I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

ARIA

“I miss it too,” Ivory admitted. “But Kael, you’re bonded now. You have a mate who probably wouldn’ appreciate finding us like this, even though nothing happened. We need to be more care Tec maintain appropriate boundaries.”

“Appropriate boundaries,” Kael repeated, and something bitter crept into his voice. “Is that

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it? Pretending we didn’t have three years of being the only constants in each other’s lives? Pretenting my wolf didn’t claim you as mine before I ever met Aria?”

Ivory was quiet for a long moment. Then she said, very carefully, “Your wolf claimed me when you weren’t in control. When you were cursed and barely conscious of your human side. That doesn’t mean your human side-the part that makes decisions and commitments-has to honor that claim.”

“Doesn’t it?” Kael challenged. “The wolf is part of who I am, Ivory. Not some separate entity. What he wants, what he recognizes as his-that’s my truth too, even if I try to ignore it.”

“Then you need to try harder,” Ivory said firmly, and now she did push herself up, extracting herself from his grip. “Because ignoring it isn’t enough. You’re bonded to Aria. You made that choice. You committed to building a life with her. And part of that commitment means not holding onto what we had as if it’s something you can return to.”

She stood, brushing grass from her dress. Kael remained on the ground for a moment longer, staring up at the sky, his expression conflicted.

“I nearly executed her,” he said finally. “Based on your word. Based on trusting you over trusting our bond. How is she supposed to forgive that? How am I supposed to rebuild what I destroyed when I chose you over her?”

“You didn’t choose me over her,” Ivory said, and her voice was patient but firm. “You chose proper process and justice over blind faith in a mate bond that’s barely three weeks old. That’s what a good Alpha does. That’s what you had to do.”

“It doesn’t feel like that’s what I did,” Kael said. “It feels like I betrayed her. Proved that she’ll always be second place to you in my priorities.”

My breath caught at hearing him say it. Hearing him voice the exact fear Damon had planted in my mind.

“Then prove her wrong,” Ivory said simply. “Prove that she’s not second place. Spend time with her. Rebuild the trust that was damaged. Show her through actions that your commitment to her is real, even if it starte as political necessity”

“I’ve been trying” Kael said, frustration bleeding into his voice. “But she’s pulling away. Avoiding me. Every time I leave her notes or flowers or try to arrange time together, she’s not there. It’s like she’s given up on

“Can you blame her? Ivory asked gently. “After everything she’s been through After being suspected, imprisoned in her own chambers, nearly executed–and all of it because of the complicated dy between you and me? She probably needs space to process. Time to figure out if she can live with always

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Chapter 135

wondering whether you’ll choose me over her when it matters.”

“I won’t,” Kael protested, sitting up finally. “The trap worked. You proved she was innocent. That’s Over. There’s no reason for her to doubt my commitment anymore.”

“Isn’t there?” Ivory challenged. “Kael, be honest with yourself. If I came to you right now and said I m your help with something dangerous, something that might put your relationship with Aria at risk- you help me?”

The pause before he answered was too long. Far too long.

“Yes,” he finally admitted. “I’d help you. Because that’s who you are to me. Who you’ll always be of my bond with Aria.”

“Then she has every reason to doubt,” Ivory said quietly. “Every reason to wonder if she’ll ever be enough, Every reason to question whether she made a mistake bonding with you.”

Kael stood abruptly, running a hand through his hair in obvious frustration. “So what am I supposed to do? Pretend you don’t matter to me? Cut you out of my life completely? That’s not fair either, Ivory. Not to you not to me, not to our friendship.”

“I don’t know what you’re supposed to do,” Ivory admitted. “I don’t have easy answers. All I know is that right now, you’re hurting two people by trying to maintain connections to both. Aria feels second best. And I feel… complicated. Like I’m a complication in your life that you can’t fully let go of but can’t fully keep either.”

“You’re not a complication,” Kael said fiercely. “You’re-”

“I’m someone you need to create boundaries with,” Ivory interrupted. “For both our sakes. For Aria’s sake. For the sake of everyone who’s watching us and wondering how this mess is going to resolve.”

She started gathering the plant specimens he’d incorrectly harvested, organizing them in her collection bag. “I should go. I have work to do, and you have an afternoon council session to prepare for. And Kael? Maybe spend less time trying to help me collect plants and more time actually talking to your mate.

“I’ve been trying-” Kael started again.

“Try harder,” Ivory said, not unkindly. “Because from what I can see, Aria’s drowning.”

She walked away then, following the path back toward the pack house. Kael stood watching her go, his expression a mixture of frustration and longing and guilt that made my chest ache.

I should have revealed myself then. Should have stepped out from behind the tree and let him know I’d witnessed the entire interaction. Should have done something other than remain hidden like a coward. letting him think he was alone.

But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe around the weight of everything I’d just witnessed and overheard.

Kael had admitted it. Had admitted that he’d always choose to help Ivory, even if it risked his relationship with me. Had admitted that his woll’s claim on her was still present, still influencing his decisions. Had admitted that despite being bonded to me, despite trying to rebuild what we had, part of him would always belong to her.

17:35 Fri, Dec 19 MI

Chapter 135

“You’ll always be second place.”

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