Chapter 7 Chapter 7
ANNA’S POV
I froze the moment he called me love.
I had heard stories about the famous Damon Darkburn. Everyone said he was dangerous—that no one could face him without fear. And yet, he was smiling at me like I was… nothing to be afraid of.
I still couldn’t believe I’d been too drunk to recognize him last night.
“You’re awfully quiet, Anna,” Damon murmured, his voice edged with amusement as he stared at me. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already…”
My heart skipped a beat.
He knew my name.
Damon actually knew my name.
How? How did he know who I was? And why did he sound so calm—so familiar—as if this wasn’t the first time he’d said it?
Behind me, the maids went completely still.
Their mouths hung open—the same ones who had been mocking me a second ago, gossiping about how he would never notice someone like me. Now, he was talking to me, calling me love, and they looked like they’d been caught in a storm.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stand tall even though my knees felt weak. “H-Hello, Your Highness,” I greeted, trying to bow slightly. He was a prince—the elder Darkburn brother, the one everyone feared.
I had to respect him.
He tilted his head, studying me. His eyes were sharp and dark, but there was still a flicker of amusement in them. “Don’t be so stiff. I’m not going to bite… not yet,” he teased softly, moving closer.
My heart hammered. Each step he took made the kitchen feel smaller, like the walls were closing in. I tried to back away, but soon my back pressed against the wall.
“You’re tense,” he noticed, leaning slightly, his eyes locked on mine. “Do you get nervous around gorgeous men often?”
“I… I’m not nervous,” I stammered, though I was shaking inside. “I… I just… respect you.”
“Respect?” he repeated, his lips curving in a teasing smile. “After what we did together last night, I don’t think you could respect me again…”
I swallowed hard.
Was he really talking about the sex we had?
Damn it, the way he said it—so calm, so sure—made my stomach twist. How could he be so good at teasing? How could he be so good at making me nervous, at making my heart race like this?
Slowly, he reached out and lightly placed his hand on my waist. He didn’t move aggressively, but the contact was enough to make my stomach twist and my thoughts scramble.
“You have no idea how attractive you are when you’re nervous,” he said, leaning just a fraction closer. My pulse raced so fast I thought it might burst through my chest.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to focus.
I was fully aware of what we’d done last night. I’d been confident, bold, and extremely reckless. This time, I was sober—and I was trying to be careful. I told myself it couldn’t happen again.
I couldn’t let it happen again.
“What happened last night,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, “it… it can’t happen again.”
His eyes darkened.
“Why? You didn’t like how I was inside you last night? You don’t want another round with me? Don't tell me you didn't have fun last night...”
Oh, I had loved every second of it, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. I’d been drunk and desperate for attention after Elijah betrayed me, and I thought a one-night stand was going to help me.
I took a shaky breath as I replied, “Well, I… I’m… afraid. Everyone says you’re dangerous.”
His smile softened. “Dangerous? I’m not that kind of dangerous. I’m dangerous only to those who threaten the people I care about. You? You don’t have to worry.”
His words made my chest tighten. I nodded quickly, trying to keep myself calm. “I… I trust you… I think.”
My face burned.
I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. His presence was magnetic and overwhelming. My pulse raced, my thoughts were scattered, and I could barely focus on breathing.
He was so attractive.
But I wasn’t going to admit that to his face.
My cheeks flamed hotter as I stared at him for too long. I felt like I might melt right there. I opened my mouth to say something else, but the sound of his footsteps moving away made me look up.
He was already about to leave.
“I should go say hi to my younger brother. I haven’t seen him since I got back. I don’t even think he knows I’m back,” he added, with a smirk that made me fear their reunion wouldn’t be peaceful.
I swallowed hard.
Everyone in the pack could feel it too—the tension. The Darkburn brothers had hated each other for years, and no one knew exactly why.
Seeing that I had nothing left to say, Damon smiled faintly at me before walking out of the kitchen.
The maids, who had been frozen all this time, suddenly rushed toward me, talking rapidly, their eyes wide and curious.
“Oh my god, Anna! Did he… did he just call you love?” one asked in shock, nudging me.
“I… I… I think so,” I stammered, my cheeks burning from blushing so hard.
“Are you serious? He actually touched you last night? You had sex with Prince Damon?” another asked, wide-eyed.
I nodded quickly, still trying to gather my scattered thoughts. “I… I can’t… I’m not ready to talk about it,” I said softly, trying to step back, but they closed in, eager for details.
They all gasped softly. “She actually… was with him? Anna… really?”
I nodded quickly, feeling my ears burn. “Yes… but it was… a mistake. I… I can’t… it won’t happen again.”
Their murmurs and giggles surrounded me, but I tried to focus on controlling my racing heartbeat.
“Can you believe it?” one said softly. “He actually spoke to her. He… touched her! He’s the prince, Anna! And he chose to talk to you—a maid!”
They laughed softly, but this time it wasn’t as cruel as before. They all seemed shocked, even slightly embarrassed, knowing how close I had just been to the man everyone feared but secretly wanted.
I tried to take my mind off everything, my hands clutching my apron. Damon had left, but the memory of him—the way he had walked toward me, the teasing in his voice, the touch on my waist—was forever etched in my mind.
The maids flurried around me, still gossiping and asking questions I couldn’t answer yet. My mind kept replaying the moment Damon had smiled at me, called me love, and left me trembling.
My heart pounded as one truth sank in—I was completely, hopelessly under Damon.
But there was something about him… something that felt too familiar.
Maybe it was the way he looked at me. The way he touched me. The way my body responded like it had known him forever.
It didn’t make sense.
I’d met him only last night… right?
Then why did it feel like I’d known him before?
And more importantly, why couldn’t I remember?