I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 61

**TITLE: I Left Before He Learned My Worth**
**Chapter 61**

**ARIA**

39

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It dawned on me that this was more than mere avoidance; it was a carefully constructed barrier. Ivory had begun to treat Kael with a kind of distant reverence, referring to him as “Alpha Kael” rather than just “Kael,” as she did in the past. Whenever they crossed paths, she would bow her head in a formal gesture, her demeanor shifting to one of urgent necessity, as if she had pressing matters elsewhere whenever he attempted to engage her in lighthearted conversation.

The camaraderie that once flowed easily between them had seemingly vanished, replaced by an atmosphere that felt almost like the formality shared by strangers. It was disheartening to witness.

I found myself standing at the threshold, torn between the instinct to walk away and the inexplicable urge to knock gently on the doorframe.

Ivory’s head snapped up at the sound, her expression flickering through a series of emotions before settling into a mask of cool politeness. “Luna Aria. Did you need something?”

The shift in her tone was palpable. It was not outright hostility, but it lacked the warmth she typically extended to other members of the pack. Instead, it carried an air of formality, as if she were addressing someone of higher rank whom she neither admired nor respected.

“I just wanted to check on you,” I said softly, stepping into the room, a sense of urgency tugging at my heart. “I wanted to see how you’re healing. You’ve been through a lot—serious injuries, and you should still be resting, not diving into complex herb preparations.”

“I’m perfectly capable of determining my own limitations,” Ivory replied, her focus returning to the mortar and pestle in front of her. “I heal better when I’m engaged in work. It gives me something to concentrate on other than the discomfort.”

I moved closer, my eyes scanning the array of plants spread across her table. Some were familiar from my brief studies on healing herbs, while others were exotic, vibrant specimens that must have come from her extensive travels.

“What are you working on?” I inquired, attempting to draw her out of her shell.

“A remedy for the winter fever that typically strikes the pack’s children this time of year,” she said, her tone flat and focused, not lifting her gaze from her task. “If I can get the proportions right, we should be able to prevent most cases rather than just treating symptoms after they appear.”

“That’s impressive,” I replied, genuinely admiring her dedication. “Preventative medicine is so much more effective than reactive treatment.”

“Yes, well, that’s what happens when you actually dedicate time to studying healing arts instead of just stumbling into a Luna position through convenient timing,” Ivory retorted, her tone still pleasant but laced with an underlying edge.

There it was—the hostility she had promised during our earlier encounter in the clinic, now delivered with a disarming smile and wrapped in professional language.

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