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.

Susan, Tamia became my

are fated,” I said,

streaming

said, and

you claimed her?” he said, and

don’t want

of the blue moon

I love her and claim her in the eyes of everyone

want it to be special, that is

am not lying to you.” I

himself

He was a mess.

he started, and I knew he was speaking more to relieve himself,

her we would always be

would be us against

my promise and let

forgive myself or let it go.”

by your men, she was hurt that I

so profound that I

up on me that

She refused to fight.

said, and

away his tears and looked

you for giving her everything that I

she is

I can see it.

not against

you two have been

but

I have tried.

lie to you,

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

be easier for him to

for some minutes before Devin finally spoke

meeting?” He asked, and

everything that had been happening, starting

Ramsey and what has happened

back Gezel’s and Liam’s

the information I had just in case they betrayed

extreme,” Devin said, a bit shocked at what I had told

he said, and I shook

wished it was

a lord, not a

all noble families, and each noble family owns a

the council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said, and Devin shook

as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it that way didn’t make

council, or they

one or two

the real threat isn’t from the council,” I said, and Leo

obvious,” He said, and

need to

I prosecute the wrong council

very

am talking to you two is

cause you two to

together

your respective regions and do not go to war against

moves to catch them,” I said, and Devin and Leo understood what I

to back Leo up so

want to watch

be a pawn or might be playing at something

not

has damaged the east

the people who joined you back to me, the east would have

said, and I realised they

asked,

eastern Alphas joined with Devin, they said Devin would attack me to take the rest

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

Leo, but you should send Amanda back to her

man wanted her in your home for a reason, and knowing all that he had done so far, she might

eyes showed he was thinking the same

will work

I will work with you, but I will advise you to be open

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

I hope we

to mind their regions while you keep us safe and stabilise

all I want, and I hope we can achieve that,” he said, and I heard the

stood up, and

to stay in touch and

have the heart

the bond was like, and I knew I

I went to join Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard

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

cards

when the threat was from

my mate was extreme, making me

tell, seeing that I was willing to

My reasons were simple.

this would likely use my enemies

a known enemy

us, I knew he would have no

him close so he could be

to take up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no

know where to

were so many clues that

was reacting to something hence why it

for me

the north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity

greed and madness, and now I was dealing with more

my position was dangerous for our world as it

someone they could follow, or

for power that they were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted? Tamia knew exactly

with her now made me understand the

scent calmed me down more

burying my nose on

almost regretted asking that Jake have them escort

pride and ask for their

how Devin looked at my mate

it was just the mate bond

in his eyes, and just like Leo,

dark and

to meet a fated, I believe we were blessed to

did not care; all I knew was

we wouldn’t have to address the elephant, and we would only

deal with the

my private booth, where I held

down before Devin and

relaxed, but

before, and even though he told people he had defeated

was

the type to ruin

and Leo smiled at

you and Tamia are yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he could

I looked

lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his smile did not touch

a last-minute thing,” he confessed, and I did not need to guess

least unlikely people to speak,”

because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left

we all care about, and that person’s life is in danger,”

of cards threatening her,” I said, and Devin

bad luck rub

sweet for anyone to hate

accused me, and his words got to me, but

couldn’t help

her and love her the best way I

not let it affect

and his eyes

me because of

was my fated, and she let

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

now? You selfish

call, but you had to take my fated from me!” he said, and I was calm, knowing I needed his

I let him vent.

for her, too, Devin, so let it

they loved each other from the onset, and she would reject

just like me, Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding a

surprised by it and looked at me in

rejected your fated?” he asked, and I looked

her to the north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

of your polo

didn’t know better, I would have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my