I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 115

**Chapter 115**

**ARIA**

“But—”

The weight of my uncertainty hung in the air, a palpable tension that seemed to wrap around us like a thick fog.

“We cannot expect you to lead this pack with integrity if you show partiality,” Morrison stated, his voice a blend of gentleness and authority that commanded attention. “If we start making exceptions for the Luna, what message does that send to the rest of the pack? That rank and position elevate someone above the law? That justice is merely a game of favoritism, dictated by who you are bonded to?”

Kael’s expression was a mixture of frustration and despair, caught in an agonizing tug-of-war between his fierce desire to protect me and the heavy burden of his responsibilities as Alpha. I could sense the turmoil within him through our bond, the way his heart raced and his thoughts spiraled in conflicting directions.

“There has to be another way,” he finally asserted, his voice firm yet laced with desperation. “House arrest. An increased security detail. Anything other than locking her away like a common criminal.”

“Alpha Kael is correct; there must be another option,” came a voice from the back of the tribunal room, breaking the tension that had settled like a storm cloud over us. Everyone turned their heads in unison, and I felt a flicker of hope as I recognized Ivory, standing tall despite the frailness of her body, with Margo at her side, steadying her as she made her way forward.

“Healer Ivory,” Morrison said, surprise evident in his tone. “You should be resting. Your injuries—”

“Can wait,” Ivory interjected, her determination shining through as she moved slowly but purposefully toward the front of the room. “I needed to be here for this.”

She paused just a few feet away from me, her golden eyes locking onto mine, revealing nothing of her thoughts or intentions. Then, she turned her attention to the elder, her voice steady and clear.

“I believe both Luna Aria and I are speaking the truth,” she stated, each word deliberate. “My truth, my perspective—I know what I felt and experienced. But I must also acknowledge, as I told Alpha Kael yesterday, that my memory was formed under extreme duress. I was under the influence of a fast-acting poison that was already impairing my cognitive functions.”

“What are you implying?” Thorne’s voice cut through the air, sharp and accusatory.

“I’m stating that I felt someone grab me from behind. That part is true. I experienced immediate pain afterward. Also true. But I did not see who grabbed me or where the dart originated. My compromised state led me to conflate those two events into a singular action—Luna Aria attacking me.” She paused, allowing her words to sink in. “However, it’s entirely possible, even likely, that what actually transpired was exactly what Luna Aria described. Someone shot at me. She reached out to push me out of harm’s way. The grab and the pain were distinct events that my drugged mind mistakenly merged.”

Gasps and murmurs filled the room, a wave of disbelief washing over those present. This revelation was not what anyone had anticipated—least of all me.

“Are you retracting your testimony?” Morrison asked, his tone cautious, as if walking on thin ice.

“I’m clarifying it,” Ivory replied firmly. “I cannot be certain that my perception of events aligns with what objectively occurred. Given that uncertainty, and considering that Luna Aria’s account is consistent with the threats against me, I believe she deserves the opportunity to prove her innocence.”

“How?” Cassius interjected, skepticism dripping from his words. “The investigation has yielded no definitive answers.”

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