I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 35

**Chapter 35**

**ARIA**

“I really ought to return to those letters,” I remarked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “The other Alphas are becoming increasingly restless regarding the upcoming ceremony and the whole situation with Blackwood. I need to craft responses that convey confidence without coming off as defensive.”

Kael’s eyes softened with warmth as he responded, “You’re doing remarkably well with those.” He paused for a moment, a hint of admiration in his gaze. “Nina shared some of your drafts with me. You have a natural talent for diplomatic language.”

His compliment should have lifted my spirits, but instead, it served as a stark reminder of how much I still had to learn. I was still a novice in this world, feeling like a fledgling bird trying to spread its wings.

“Thank you,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I’ll catch up with you at dinner, right?”

“Absolutely. And Aria?” He hesitated, and I sensed an undercurrent of something complex flowing through our bond. “I really appreciate how welcoming you’ve been to Ivory. I understand that having someone return just before the ceremony might feel a bit threatening, but—”

“It’s not threatening,” I interjected smoothly, my words slipping out with practiced ease. “She’s pack. She’s your friend. Naturally, I want to foster a good relationship with her.”

I could feel Kael’s relief wash over me, but it made my heart ache. I hated deceiving him, yet what choice did I have? How could I confess that Ivory’s radiant smile and subtle barbs were making me feel so painfully inadequate? That witnessing the pack envelop her in warmth and affection only served to amplify my sense of alienation?

That truth felt too heavy to bear.

With a heavy heart, I returned to my office, surrounded by letters brimming with uncertainty and skepticism. I attempted to immerse myself in the task at hand, striving to prove that I was worthy of the title I was on the brink of claiming.

Yet, my thoughts kept slipping back to Ivory’s scrutinizing gaze, reminiscent of Sera’s—pleasant on the surface but laced with an underlying hostility. I couldn’t shake the image of how effortlessly she melded into the pack while I was still grappling with my own place within it.

*She’s merely cautious of you,* I reassured myself firmly. *You’re new, an unknown entity, about to ascend to the role of Luna while she’s been a part of this for years. Give her time. Once she recognizes your sincerity, once you demonstrate your worth, she will surely come around.*

I longed to believe those words. I needed to cling to that hope, for the alternative—that Ivory would become my Sera all over again, complicating my life while maintaining an impeccable facade—was a thought too disheartening to entertain.

An hour later, as I was still lost in drafting responses, a gentle knock on the doorframe pulled me from my thoughts.

“Hey. You okay? You kind of vanished after meeting Ivory,” Nina said, her tone filled with concern.

“I just had some work to wrap up,” I replied, gesturing toward the stack of letters. “These won’t write themselves.”

Nina stepped inside and perched herself on the edge of my desk, her eyes scanning my face with a knowing expression. “Ivory can come off as a bit overwhelming when she first meets someone. Don’t take it to heart.”

So, Nina had indeed noticed something.

“I’m not,” I insisted, but then reconsidered. “Well, maybe just a little. She just seems so… capable. So knowledgeable. Everything a pack member should embody.”

“She’s had years to cultivate that competence,” Nina pointed out, her voice steady. “You’ve had barely a week. It’s not a fair comparison.”

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