As Cole brushed past us, his scent—a storm of cedar and winter rain—hit me with the force of a physical blow. I remembered the wall of ice he’d erected between us earlier at the hospital, so I mirrored his coldness. I kept my chin high, my eyes fixed on the distant wall, treating the High Alpha of the Ryder Pack like a complete stranger."I’ll definitely be there. The next round of drinks is on me," Tyler said, watching Cole’s retreating back with a frown. He turned to me, his voice softening. "Ivy, I wanted to ask—""Tyler," I interrupted, my voice tight. "I need to step away for a moment. Go back to the table.""Alright. I’ll be waiting in the private room."Cole’s presence had effectively poisoned the air. The easy warmth Tyler and I had shared moments ago was gone, buried under the crushing weight of an Alpha’s shadow. I nodded, turned, and retreated into the sanctuary of the restroom.When I emerged, I expected the hallway to be empty. Instead, I found Cole standing by the basins
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