Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 69: Clarissa – The Attack

Eson praised me, saying I had talent in combat, whether using a spear or fighting barehanded.

Honestly, I was also surprised by the difference between my body before and after awakening.

"The Healer doesn’t only possess healing power. Their body is also strong enough to be on par with a true Alpha. That way, The Healer can assist the Lycan King without becoming a burden," Loodie explained.

Eson was no weak werewolf. The fact that he had survived as a rogue while raising Ella alone proved that. But, combined with my slow-motion vision, it only took one month for me to push Eson into a corner.

Since my awakening, I had also learned to control my eye power. Loodie said my eyes held even greater potential.

But he also said that throughout history, The Healers always possessed abilities beyond healing. Even without the title, they were special beings.

That made me think of Luna Eileen, the one who passed these purple eyes down to me. She could have been far greater than my grandmother if she hadn’t been born an omega.

For the past few days, Eson had been the one hunting for food. I wanted to help by setting traps, but he worried they would leave traces and expose our location to hostile rogues.

In the end, I spent my days training and playing with Ella.

"Rissa, your hand is very pretty." Ella touched my left hand, which had regrown just a few days ago. It was smooth and unscarred, unlike my right hand.

"Yours is pretty too," I replied, gently holding her hand.

Near the river, there were flowers that could be used as nail tint. We crushed them together, and I carefully painted Ella’s nails.

"Don’t touch anything and don’t let them get wet, okay?" I said after finishing all ten fingers.

She nodded obediently. "Okay, Rissa."

Hearing the name Rissa made me remember my real name. Clarissa.

I decided to abandon it. That name carried a terrible reputation.

I didn’t want to bear sins I never committed.

After our nails dried, I took Ella to wash her hands. The dried flower paste washed away, leaving behind a deep red color.

"So pretty!" Ella cheered, turning her hands back and forth in admiration.

I smiled faintly and invited her to take a nap while we waited for Eson to return.

...

"Wake up! Wake up!"

I opened my eyes, half conscious, as Loodie’s panicked voice echoed in my head.

"There are five strong werewolves coming this way," it said, instantly making my heart race.

"How do they know this place?" I stood up.

"Rudy led them here," Loodie answered.

My expression darkened.

I was about to pick Ella up and flee when Loodie warned me they had already arrived.

Left with no choice, I decided to face them before they noticed Ella.

Unfortunately, we weren’t sleeping inside the cave. We were resting under a cliff overhang, wide and easy to spot.

"Oh, Ella’s here too," Rudy said playfully, though his intent was unclear.

I stared at the middle-aged man. He still looked kind on the outside, but the sinister smile on his face told me this wasn’t the Rudy I knew.

Behind him, five large wolves stared at me and Ella like starving beasts.

"Rudy, who are they?" I asked, trying to buy time until Eson returned.

"They’re my friends," he replied casually. "Come with me so I can introduce you."

The five werewolves laughed mockingly.

I dropped the act and asked the real question. "They’re the rogues who attacked our group, right? Why are you with them?"

"Our group?" He smiled. "From the beginning, my group has always been them."

I realized then that Rudy had been lying from the start. But I still needed answers.

"Your group? You brought them to attack us? What about Maria? She wasn’t your mother?"

He burst out laughing. "No. Maria isn’t my mother. She was just an old woman I kidnapped to play my role. If a healthy adult male joined a group alone, they would be suspicious. I needed her as an excuse."

I forced myself not to feel disappointed. Even the Greens, with their perfect reputation, were wolves in sheep’s clothing, let alone Rogues.

My fists clenched. "So you targeted our group from the beginning? Damn you! Then why didn’t you kill me right away? Why bring me there?"

He sneered. "To make them trust me more. Besides, sooner or later, I planned to kill you as well."

His gaze shifted to Ella. "Good thing you brought Ella and Eson here. I don’t need to look for them anymore."

Rage surged through me. I would never let them hurt Ella.

Seeing my guarded stance, they stopped wasting time.

"Take them both down first," Rudy ordered. "If Eson shows up, it’ll be easier to handle him together."

One of the werewolves lunged at me. I immediately activated my slow vision.

"Eson is close," Loodie said, making me secretly relieved. At least I wouldn’t have to fight all six alone.

The werewolf leapt forward with his jaws wide open, sharp fangs gleaming.

He was fast, but to me, his movements looked pretty slow.

I clenched my fist.

When his head came within reach, I threw a powerful punch from the side.

BAM!

His body slammed into the cliff wall with a thunderous sound.

I froze for a split second, shocked by my own speed and strength.

Rudy and the remaining rogues were stunned as well. The werewolf I hit collapsed, unconscious.

Ella woke up from the noise. I told her to stay where she was. She nodded calmly.

This clearly wasn’t the first time she had seen something like this. The thought made my chest ache.

"You were hiding your strength all this time?!" Rudy shouted, snapping me back to reality.

I didn’t answer. I stayed alert.

I could no longer rely on surprise attacks. They knew now.

"We attack together," one of the rogues said.

I gritted my teeth, preparing for whatever came next.

But before they moved, Eson’s voice rang out from behind them. "How dare you!"

They turned reflexively toward him.

I seized the opening and attacked.

Now that I had power, I would never let anyone hurt me again.

...