Chapter 92: Richard – Clearing Her Name
Early in the morning, Black Legion had already gathered in front of the main hall. Enforcers, the medical team, and logistics personnel stood in formation. West Region alphas were present, along with several South Region alphas who had come with me.
Walking side by side with Clarissa, I approached the group.
"Is everything ready?" I asked. We would be leaving Frost Pack soon.
They answered enthusiastically. It was obvious they were uncomfortable with Frost Pack’s freezing temperature.
The alphas who recognized Clarissa immediately moved closer to her, including Alpha Henry Black. They acted overly familiar, as if they had forgotten that in the past, they were also among those who had looked at Clarissa with disdain and had so easily believed Alpha William’s lies.
Alpha Henry stood at the very front. His gaze swept over Clarissa from head to toe before he spoke casually,
"Young girl, where have you been all this time, suddenly appearing as The Healer? Did your hands and legs grow back because of your healing ability? Are Healers really that powerful?"
His words were clearly an insult to The Healer.
If they had been close, and if this had been said privately, it might have passed as a joke.
But they were not close, and he said it in front of everyone.
It was obvious what Alpha Henry intended. He wanted to remind everyone that this The Healer had no backing. That she could be trampled on easily.
It seemed I would have to trample his face first before he understood. My inner wolf’s pressure began to leak.
[Stop. I’ll handle this. It’s not your turn.]
The mind-link she sent forced me to restrain myself.
Truthfully, Alpha Henry’s question had also stirred my curiosity. But I didn’t dare ask her directly, hoping she would tell me herself someday.
All I knew was that she came from Grey Pack before heading to the capital city to report herself as The Healer.
I glanced at the gathered alphas again and realized Alpha Grey was not present. Some alphas had other urgent matters and couldn’t make it. They would join later missions.
After all, these alphas were only here to meet me. After one mission, they wouldn’t follow again.
"Why are you silent? If you’re asked, you should answer!"
One alpha suddenly raised his voice.
My aura leaked unconsciously. I immediately suppressed it.
"Don’t be disrespectful to The Healer!"
A sharp rebuke came from another group of alphas. It was Alpha Blooms.
Tension instantly flared between the West Region and South Region alphas.
My gaze shifted to Clarissa as she stepped forward gracefully, standing between them. She turned toward Alpha Black and the West Region alphas.
With a gentle smile, she said,
"Does Alpha Black deserve an answer from me? Do any of you?"
Her words were like raising a war flag.
The South Region alphas chuckled mockingly, while the West Region alphas glared at Clarissa as if they wanted to tear her apart.
Her statement was a clear reminder that their status was far below hers. But that was something they couldn’t accept.
People blinded by arrogance would never accept being challenged by a child they once crippled.
"If The Healer believes that I, Alpha Black, am not worthy," Alpha Henry said arrogantly, chin raised,
"then Black Pack will not host you when you enter the West Region. You can take care of yourself."
Other alphas immediately echoed his words.
Alpha Blooms, furious, cut through their shouting.
"Don’t forget that The Healer is an envoy of the Royal Government from the capital city. Wherever she goes, every pack is obligated to host her."
"Who would host a criminal?!" Alpha Black roared.
"Rissa is Clarissa Green, the adopted daughter of Alpha Green, who was exiled for committing countless crimes. She’s just lucky to have become The Healer!"
He spoke so fluently that he seemed to have forgotten my existence entirely.
I could no longer stay silent.
I released my aura.
Instantly, the West Region alphas lost their breath. One by one, their bodies collapsed to the ground.
"Watch your words!"
The others were shocked by this revelation. Only then did they understand why Alpha Green had never mentioned The Healer, even though she was his daughter. There had been something like this hidden behind it all.
I turned to Clarissa anxiously.
Had I failed to protect her?
Would all those accusations return?
Clarissa looked back at me and smiled. Calm. Unhurt. The same expression she wore when it was just the two of us.
I finally withdrew my aura. The alphas struggled back to their feet, staring at me in terror.
"Alpha Black," Clarissa spoke amid the hostile gazes.
"It seems your position as alpha should be reconsidered. Every accusation made against me by the Green family has already been proven false. My name has been clean for a long time. If the Green family meets me again, they are the ones who must apologize."
I stared at her in shock.
I truly hadn’t known.
The alphas, however, seemed to remember. Several of them lowered their heads instinctively. Alpha Black continued glaring at Clarissa with open hostility.
Clarissa continued coldly,
"As the alpha of a central pack, Alpha Black should know this. Especially when it concerns the reputation of The Healer. Are you prepared to bear the consequences of damaging The Healer’s name?"
Alpha Black remained silent. His fists clenched so tightly that his body trembled with rage. From his eyes, it was clear he wasn’t giving up. If I weren’t here, he might have already attacked Clarissa.
Noah approached me and asked when we would depart.
I looked at Clarissa, asking silently if she was finished.
She looked at me briefly, then turned back to the West Region alphas.
"One more thing," she said.
"When Alpha Green is found, he must be removed from his position and imprisoned. Because of him, The Healer, who should have appeared five years ago, was only able to emerge now."
"Nonsense!" Alpha Black suddenly roared.
He couldn’t accept being cornered by someone he considered a ’little girl’.
"Alpha Green knew nothing! He only presented evidence given to him by outsiders. If anyone deserves punishment, punish those who provided the evidence. Alpha Green had no reason to destroy the life of a child who meant nothing."
As I struggled to restrain my fury at Alpha Henry’s venomous words, Clarissa responded calmly instead.
"He had a reason."
When all eyes turned to her, she said quietly, "I know he had an affair. He wanted to erase me because of it."
...
