Shadows of Destiny

The Awkward Meeting ~Sylvester~ The cards got to me.

It was alright when the threat was from a distance, but they hit home this time.

Threatening my mate was extreme, making me impatient to catch the people.

I was desperate, and Tamia could tell, seeing that I was willing to talk to Devin Corrigan about it.

My reasons were simple.

Whoever was responsible for this would likely use my enemies to get me.

Devin was a known enemy of mine.

With all that had transpired between us, I knew he would have no issues moving against me.

I needed to keep him close so he could be one less person to bother about.

I was a bit ashamed that Tamia had to take up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no longer hide the fact that I was confused.

I did not know where to start.

There were so many clues that led to nothing.

It was almost as if everyone was reacting to something hence why it was a dead end.

It was too much for me to deal with.

As lord of the north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in every region and that no laws were broken.

My existence curbed greed and madness, and now I was dealing with more than my duty.

Scrapping my position was dangerous for our world as it would lead to chaos.

Wolves needed someone they could follow, or they would lead chaotic lives.

Was this person or people so hungry for power that they were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted? Tamia knew exactly what I wanted.

Being with her now made me understand the relevance of being fated.

Her scent calmed me down more so than before.

She knew how to help my mood; burying my nose on her neck helped me relax.

When I saw Leo and Devin, I almost regretted asking that Jake have them escort him, but it was now or never.

I had to swallow my pride and ask for their help.

Seeing how Devin looked at my mate got to me.

I doubt it was just the mate bond that pulled him to her.

There was nothing but longing in his eyes, and just like Leo, he too, regretted losing his opportunity.

Did it ever occur to them that fate wanted it this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I ended up being fated after passing through others.

In a world where it was impossible to meet a fated, I believe we were blessed to be given second chances.

I did not know how the thing worked, and I did not care; all I knew was that she was now mine.

Hopefully, we wouldn’t have to address the elephant, and we would only be facing the matter at hand.

Marcel and Theodore branched to deal with the card issue leaving Devin, Leo and me.

We walked to my private booth, where I held meetings.

I sat down before Devin and Leo sat.

Leo was relaxed, but Devin was uncomfortable.

We had never met in person before, and even though he told people he had defeated me in battle, we both knew it was a lie.

But his secret was safe with me.

I wasn’t the type to ruin a man’s reputation.

“Leo,” I said, and Leo smiled at me.

“I see you and Tamia are yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he could not say a word.

Then I looked at Devin.

“We were hoping you would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his smile did not touch his eyes.

“It was a last-minute thing,” he confessed, and I did not need to guess why he came.

“As you all know, we are the least unlikely people to speak,” I started, and they were attentive.

I did not want to beat around the bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left the Arena and set out for the Estate, the better.

“We have one person in common that we all care about, and that person’s life is in danger,” I said, and Devin was attentive, likewise Leo.

“Today, Tamia received a series of cards threatening her,” I said, and Devin growled at me.

“You have made your bad luck rub on her.

She is too sweet for anyone to hate her.

This is because of her association with you,” Devin accused me, and his words got to me, but I kept it to myself.

“Well, I couldn’t help it.

She is my mate now, so I have to do what is best for her and love her the best way I can,” I said, and Devin banged the table.

I did not let it affect me.

I looked at him, and his eyes were misty.

“She rejected me because of you.

She was my fated, and she let me go because of you.

How much sacrifice can you make? You took her from Leo and made it impossible for her to love her fated.

Are you happy now? You selfish prick.

You had all the women at your beck and call, but you had to take my fated from me!” he said, and I was calm, knowing I needed his help.

I let him vent.

“He let go of his fated for her, too, Devin, so let it go.

I told you they loved each other from the onset, and she would reject you, so do not try to pin this on Lord Volkov.

You had your chance, and you blew it just like me, Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding a bit short, and I knew Devin’s words got to him.

Devin was surprised by it and looked at me in disbelief.

“You rejected your fated?” he asked, and I looked at him.

“You brought her to the north,” I told him, and he was confused.

“Susan Sullivan.

Nicolas Sullivan’s niece, the captain of your polo teams,” I told him, and his eyes widened.

“If I didn’t know better, I would have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my life with Tamia.

But seeing that you weren’t at the ball to gloat, I realised it was a coincidence, but I must thank you because you helped me get that out of the way.” I said, and he still looked angry.

“She was mine, Sylvester.

I would have loved her.

I might not be a lord, but I would have given her my best.

I spent all my years waiting for my fated.

Never loving or committing to anyone, and you took her from me,” he said with pain, and I realised that was why he had made himself scarce.

I sighed and bowed my head.

“It wouldn’t have worked, Devin.

By the time you found each other, she was already carrying my child,” I said, and Leo made a fist and tried to calm himself down.

Devin was in utter shock.

He had realised something.

“That was why there was no pain,” Devin murmured, still in shock.

“What do you mean?” I asked him, and he bowed his head.

“Other than the emptiness and longing I feel, I wasn’t weakened, and I did not feel pain,” he said and chuckled painfully.

“Children, they say, is a type of bond.

That is why a child signifies that the bond between two wolves is permanent.

She was already bonded to you by then, so it made the rejection easy,” he said, and I could hear the pain in his tone.

“It wasn’t only that.

rejected Susan, Tamia became my second

are fated,” I said, and

streaming down

and I shook my

haven’t you claimed her?”

don’t want my

love the romance of the

I love her and claim her in

it to be special,

lying to you.” I

up to calm himself

He was a mess.

best friends,” he started, and I knew he was speaking more to relieve himself, but

her we

us against the

promise and let another woman into our

still can’t forgive myself or let it go.” He said and looked

herself up to be taken by your men, she was

profound that I still have

up on

She refused to fight.

he said, and I knew

away his tears

giving her

she

I can see it.

not against your

glad you two have been matched

but I can never get over

I have tried.

lie to you,

stop loving her, but I have accepted that she is no

the other hand, was silent, and I knew it would be easier for him to let

silence in the booth for some minutes

this meeting?” He asked,

told him everything that had been happening, starting

told him about Ramsey and what has happened till

Liam’s names but spoke of

information I

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit

council,” he said,

wished it

am a lord, not

and each noble

council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I

monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and

the council, or they would have

or

threat isn’t from the council,” I said,

threat is obvious,” He

to be

my power if I prosecute the wrong council

very difficult situation

am talking to you two is that I need

you two

want us to work together to snuff these people

do not go to war against

to limit their choices and detect their moves to catch them,” I

sanction to back Leo up so they can arrest

want to watch

might be a pawn or might be playing at

us not

damaged the east

people who joined you back to

war, Devin, remember?” Leo said, and I realised they were suffering almost the

asked, and Leo

said Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east by

I had not decided to have a peaceful conversation with Devin,” Leo said,

hard, Leo, but you should send Amanda back to

knowing all that he had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo what

reluctant, but his eyes showed he

work with you,

Tamia’s life is in danger, I will work with you, but I will advise you

know you withheld some information because you are too smart to share everything with us

will do the same, but I

for everyone to mind their regions while you keep

hope we can achieve that,” he

up, and we exchanged

stay in touch

most and hoped he would have the heart

and I knew I wouldn’t be able to send Tamia away like

I went to join Marcel and Theodore where they were

like to see you briefly,” he said, and I wondered what

The cards got

was from

my mate was extreme, making me

desperate, and Tamia could tell, seeing that I was willing to

My reasons were simple.

for this would likely use my enemies to

a known enemy of

all that had transpired between us, I knew he would have no issues

him close so he could be one

some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no longer hide

know

clues that led

was almost as if everyone was reacting to something hence why it was a dead

too much for

peace and prosperity in every region and that

curbed greed and madness, and now

for our world as it would

follow, or they would lead

to destroy order just to get what they wanted?

me understand

calmed me down

help my mood; burying my nose on her

Devin, I almost regretted asking that Jake have them escort him,

pride

at my mate got to

doubt it was just the mate bond that

in his eyes, and just like

this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I

was impossible to meet a fated, I believe we were blessed to be given second

did not know how the thing worked, and I did not care; all I knew was that she

address the elephant, and we would only

Theodore branched to deal with the

private booth, where I held

sat down before

relaxed, but

though he told people he had defeated

secret was

type to

I said, and Leo smiled at

things out,” I said, and

looked at

hoping you would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his smile

I

we are the least unlikely people to speak,” I started, and they were

bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left the Arena and set out for the

and that person’s

of cards threatening her,” I

bad

too sweet for anyone to

her association with you,” Devin accused me, and his words got to me, but I

couldn’t help

my mate now, so I have to do what is best for her and love her the best way I can,” I said, and Devin

not let it affect

at him, and his eyes

me

she let me go because of

you make? You took her from Leo and made it impossible for her

you happy now? You selfish

and call, but you had to take my fated from me!” he said,

I let him vent.

go of his fated for

you they loved each other from the onset, and she would reject you, so do not try to pin this on Lord

you blew it just like me, Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding a bit short, and I

surprised by it and looked at

your fated?” he asked, and I

the north,” I told him, and

“Susan Sullivan.

the captain of your polo teams,” I told him,

would have suspected you brought