I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 94

**Chapter 94**

**ARIA**

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“We will,” Kael assured me with a firm conviction in his voice. “I promise you, I’ll make it happen. Regardless of everything else that’s going on, we must prioritize our bond. If we don’t, we risk losing ourselves in the chaos of constant crises, and we’ll never truly create what we’re meant to build together.”

After that, we set off to gather herbs, working side by side under the softening light of the afternoon sun. The task was simple yet rewarding, as we identified and collected the plants that would replenish our dwindling healing supplies. I was taken aback by Kael’s extensive knowledge—he could name nearly every plant we stumbled upon, effortlessly recalling their medicinal properties and the best techniques for harvesting them.

“Ivory taught me,” he shared, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his voice when I commented on his expertise. “During those years I was cursed, she would talk to me about her work. She’d explain her research, share her discoveries. I think it helped her process everything, having someone to bounce her ideas off of. And for me, it was a distraction from the curse that loomed over my life.”

I nodded in understanding, letting his words sink in. It made perfect sense. Ivory had shared her knowledge with Kael during those dark times, and it was only natural that they had developed a bond that was both intellectual and emotional amidst their struggles.

As we made our way back to the pack house, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. My dress was crumpled and stained with grass, my hair a wild tangle despite my attempts to smooth it down, and the marks Kael had left on my neck and collarbone were glaringly obvious.

I should have felt a rush of embarrassment, a twinge of anxiety about what others would think when they saw their Luna returning in such a state after spending hours alone with the Alpha.

But instead, I felt something entirely different… I felt claimed. I felt wanted. I felt as though I truly belonged to someone, as if I mattered to someone beyond mere political convenience.

The moment we stepped into the pack house, the reactions of the pack members were immediate and varied. Some glanced at us, then quickly averted their eyes, clearly trying to grant us some semblance of privacy. Others, mostly the younger wolves, exchanged smirks and nudged each other knowingly. A few of the older members even offered genuine smiles, as if seeing their Alpha and Luna so openly intimate brought them comfort rather than scandal.

“They know,” I whispered to Kael, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

“Of course they know,” he replied, his tone completely nonchalant. “They can probably smell it too—we reek of each other.” He shot me a teasing glance, a playful smile dancing on his lips. “Does that bother you?”

I took a moment to ponder his question, allowing myself to reflect honestly. “No,” I finally admitted, surprising myself with the realization. “It doesn’t bother me at all. I thought it would, but… I don’t mind them knowing.”

“Ivory,” Kael responded, and through our bond, I sensed a slight hesitation in him, a hint of uncertainty about how to interact with someone who was treating him like a stranger. “How are the patients today?”

“Recovering well,” Ivory replied, already moving past us with an air of disinterest. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to attend to.”

And just like that, she was gone, continuing down the corridor without a backward glance, as if we had never existed at all.

The interaction—or lack thereof—left me feeling strangely hollow. I had braced myself for hostility, prepared for sharp comments or cold glares, or at the very least, barely concealed resentment. Instead, I was met with nothing. Complete and utter indifference, as if Ivory truly didn’t care about what Kael and I shared.

Perhaps she didn’t. Perhaps, stripped of her memories of loving him, devoid of the weight of their shared history, she genuinely was as unbothered as she appeared. Maybe I had been worrying about competing with someone who wasn’t even in the race anymore.

Or maybe she was simply exceptionally skilled at concealing her emotions.

Through our bond, I could feel Kael’s complex response to the encounter. There was relief that no confrontation had erupted, mingled with a sense of hurt at Ivory’s continued indifference. Confusion coursed through him as he grappled with how to navigate this new dynamic. And underneath it all, there was a thread of something deeper—a sense of loss, mourning a friendship that had seemingly ceased to exist even before her memories were taken from her.