Chapter 36

In Chapter 36 of “I Left Before He Learned My Worth,” Aria experiences a sudden and intense pain while ascending the staircase to her quarters. This sharp agony leaves her breathless and confused, prompting her to reach out to Kael through their bond for reassurance. However, she finds the connection muted, indicating that Kael has intentionally distanced himself. This realization fills her with unease, as she contemplates whether to seek him out or respect his need for privacy.

As Aria grapples with her emotions, she observes Kael and Ivory moving together toward the healer’s wing. The sight of their familiarity stings her heart, igniting feelings of jealousy and fear that she may be excluded from important matters within the pack. Despite her instinct to retreat, worry drives her to follow them, leading her to discover that Kael is undergoing a treatment that could potentially break his curse. The tension escalates when she learns that the treatment carries significant risks, and she feels a deep sense of betrayal for not being informed about such a vital aspect of Kael’s life.

Aria watches as Ivory tends to Kael with confidence and familiarity, contrasting sharply with her own feelings of inadequacy and exclusion. Despite her desire to assert her role as Kael’s mate and be involved in his health decisions, she hesitates, feeling that her presence might complicate matters. This internal conflict intensifies her sense of isolation, as she retreats back to her quarters, burdened by the muted bond and her growing anxiety about the upcoming ceremony.

That night, Aria is plagued by restless dreams filled with fears of losing Kael, particularly as she envisions scenarios where he no longer needs her. The uncertainty of the treatment and the possibility of Kael being harmed without her presence haunt her thoughts. As the chapter concludes, she faces an unexpected wave of pain in the early hours of the morning, leaving her unprepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.

**I Left Before He Learned My Worth p>

**Chapter 36 p>

**ARIA p>

I was halfway up the staircase leading to my quarters, fatigue weighing heavily on my limbs, when the pain struck me like a thunderbolt.

It was sharp, sudden—a piercing lance of agony that shot through my chest, forcing a gasp from my lips as I instinctively grasped the banister for support. It felt as if someone had plunged their hand deep into my ribcage, squeezing my heart with cold, iron fingers, twisting and turning until I was left breathless, trapped in a haze of suffering where all I could do was endure.

And then, just like that—nothing.

The pain vanished as swiftly as it had arrived, leaving me breathless on the stairs, my heart racing wildly, confusion swirling in my mind like a storm.

What in the world was that?

I pressed my palm against my chest, searching for any remnant of the pain, any sign of what had just transpired. But there was nothing—only the frantic thumping of my heart and the echo of fear coursing through my veins.

In a moment of instinct, I reached out through the bond to Kael, yearning for some form of reassurance or an explanation for the turmoil that had just unfolded.

But the bond felt… muted. It wasn’t entirely absent, but rather dampened, as if he had drawn an invisible curtain between us. I could still sense his presence somewhere in the pack house, but the usual clarity of our connection was obscured, shrouded in a veil of deliberate distance. A wave of unease washed over me as I realized he had intentionally closed off his side of the bond.

Why would he do that?

I lingered there on the stairs, caught in a moment of indecision. Should I seek him out, or should I respect his evident need for privacy? The future Luna within me urged me to investigate, to ensure that he was alright. But the woman still navigating the complexities of our relationship hesitated, uncertain.

Perhaps he needed space. Maybe something was unfolding that he didn’t want me to worry about just yet. Perhaps—

Just then, I noticed a flicker of movement in the hallway below, instinctively retreating into the shadows. Kael’s imposing figure passed by, heading toward the healer’s wing. Beside him, her hand resting casually on his shoulder, was Ivory.

They moved together with an ease that stung—a familiarity that felt like a dagger to my heart. Ivory spoke in low tones, her voice a soothing murmur that I couldn’t quite catch.

Through the partially muted bond, I sensed Kael’s emotions—hope intertwined with apprehension, determination tinged with fear. Whatever was unfolding, whatever was about to happen, he was clearly anxious about it.

And he hadn’t confided in me.

I watched as they disappeared into the healer’s wing, that uncomfortable twist in my chest returning with a vengeance. I should go to my quarters, I told myself. I should trust that if Kael truly needed me, he would reach out through our bond. I should respect his desire for privacy regarding whatever this was.

But my feet, driven by worry and a deeper, more troubling impulse, carried me down the stairs instead. Was it curiosity? Jealousy? A gnawing fear that I was already being excluded from significant pack matters before I had even officially become Luna?

I moved stealthily through the corridors until I reached the healer’s wing. The door to one of the treatment rooms stood ajar, and I peered inside, careful to remain unnoticed.

Kael lay sprawled on one of the larger examination tables, his wolf form taking up most of the space, powerful and majestic. Eliza was present, along with two other healers I recognized. And there was Ivory, standing at Kael’s head, her hands buried in his thick fur as she spoke in that confident, melodic tone.

“The treatment will be intense,” she was saying, her voice steady. “More painful than anything you’ve experienced so far. But if it works—Kael, if this works, you could shift back. Not just temporarily break through the curse, but actually return to your human form p>

My breath hitched in my throat. A treatment that could potentially break the curse? Why hadn’t Kael mentioned this to me?

“What’s the risk?” Eliza’s voice cut through the air, laced with caution.

“Significant,” Ivory admitted, her expression serious. “The herbs I brought back are powerful, but they’re also volatile. If his body rejects them, the backlash could intensify the curse. It could even be fatal if his system can’t handle it. But based on how well he’s responded to the moonbeam plants, I believe his body is ready. I really think we can do this p>

“And you’re confident about the preparation?” Eliza pressed, her brow furrowed. “One mistake in the mixture p>

“I’ve studied these herbs for three years,” Ivory interjected, her tone resolute. “I know what I’m doing, Eliza. Trust me p>

I watched as Ivory’s hands glided through Kael’s fur with a practiced ease, her touch exuding a familiarity that spoke of countless previous encounters. And Kael—Kael was allowing her to tend to him, lying still under her gentle ministrations, a look of absolute trust in his eyes.

*Why didn’t you tell me?* I thought toward him through the bond, not truly expecting a response considering how muted our connection felt.

Yet, I felt something flicker in return—a hint of guilt, perhaps. Or protectiveness? He was deliberately keeping me in the dark, and that realization stung more than I cared to admit.

I should have made my presence known. I should have stepped inside and demanded to know what was happening, asserting my right as his future mate to be involved in significant decisions regarding his health.

But something held me back. The way Ivory’s hands moved through his fur with such assuredness. The trust reflected in Kael’s eyes as he gazed up at her. The clear competence she displayed while I—I would have merely been in the way, another person to worry about, someone who didn’t understand healing or herbs or any of this.

A non-healer, I thought bitterly, the sting of Ivory’s earlier words about harvesting moonbeam plants properly echoing in my mind.

I retreated before anyone could notice my presence, making my way back to my quarters, the muted bond still thrumming in the background like a dull ache.

When sleep finally claimed me, it was restless and fragmented. I dreamed of Damon challenging Kael at the ceremony, but in my dream, Kael remained in wolf form, and Damon easily overpowered him. I dreamed of Ivory standing at Kael’s side during the bonding, her hands on him while I stood helplessly in the crowd. I dreamed of the bond snapping, pain flooding through me until I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but scream.

I woke several times throughout the night, reaching out for the bond only to find it still deliberately obscured from Kael’s end. Each time, that sense of exclusion deepened, intertwining with my anxiety about tomorrow’s ceremony until I felt as though I was drowning in uncertainty.

What if the treatment went awry? What if Kael was hurt and I wasn’t there because he hadn’t wanted me there? What if Ivory succeeded in breaking his curse, and he realized he no longer needed me—that the only reason he had agreed to this bonding was sheer desperation?

Those thoughts spiraled through the dark hours, rational and irrational fears intertwining until I could no longer discern which was which.

When the pain struck at five in the morning, I was wholly unprepared.

In the quiet aftermath of my restless night, I found myself grappling with the weight of uncertainty that had settled heavily on my chest. The bond between Kael and me, once a source of strength and comfort, now felt like a fragile thread, stretched thin by his deliberate distance. As I lay in bed, the echoes of my dreams haunted me—visions of betrayal and helplessness that left me questioning my place in his life. I had always believed that love meant sharing burdens, yet here I was, standing on the precipice of a significant moment in our lives, feeling more like an outsider than a partner. The fear that Kael might choose to face this trial without me gnawed at my heart, leaving me to wonder if my worth would ever be recognized or if I would always remain in the shadows of his decisions.

Yet, beneath the turmoil, a flicker of resolve began to ignite within me. I realized that I could no longer allow my insecurities to dictate my actions or define my relationship with Kael. I had to confront the pain of exclusion and the fear of inadequacy head-on, for my worth was not contingent upon his acknowledgment; it was inherent in my very being. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but I understood now that true strength lay in my willingness to fight for my place by his side. I would not leave before he learned my worth; instead, I would stand firm, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to carve out my own space in our shared story.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter p>

As the tension mounts, the next chapter promises a deep dive into Aria’s emotional turmoil as she grapples with her feelings of exclusion and uncertainty. The stakes have never been higher, with Kael’s fate hanging in the balance due to the risky treatment that could either break his curse or lead to devastating consequences. Aria’s internal conflict will intensify as she wrestles with her instincts to protect Kael while feeling sidelined by his decisions. Will she confront him about his secrecy, or will her fears push her further into the shadows?

Moreover, the dynamics between Aria, Kael, and Ivory will take center stage, revealing the complexities of trust and loyalty within their triangle. As the ceremony approaches, Aria’s dreams will serve as a haunting reminder of her insecurities, forcing her to confront the possibility of losing Kael not just to the curse, but also to someone who seems to effortlessly fill the role she longs to inhabit. With the bond between them still muted, readers can expect a heart-wrenching exploration of love, doubt, and the desperate quest for belonging. What choices will Aria make when faced with the ultimate test of her strength and resolve? The next chapter will unveil the answers, leaving you breathless and eager for more.

Mark