I Left Before He Learned My Worth novel Chapter 97

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

**Chapter 97**

**ARIA**

36

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I nodded, acknowledging his reasoning, even though a lingering sense of unease twisted in my gut. There was something unsettling about how everything had unfolded, a nagging feeling that refused to fade away.

An hour later, the demonstration area was meticulously arranged in the main courtyard of the pack house. A semicircle of tables stood ready, each adorned with a collection of potted containers filled with nothing but plain sand. No soil, no nutrients—just barren sand, the kind that seemed utterly incapable of nurturing any plant life.

The entire pack had gathered, a sea of wolves of all ages pressing against the perimeter, eager for a glimpse of what was about to transpire. The elders occupied the front row, their expressions a mix of skepticism and cautious hope. Even the children were present, cradled in their parents’ arms or perched on shoulders, straining to see over the crowd.

Ivory emerged from the pack house, her leather satchel slung over her shoulder, her face a mask of composure, though I could sense the tension radiating from her. She moved to the center of the demonstration area, carefully placing her supplies on a small table set aside for her use.

Then, with a confident voice, she called out, “Jason, would you assist me, please?”

The request sent a ripple of intrigue through the crowd. Jason stepped forward from his previous position, where Lia had just handed off their child to one of the pack’s caregivers. He moved to stand beside Ivory, his presence clearly infusing her with confidence, as if he were a shield against the scrutiny of the onlookers.

Through our bond, I could feel Kael’s reaction—a subtle spike of something that felt like jealousy or possessiveness, quickly suppressed but undeniably present. He didn’t like seeing Ivory work so closely with Jason; the easy camaraderie between them, the warmth in her voice when she addressed him, gnawed at him.

Yet, Kael maintained a neutral expression, betraying none of the inner turmoil that churned beneath his composed exterior. Only through our bond could I sense the complex emotions roiling within him, a storm hidden behind a calm facade.

“Thank you all for your patience,” Ivory began, her voice ringing clear across the courtyard. “What I’m about to demonstrate is the culmination of months of research focused on accelerated botanical growth. I want to stress that this is still experimental work. The compound you are about to witness has shown promising results in initial testing, but further study is essential before it can be considered ready for widespread application.”

With a flourish, she pulled several small vials from her satchel, each one containing a dark liquid that caught the light with an almost metallic sheen. “This is the growth accelerant. A single drop applied to any plant seed, combined with the treated growing medium, can reduce the growth cycle from weeks or months to mere minutes.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd—disbelief mingled with fascination, a palpable buzz of excitement.

“Jason, please distribute the seed packets,” Ivory instructed, her voice steady.

Jason moved along the row of tables, placing small paper packets beside each container of sand. I could see labels on some of them—carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, beans—but there were others I couldn’t quite decipher from my vantage point.

“We’ll be demonstrating with twenty different crop varieties today,” Ivory continued, her enthusiasm shining through. “This will help illustrate that the compound works across multiple plant types, not just a limited selection.”

Then came lettuce, sprouting from seeds to full heads of crisp green leaves. Next were beans, their vines climbing imaginary supports as they matured at an impossible pace. Peppers, cucumbers, squash, and various herbs followed suit, each demonstration eliciting gasps of wonder from the crowd.

With every display, the amazement grew. By the time Ivory had showcased fifteen different crop types, the audience could hardly contain their excitement. They were openly cheering, pointing, and animatedly discussing the implications with their neighbors, the atmosphere electric with possibility.

“For the final demonstrations,” Ivory announced, “I want to show something slightly different. Jason, please bring the fruit seeds.”

Jason produced another set of packets, these labeled with fruits I recognized—strawberries, grapes, apples, melons, oranges. The crowd leaned in even closer, their interest piqued; fruits were notoriously difficult to cultivate, often requiring years before trees or vines could yield viable harvests.

Ivory worked through each one, and the results were no less miraculous than before. Strawberry plants burst forth with ripe red berries. Grape vines sagged under the weight of clusters of luscious purple fruit. Even the tree fruits appeared in miniature form—small but perfectly developed apples and oranges sprouting from compact potted versions of their parent trees.

“Twenty varieties,” Ivory declared triumphantly when she finished. “All grown from seed to harvest—ready in a matter of minutes. All using the same basic compound, adjusted slightly for each plant type.”

“Can we taste them?” someone called from the crowd, a note of eagerness in their voice. “Are they actually edible?”

Ivory hesitated for just a moment, weighing the excitement of the crowd against the risks involved, then nodded decisively. “That was my next demonstration. Jason, please help distribute samples.”

The cooking setup had been prepared in advance—a small fire pit, pots, and basic seasonings. With the crowd watching eagerly, Ivory and Jason began preparing the freshly harvested produce, the tantalizing aromas wafting through the air, hinting at the deliciousness to come.