Chapter 17-She Replaced Me Damien's POV: Ten minutes without our little one by my side, and Arthur was already pacing restlessly in my mind, seething, berating me for not going with her. "I want my Mate. Take me to her!" he growled, nearly roaring. The thought of Vanessa alone or worse, being ogled by other men-drove him wild. "Dude, seriously? You're acting like a stalker," I scolded him. "I get it. You want to be with her 24/7. So do I. But the women's restroom? We can't just barge in there. That'd be creepy. Be patient. Women take their time. We'll wait." Despite his protests, I pushed him out of my thoughts. My eyes scanned the restaurant, assessing the surroundings again. It wasn't just shifters and humans here-vampires and witches mingled too. When my gaze swept over some wolves, they lowered their heads in submission. Most of the staff, from waiters to security, came from the Blood Shade pack. They weren't just hired help; they were loyal, born to protect, trained to react before any threat could materialize. They watched everything, everyone, and they knew my Mate's safety was non-negotiable. All in all, on my turf, Vanessa was untouchable. Given Beta Matthew's firm belief that girls love shopping, I'd thought Zenith Tower Plaza was a foolproof choice for our first date. But when I saw her indifferent glance at the stores, I knew I'd miscalculated. A dozen ideas to fix this flashed through my mind. Luckily, her smile returned after we played a few games at the arcade. She was adorable, especially with how gentle she was with kids. Watching her share snacks with them warmed my heart. She had a natural grace and compassion that drew people in. We clicked effortlessly, vibing on topics like geography, finance, and especially literature-her insights were surprisingly profound. Being with her felt right. I had a strong sense she'd be the perfect Luna in my eyes. My fingers tapped the table, the rhythm quickening with each passing second. Twenty-five minutes, and Vanessa still wasn't back. A tight, uneasy knot formed in my chest as Marcus stirred within me. "Little one's in danger," he growled, nearly breaking free of my control. I shot up from my chair. The urgency of my movement brought one of my warriors, Yains, to my side. "What's wrong, Alpha?" he asked in a low voice, but I didn't answer. Instead, I strode toward the restroom, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Rounding the corner, I collided with someone-and relief flooded me when I realized it was Vanessa. 45 95%