I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 111

**TITLE: I Left Before He Learned My Worth**

**Chapter 111**

KAEL

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In that moment, I found myself trapped in a web of my own making. I had no legitimate grounds to voice my dissent. I was bound to another, my choice had already been made. Ivory’s recovery and her relentless pursuit of answers took precedence over the tumultuous storm of emotions swirling within me.

“If that’s truly what you desire,” I replied, striving to maintain a calm and steady tone, though the weight of my words felt heavy in the air.

“It is,” Ivory affirmed, her voice unwavering. Then, she locked her gaze onto mine, her golden eyes piercing through my facade, searching for something deeper. “Can I ask you something? About the attack?”

“Absolutely,” I responded, bracing myself for the conversation that was about to unfold.

“Do you genuinely believe Luna Aria attempted to take my life?”

The question lingered between us like a thick fog, a question I had been avoiding for far too long. I had steered clear of confronting it directly, fearful of the implications it carried, regardless of the answer.

“I can’t say for certain,” I confessed, the truth spilling from my lips. “I want to believe she didn’t mean to harm you. I want to trust that there was indeed an assailant, just as she claimed. But the evidence—”

“Is circumstantial,” Ivory interjected, her tone contemplative. “I’ve been mulling it over. Reflecting on the fragments of memory I possess and those that elude me. I distinctly felt someone seize me from behind. That much is true. And the pain that followed was immediate. But Kael, I was already succumbing to the effects of the poison when that memory formed. My perception was skewed. My ability to draw connections between cause and effect was deteriorating.”

“What are you suggesting?” I asked, my voice cautious, as I navigated the delicate terrain of this conversation.

“I’m suggesting that my recollections might not align with reality,” Ivory articulated slowly, her words measured. “The memories I hold were shaped by duress and the poison coursing through me. It’s entirely possible—possible—that Luna Aria’s version of events is accurate. Perhaps she reached for me to push me out of harm’s way. Maybe the true assailant and the dart originated from a different direction altogether. I could have inadvertently merged two separate incidents because my mind was already beginning to shut down.”

A flicker of hope ignited within my chest. “So, you’re saying there’s a chance you could have been mistaken? That Aria might be innocent?”

“I’m saying I cannot be certain,” Ivory clarified, her expression serious. “I remember what I remember. However, I also understand enough about the nature of memory, particularly under trauma and the influence of poison, to realize that my recollections may not be trustworthy. They feel authentic, but feeling authentic does not equate to truth.”

This revelation was monumental. If Ivory were to acknowledge that her memory could be flawed, if she were to concede that her account might be incorrect—it would shift the entire dynamic of how the pack perceived this situation.

“Will you communicate this to the elders?” I inquired, my heart racing. “Will you testify that your memory could be inaccurate?”

Ivory remained silent for what felt like an eternity. “That depends,” she finally responded.

“On what?” I pressed, my curiosity piqued.

“On whether you want me to do so because you genuinely believe Luna Aria is innocent, or if you wish to protect your mate, regardless of the reality of her actions.”

Her question pierced through me, cutting deeper than I anticipated. I found myself grappling with the truth, unsure of how to articulate my own motivations.

“It is precisely that straightforward,” Ivory interrupted, her tone unyielding. “You can attempt to straddle both sides, to believe in both narratives, but eventually, you will have to make a choice. And when that moment comes, you must ensure it’s the right one. Because the wrong decision could shatter everything—and everyone—around you.”

I stood there, caught in a liminal space between two rooms—one housing my injured former lover, a woman I had once claimed as mine, and the other containing my bonded mate, who was now being accused of attacking that very same person.

Ivory was correct. A choice loomed before me, and I was already in the process of making it with every passing second I lingered here instead of there, every moment I chose to comfort Ivory instead of rushing to Aria’s side, every hesitation that kept me from proclaiming my mate’s innocence to the world.

And the most terrifying realization of all was that I was uncertain about whether I was making the right choices.

I didn’t even know what the right choices were anymore.

All I understood was that my wolf felt a sense of peace with Ivory near and safe. Meanwhile, my bond with Aria throbbed with the weight of her pain and fear. Margo observed this entire exchange with a barely concealed satisfaction, as if she were savoring the turmoil. Somewhere in the depths of the forest, evidence of an attacker might exist—or perhaps it wouldn’t—leaving the truth of what had transpired shrouded in ambiguity.

“I’ll discuss your assistant position with Nina,” I said to Margo, retreating into the safety of formality, as it felt easier than confronting the emotional chaos swirling within me. “And I’ll relay any updates regarding the investigation findings as soon as we have them.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Margo replied, settling into a chair near Ivory’s bed, as if she were already claiming her territory.

As I exited the recovery room, my mind was a tempest of thoughts and emotions, churning with everything that had been said. The guards stationed outside straightened as I passed, their curious gazes following me down the corridor.

Everyone was eager to discover what I would do next. How I would navigate this impossible situation. Whether I would stand by my mate or lend credence to my former lover’s claims.

The harsh truth was, I didn’t have the answers yet.

And that uncertainty gnawed at me, consuming me from the inside out.