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.

Each word hit me like a punch, reinforcing the barrier that felt increasingly impossible to breach.

“But,” Ivory continued, her voice steady, “I also recognize that you’re here. That Kael chose you. That the bonding is complete and you’re not going anywhere. So I will do my job. I will serve this pack to the best of my ability. I will respect your position even if I don’t respect you personally. And I will stay out of your way as much as possible, because frankly, interacting with you reminds me of everything I’ve lost and everything that’s changed, and I’d rather not deal with those feelings on a daily basis.”

Her last words caught me off guard, revealing a vulnerability beneath her hostility—real, raw pain that had nothing to do with her physical injuries.

“What have you lost?” I asked gently, my heart aching for her.

Ivory’s expression closed off instantly. “Nothing that concerns you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really do need to finish this preparation before the herbs lose their potency. The winter fever doesn’t care about personal drama, and the children who’ll benefit from this remedy certainly don’t need their medicine delayed because their Luna decided to have an impromptu heart-to-heart.”

The dismissal was unmistakable. Yet, I felt compelled to push just a little further.

“You’ve been avoiding Kael too,” I pointed out, my curiosity piqued. “Not just me. You barely speak to him anymore. You make excuses to leave whenever he tries to talk to you. Why?”

“That’s between me and my Alpha,” Ivory replied firmly, her voice leaving no room for debate. “And none of your business, Luna Aria. Now please, unless there’s an actual emergency that requires my immediate attention, I’d like to get back to work.”