Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers-Chapter 561: A Familiar Face in Mooncrest

Evaline:

River slowed the car and brought it to a smooth stop near the curb.

"Is this the place?" he asked, glancing at me.

I leaned forward and looked out the window. The bright purple-and-white sign of ’Monginis Bakery’ greeted me from right across the street, its glass front glowing warmly under the streetlights.

"Yes," I said immediately, already reaching for my seatbelt. I turned to him and nodded. "That’s the one."

He smiled, that soft, fond curve of his lips that always made my chest warm. "Alright. I’ll have either Oscar or Kieran pick you up in about an hour."

"Okay," I replied, smiling back at him. "Drive safe."

He reached out, brushing his thumb over my knuckles briefly.

"Have fun," he said quietly.

"I will."

I stepped out of the car, closed the door gently, and crossed the road. As I entered the bakery, the scent of sugar, butter, and freshly baked bread wrapped around me like a familiar embrace. It was quiet inside... only a handful of customers scattered across the tables.

That’s when I spotted Mallory.

She was sitting at a small round table near the window, her head bent over her phone, fingers moving rapidly over the screen. I smiled to myself and walked over, pulling out the chair opposite her and sitting down.

She didn’t notice me at first.

I cleared my throat dramatically. "Wow. Should I be offended, or are you always this devoted to your phone?"

Her head snapped up instantly.

"Eva!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up as if someone had switched on a lamp inside her. "You are here!"

I laughed. "Clearly. For at least ten seconds now."

She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I was texting Lily."

My teasing expression softened immediately. "Ah. Planning top-secret birthday operations?"

Mallory’s grin widened. "You have no idea. She’s very serious about keeping everything a surprise for her dad."

I shook my head fondly. "She’s barely nine and already better at conspiracies than most adults."

Mallory leaned back in her chair, her eyes shining. "She asked me if blue frosting would make him happier than chocolate."

My heart melted a little.

I had always admired how naturally Mallory had stepped into Lily’s life... not forcefully, not awkwardly, but with patience, warmth, and genuine effort. Despite the ten-year age gap between them, Mallory wasn’t trying to be a replacement mother or an authority figure. She was Lily’s friend first.

And Lily adored her.

That alone said everything.

After a brief discussion with the bakery staff... and far too much deliberation over flavors... we finally settled on a chocolate truffle cake with subtle blue detailing. Mallory placed the order for delivery to Jasper’s house the next evening, her excitement barely contained as she signed the receipt.

"That’s one mission accomplished," she said, clapping her hands softly.

"On to the gift," I replied with mock seriousness.

We stepped out of the bakery and walked down the street, weaving in and out of small gift shops. Mallory picked things up, put them down, second-guessed herself, then circled back again.

By the fourth store, I was laughing too hard to be of much help.

"Why is choosing a gift for your mate harder than planning a covert operation?" I asked, holding up a decorative mug she had rejected three times already.

"Because this actually matters," she replied solemnly, then burst into laughter.

Eventually, she found it... a simple but thoughtful gift that made her eyes light up the moment she saw it.

"This," she said firmly. "This is the one."

We paid and stepped back out onto the street, relief evident on her face.

After that, we indulged in some street food from a nearby vendor, standing side by side as we ate and talked about everything and nothing - academy gossip, Lily’s endless questions, Jasper’s terrible attempts at pretending he didn’t care about birthdays. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

It was comfortable. Easy.

I didn’t even realize I had stopped mid-step until my gaze snagged on something across the street.

Someone.

He was arranging chairs outside a small diner, wiping down tabletops with focused concentration. His sleeves were rolled up, movements efficient and practiced.

Mallory noticed my sudden silence. "Eva?" She followed my line of sight. "Wait... is that-?"

"Yes," I said softly. "That’s Charles."

Her brows furrowed. "From first year?"

I nodded.

Charles.

He looked thinner than I remembered, but there was something steady about him. Determined. Like someone who refused to let circumstances break him.

"It looks like he’s working there," Mallory said slowly.

"That’s what it seems like."

We exchanged a look, both of us silently debating whether to approach him or leave him be. I was just about to suggest walking away when Charles looked up... and spotted us.

Recognition flashed instantly through his eyes, followed by a bright, genuine smile.

He lifted his hand and waved at us.

"Well," Mallory sighed. "So much for being subtle."

We walked over.

"Evaline! Mallory!" Charles greeted us warmly. "Wow, it’s been a while."

"It really has," I said, smiling back. "What are you doing here?"

He glanced around sheepishly, then shrugged. "I got a part-time job here. Just started today."

Mallory tilted her head. "What about your grandmother’s stall?"

"She banned me from helping on weekends," he said with a laugh. "Said I needed to relax and spend time with friends."

"But you didn’t listen," I guessed gently.

He smiled, not denying it. "I couldn’t just sit around knowing she’s doing everything herself. So... weekends here. Weekdays at the academy."

Something in my chest tightened.

I didn’t feel pity.

I felt respect.

I saw too much of myself in him... someone doing everything they could to stay afloat, to carry responsibility without complaint, to keep moving forward despite unfavorable odds.

Mallory’s expression softened too. "That’s... admirable."

She suddenly straightened. "You know what? We are all coming here for dinner tomorrow."

Charles blinked. "All?"

"Yes. All," she repeated firmly. "Friends. Support. Celebration of new ventures."

He laughed, clearly touched. "You all are always so nice to me."

As we exchanged goodbyes, I noticed a familiar car pass by slowly before stopping around the corner... far enough from the diner to remain unobtrusive.

Kieran.

Mallory caught my glance and smirked knowingly. "Your ride’s here."

I smiled, waved one last time at Charles, and followed Mallory toward the car.