I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

ARIA

“Am I?” Damon challenged. Ask around Aria. Ask the pack members who knew them then Ask Ne probably walked in on them more than once. Ask anyone who paid attention to what wa den for three years. Kael’s wolf claimed Ivory as his mate. They were bonded in every And that bond doesn’t just disappear because he’s human again and politically bonded to

“He chose me,” I said weakly. “He bonded with me.”

“He bonded with a convenient solution to his curse,” Damon corrected. “You were there at the right time with the right circumstances. That’s not the same as choosing you, Aria. That’s just desperation and potic necessity.”

Each word was a knife, finding weaknesses I’d tried to ignore. Exploiting doubts I’d tried to suppress

“Kael may try to make it up to you,” Damon continued relentlessly. “May try to convince you that you matter to him. But you’ll always be second place, Aria. Just like you were with me and Sera. You’re everyone’s backup plan. Everyone’s convenient option when their first choice isn’t available.

“Stop,” I said, but my voice was barely a whisper.

“Why should I stop?” Damon asked. “Someone needs to tell you the truth. Someone needs to make you see what’s happening. Kael was willing to execute you based on Ivory’s word. Think about that, Aria. His mares His bonded Luna. And he was ready to watch you hang because Ivory-a woman he fucked in wolf form woman his wolf still considers his-said you were guilty.”

“The trap worked,” I protested. “Ivory proved I was innocent. She saved me.”

“Did she?” Damon leaned back, studying me. “Or did she just want to prove she could control Kael completely? That her word still carries more weight than your bond? Think about what happened, Aria. She orchestrated a situation where everyone-including you-believed you were going to die. Where Kael had to choose between trusting her and protecting you. And he chose her. He will always choose her

“You don’t know that,” I said, but even I could hear the doubt in my voice.

“Don’t

Damon challenged. “I know what it’s like to have a mate you bonded with for political reasons whale loving someone else. I know how that dynamic works, how it destroys the person who’s second choice, And I’m telling you. Aria-you’re living my nightmare. Except in your version, you’re Sera. The unwanted mate. The political necessity. The woman whose bond isn’t enough to compete with real history

He paused, letting that sink in. Then continued, his voice dropping lower

“Funk about your life in Shadowmere. Really think about it. The pack tolerates you because you’re botest Suther Alpha. But they don”t want you. Don’t trust you. Don’t value you beyond your de Cien the choice. ahey’d tuny Isory as Luna in a hearthear

Thats 1 started, but he cut me off

ind

Tur’t in When you were used, has many park members defcude your Heny spoke weyour

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Chapter 130

Lavor? How many believed your word over Iviny’s?” He smiled, cold and knowing Nont Home pock member thought you were telling the muth. They all assumed gran wie guilty beeld try would mean doubting Ivory. And that’s unthinkable in Shadowmen

“Someone must have” Tried again.

“Martha spoke up.” Damon acknowledp 4. “Said you weren’t capable of Violence Inard rocher of Not because she believed you. Not because she trusted you just because her professional that you’re too weak and pathetic to attempt murder. That’s not support. Arla Thars par

Each wor i landed like a physical blow. Because he was right. Martha hadn’t defended jon belief. Just out of her assessment that I was too inadequate to be dangerous.

“The rest of the pack?” Damon continued. “They were ready to watch you die. Ready to believe your attacked their precious Ivory out of jealousy and insecurity. And they weren’t wrong about the jealousy insecurity, were they? You are jealous of her. You are insecure about your position. Because you know you’ve always known that you don’t measure up/

“Stop,” I said again, more forcefully this time. “Just stop. I didn’t come here to be torn down by you

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