DAMIEN'S POV
Anna walked into my office, her head bowed slightly like a child caught sneaking cookies from the jar.
She clutched a file to her chest, her steps hesitant, her eyes darting everywhere except at me.
She placed the file carefully on my desk, almost as if she thought it would explode, and immediately turned on her heel to leave.
"Anna," I called out before she could touch the door.
She stopped instantly, her shoulders tensing as if she were bracing herself for something.
Slowly, she turned around, her hands fiddling nervously with the hem of her blouse.
"Come here," I said, keeping my voice low and gentle.
For a moment, she hesitated, but then, almost reluctantly, she made her way back toward me.
I pushed my chair back and stood up, closing the distance between us in a few strides. I didn’t want her to feel cornered, so I kept my posture relaxed, my hands casually tucked into my pockets.
"How are you feeling now?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
She glanced up briefly, her eyes meeting mine for a fleeting second before she looked down again. "I'm... better," she said quietly.
Better. It was more than I hoped for. After everything that had happened, after how much fear she must have felt, hearing her say she was better sent a flood of relief through me.
"Good," I said with a small smile. "Can we talk? Please?"
Anna nodded, her brown hair bouncing softly around her face. She pulled out a chair and sat down, still avoiding my gaze but no longer looking like she was ready to bolt.
I leaned against the edge of my desk, folding my arms across my chest. "I want you to know I'm not some monster lurking in the shadows," I began. "I'm normal... just like you. The only thing that sets me apart is that I'm immortal... and, well, I can shift."
She lifted her eyes to mine, and this time, she didn’t look away. There was curiosity there, not fear. A spark of understanding.
"I’ve been doing some research," she said, her voice steadier now. "About... werewolves."
I chuckled softly. "Yeah? And what did you find?"
"That you're real," she said, giving a half-smile. "That it’s not all about bloodthirsty monsters under a full moon."
I laughed, genuinely amused. "Definitely not. That’s Hollywood exaggeration. We’re not mindless beasts."
She nodded thoughtfully. "I figured as much. Otherwise, you'd have eaten me by now."
I barked out a laugh, unable to help it. "I assure you, Anna, you're much too precious for that."
Something shifted in her gaze then. Her cheeks colored faintly, and she looked down at her lap, twiddling her fingers.
"I meant it," I said softly, straightening a bit. "You mean something to me, Anna. I don't think you realize just how much."
Anna's lips parted slightly, like she was about to say something, but she hesitated.
I moved closer to her, closing the space between us until I was just inches away. I knelt down so we were eye level.
"The bond between us," I said slowly, carefully, "it’s not just physical. It pulls me to you. Always. Makes me crave your presence like air."
She inhaled sharply, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her brown eyes locked onto mine, wide and filled with emotion.
"Is that... why you were attracted to me the first time you saw me?" she asked, her voice a soft whisper.
I smiled and reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. My fingers lingered on her skin, savoring the spark that raced between us.
"Yeah," I said honestly. "From the very first glance. I couldn't stay away."
Her lips curved into a small, shy smile. "I felt it too," she admitted. "I thought I was crazy... but I felt it the moment our eyes met."
The confession hit me like a freight train. She had felt it too. I wasn’t alone in this madness.
"I have a lot of questions," she said, her eyes earnest now, searching mine.
"Ask me anything," I said immediately. "I'll tell you everything."
She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Who are you, really?"
I sat back slightly, giving her space to breathe. "I'm Damien Domingo. Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, as well as the CEO of this company and the one in LA,” I paused, letting it sink in.
Anna nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"And me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Who... who am I going to be?"
The words hung between us, thick and heavy with meaning.
I opened my mouth to answer, to tell her she was meant to be my mate, my other half, my Luna, the queen to my kingdom, but the words never came out.
Instead, my body moved on instinct.
I leaned in, capturing her lips with mine.
The moment our lips touched, it was like a dam broke inside me. The bond, the connection, the pull, it all snapped into place with blinding clarity.
Anna gasped softly against my mouth, her hands gripping my shirt as if to anchor herself.
I deepened the kiss, savoring the way she melted against me, how her heart raced in sync with mine.
I pulled her closer, lifting her into my lap without breaking the kiss. She straddled me, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer still.
"Damien," she whispered against my lips, her voice trembling.
"Tell me to stop," I murmured, my forehead resting against hers. "And I will. Just say it."
But she didn't.
Instead, she kissed me again, with a hunger that matched my own. A soft, desperate sound escaped her throat as I trailed kisses down her neck, savoring the sweet scent of her skin.
My hands roamed her body, memorizing every curve, every trembling breath. She clung to me like I was her lifeline, and maybe, in a way, I was.
I wanted her. Needed her.
But more than that, I loved her.
"Anna," I groaned, pulling back just enough to see her flushed, beautiful face. "I love you.”