I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 69

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

**Chapter 69**

**ARIA**

**$10 Free Cow**

Even before I laid eyes on him, I sensed Kael’s approach through our bond, a connection that ran deeper than mere proximity. He had departed earlier, tasked with addressing the rogue situation—organizing patrols, securing the borders, and investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. Now, he strode back into the clinic with the unmistakable authority of an Alpha, his presence commanding as he checked on the injured members of our pack.

Yet, despite the important work he was engaged in, his gaze kept drifting toward Ivory.

I observed him as he navigated through the clinic, heading toward her, where she stood amidst a circle of grateful pack members. They surrounded her, offering food and words of thanks while she diligently documented patient responses in her journal.

“Ivory,” Kael called out, his voice tinged with that familiar blend of concern and frustration that had become all too recognizable to me. “We need to talk. About what happened this morning, about your testing protocols, about—”

Ivory didn’t even glance up from her notes. She remained engrossed in her work, her pen moving swiftly across the pages as she continued to ask her patient questions, completely oblivious to Kael’s presence.

“Ivory,” Kael pressed, taking a step closer, his tone more urgent. “I know you’re busy, but this is important. You could have died today. We need to discuss implementing some safety measures for your experiments—”

Still, there was no response. Ivory continued her line of questioning about her patient’s respiratory function, jotting down careful notes, accepting another offering of food from a pack member with a warm smile and a sincere thank you.

It was as if Kael were a ghost, haunting the space around her.

Through our bond, I felt the surge of his frustration, the sharp pang of hurt that lay beneath it. This wasn’t merely a professional dismissal; it was personal. His closest friend was actively ignoring him, and he couldn’t fathom why.

At last, Kael reached out, attempting to touch Ivory’s arm—a gentle gesture meant to draw her attention, to pierce through the invisible wall she had erected between them.

Ivory’s reaction was immediate and visceral. She flinched away, as if his touch had burned her, stepping back to create a noticeable distance. When she finally met his gaze, her expression was cool, marked by a professional politeness that held no warmth.

“That’s inappropriate, Alpha Kael,” she stated, her voice carrying just enough volume to be heard by those nearby. “You’re a mated Alpha. You shouldn’t be so familiar with unmated omegas.”

The impact of her words was palpable, hanging in the air like a sharp slap. I watched as Kael physically recoiled, his face momentarily flashing with hurt and confusion.

“Ivory, we’ve been friends since childhood,” he said, lowering his voice but maintaining its intensity. “I was just trying to get your attention—”

“And now you have it,” Ivory interjected smoothly, her tone cutting through the air. “Was there something you needed, Alpha? Some official pack business that requires my immediate attention? Because if not, I have patients to monitor and research to document. I’m sure you understand.”

*Are you?* his mental voice whispered through our connection. *Bothered by me trying to talk to her?*

*No,* I replied immediately, my thoughts clear and resolute. *She’s your friend. Of course, you’re concerned.*

Yet, even as I affirmed my understanding, I recognized the game Ivory was playing. She wasn’t merely creating distance from Kael; she was making it impossible for anyone to question or challenge that distance.

What could Kael say now? What could he do? Any effort to maintain their friendship, to bridge the gap she had created, would inevitably be viewed through the lens of his mated status. It could potentially make me appear insecure or him seem inappropriate.

It was a masterful play, truly. Cruel in its effectiveness.

I watched as Ivory accepted the cloth from Eliza, moving on to check another patient, her journal tucked under her arm. Her focus was entirely diverted from Kael, as if he had ceased to exist the moment their conversation ended.

And I observed the pack members around her—the ones who had brought her food, drink, and blankets—subtly closing ranks. Not overtly, not dramatically, but enough to create a barrier between Ivory and Kael.

They were protecting her, I realized. Protecting her from what they perceived as unwanted attention from a mated Alpha.

Never mind that this Alpha was her oldest friend. Never mind that his concern was genuine and rooted in years of shared history. The formal boundaries Ivory had invoked were being enforced by proxy, by pack members who saw her as deserving of protection.