Chapter 7
622words
During that time, Eric became a total wreck.
He stopped handling Pack affairs and stopped patrolling the territory.
He sealed himself inside the master bedroom, refusing to leave.
His days consisted of only two things: getting drunk and losing his mind.
He always clutched that withered stalk of Moonlight Herb in his hand.
To Eric, it was his lifeline.
He held it while he slept, while he drank, and even when he flew into a rage and beat people.
The Council of Elders grew desperate.
With no heir and an invalid Alpha, neighboring packs began to stir.
Three months ago, the Head Elder tried to force a new she-wolf onto Eric, claiming it was for the "continuation of the species."
The result? Eric snapped four ribs on both the she-wolf and the Elder before throwing them out the front door.
In front of the entire Pack, Eric stomped on the Head Elder's head. With bloodshot eyes, he declared:
"If anyone dares mention the word 'heir' again, I will rip your head off and hang it on the wall."
"My heir is dead. We killed him. You and I, together."
Since that day, no one dared to speak in his presence.
Until this morning.
A guard tremblingly pushed open the bedroom door.
"Get out." Eric didn't even open his eyes.
"Alpha... we... we have news of the Luna." The guard's voice was shaking.
Eric's eyes snapped open. He moved like a blur, rushing the guard and seizing him by the collar.
"What did you say? She's not dead?"
An assistant handed him a tablet displaying a financial news headline from the human world.
The photo was a candid shot from a high-end gala.
The woman in the photo only showed her side profile.
But Eric recognized her instantly.
It was Bella.
She wasn't dead.
Eric's hands trembled, almost dropping the tablet.
"Find her."
He squeezed the word out of his throat before it turned into a roar.
"Activate all our connections in the human world! I don't care how much it costs or who you have to bribe! I want to know where she is! Now! Immediately!"
Ten minutes later, they had a location.
The penthouse of a New York skyscraper, a top-tier private charity auction.
Eric shifted immediately, sprinting toward the human city at maximum speed.
An hour later, he arrived at the venue.
When Eric burst in, he looked completely out of place.
He reeked of alcohol, his eyes were sunken, and his clothes were wrinkled—he looked like a vagrant who had just crawled out of a dumpster.
But his Alpha aura was so overpowering that the security at the door didn't dare stop him.
Then, he saw her.
She was wearing a deep red backless evening gown. Her hair was styled in loose, glamorous waves, and her makeup was exquisite.
She was chatting with a few bankers, exuding confidence and elegance in every gesture.
Eric's eyes instantly turned red.
She was alive.
Thank the Moon Goddess, she was alive.
He wanted to rush over right then, kneel at her feet, hug her legs, and beg for forgiveness. He wanted to beg her to come home.
However, a second later, Eric froze in his tracks.
A tall, handsome man walked up to Bella. It was Alex, Bella's former best friend and a top-tier mercenary in the human world.
Alex wrapped his arm around Bella's waist with a natural, possessive dominance.
Bella leaned into his embrace without hesitation. She turned her head and gave that dangerous man the sweetest smile.
Alex lowered his head and whispered something intimate in her ear, making Bella chuckle and playfully punch him in the chest.
Eric's sanity snapped. Jealousy drove him mad.
