Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 77: Richard – The Moonlight Selection

Larry standing in front of me looked like a completely different person. He cursed me relentlessly, using every insult he’d ever learned.

He only stopped when Noah noticed we weren’t following him anymore.

"Do you want your punishment increased?"

We resumed walking, trailing behind Noah and Oliver, who had returned to complaining into the proctor’s ears.

Beside me, Larry let out a harsh breath. "Adrian deceived you."

"How?" I demanded. "So he and Clarissa had no relationship at all?"

Larry nodded.

Anger bloomed inside me. More than that, a forbidden flicker of happiness surfaced at the thought that Clarissa had never loved another man.

That feeling shattered the moment Larry continued.

"You have no idea how desperately Clarissa searched for you. But the worst damage you caused wasn’t that." His voice dropped. "It was the shifter’s aide. That ae-device was produced under Shannon’s name after Adrian handed all the documents over to Darren."

I stopped walking.

The anger that had been simmering exploded completely. My ears rang.

BAM!

The tree beside me took the blow. A clear imprint of my fist remained on its massive trunk.

I wasn’t just furious at Adrian. I was furious at myself for believing him so easily.

I could have waited until I met Clarissa. I could have asked Shannon or Larry whether Adrian’s engagement would be canceled.

Instead, I ran.

I hadn’t even known that the shifter’s aide people whispered about, the one selling like wildfire, wasn’t registered under Clarissa’s name.

Because of my insecurity, I chose to disappear. I chose ignorance over truth.

Noah approached me, his gaze intense, and issued additional punishment.

I didn’t respond. It felt like my soul had left my body.

"Come on," Larry said coldly. "I haven’t even told you everything yet."

He continued walking.

Bracing myself, I followed him and asked what else I didn’t know.

Larry told me everything. How Alpha Will and the entire household had treated Clarissa. The punishments she had endured.

I wanted to run to her immediately. To apologize. To kneel before her.

But I knew it was impossible.

I didn’t even know when this training would end, let alone when I’d be able to meet her.

At least now, I had a purpose.

I would meet Clarissa again. Whether it was after the training ended, after the Lycan King was chosen, or even after The Sire was finally defeated.

I would live.

And I would help her take revenge on those who had hurt her.

...

The orange glow of dusk bathed the participants of the Lycan King Candidate Selection, who stood in neat lines before the sacred altar. Black uniforms turned brown under the light, and exhausted faces glowed faintly as they reflected the dying sun.

Beside me, Oliver fidgeted. "Where’s Sir Noah? My stomach is acting up."

I glanced at him but didn’t reply. He had been perfectly fine just minutes ago. He was simply nervous about the Moonlight Selection.

Every full moon, night training was canceled and replaced with this ritual. The participants would line up before the altar, and after sunset, step forward one by one.

The altar, surrounded by three Alpha Stones, would glow brighter in response to the participant’s alpha power.

Those whose stones glowed the faintest would be eliminated from the candidate list. However, they wouldn’t be expelled from training. They would be reassigned to different teams and continue training to become future Enforcers of the Lycan King.

The sun fully disappeared, replaced by a perfect full moon. The ritual began.

Oliver, having finally spotted Noah, immediately sought permission with his eyes. Noah, accustomed to Oliver’s antics, simply nodded.

Up ahead, several participants had already stepped forward and returned.

The next one was someone familiar.

Larry Green.

All three Alpha Stones glowed brightly. Milton, standing beside the altar, checked a box on his clipboard.

The participant after Larry wasn’t as fortunate. Only two Alpha Stones lit up. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Milton marked a cross.

"You will be transferred to another team," he said. Then he turned to the remaining participants, his voice firm but encouraging.

"Remember this. Even if you’re removed from the candidate list, do not slack off in training. If you place in the top ten of the overall assessment, you’ll be allowed to choose your own legion."

His words ignited something in me.

I didn’t care whether I remained a candidate or not. That was beyond my control. It depended on the Moon Goddess and the fate each werewolf carried.

What I could control was entering the top ten.

That way, I could choose a legion assigned near the west region.

Near Clarissa.

Not long after, Oliver stepped forward. The chronic complainer still managed to make all three Alpha Stones shine.

Then it was my turn.

Milton watched me closely.

The light flared so brightly it reflected in the eyes of the participants standing far back. Milton nodded in clear satisfaction.

From the beginning, my light had always been excessive. Still, I wasn’t arrogant.

Because there were those whose light burned even brighter.

Like Marvin Dawn, standing behind me.

The moment I returned to my place, no one cared about my glow anymore.

Marvin’s light was blinding, turning him into a figure of pure white radiance.

From participants to Enforcers, everyone was convinced that Marvin would be the next Lycan King.

The silver-haired man was a direct descendant of the former Lycan King. His family currently led the royal house. It made sense.

After more than two hundred participants were assessed, the ritual officially ended. Next month, the number of participants would decrease even further. I noticed many names marked with crosses.

This ritual would continue until The Healer appeared. No one knew when.

"Richard, I feel weak. I think I’m dehydrated," Oliver complained, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Seeing his pale face and sunken eyes, I finally supported him and guided him toward the medical tent.

"Richard, why are you here? Are you hurt?"

A woman in a beige nurse’s uniform stepped out of the tent and stopped in front of us.

I frowned.

Can’t she see that I’m holding someone up?

...