Page 72 of Good Luck Charm for the Wolf

Measured like a man who has walked through every storm already.

“I see,” he says simply. “So. You messed up.”

He lets that hang a beat too long, twisting the blade.

“Tell me about it.”

And I do.

No pride left, I spill my guts to the old Witch.

Every ugly, stupid mistake.

Every fear and flaw.

The way I froze up, held her at bay, and then sabotaged something precious because I couldn’t admit I didn’t want to be a Lone Wolf anymore.

When I finally stop talking, Uzzi goes quiet again.

It feels like judgment day.

Then, finally, he speaks.

“Tell me, Douglas,” he says slowly.

“Do you want sympathy, or solutions? What will it be, Wolf?”

There’s no hesitation in me anymore.

Because I know.

I need her.

More than I need air.

More than I need pride or comfort or my stupid, Wolfish ego.

I need Dina to look at me like she cares again.

Like I matter to her even if it’s only a sliver compared to how much she matters to me.

“Solutions,” I say, my voice breaking a little.

Because sympathy won’t bring her back.

But fighting for her?

Fighting like my life depends on it?

Which let’s be honest, it fucking does.

It’s a no brainer.

I will do anything to get Dina back. Anything.

Uzzi sighs dramatically like this is all so exhausting but also like he’s secretly been waiting for me to grovel since this whole Date to Mate thing began.

“Look, I know I might not count as a real client because I only used Date to Mate to break that Witch’s curse?—”

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