Chapter 206 I’ll be back
Damian’s POV
Two days later. The Dalmatian coast, Croatia, 9 PM.
The sun had already dipped below the jagged limestone peaks hours ago, casting long shadows across the bay.
The sky was turning from deep blue to black, stars beginning to pierce through.
I’d spent the entire day at the conference center, only managing a brief phone call with Aria during lunch break.
The drive from the venue back to the hotel wound through twenty minutes of mountain roads, and I didn’t want to wait that long.
Six hours behind me she was somewhere between lunch and her afternoon calls—the only gap in her day I could actually reach into.
So I found a quiet spot by the overlook, leaning against the stone railing, and video called her to check in.
We’d originally planned three video calls a day, but over the past few days, our calls and messages had become constant.
I reached for my phone whenever I had a spare moment, needing to hear her voice, see her face.
Now Rick knew—the second I reached for my phone, it meant I wanted to talk to Aria.
Pathetic, really. I used to go weeks without thinking about anything other than territorial negotiations and Pack security. Now I couldn’t go three hours without hearing her voice.
When she answered, I didn’t bother hiding the smile on my face. Rare for me. But she had that effect.
"Damian." Her voice was soft, warm. The kind of warmth that made my wolf settle instantly. "You sound happy."
"I am."I said, watching her eyes—those brilliant green eyes that had become my anchor.
"The business here was nearly finished. After tomorrow morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, I’d be done and could start heading home."
Her face lit up on the screen. God, she was beautiful. "Tell me what time you’re landing. I want to pick you up."
"The timing’s not set yet," I said, though everything in me wanted to say *yes, be there, I need to see you the second I land*.
"There’s a promotional video shoot tomorrow morning. If it goes smoothly, I’ll be back by afternoon. If not, it might run late."
I didn’t want her waiting for hours at the airport.
But on the screen, her expression was firm. "I don’t care how late it is. I want to be the first person you see."
Something in my chest tightened, warmth spreading through the Bond. I opened my mouth to respond, but Rick appeared at the edge of my vision, looking apologetic but insistent.
Aria noticed immediately, ever perceptive. "It’s getting dark. Those mountain roads aren’t safe. You should head back to the hotel."
"Alright." I hesitated, her name on my lips again. "Aria—"
"Yes?"
"Nothing." I studied her face for another moment, committing it to memory. "Get some rest. I’ll call you tomorrow."
"Okay."
I ended the call reluctantly, then turned a cold look on Rick. In the distance, I could see Vanessa’s film crew already setting up equipment.
There was a night shoot scheduled on the drive back—some atmospheric footage of the mountain pass.
Rick had come to remind me we needed to leave soon if we wanted to make it before it got too late.
Though Vanessa was on this trip, we’d kept our schedules separate the past two days. I hadn’t seen her at all.
But tomorrow morning’s ceremony and interviews—she’d be there for all of it. There was no avoiding her.
Unpleasant. But nearly over.
---
Vanessa’s crew worked efficiently, filming establishing shots of the crew and the mountain scenery at dusk. My motorcade was only needed for a few passing shots.
With her team’s help, the whole thing wrapped in under an hour.
By the time they finished, full darkness had settled over the mountains, the temperature dropping sharply.
My car was just pulling away from the overlook when someone knocked on the window.
Rick lowered it, "Miss Crane. Can I help you?"
"My car’s full." Vanessa’s voice was apologetic, but I caught the calculation underneath. "Could I catch a ride back to the hotel? We could go over tomorrow’s schedule on the way—save you from having to deal with it tonight."
Her gaze slid past Rick, landing on me.
I opened my eyes and gave Rick a short nod.
He opened the door, and Vanessa moved to slide into the seat beside me.
"Front seat," I said flatly.
I was in a seven-seater SUV. The entire back row was empty.
Her face flushed, but she recovered quickly, moving to a seat two spaces away from me instead. "Is this acceptable, Alpha Blackwood?"
I didn’t answer. Just gestured for her to begin.
The vehicle wound smoothly through the mountain curves, a single reading light casting everything in amber tones.
Vanessa pulled out her tablet and started walking through tomorrow’s itinerary.
I kept my eyes closed most of the time, listening with half my attention, only opening them to ask pointed questions about key transition points. My answers were curt, professional, nothing more.
"And finally, this segment—" Suddenly she angled the tablet toward me, the screen showing a site map. "Tomorrow morning they’ve added a sunrise shoot at the overlook platform—"
The car took a sharp curve as she spoke. She swayed, the tablet nearly slipping from her grip.
I saw her eyes light up, saw her lean slightly toward me as if expecting me to steady her.
Instead, I pulled back, crossing my arms over my chest.
As if even across the gap between seats, I couldn’t risk her touching me.
My wolf snarled low in my mind. *Wrong. Not our mate. Get away.*
"Whatever Ms. Crane arranges is fine," I said, my voice completely neutral. "Just make it quick."
She nodded, pulling the tablet back and straightening in her seat. After that, silence fell between us, heavy and uncomfortable.
I watched her gaze turn to the window, her hands clenching tight in her lap.