ANNA’S POV
You know that feeling when your chest is so tight it feels like breathing itself is an achievement? That was me the second I slammed the restroom door behind me.
My wrist throbbed where Joseph had grabbed me, and the weight of humiliation pressed down on me until I thought I might collapse under it.
I gripped the sink with both hands, leaning forward, trying to steady my racing heart.
My reflection in the mirror didn’t offer much comfort—flushed cheeks, wild eyes, and lips pressed into a tight line.
"Get it together, Anna," I muttered under my breath, splashing cold water on my face.
The coolness shocked my skin, making me shudder, but it helped a little. I grabbed my handkerchief from my pocket and dabbed at my damp face, willing myself to calm down.
Footsteps clicked against the marble floor, growing louder with every passing second. Instinctively, I darted into one of the stalls and locked the door.
The last thing I needed was anyone seeing me like this—frazzled, humiliated, and barely holding it together.
I sank onto the closed lid of the toilet, elbows resting on my knees, and buried my face into my palms.
My mind replayed the scene like a broken record: Joseph’s iron grip on my wrist, the sting of his fingers digging into my skin, and... Damien's icy stare the moment he walked in.
God. Damien Domingo.
I groaned quietly into my palms.
How could a man have that much effect on someone he barely even looked at? My body had betrayed me completely—fluttering heart, trembling hands, dry mouth. I felt like some lovesick teenager. Pathetic.
"You see Mr. Domingo today?" a high-pitched voice interrupted my spiral.
"Are you kidding?" another woman giggled. "Who could miss him? That man walks into a room and oxygen disappears."
I froze, lifting my head just slightly to listen.
"He's so intense," the first woman whispered. "I heard he’s not even fully... you know, human."
The second woman laughed. "What do you mean?"
"I'm serious! People say he’s an Alpha. Like, a real Alpha."
"An Alpha?" The second woman sounded skeptical but intrigued.
"Yeah. And he’s looking for his mate."
I blinked. Mate?
What kind of soap opera nonsense was that?
Another laugh echoed through the restroom. "Come on, Julia. You read too many romance novels."
"I’m telling you, it’s not just a story," Julia insisted. "My cousin’s boyfriend works security for his other company. He said Domingo’s got people working for him who aren’t... exactly normal."
"Normal how?"
"You know..." Julia lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Shifters."
I stifled a laugh. Okay, that was too much.
The sound of water running and then the click of heels told me the women were leaving. I waited a few extra seconds just to be sure before slowly pushing open the stall door.
The restroom was empty again, the only sound the faint hum of the overhead lights.
I stepped out cautiously, glancing around like some secret agent. No sign of Julia and her giggling friend.
"An Alpha," I said under my breath, chuckling to myself. "Right. And I’m a unicorn."
Still, the idea lingered in my mind longer than I wanted it to. It was stupid. Ridiculous. Obviously, "Alpha" and "mate" were code words—probably for some stupid office gossip about him being a powerful CEO and a notorious playboy.
Nothing to do with actual wolves or whatever nonsense they were peddling.
I adjusted my blazer, squared my shoulders, and forced my feet to move toward the door. I couldn't hide in the bathroom forever.
I pushed the door open and stepped out, and slammed directly into something solid.
"Whoa—"
Strong hands grabbed my arms before I could topple backward.
"Oh—uh—I’m—sorry," I stammered, struggling to step back, but his hands stayed firm on my arms, grounding me.
My breath hitched as I looked up, heart skittering in my chest.
Dark eyes. Sharp jawline. That same electrifying presence that made the air feel heavier, when I realized who it was.
Damien Domingo.