I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 55

**I Left Before He Learned My Worth**
**Chapter 55**

**ARIA**

*To Alpha Kael of Shadowmere,*

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*I am compelled to demand the immediate release of my mate, Alpha Damon Cross, along with the wolves of the Blackwood Pack who are currently confined within your dungeons. My mate acted within his rights as prescribed by ancient pack law when he challenged for an unmated omega during a bonding ceremony. Although his timing may have been ill-considered, his actions were entirely legal and should not warrant imprisonment.*

*Moreover, detaining an Alpha and his wolves against their will constitutes an act of aggression that the Blackwood Pack cannot overlook. Should Alpha Cross not be released within twenty-four hours, I will have no option but to interpret this as a declaration of war and will respond accordingly.*

*I strongly advise you to reconsider your actions before this situation spirals beyond control.*

*Luna Sera Cross*
*Blackwood Pack*

“She’s threatening war,” I murmured, the weight of the words sinking into my chest like a stone. “All of this… for Damon.”

“She’s merely posturing,” Kael replied, though the grimness etched on his face betrayed the seriousness of the situation. “She understands that the council will side with us. Damon didn’t just issue a challenge—he disrupted a sacred ceremony, assaulted a pack member, and brought armed wolves into neutral territory without permission. Those are grave violations of pack law, and Sera is fully aware of that.”

“But she is still his mate,” I countered softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “His bonded mate. She has an obligation to defend him, regardless of whether she knows he’s in the wrong.”

“Does she truly?” Kael set the letter down, turning to face me with an intensity that made my heart race. “Because from what I’ve gathered, Luna Sera was not exactly overjoyed about being bonded to Damon. And I highly doubt she was thrilled about being imprisoned when he chose to pursue you.”

That was indeed a valid point. Yet, the weight of duty and pack loyalty often eclipsed personal emotions. Sera might not harbor love for Damon—she might even resent him—but she remained the Luna of Blackwood, bound by her responsibility to defend her pack’s interests, even when those interests were led by an unstable Alpha.

“The council meeting,” I said, shifting the topic slightly, my mind racing with possibilities. “What will they decide? What are the potential outcomes?”

Kael moved behind the imposing desk that dominated the office, gesturing for me to sit beside him rather than across the expanse. It was a subtle but significant indication that we were partners in this endeavor, equals rather than Alpha and subordinate.

“In the worst-case scenario, they could demand his execution,” Kael stated bluntly, his tone chilling. “Attacking during a bonding ceremony is considered one of the most serious violations of pack law. It’s a sacred event, protected fiercely, and anyone who disrupts it faces dire consequences.”

But as we walked toward the council chambers, my hand clasped firmly in Kael’s, an unsettling feeling gnawed at me. I sensed that this was merely the beginning. Damon’s reckless attack had set in motion a series of events that would send ripples through multiple packs, leading to consequences none of us could fully anticipate.

I understood that before this was over, I would have to make choices that would not only define my role as Luna but also shape the kind of person I was destined to become.

The council chambers were already bustling with activity when we arrived. Five council members—Alphas from neighboring packs who formed the regional governing body—sat in a semicircle at the front of the room, their expressions stern and contemplative. Behind them, observers from various packs watched with keen interest. This was no longer just about Shadowmere and Blackwood; this was about setting a precedent, about pack law, about establishing what behaviors would be tolerated within the territories.

And in the center of it all, his hands bound with silver chains that would prevent him from shifting, stood Damon.

The moment our eyes met, I saw a flicker of hope ignite within him. Hope that I would somehow intervene, that I would convince the council to show him mercy.

Hope that I was about to shatter.

Because I was not here as his former love, his discarded devotee, or his convenient fallback. I was here as the Luna of Shadowmere, as Kael’s mate, as a leader in my own right.

And it was time for everyone—including Damon—to comprehend exactly what that entailed.