tes cleared, the café was filling up with the evening crowd. We lingered for a while, chatting and sipping thest of our drinks before finally stepping out into the chilly evening air.


    We split up outside - Rowan and Kyros heading toward former’s bike, Ria and Selene deciding to take a walk, and Noah was still clicking pictures of everything from the café sign to thempposts.


    Mallory and I made our way to the car Jasper had sent for her. She seemed unusually quiet, fiddling with the strap of her bag.


    "You’ll be fine," I told her as we slid into the backseat.


    Her lips curved into a faint smile. "You think so?"


    "I know so. And for the record, you are way scarier than an eight-year-old."


    Sheughed at that, tension easing just a bit.


    Still, I could see the nerves in the way she smoothed her dress and nced at her reflection in the window every few minutes.


    But I knew that she and Lily were going to be best friends in no time.