<h4>Chapter 602: In Trouble</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    The knock on the study door cut through the quiet like a pebble breaking the surface of still water.


    All five of us turned toward the door at the same time.


    River didn’t even need to raise his voice.


    "Come in."


    The door opened just a crack, and Mallory’s head peeked inside.


    Her eyes moved quickly across the room - me, Rowan, Kieran, Oscar... and finally River. She took in the heavy atmosphere, the serious expressions, the lingering tension from the recording we had just listened to.


    For a brief second, I thought she would retreat.


    Mallory was bold, yes... but she was also perceptive. She knew when something serious was happening.


    But instead of backing away... she focused directly on River. "Are you all too busy with something?"


    I blinked.


    Because that question...


    Was directed at him.


    River clearly hadn’t expected that either. His gaze flickered around the room - first at me, then Rowan, then his brothers - as if silently confirming whether she had really just addressed him instead of me.


    Mallory had always beenfortable with my mates, just like the rest of my friends.


    But River...


    River was different.


    He was the Rogue Alpha King.


    Most people felt overwhelmed even standing near him, let alone talking to him casually.


    And yet here was Mallory.


    Hands on the door.


    Eyes steady.


    Waiting for his answer.


    River finally looked back at her. His expression softened a fraction, the intimidating edge of his aura easing just enough to not scare her off.


    "We are done," he said calmly. "You are not interrupting anything."


    And technically...


    He wasn’t wrong.


    We had finished discussing Jacob Hall’s statement and what the next step of our investigation was going to be.


    Mallory nodded once.


    "Good."


    And then she pushed the door fully open and walked inside like she owned the ce.


    I almostughed.


    She marched straight toward the seating area where we were gathered, stopping in front of us with her hands nted firmly on her hips.


    Her gaze swept across all five of us - slow, using, unimpressed.


    "If you are done discussing your extremely important secret matters," she said pointedly, "maybe you should remember you have guests waiting outside."


    Oh.


    Right.


    Guilt hit me instantly.


    Because she was absolutely right.


    All my friends hade today to meet Lioren. Mallory, Rowan, Kyros, Ria, Selene, Noah - our whole group.


    But barely half an hour after their arrival, Kieran returned from the interrogation and immediately pulled us into the study so we could listen to the recording together.


    And it had been... almost forty minutes since then.


    We had basically abandoned them in the living room... while only Rowan got to join us.


    Oh stars.


    I immediately jumped to my feet.


    "I’m so sorry," I said quickly, rushing toward Mallory and grabbing her hands.


    "We didn’t mean to leave you all alone. Something urgent came up and we-"


    She narrowed her eyes at me.


    And then at Rowan, who had also stood up looking equally guilty.


    "I’ll deal with you twoter," she said ominously.


    Rowan swallowed, while I pressed my lips together to hide a smile.


    Because honestly?


    We deserved that.


    Mallory’s gaze then shifted past us...


    To the three Alphas.


    And that was when things became truly entertaining.


    Because for the first time since I had known them... River, Kieran, and Oscar looked uncertain... about how to handle an annoyed friend of their mate.


    It was almost surreal.


    Oscar nced at Kieran.


    Kieran nced at River.


    And River... he looked like he wished he could disappear.


    I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself fromughing.


    Finally, Kieran stood.


    Smooth. Composed. Diplomatic as always.


    "My apologies," he said sincerely to Mallory. "It was inconsiderate of us to leave you all like that."


    Mallory’s expression softened slightly, but she still crossed her arms.


    Kieran continued in his warm voice. "To make up for it... how about I bake cookies and prepare coffee for everyone?"


    Silence.


    One second.


    Two.


    Mallory’s eyes widened. "You’ll bake?" she asked.


    Kieran smiled faintly.


    "Yes."


    That was it.


    Her irritation evaporated instantly. "Okay, you are forgiven, Professor," she said without hesitation.


    I snorted.


    And Rowan actuallyughed out loud.


    Oscar shook his head, looking amused.


    Honestly, none of us were surprised.


    Kieran Thorne baking cookies personally?


    That was basically an irresistible offer.


    Oscar stood up next.


    "If you all want," he added casually, "I can bring out cards. We can y while the cookies are baking."


    Mallory lit up.


    "Yes!"


    Her enthusiasm was so pure that warmth spread through my chest.


    This...


    This was normal.


    Friends.


    Laughter.


    Simple moments.


    After everything heavy we had just discussed, it felt like breathing fresh air again.


    Then...


    All eyes shifted to River.


    He froze slightly under the attention.


    For perhaps the first time in his life...


    The Rogue Alpha King lookedpletely unsure what he was supposed to contribute.


    I could practically see the thoughts running through his head.


    He opened his mouth.


    Closed it.


    Then his phone rang.


    Of course.


    His phone... it had a thing for perfect timing.


    Relief shed briefly across his face before his usualposed Alpha expression returned.


    He stood smoothly, pulling the phone from his pocket.


    "I’ll leave you all to enjoy the evening," he said calmly. "I have work to attend to."


    Mallory nodded respectfully, Oscar smirked, and Kieran gave him a knowing look.


    But River didn’t acknowledge any of it.


    He simply walked toward the door, every inch the powerful Alpha again, his aura steady and controlled.


    But as he passed me... his fingers brushed lightly against my wrist.


    I looked up and our eyes met for just a second.


    Warmth.


    Affection.


    Something deeper that only we understood.


    Then he was gone.


    The door closed behind him with a soft click.


    And just like that...


    The study no longer felt heavy.


    Mallory pped her hands once.


    "Alright! Host mode activated," she dered. "Let’s go before everyone out there starts thinking you kidnapped me too."


    Oscarughed.


    Kieran gestured toward the door.


    "After you."


    Rowan slung an arm over my shoulders as we followed Mallory out.


    "We are in troubleter," he whispered teasingly.


    "I know," I muttered back.


    But honestly?


    I didn’t mind.


    Because as we stepped into the hallway and the distant sound of my friends’ voices reached my ears, along with Lioren’sughter, my heart got filled with warmth.


    For now...


    There wasughter waiting.


    And I was ready to enjoy it.