Page 23

Chapter 22

Doug

I hang up and immediately call Horace.

He answers on the first ring.

“Look, you might not like to sleep anymore, but I sure as fuck do ? —”

“Horace, please, just listen to the man. It’s my sister’s happiness on the line.”

“Carina—”

“I’ll owe you, Big Guy.”

I hear Carina in the background, coaxing her mate, and Horace’s responding growl. And yeah, I appreciate it because she is bartering with her mate on my behalf.

But I’m also trying not to puke. Because those two?

They can’t keep their hands off each other. And I do not need to be a party to that.

Like never, ever.

“Guys? I need a favor.”

Pause.

Growl.

“A huge favor.”

“Doug, I swear to every God there is,” Horace groans, already wary.

“Relax. It’s simple. I need a few volunteers is all. And also? Maybe some help breaking into Pizza Girls before they open Friday.”

Silence. Followed by a rumble.

“Okay. Why Friday?”

“Because that’s when everything will be ready,” I reply, because duh.

“Doug.”

“Horace.”

“Doug.”

“I’m not tagging the walls or stealing mozzarella. Just helping the Fates get me my mate.”

More silence.

Then the Bear sighs heavily.

“Fuck. Fine. You get one big grand gesture, Wolf. Use it wisely.”

“Oh, I will.”

“One sec, Carina wants you.”

“Doug?” Her voice sounds clear over the phone.

“Yeah?”

“You fuck this up and my Bear will make me a nice Wolf rug out of you, you got that?”

“Yes, ma’am. I won’t fuck this up.”

I hang up, grinning despite myself.

Nerves tingling up and down my spine because, as much as I don’t want to fuck this up, I can’t know for sure if Dina will be receptive. I can only hope.

Please, Fates, if you’re listening, I can use a hand. I promise not to mess up this time.

And I mean it.

I fucking mean it.

Because yeah, I know exactly what Dina means to me now.

She’s not temporary.

Not just a girl I fell into bed with.

Not even just my mate because some damn app said so.

She’s everything.

And Friday?

Friday I’m going to knock her socks off.

And maybe her panties, too, if things go my way.

I’m going full on Wolf for this.

No more holding back.

Hunter mode activated.

I’ll get down on my knees in front of the whole damn Pack, my pride, and whoever else wants to witness it, with my heart in my hands and my throat bared if that’s what it takes.

Mine , my Wolf growls deep inside me, practically vibrating with the need to get this done.

But first?

I need to finish some other business.

Specifically, with one very pissed Witch and her cheating husband.

Closure.

No loose ends.

I shower like a man preparing for war —or maybe a mating ceremony.

Same thing, really.

I scrub myself raw, then take extra time getting dressed despite the heat already creeping through the open window.

Clean jeans.

Button-down.

Even comb my damn hair.

Yeah, I’m that guy today.

When I step out into the stairwell that leads to the private entrance, Mrs. Giancarlo is there, fussing with her mail.

She spots me immediately and smiles, eyes crinkling like the sweet old Kitchen Witch that she is.

“Where are you going so handsome today?” she teases, leaning on her cane like she’s about to interrogate me.

“Good morning,” I say, returning her smile as I hold up the thick envelope in my hand.

I pass it to her gently. Like it’s something precious.

Because honestly? It is.

“It’s done,” I tell her softly.

Pride fills me and I’m almost overcome with it. I never imagined I could accomplish anything in my life, but I have a purpose now.

I have goals. And this here, this is step one to achieving those goals.

“Here’s the final agreement, plus the receipt for the wire transfer. My house is yours now, for life, Mrs. G. No one’s kicking you out. Ever.”

Her lips wobble before she beams, eyes glassy with unshed tears.

“Dear boy, you did it.”

“I did,” I agree, warmth swelling in my chest.

“And now you can keep puttering in your garden and yelling at the neighbor kids like always.”

She lets out a watery laugh, pulling me into one of her signature grandmotherly hugs that somehow manages to both soothe and suffocate.

I let her, even though my Wolf whines a little.

He’s single-minded right now.

Dina. Mate. Fix this. Claim.

Still, Mrs. Giancarlo deserves this moment.

“And hey,” I add, pulling back with a grin.

“In honor of this big win, and something even bigger I’ve got planned , I’d love if you’d come to a little get-together this Friday. My treat. I’ll send a car and everything.”

She blinks, clearly touched.

“Oh, Douglas, of course I’ll come! You’re just like a son to me, you know that? I’m so proud of you.”

Yeah, that hits me right in the soft spot.

“Thanks,” I murmur, feeling way more emotional than I planned to before noon.

I clear my throat and point back to the paperwork.

“Make sure you call your lawyer and accountant, though. Everything’s above board. Also, included in there? My plans to build on top of this place. I’ll make it nice, I swear. Won’t interfere with your space.”

Mrs. Giancarlo waves her hand like I’m being ridiculous.

“Nonsense. You don’t need my approval, Doug. You own it now.”

That makes me pause.

You own it now.

The words reverberate through me in a way I didn’t expect.

Because yeah. I do.

For the first time in my life, I have something real.

Something mine.

Not borrowed.

Not temporary.

Mine.

My Wolf preens in my mind, pacing proudly as he surveys the mental territory.

Ours.

Secure.

Permanent.

And all I can think is none of this would have happened without her.

Dina made me want this.

She made me believe I could have something good.

That I could be better.

And now?

There’s just one more thing to fix before I can truly claim what matters most.

Her.

I roll my shoulders, shaking out the nerves, and head out the door, feeling more focused than I have in years.

Because Friday? Just two days from now. I’m laying it all down. For her.

I’m not half-assing anything.

I’m going all in.

Mate.

Forever.

Mine.

And I am going to make sure Dina damn well knows it.

I’ll finally be ready to say exactly what I was too stupid to say before:

You’re my forever, Sunshine. Fated or not, I choose you. Every day. Always.

Because screw fear.

Screw panic.

Screw whatever leftover lone Wolf bullshit I’ve been clinging to.

She’s it.

And I’m done running away from my fate, from what’s meant to be.

This time I’m running towards my future.

This time, I’m fucking flying, and it’s straight to her.