I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 4

4 /135

**Chapter 4**

**DAMON**

A sense of foreboding washed over me the moment Aria failed to reach out. I should have sensed it, should have known that something was amiss.

The day had been a whirlwind, centered entirely around Sera. We had visited her doctor, attended a gathering with neighboring packs to publicly announce our bond, and endured a barrage of hollow congratulations that echoed emptily in my chest. My friends had surrounded us, their admiration for Sera palpable, as if she were a long-lost treasure finally restored to its rightful place.

“She’s even more stunning than I remembered,” Marcus, my head warrior, had exclaimed, his appreciative whistle igniting a surge of possessive pride within my wolf.

“And so graceful,” Jennifer, one of the senior she-wolves, chimed in, her tone dripping with condescension. “Not like some omegas who don’t understand their place.”

The comment, though veiled, had struck me sharply, a clear jab at Aria. Jennifer had never been fond of my… arrangement with her. “Too lowborn,” she’d scoffed once. “Too eager for Alpha attention.”

I had felt the urge to defend Aria rise within me, but Sera’s laughter, light and melodic, had wrapped around my heart like a warm embrace as she squeezed my hand. The moment had slipped away into the ether, leaving behind only the faintest trace of tension.

Throughout the day, Sera had been the epitome of a perfect mate, smiling through her frailty, charming everyone around her with that enchanting laugh I had cherished since childhood. Yet, there were fleeting moments when I caught her gaze lingering on me, an inscrutable expression flitting across her features—something calculating, perhaps, that left me feeling unsettled.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the gathering began to wind down, Sera had pulled me aside, her voice soft and inviting.

“Damon,” she had said, her fingers trailing down my arm in a way that should have sent shivers racing through me, but instead, it felt oddly muted. “Could I stay at your house tonight? I hate being alone in mine, and with the silver poisoning worsening…” Her voice had faltered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears that tugged at the protective instincts buried deep within me.

But my mind was already made up; I had plans to check on Aria. She had been upset the night before—more so than I had ever witnessed—and guilt had gnawed at me throughout the day, despite my irritation over her outburst regarding the pendant.

“I’m actually heading to your place tonight,” I had replied gently, hoping to soothe her. “I want to ensure you’re comfortable there and check that your medical supplies are stocked properly.”

In an instant, I had seen a flicker of something cross Sera’s face—anger? Disappointment?—but it vanished so swiftly that I questioned whether I had imagined it.

“Of course,” she had replied, her smile unwavering, though I sensed a hint of something beneath the surface. “You’re always so thoughtful.”

As I drove her home, settling her in for the evening, that nagging feeling in my gut only intensified. I had sent Aria three texts throughout the day, each one a simple inquiry to check on her well-being after our argument.

No response. Not even the little notification indicating that she had read them.

My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, whining in frustration, and I felt a flicker of irritation. Aria was fine. Surely, she was just sulking, waiting for me to come crawling back, to apologize for prioritizing my true mate over her feelings.