Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 80: Richard – Two Alphas

As far back as I can remember, I had heard Alpha Henry sneer at me more than once, saying that the moment I was born, The Sire awakened from its deep slumber.

Combined with my inability to see in the dark, he deemed me a harbinger of misfortune. The Luna was no different.

They handed me over to the maids and only paid attention to me when it concerned public opinion about the Alpha Black family.

Their attitude made me believe that I truly was cursed. Little by little, I withdrew from everyone around me. Rumors began to spread about how arrogant and troublesome I was.

I didn’t care. I didn’t want to know what people were saying. With each passing year, I was pushed further to the outskirts.

This failed firstborn became a loner. Loved by no one.

Until I met Clarissa.

My heart pounded the moment I saw her, as if an invisible thread was pulling me toward her.

When we met again, I crossed the line almost immediately. I couldn’t resist the sweet scent clinging to her body. Obby urged me to devour her.

That very day, I realized she wasn’t so different from me. She, too, was the subject of gossip from outsiders, even though she was nothing like the rumors painted her to be.

I offered her shelter and convinced myself it was only pity.

But when she healed my eyes, I finally broke free from the shackles that kept whispering that I could never like someone else, that I had no right to.

She was my healer, and I was willing to do anything for her.

...

Standing before me were two middle-aged men, one blond and one with black hair. The other alphas had already been dismissed.

I hadn’t summoned these two for gratitude, despite one being my father and the other an alpha close to him.

Of course not.

I sat on the high chair placed atop the platform. To look at them, I had to lower my gaze slightly.

"It’s been a long time," I said flatly.

Alpha Henry tried to smile, but his lips trembled. It was obvious he was forcing it. He must have already realized that my eyes were healed.

Rather than guilt or fear, what I saw in him was resentment. He didn’t want me healed. He didn’t want me standing where I was now.

What he didn’t know was that my red eyes, different from both his and the Luna’s, hadn’t merely been restored.

They had awakened something else.

I could see through barriers. I knew there were two canary stones in Alpha Henry’s pocket, the ones he always rolled between his fingers to calm himself.

My gaze shifted to Alpha William, who looked far more sincere.

"Congratulations on your success, Commander Black. You truly deserve your current position."

He didn’t flatter me by bringing up my blood ties to the Blacks. He knew perfectly well that I had always been the black sheep in that household.

I ignored his praise. "Do you know why I summoned the two of you separately?"

Neither of them answered. Only Alpha Henry spoke, his voice low, heavy with shame.

Oh? Was he embarrassed to lower himself before the child he had always scorned?

Despite my anger toward that old man, I wouldn’t pursue personal revenge right now.

My focus was Clarissa.

"How is Clarissa, Alpha William?" I asked directly.

Both of them stiffened, as if they had heard a forbidden name. My brows furrowed.

"I already know what you did to Clarissa. The ae-device, the rankings, all those vile accusations—none of them are true. I know the truth. And I believe an alpha should know it too. You simply chose to pretend you didn’t, didn’t you?"

My voice rose at the end.

"She... she..." Alpha William stammered.

I cut him off. "I want you to retract every accusation made against her. As her father, you will clear her name."

Alpha William froze, shock written across his face.

I sneered. "Don’t look so surprised. I’m not finished yet."

"Please state all your demands, Commander. I will carry them out," Alpha William said quickly.

He was truly cunning. He knew exactly when to advance and when to retreat.

"Apologize to Clarissa. Not just you, but everyone in the Alpha household," I ordered. "Record the apology as proof. I will not accept it unless Clarissa herself forgives you."

Alpha William nodded firmly. "I will. I absolutely will, Commander."

Then I turned to Alpha Henry, whose expression was still conflicted.

"Alpha Henry. You will also have Adrian and Shannon apologize to Clarissa."

It was as if he snapped out of a daze. He nodded, though not with the same eagerness as Alpha William.

After that, I dismissed them.

Clarissa, I hope you’re safe in Green Pack. I hope you know that I will always protect you.

...

The night before our departure, Noah, Alpha Blooms, and I held a brief meeting to discuss the route we would take to Frost Pack the next day.

"Is there anything we should be cautious of during the journey?" I asked Alpha Blooms, the alpha of the central pack in this region.

Alpha Blooms was about to shake his head, but he stopped, hesitating before meeting my gaze.

"Speak," I ordered.

"This isn’t related to the vampires," he said slowly, "but over the past week, there have been reports of The Witch appearing around Frost Pack. No incidents so far, but we should be careful to avoid them during our travel."

I frowned. "The Witch? Who are they?"

This time, Noah answered. "The Witch is a criminal organization currently regarded as the most dangerous one in existence."

I had never heard of such a powerful criminal group before. Had they emerged while I was still in training?

Noah confirmed my suspicion. "The Witch was first reported four years ago, when one of its members incapacitated a Grey Pack warrior using a mind shock."

Alpha Blooms nodded grimly. He looked deeply troubled by the damage caused by that organization.

"The problem is," he added, "they only target individuals or groups deemed corrupt. Among ordinary werewolves, they’re far more popular than their supposed protectors—the alphas."

The Witch.

Were they good... or evil?

...