Chapter 8
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Eric swung his fist viciously at Alex's temple.
"Get your filthy hands off her!"
If this had been the Eric of two years ago, that punch would have crushed a brown bear's skull.
But the current Eric was a wreck, his body eroded by a year of soaking in alcohol.
Alex didn't even let go of Bella.
He merely tilted his head slightly, dodging the wind of Eric's punch.
Then, he executed a side kick.
The kick landed solidly on Eric's abdomen.
Bang!
Eric flew backward and crashed heavily into the champagne tower behind him.
The guests retreated in terror, clearing a space in the center of the room.
Eric struggled to get up.
He wasn't resigned. He refused to believe he couldn't beat a human mercenary. He charged again.
It took thirty seconds.
Eric had a broken nose, two fractured ribs, and his left eye was swollen shut.
Finally, Alex used a shoulder throw to smash this once arrogant Alpha onto the floor covered in glass shards.
Eric lay on the ground, struggling to hook his arm around Alex's leg, trying to drag him down onto the glass.
Just then, Bella's voice rang out. "Enough."
Eric lifted his head with difficulty, looking at her with hope.
He thought she had softened.
He thought she was still the Bella who couldn't bear to see him hurt.
In the past, even a paper cut on his finger would make her tear up while she bandaged him.
However, Bella didn't look at him.
Her gaze went straight past Eric on the ground and landed on Alex.
She took a tissue from her clutch, stood on her tiptoes, and gently wiped a speck of blood from the corner of Alex's mouth.
"Does it hurt?" Her tone was gentle, her eyes full of undisguised heartache.
Alex took her hand and kissed it. "No. I'm just sorry I ruined your party."
This scene broke Eric completely.
Ignoring the glass shards piercing his knees, he stumbled and crawled over.
He reached out a blood-stained hand, trying to grab the hem of Bella's dress.
"Bella... my love..."
His voice trembled, filled with pathetic fawning and incoherence.
"Come home with me. Back to the Pack."
"I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have hung up on you. I shouldn't have believed Victoria's lies."
"I've thought about you every day this year. I locked Victoria in the Silver Prison and tortured her. I avenged you..."
"Please, don't touch him. You are my Luna. You are mine..."
Before his hand could touch the hem of her dress, Bella stepped back as if avoiding something filthy, shaking her hand in disgust.
"Get lost."
"Your Luna?" Bella looked down at him coldly. "Eric, did the alcohol rot your brain?"
"Your Luna died in that explosion at the border long ago. She was killed by you, the moment you hung up the phone."
Eric froze.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, wanting to say it was a misunderstanding.
But Bella gave him no chance.
She turned and took Alex's arm again, her movements intimate and natural.
Alex looked down at Eric on the ground, interlaced his fingers with Bella's, and raised their hands high.
In front of all the guests, he announced loudly:
"Since everyone saw that, I'll save myself the trouble of sending invitations."
"I invite everyone here to join us. On the 15th of next month, Bella and I are getting married."
