I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

ARIA

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“That’s not what I meant,” Kael said, backtracking. “I just meant that discoveries of this magnitude should go through proper channels. Should be reported to pack leadership before being shared more widely.”

“Based on what grounds?” Ivory challenged. “What pack law requires me to report my research to you? What rule says I have to share my work with the Alpha before anyone else?”

“You used to,” Nina interjected, and I wished she hadn’t because I could already see where this was going. “Before, you always showed Kael everything you were working on. Every new compound, every breakthrough, every experiment. You two would discuss your research together for hours.”

Ivory rolled her eyes-actually rolled them, the gesture so dismissive it made Kael flinch.

“That was before,” she said flatly. “Before a lot of things changed. People have other things in their lives now. Other priorities. Other relationships that apparently take precedence over old friendships and research partnerships. So forgive me for adjusting my behavior accordingly.”

The words landed like stones, each one carrying weight and accusation. She was talking about Kael’s relationship with me. About how his bonding with me had changed everything between them—even if she couldn’t remember the specifics, she clearly understood on some level that something fundamental had shifted.

Through our bond, I felt Kael’s complicated surge of emotions-hurt at her dismissal, frustration at her distance, and underneath it all, jealousy. Actual jealousy at finding her moments away from kissing Jason, at seeing her share her breakthrough with him first, at witnessing the warmth she showed someone else while maintaining cold formality with Kael himself.

But he hid it well. Schooled his expression into something neutral, professional, appropriately Alpha-like.

“Why are you here?” Ivory asked, her tone making it clear she was done with this conversation. “There must be some reason you tracked me down and interrupted a private moment. So what is it?”

Kael and Nina both looked at me. This had been the plan-that I would be the one to tell Ivory about Sera’s letter. That it would be better coming from me, Luna to pack member, rather

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Chapter 86

than from Kael as an Alpha decree.

I took a breath, steeling myself, and pulled Sera’s letter from my pocket.

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“We received intelligence from our scouts who were surveilling Blackwood territory,” I began. “There’s a credible threat against you. Specifically against you, Ivory. Sera and members of her pack are planning retaliation for what they perceive as your interference during the bonding ceremony.”

I watched Ivory’s face as I spoke. Saw the flash of fear quickly hidden behind defiance.

anger

and

“And?” she prompted when I paused.

“And we’re implementing security measures,” Kael said. “Guards assigned to you at all times. Restrictions on your movements outside the pack house. A formal prohibition on leaving Shadowmere territory without explicit Alpha permission and full security escort.”

“You’re putting me under house arrest,” Ivory said flatly.

“We’re keeping you safe,” Kael corrected.

“Same thing,” Ivory shot back. “You’re restricting my freedom, limiting my ability to do my work, turning me into a prisoner in my own pack because someone from another territory made threats. How is that any different from imprisonment?”

“It’s temporary,” Nina tried. “Just until we can resolve the situation with Sera, prove she’s behind the attacks, find a diplomatic solution-”

“Or,” I interrupted, and everyone turned to look at me, “there’s another option. One that Sera suggested in her letter.”

I unfolded the paper, preparing to read it aloud, when Ivory spoke.

“Let me guess,” she said, her voice bitter. “Sera wants me gone. Thinks that if I leave Shadowmere, if I remove myself from the situation entirely, the conflict will disappear. And you’re here to convince me that leaving is the right choice. That I should abandon my home, my pack, my life’s work-all because it’s more convenient for everyone if I just disappear.”

The accuracy of her guess caught me off guard. She’d cut right to the heart of it without even hearing Sera’s actual words.

“It’s not about convenience,” I said, but even I could hear how weak that sounded. “It’s about safety. Yours and the pack’s. If you left-went somewhere Sera couldn’t reach you, somewhere you could start fresh without all this danger-”

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