Chapter Six
1509 Words
Alone, Damien leaned against his desk, his fingers pressing into the polished wood.
He had waited for centuries. Endured lifetimes without a mate.
Now, fate had placed this woman in his path—the one who could either be his salvation or his destruction.
And he wasn’t sure which one he wanted more.
…
The Sinclair family home was quiet, save for the occasional sound of cutlery clinking against plates. Dinner at the Sinclairs had always been a family affair, a tradition Eleanor Sinclair upheld no matter how busy life got.
The aroma of Vivian’s cooking filled the small apartment, wrapping Ava in a sense of comfort as she stepped into the dining area. The warmth of home was always a welcome contrast to the late-night chill outside.
She found her younger brother, Nathan, already at the table, scrolling through his phone while lazily munching on a piece of bread.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Nichole teased, not looking up. “Did the books keep you hostage again?”
Ava rolled her eyes as she slid into the seat across from him. “Some of us actually have jobs, you know.”
Vivian chuckled as she set a pot of soup on the table. “You two, play nice.”
“Can you both stop bickering” Eleanor scold with a smile,she wants her family to be this happy always
Nichole finally put his phone down, smirking. “Hey, don’t act like I don’t work. Campus life is a job on its own.”
Ava scoffed. “You mean waking up at noon, hanging out with your friends, and occasionally attending a lecture?”
Vivian shook her head, hiding her smile. “Enough bickering. Eat before the food gets cold.”
“You both never stop bickering” Williams also scold with a smile
The three of them fell into an easy rhythm, the way they always did. Despite the teasing, Ava loved her siblings. Vivian, the responsible eldest, always looking out for them. Nathan, the carefree younger brother, still figuring out his place in the world.
And then there was her.
Stuck somewhere in between.
The conversation drifted from work to school, to Vivian’s latest frustration at her job, and eventually to Nathan’s upcoming soccer match.
“You’re coming, right?” Nathan asked, looking at Ava expectantly.
Ava hesitated. She had work, but the way he looked at her—hopeful—made it hard to say no.
“I’ll try,” she said, offering a small smile.
Nathan grinned. “Good. You never come to my matches anymore.”
“Because you never actually invite me.”
“Well, I’m inviting you now.”
Vivian shook her head. “Ava’s busy, Nic. If she can’t make it, don’t guilt-trip her.”
“It’s fine,” Ava said quickly. “I’ll see if I can swap shifts.”
She wasn’t sure why she agreed so easily. Maybe because, deep down, she knew things wouldn’t stay this peaceful forever.
Maybe because she wanted to hold on to this normalcy for as long as she could.
Because her 25th birthday was approaching.
And while she didn’t know what awaited her, their parents did.
…
The crowd at the university stadium roared as the teams jogged onto the field. Nathan, dressed in his team’s blue jersey, scanned the stands until he spotted Ava and Vivian seated in the front rows. He grinned and waved.
Ava waved back, though her excitement was mixed with guilt. She had nearly bailed on coming, but Nathan’s hopeful expression at dinner had stayed with her.
“You actually made it,” Vivian mused, adjusting her sunglasses. “I’m impressed.”
Ava nudged her playfully. “I’m a great sister.”
Vivian smirked. “Debatable.”
Vivian smirked. “You I still can't believe you showed up.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Why does everyone find that so shocking?”
Vivian sipped her drink. “Because you hate sports.”
Ava chuckled but didn’t deny it.
The whistle blew, signaling the start of the match. Nathan's team charged forward, and for a while, Ava lost herself in the game. She wasn’t much of a football fan, but seeing her brother so focused and determined made it worth it.
Ava was just starting to enjoy herself when she felt it.
A shift in the atmosphere.
Like an invisible weight pressing against her chest.
She glanced to her right—and froze.
A man walked in, exuding a presence that demanded attention. He was tall, dressed in an immaculate dark coat, his cold blue eyes scanning the field as if everything before him was of little consequence.
Damien Blackwood.
Ava’s fingers trembled slightly around her cup.
What was he doing here?
“Damn,” Vivian muttered beside her. “That’s Damien Blackwood. What’s a billionaire doing at a college football match?”
Ava had no answer.
Her stomach tightened as she followed Vivian’s gaze. Damien had settled into a seat a few rows above them, effortlessly drawing attention despite doing nothing at all. He was the kind of man who commanded the space around him.
And beside him sat a stunning woman with delicate features and striking green eyes.
Selene.
Ava didn’t know why, but the sight of them together made her uneasy.
Vivian let out a low whistle. “You think he’s here for some sponsorship deal or something? Or maybe he’s scouting a player?”
Ava barely heard her.
Her attention had shifted to another man sitting near Damien—a young man with similar features, maybe in his early twenties.
Ava blinked.
“Of course” she replied absent minded
Damien’s Perspective
Damien watched as his cousin, Adrian, maneuvered the ball across the field, easily outpacing the other players. A small smirk tugged at his lips.
“Your cousin is impressive,” Selene murmured beside him.
“He’s a Blackwood,” Damien replied simply.
Selene chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You do realize we could’ve just invited him to dinner instead of coming all the way out here?”
Damien ignored her.
He hadn’t been particularly interested in attending, but Adrian had insisted, and Marcus had said it would be good for the company’s image. So, here he was.
His gaze drifted across the crowd absently—until it landed on her.
Ava Sinclair.
She was here.
Seated not far from him, her dark eyes locked on the field, completely unaware of his presence.
Something tightened in Damien’s chest.
Marcus had told him where she worked, given him reports on her daily routines, yet seeing her in person again was… different.
“She’s pretty,” Selene commented, following his line of sight.
Damien’s expression didn’t change. “Who?”
Selene let out a soft laugh. “You know who.”
He didn’t respond, but Selene’s gaze lingered on Ava a moment longer before turning back to the game.
The match continued, the crowd erupting in cheers as Adrian scored. But Damien barely noticed.
Because for the first time in seven hundred years…
His mate was within reach.
And he wanted nothing to do with her.
The game was intense. Both teams fought hard, displaying incredible teamwork and skill. Adrian’s team had speed and precision, while Nichole’s team had solid defense and powerful counterattacks.
Ava found herself actually enjoying the match—something she never expected.
The score was tied at 2-2, with only a few minutes left on the clock. The tension in the stadium was thick as the players scrambled for possession of the ball.
Nathan, focused and determined, intercepted a pass and made a break toward the goal. He dodged one defender, then another.
“Come on, Nathan,” Ava muttered under her breath.
Vivian grabbed her arm. “If he scores now, they win.”
Ava barely registered her words.
All she could see was her brother sprinting forward, his eyes locked on the goal. He took the shot—
And the ball soared past the goalkeeper, hitting the back of the net with force.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Nathan’s team had won. Final score: 3-2.
Ava shot to her feet, cheering alongside the rest of the crowd. “He did it!”
Vivian laughed. “Guess you’re a football fan now?”
Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. She watched as Nathan was lifted onto his teammates’ shoulders, his face beaming with pride.
She was so focused on her brother’s celebration that she almost didn’t notice him.
Damien Blackwood.
He hadn’t moved. He simply sat there, watching the game with that unreadable expression of his.
Ava’s excitement faltered for a second.
Why did it feel like he was watching her instead of the game?
---
Damien’s Perspective
Adrian let out a low whistle. “That was a good shot.”
Damien leaned back in his seat, eyes still on the field. “He’s decent.”
Adrian laughed. “Decent? Come on, that was skill.”
Damien didn’t reply.
- Writer
