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

are fated,” I said, and Leo’s hands

streaming down

and I shook

her?” he said,

want my love

romance of the

love her and claim her in the eyes of everyone under

be special, that

I am not lying to

himself

He was a mess.

I knew he was speaking more to relieve himself,

we would always

us against the

and let another woman

myself or let it go.” He

she gave herself up to be taken by your men, she was hurt that I took precautions

profound that

on me

She refused to fight.

with me,” he said, and I knew it would

wiped away his tears and looked at

giving her everything

know she

I can see it.

am not

am glad you two

but I can never get over

I have tried.

lie to you,

loving her, but I have accepted that she is no longer mine in this lifetime,” he said, and I knew he had spoken his

easier for him to let Tamia go because, other

the booth for some

He asked, and I cleared my

everything that had been happening,

also told him about Ramsey and what has

held back Gezel’s and Liam’s

not give them all the information I had just in case

said, a bit shocked at

council,” he said, and I shook

wished it was that

am a lord, not a

families, and

thing is moving farther away from the council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said, and Devin shook

council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it that way didn’t

council, or they

or

the council,” I said,

the threat is obvious,” He said, and I

to be

my power if I prosecute

is a very difficult situation for

to you

to cause you two to come

to work together to

do not

and detect their moves to catch them,” I

should give a sanction to back Leo up so they

want to

be a pawn or might be playing

not limit

man has damaged the east

you did not send the people who joined you back to

Devin, remember?” Leo said, and I realised

I asked,

the rest of the east by force, so he could build an army

if I had not decided to have a peaceful conversation with

but you should send Amanda back

done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo

but his eyes showed he

work with you,

life is in danger, I will work with you, but I will

because you are too

I hope we cross that

everyone to mind their regions while you keep us safe

that is all I want, and I hope we can achieve that,” he

stood up, and we exchanged

stay in

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

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

where they were handling the card matter, I heard

you briefly,” he said, and I wondered what it

The cards got

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

my mate was extreme, making me impatient to catch the

that I

My reasons were simple.

likely use my enemies to

was a known enemy

between us, I knew he would have no

needed to keep him close so he could be one less person

had to take up some responsibilities when she needed to

not know where to

so many clues that led to

almost as if everyone was reacting to something hence

for me to

duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in every region

and madness, and now

dangerous for our world

follow, or they would lead

person or people so hungry for power that they were willing to destroy

with her now made me understand the

scent calmed me down more

how to help my mood; burying my nose on her

Leo and Devin, I almost regretted asking that

swallow my pride and ask for their

how Devin looked at

the mate bond that pulled

his eyes, and just like Leo, he too,

dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia

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

did

have to address the elephant, and we would only be

deal with the card issue leaving Devin, Leo and

to my private booth, where I held

sat down before Devin and Leo

relaxed, but

even though he told people

secret was safe with

type to

I said, and

yet to smooth things out,” I said, and

looked

hoping you would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his smile did not

I

we are the least unlikely

around the bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we

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

threatening her,” I said, and Devin

your bad luck rub on

for

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

I couldn’t

have to do what is best for her and love

not let it affect

at him, and his eyes were

me

was my fated, and she let me go

You took her from Leo and made it impossible

happy now? You

but you had to take my fated

I let him vent.

for her, too, Devin, so

loved each other from the onset, and she would reject you, so do not try to

blew it just like me, Devin, so let it go.” Leo

was surprised by it and looked at me

rejected your fated?” he asked,

the north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

the captain of your polo teams,” I told

have suspected you brought