ANNA’S POV
I shifted nervously in the taxi as it pulled to a gentle stop in front of a small, cozy-looking building.
A diner?
I frowned, double-checking the address Damien had texted me. It matched. I pushed a few bills into the driver’s hand and stepped out, smoothing my skirt and trying to plaster my usual professional smile onto my face.
But the second I pushed the door open and walked inside, my smile froze.
There, sitting alone in a booth by the window, was Damien. No client. No laptop open. No paperwork spread out.
Just him, ridiculously handsome even in a simple white shirt and jeans, staring at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Confused, I approached cautiously.
"Where's the client?" I asked, glancing around like they might jump out from behind a potted plant.
Damien chuckled lowly and stood up, meeting me halfway. His hand brushed lightly against my arm as he leaned in and murmured, "There’s no client, Anna. This isn’t a work meeting."
My heart thudded loudly in my chest. "Then… what is this?"
He smiled, so tenderly I thought I might melt right there. "Our first official date."
Blood rushed to my face so fast that I was sure I turned crimson. I blinked up at him, utterly speechless for a moment.
My brain scrambled to process his words, but all I could focus on was the way he was looking at me, like I was the only person in the world.
"Come on," he said, laughing softly at my stunned expression. He guided me gently by the hand toward the booth, pulling out the seat for me like a perfect gentleman. "Sit, please."
Still in a daze, I sat down, and he slid into the booth across from me.
"Damien," I managed after clearing my throat, "you can't just spring things like this on me."
"I like seeing you blush," he said simply, resting his chin on his palm and just... watching me. Like I was something precious.
I couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t stop the butterflies from somersaulting in my stomach.
There had been sneaky kisses in the office, hidden hugs in shadowy hallways, fleeting touches that left my skin burning for more.
But this? This felt different. More deliberate. More real.
He handed me a menu, and I tried to focus on it, I really did, but his gaze was too intense. Every time I glanced up, he was still staring at me, and each time, my heart did a little somersault.
"Stop looking at me like that," I whispered, hiding behind the menu.
"Like what?" he asked, amused.
"Like... like you're trying to memorize every freckle on my face," I muttered.
He chuckled. "Maybe I am."
We ordered burgers and milkshakes, ridiculously simple but somehow perfect. And all through the meal, Damien treated me like I was royalty.
He cut my burger for me, handed me extra napkins, made sure my milkshake glass was never empty. Every little thing he did made my heart ache with sweetness.
But I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I was in love with Damien, my Alpha boss, my protector, my undoing.
"Damien," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.
"Anna," he whispered back, his hand reaching out to cover mine on the table. His thumb brushed gentle circles over my knuckles.
I drew a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I have questions," I said. "So many questions."
He smiled warmly. "Ask me anything."
I fiddled with the edge of my napkin. "What's a Luna? What does that mean... for me?"
Damien’s eyes softened even further, if that were possible. "A Luna," he began patiently, "is the heart of the pack. The Alpha leads, but the Luna nurtures, supports, and sometimes leads in her own way. She is the Queen to the Alpha’s King."
"So... like a Queen in the human world?" I asked, trying to wrap my mind around it.
"Exactly," he said. "Except even more important."
I swallowed hard. "And the difference between a Luna and a... mate?"
He smiled, squeezing my hand. "A mate is the other half of your soul. Your destined partner. But not every mate becomes a Luna. Some Alphas choose someone else to be their Luna for political reasons."
"But... I'm both?" I said, barely above a whisper.
"You are both," Damien said firmly. "You are my mate, Anna. And you will be my Luna."
The way he said it, with such certainty, such devotion, made tears prick at my eyes. I blinked them away quickly, embarrassed.
Damien reached across and gently wiped a stray tear from my cheek. His fingers lingered on my skin, tracing the curve of my jaw, the line of my lips.
I stiffened slightly, feeling the air change around us. The diner, the clatter of dishes, the hum of conversation, it all faded into a distant buzz.
There was only Damien and the electric, magnetic pull between us.
His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, and I shivered.
"Anna," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "You have no idea what you do to me."
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I could only stare at him, completely, utterly captivated.
He inhaled sharply, sniffing the air like he caught a scent. His eyes darkened, glowing faintly for a second. He glanced around, his jaw tightening.
Damien stood suddenly, his chair scraping back. "We need to leave," he said, reaching for my hand.
"Now?"
He bent down, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. "Right now."
I didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t. Every part of me was screaming for him, aching for him. I let him pull me up, and he immediately wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me tight against his side as we left the diner.
Outside, a sleek black car waited at the curb. Damien opened the door for me and helped me inside, his hand lingering a second longer than necessary on my waist.
The moment he slid in beside me and the door closed, sealing us inside, it was like a dam broke.
He grabbed me, his hands cupping my face, and crashed his mouth against mine.