Chapter 44 The Colin That's All Mine

Claire's POV

The following day, I went to Rock Pack with my coworker Anne.

Rock Pack is really an odd name. On our way there, I remarked to Anne that a normal town wouldn't be named Rock Pack.

Unlike New Jersey, Rock Pack was surrounded by mountains and forests. I had assumed this town would be quite outdated and even wondered why my company sent me here.

But as we drove into the town, my expectations were upended. The place was bustling, with towering buildings that a small town wouldn't normally have, and it even boasted its own airport.

Once in town, I called Colin to check in.

"Colin, I've arrived," I said with a laugh, taking in my surroundings.

Anne and I were walking on the busy central business street of Rock Pack, surrounded by skyscrapers. Anne was eagerly snapping photos all around.

Colin asked, "Is someone with you?"

"Yeah, Anne's here with me," I replied softly. "She's playful and didn't want to return to the hotel, insisting that we explore a bit."

"Hmm, be careful, both of you. It's an unfamiliar place; don't get separated."

"I know!" I responded quickly. "There are so many fun places in Rock Pack, I can hardly believe this is just a small town."

Colin chuckled, "I'll send you a few addresses later, you and your colleague can enjoy exploring after work."

I was stunned, and after a moment of silence, I asked, "Colin, have you been to Rock Pack before?"

Colin's POV

When I was sixteen, I had already defeated the strongest werewolf in The Rock Pack, becoming the much-anticipated heir of The Rock Pack clan and opening market trade between werewolves and humans.

If it weren't for the scheme that led to the airplane crash, I would've been in control of The Rock Pack by now.

I never imagined my wife Claire would be the first human to come to The Rock Pack for business negotiations.

I was worried that she might encounter lone wolves, or even worse, given her sweetness, and she was unaware of it.

Blake gave me a look and gestured toward something not far away.

Through the car window, I saw Claire standing, transfixed in the middle of the street amidst the bustling crowd, with the landmark building of Rock Pack behind her—the Morris family's corporate headquarters.

Holding the phone to my ear, I let out a soft breath and chuckled quietly, "I've had a fight in Rock pack before, so I've spent some time there."
I paused for a moment, then quickly changed the subject.

Blake had been watching me closely the entire time, his gaze complex and filled with confusion.

It wasn't until I hung up and saw Claire and her colleagues walk away that Blake asked in a low voice, “Alpha Colin, the places you mentioned to Miss Watson just now, should we clear them out in advance?”

"No need; the more people, the merrier. Let Claire enjoy herself." The spots I recommended to Claire are some of The Rock pack's most beautiful attractions.

"Send more people to guard her in the next few days. Make sure they stay hidden; we don't want her to notice them."

"Understood."

"And..." His eyes narrowed slightly, "Unless I step in, don't let anyone from the Morris family get close to her!"

...

The Morris family estate is located in the forest south of Rock pack.

The entire estate is built along the mountain, majestic and sumptuously luxurious, resembling an independent kingdom.

I walked slowly down the stairs; the living room, previously buzzing with activity, was now silent as a tomb.

"Alpha Colin, we've been looking forward to your return."

I scanned the sycophantic faces with indifferent eyes, nodded in acknowledgment, and without a word, had them dismissed.

Since returning to Rock pack these past two days, visitors have been coming and going endlessly.

After the plane crash, rumors spread that I had burned to ashes, leading to continuous turmoil in Rock pack. Everyone coveted the Alpha position.

Now that I had miraculously survived and returned, both people from within the Morris family and other tribes wanted to see for themselves what was really going on.
"Alpha Colin," Blake approached and said softly, "Wesley has sent people over many times."

My hand clenched at his side.

After the news of my survival reached Rock pack, Wesley seemed the most agitated. I heard he even burned incense and prayed to the gods, eager to publicly show how much he loved his nephew.

But the guiltier a man is, the more he tends to play a part for others to see. I knew that Wesley's actions were all for show, just for our grandfather to see.

"Wesley has also organized a welcome-back feast for you, scheduled for tomorrow evening,”

Blake continued with a light chuckle. “There's wild speculation that the Morris family is using this feast to choose a Luna. So, not only will many of the Rock pack's she-wolves be in attendance, but daughters of the Alphas from other tribes will also be coming."

"Hmph, Wesley seems quite invested in my marital affairs," Colin said with a cold laugh. "He's been trying to pick out girlfriends for me since I started college, hasn't he?"

Over the years, Wesley has tried to implant more than a dozen she-wolves in my pack, and each one acted under his orders. Yet, I saw through every one of them and mercilessly drove them out of the Rock pack.

As for tomorrow night's banquet, who knows what drama he plans to stage this time.

"Have Kevin and Dennis returned?" I asked languidly while playing with the potted plants on the windowsill.

"They're both back," Blake confirmed with a nod. "They will also attend the dinner tomorrow night."

"Hmm. Tell them to be careful, especially Kevin. Make sure he doesn't drink too much and start talking nonsense."

After giving my instructions, I went upstairs.

Suddenly, the stairs seemed endlessly long, as if I could never reach the top.

Returning to my room, feeling somewhat exhausted, I threw myself on the bed, resting one hand across my forehead, and started to miss that tiny rented apartment in New Jersey.

There was the fragrance of flowers on the balcony there, too, from the purple irises I had planted with my own hands. Claire used to enjoy sitting out there in a little chair, soaking up the sun. The sunlight would shine on her face, making her smile sparkle like a crystal.

I stood up and went into the walk-in closet, drawing out a belt and running it through my hands for a long time.

This belt was a gift from Claire.

At that time, she only had three thousand dollars left on her bank card. Yet, when I said I liked it, she transferred the money without hesitation and even comforted me by saying, "A wife should buy her husband a belt as it symbolizes tying him down securely! If we're going to buy one, it should be good quality, sturdy and durable, so I can tie you down for a lifetime!"

I couldn’t help but want to laugh. I took a deep breath, quickly changed into the T-shirt and jeans I'd worn from New Jersey, and finally felt like I looked normal again in the mirror.

This is who Colin is.

Colin, who belongs only to Claire.