John POV:

"Mr. Bowler, that's not a proper manner to ask for a favor. It would be better if you bring some gifts for us. Well, I don't want to talk to you anymore. You have to be careful." I hung up the phone and went straight away.

"Who was calling?" Natalie asked as she came to my side.

"It is just an ill-mannered puppy dialing a wrong number." I gazed at Natalie, who was just as beautiful as I remembered back then. Now she was a beautiful lady with a slim figure and emerald green eyes, her long blonde hair spilling naturally over her shoulders. She tilted her head sideways and looked at me with a puzzled look. Her appearance was really so cute that I began to suspect that the wolves of the Red Moon pack were all blind to find such a beautiful and lovely lady. But frankly speaking, I should feel grateful for their blindness.

Natalie hopped to approach me, lowered her head and rested her forehead against my chest. I could feel my heart beating at least twice as fast as usual.

"Dear John, don't underestimate the power of women. I'm not stupid and I know you've been hiding a lot. I choose to believe in you because I know you will tell me everything at the right time." Natalie said in grumbles.

"Don't worry, our family will be fine, I can protect you all. Trust me."

It was clear to me that she wasn't merely a vase with a distinguished appearance. She is a smart and strong girl who was shouldering the burden of her family. But she was just a young girl in her prime, she had already carried too many burdens, and now it’s my turn to help her with it all. I slowly stretched out my hands and put them around her waist, holding her tightly in my arms. I buried my head in her neck and greedily smelt her scent. I secretly swore that I would protect Natalie till my death.

"I trust you." She buried her head in my chest and replied faintly.

......

"Ron, everything will go according to the original plan, and I want you to hide my identity."

These stupid guys, I smiled cunningly.

I had just called Ron, the werewolf I arranged in City A.

Bowler's intention of finding Natalie was very clear to me, it was for the alliance plan between the Red Moon Pack and the Scarlet Pack. But he wouldn't have imagined that I was the Alpha of the Scarlet Pack, and that alliance plan was arranged by me.

Originally, this plan was introduced as a gift to the Red Moon Pack for welcoming Natalie. But I didn't think that those two stupid wolves actually wanted to use this alliance plan as an approach to drive Natalie's family out of their pack.

Their plan was so stupid that I wanted to laugh at them instead of feeling angry.

I won't let anyone hurt Natalie and they will pay much for this stupid plan.

Natalie pov:

After we enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the evening, my father went back to his room, my mother tidied up in the kitchen, and John and I had a long conversation in the living room. As the conversation went deeper and we shared more with each other about our hobbies and interests, I began to gain a further understanding of John. He told me about his favorite color, green; his favorite sport, basketball; his favorite food, burgers without mushrooms. He didn't like mushrooms because he thought they looked like an old hag in a hat and the appearance is really ugly. His imitation made me laugh. I began to like this funny and congenial man further.

But when I asked about his past about where did he live after leaving A City and why he became a rascal in Brooks and met Bowler. John explained that he wasn't a rascal and only through approaching Bowler in Brooks would he help me. When I ask more about his past experience, he said in an ambiguous manner.

"Bang, bang, bang."

At this moment there was a knock on the door.

"Who is there? The door is not set for knocking." My mother Davis shouted.

Opening the door, she saw Bowler standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to discuss something with Natalie."

Responding shortly, Bowler pushed my mother Davis away and walked straight into the house.

John and I were talking pleasantly in the living room, when I saw Bowler appear in the doorway. Bowler’s arrival ruined my pleasure and I said to him coldly.

"Bowler, what do you want here? We don't welcome you."

"Ha ha ha, don't talk to me like that, my cousin. We are families."

Added with his playful expression, his words inflamed me. I clenched my fists and was ready to punch him away. His words didn’t ever match his deeds. Since my father's accident, he has always been cold-hearted and bore discriminations towards our family. Where there is a chance to mock at our families, there is his figure.

"Go away, we don't want to see you anymore."

"Hh, think twice about it. If I leave, your family would also be kicked out of the tribe." Bowler said threateningly with a sallow face.

I still remember last time he asserted that we would be deported from the Red Moon Pack. Although John said that he had a solution, I didn't want to rely too much on him.

"What do you really want?" I asked coldly to Bowler.

"Things are quite simple. You go with me to the branch of the Scarlet Pack and sign a contract, I will help you plead in front of our grandfather, so that you can stay safe and sound at this home. Just think carefully."

Let me sign the contract? This is definitely not that simple. Uncle Dover is afraid that we will grab the position of Alpha. He has long hated our family and wanted us to leave the pack as early as we can. There must be something wrong about their different attitudes What has happened exactly? Could it be that John did something behind the scenes? I turned my head and looked at John, only to see John's calmness, as if nothing had happened on us.

At that moment my mother came over to me and pulled me aside.

"My daughter, Natalie. Why don't we accept his idea. Otherwise we don’t know what damage he will do to us."

Mother Davis was obviously worried about the fact that we would be expelled from the tribe. I also hesitated, pondering whether to say yes or not and how to solve the problem in front of me. Bowler saw that I was hesitating and immediately showed an arrogant expression, smiling smugly.

"I am warning you. You staying peacefully in your house is due to our great mercy. You’d better listen to what I say, and just follow and do as you are told. Even if I talk to you nicely, you should bear in mind your family position. Borris's glory is a thing of the past, and now he's just a crippled old bastard who can't even walk steadily on the road."

I was very angry at Bowler's insulting words about my father. But my mother, Davis, seemed to be even angrier, and she shouted at Bowler.

"What were you talking about? What did you say to my husband? Dare you insult our families again?"

Although my mother is a bit narrow-minded and coward, her love for our family is also true. She could not bear the insulting words Bowler thrown at her.

"What are your families? Sort of parasites, I guess, and Borris is a crippled old dog. For now Natalie is still useful for us, or I would drive you out of the tribe." Bowler goaded his shoulders, spread his hands and scoffed.

"You ......"

I saw mother Davis raised her hand in anger and was about to slap at Bowler's face. But Bowler caught my mother's hand in the air.

"Old bitch, dare you hit me?"

Bowler raised his hand and was about to give my mother Davis a slap. I rushed to stop him, but it was too late. My mother was so scared that she instinctively closed her eyes.

While Bowler’s hand stopped in the air, clasped tightly by John. He looked at John standing in front of him with an incredulous gaze, I could not believe that John actually helped us once again. This time he protected my mother, Davis.

"What do you want? I'll get your family out of the Red Moon Pack if you stopped me again."

"Oh, really?"

John raised his hand as soon as he finished speaking, and it was very fast.

"Pa!" With a sound, Bowler's face received a slap.

"Bastard, you gutter stinking wolf, how dare you treat me like this."

Bowler's eyes spewed with fire as he raised his fist and punched John squarely to his face. John leaned back, his fist slipped past him. John kicked him in the calf and Bowler lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground. John didn't let him go, a foot heaved on his arm and I heard a crispy 'click'.

"Ah!!!" Bowler let out a miserable scream. His bone must be broken and he looked at John in fear.

John said in tranquil, "Natalie will not agreeyour request."

John did not continue to strike Bowler, but his dark blue eyes stared at Bowler with a condescending posture. Bowler saw John's eyes, feeling more frightened.

"Is this the attitude of begging? Haven’t your father taught you about how to beg? It seems that you are not to beg Natalie to do something, but to make trouble. Please stay away from us." John said calmly, his expression was full of contempt.

"Leave now or I will kick your another paw." John issued a warning in a cruel voice, eyes flashing with a ghostly light. A ferocious aura emitted from his body, and he displayed his wolfishness in front of Bowler. For the first time I saw John act in this way.

"You bastard! This debt, I will definitely find you to pay back. Wait to be expelled from our tribe and wait to die in hunger alone the streets." Bowler was so frightened and panicked that he rushed out the door, holding his injured arm.

"What to do next, John? You're too impulsive." Mother Davis said in a daze, as if she had forgotten that she had participated in the fight. I also looked at John worriedly. This time John broke Bowler's hand and he would be in a big trouble.

"It's okay, Mom, Natalie, don't worry. If he return to our house, I will kick him away anyway. And ......" John said and paused.

"And if the next time he comes back, he'll be the one begging us."

I looked up at John, finding his eyes are still full of toughness and confidence.

This, on one hand, made my feel much lighter and, on the other hand, gave me a sense of doubt about his confidence, just as the doubt that I knew nothing about where he was coming from. 

My intuition told me that he was a man with a secret.