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.

I rejected Susan, Tamia became my

are fated,” I said, and Leo’s

were streaming

and I shook

why haven’t you claimed her?” he said, and

want my

of the blue moon

want to show everyone I love her and claim her

be special, that

am not lying to you.” I said

calm himself down and then sat back

He was a mess.

started, and I knew he

promised her we would always

us

broke my promise and let another woman into

myself or let it go.” He said

she gave herself up to be taken by your men, she was

hurt was so profound that I still

gave up on me

She refused to fight.

with me,” he said,

away his tears and looked

giving her everything that

know she is

I can see it.

am not

you two have

her, but I can never

I have tried.

lie to you,

I have accepted that she is

silent, and I knew it would be easier for him

in the booth for some minutes before Devin finally

meeting?” He asked, and I cleared my

told him everything that had been happening, starting

Ramsey

and Liam’s names but spoke of

the information I had just in

Devin said, a bit shocked at what I had told

council,” he said,

it was

am a lord,

families, and each noble family owns a

farther away from the council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said,

heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council

council, or they

or

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

obvious,”

need to be

I prosecute the wrong council member without

a very

you two

you two to come against

us to work together to snuff

regions and do not

and detect their moves to catch them,” I said,

sanction to back Leo up so

want to watch

pawn or might be playing at something

not limit our

damaged

you

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

I asked, and Leo

would attack me to take the rest of the east by force, so he

would have been at war if I had not decided to have a peaceful conversation with Devin,” Leo

but you should send Amanda back to her father’s

so

looked reluctant, but his eyes showed

will work with you,

life is in danger, I will work with you, but I will advise you to be open with

you are too smart to share everything with

but I hope we cross that

world and for everyone to mind their regions while you

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

up, and we exchanged

to stay in touch and work

the most and hoped he would have the heart to control his wolf and

was like, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to

I went to join Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the

briefly,” he said, and I

The cards got to

when the threat was from

making me impatient to catch

could tell, seeing that I was willing to talk to Devin Corrigan

My reasons were simple.

was responsible for this would likely use my

was a known enemy of

all that had transpired between us, I knew he

needed to keep him close so he could be

some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could

know

so many clues that led

everyone was reacting to something hence why it

for

the north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity

and madness, and now I was dealing

my position was dangerous for our world as

could follow, or they would lead

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

me understand the relevance of being

me down

to help my mood; burying my nose on

regretted asking that Jake have them escort him, but

had to swallow my pride and ask for

Devin looked at my mate got to

the mate bond that pulled him

eyes, and just like Leo,

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

a fated, I believe we were blessed to be

know how the thing worked, and I did not care; all

have to address the elephant, and we would only be facing

the card issue leaving Devin, Leo

walked to my private booth, where

down before Devin and Leo

was relaxed, but

person before, and even though he told people he had

was safe with

the type to ruin a

I said, and Leo

to smooth things out,” I

looked

I said to lighten the mood, and

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

unlikely people to

much, and the earlier we left the Arena and set out for the Estate, the

that we all care about, and that person’s life is in danger,” I said, and Devin was attentive, likewise

of cards threatening her,” I said, and Devin

have made your bad luck rub

is too sweet for anyone

of her association with you,” Devin accused me, and his words got

couldn’t

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

did not let it affect

and

rejected me because

she let me go

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

you happy now? You selfish

the women at your beck and call, but you had to take my fated from

I let him vent.

fated for her, too,

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

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

and

he asked, and I

brought her to the north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

of your polo teams,” I told

I would have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my life