Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 67: A Wolf and A Little Pumpkin

As a father, Derek had always wanted to keep his daughter locked away at home forever, driving off any male werewolf who dared to lay a hand on her.

Ever since Charlotte was little, he had warned her that all men were bastards and that she should stay far away from them.

Back then, his sweet little girl would always nod and smile, telling him she wanted to stay with her father forever.

But unfortunately, time had other plans.

She grew up into a fine young lady, and one day, a stray wolf came along and stole his little pumpkin away, hiding her from the world, keeping her from him, and worst of all, making her lie and say that she didn’t want to see her father anymore.

His world had shattered that day.

And when he found out that the damn stray wolf hadn’t just taken his little pumpkin away, but had broken her, crushed her, over and over again, a fury filled his heart.

Derek wanted to tear that bastard apart with his own hands.

No, that would be too easy.

He wanted to drag him to a stake, set him on fire, and watch as he screamed for mercy he didn’t deserve.

Once again, he wanted to lock his little pumpkin away, keep her safe in the garden he built just for her, where no harm could reach her, where no man could take her away again.

But then, another stray wolf appeared. But this one was different, the wolf was larger, stronger, and carrying a basket overflowing with gold.

Unlike the last wolf, he didn’t try to snatch his little pumpkin away. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Instead, the wolf simply sat beside her, shielding his little pumpkin from the harsh rain and cold, biting anyone who dared to harm her.

Unlike the last one, this wolf didn’t try to lock her away or keep her from her family. He didn’t force her to do anything or carve wounds on her delicate skin.

This wolf decided to protect his little pumpkin.

He didn’t demand her love, nor did he try to hurt her.

It was odd.

Because no matter how tame wolves seemed, they always had the potential to bite.

However, this wolf ... he placed a muzzle over his own mouth, ensuring that he would never have the chance to sink his teeth into her, not even by accident.

"Dad, what about this wine? Is this one older than me?" Charlotte asked, lifting a bottle of wine whose label was almost completely faded. "Is it even still drinkable?"

"Sweetheart, whether we can drink it or not isn’t the point," Damon said, taking the bottle from her before she could accidentally knock it over. "Wine collectors keep these for display, not for drinking."

Charlotte wrinkled her nose. "So, they just spend a fortune on fancy bottles only to let them sit on a shelf?" She huffed. "That sounds like a total waste."

"You don’t use all of your bags either, yet you still keep buying new ones for your collection," Damon pointed out.

She pouted. "That’s different!"

Derek leaned against the shelf, watching their conversation in silence. The way they bickered so naturally, it was almost as if they had been together for years.

His little pumpkin seemed happy with that big wolf. She didn’t show even the slightest hint of fear toward him, despite their significant difference in size.

At that moment, Derek finally realized that his little pumpkin was being protected by the right wolf. And because of that, he had to start believing in this big wolf.

Derek cleared his throat, trying to draw their attention. "Since you two are so interested in my collection, let me give you a proper introduction."

Charlotte rolled her eyes playfully. "Here we go."

Damon, on the other hand, seemed genuinely intrigued. "I’d love to hear about it," he said.

Derek nodded in approval. "See? Finally, someone appreciates fine things!"

Charlotte let out a small sigh, unable to understand why men loved discussing things that weren’t visually appealing. Sure, the wines were expensive, but what else was so exciting about them?

But when she saw her father’s face light up as Damon showed interest, she couldn’t help but feel happy for him. At least now, he had someone to listen to his endless ramblings about his wine collection—or his dusty vintage cars sitting in the garage.

Derek gestured around the wine room. "Every bottle here has its own history," he explained. "Some were gifts from dear friends, others I acquired at exclusive auctions. And this one..." He carefully picked up an aged bottle from the top shelf, running a thumb over its nearly faded label. "This is a bottle I got the same year I married my Hattie."

Charlotte blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, wow... so that means this wine is—"

"Older than you? Yes, it is," Derek said with a fond smile, as if reminiscing about his wedding day.

Damon chuckled. "I guess that means we definitely shouldn’t open that one."

"Correct." Derek carefully placed the bottle back before walking over to another shelf. "But I do have a few bottles that you can take home with you, Charlotte."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

Derek nodded, pulling out a couple of carefully selected bottles. "These are meant to be enjoyed, not just collected. You can drink them at home, but remember, not all at once."

"Of course not, Dad." Charlotte laughed as she took the bottles, holding them close.

She spent her time in Derek’s wine room until the sun was nearly setting. Even though she was happy to spend time in her childhood home, she also wanted to explore Velmoria and relive old memories.

Unfortunately, Hattie and Derek couldn’t join her because they had work.

"That’s okay, Mom, Dad." Charlotte smiled, trying to reassure her parents. "We can still spend more time together tomorrow. Besides, Damon will be with me while I explore Velmoria, so I won’t be alone."

"Okay, but call us immediately if anything happens," Derek said, handing Damon his car key. "Here. Make sure both my car and my daughter return safely."

"Please don’t worry, Mr. Dawson." Damon took the key with a smile. "I won’t let a scratch appear on your car... or your daughter."

Hattie sighed, though there was a small smile on her lips. "Alright, go and have fun. But don’t stay out too late, Charlotte."

"I won’t, Mom." Charlotte grinned, taking Damon’s hand and pulling him toward the door. She whispered, "They act like I’m still a high schooler or something."

Damon smiled, leaning in slightly as they stepped outside. "Well, to be fair, you did just spend an hour pouting over wine."

Charlotte shot him a glare. "Excuse me for not finding dusty old bottles fascinating."

Damon chuckled as he opened the car door for her. "Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll make sure today is nothing but fun."

As he slid into the driver’s seat, Charlotte glanced out the window, looking at the familiar streets of Velmoria. It had been years since she walked these roads, yet everything still felt like home.

The buildings, the scent of fresh bread wafting from a nearby bakery, everything felt so comforting, pulling her back to the days she had spent in this city.

"Do you have anywhere you’d like to visit?" Damon asked after they had been driving aimlessly around town for nearly half an hour.

Charlotte thought for a moment before saying, "How about the night market? I used to go there every week with my friends. I don’t really have the appetite to try everything there, but ... you should."

More than anything, she just wanted to relive the atmosphere.

"Alright, let’s go, then."

When they arrived at the night market, Charlotte couldn’t stop looking around in awe. Everything was just as she remembered, though there were some changes. The lights were brighter, more vibrant, and there were even more food stalls than before.

She adjusted her hat slightly to get a clearer view, but she didn’t dare take it off completely. The last thing she wanted was to draw too much attention.

Damon was in the same situation. After making an appearance during her press conference and fighting the big wolf on the road, his face had become just as recognizable.

Because of that, both of them had to wear hats and masks to cover their faces.

"You know ... sometimes, the paparazzi still manage to spot us, even when we try to hide," Damon said.

Charlotte smiled slightly. "Everyone seems to be cheering for us. Maybe ... they wouldn’t mind if we had a secret relationship."

Damon chuckled, slipping his hand into his pocket as they walked side by side through the night market. "A secret relationship, huh? That sounds exciting."

Charlotte nudged him playfully. "I mean, we’re already sneaking around in disguises. I feel like we’re spies or something."

Damon smiled playfully. "If we’re spies, then what’s our mission?"

Charlotte pretended to think. "Hmm ... how about find the best street food in Velmoria."