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

are fated,” I said, and Leo’s

were streaming down his

and I shook my

her?” he said, and

want my love

of the

show everyone I love her and claim her in the eyes of everyone under the

be

I am not lying to you.”

calm himself down and then

He was a mess.

knew he was speaking more to relieve himself,

promised her we would

be us against the

broke my promise and let another woman

it go.” He said and

by your men, she was

that I still have

up on

She refused to fight.

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

wiped away his tears and looked

giving her everything that

she

I can see it.

not

glad you two have been

you will care for her, but I can never get over what

I have tried.

won’t lie to you,

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

I knew it would be easier for him to let

in the booth for some

we having this meeting?” He asked, and

been happening, starting from

him about Ramsey and what has

Liam’s names but spoke of the

information I

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

he said, and

it was

lord, not a

are all noble families, and each

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

region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and putting

be all the council, or

or

council,” I said,

is obvious,” He said, and

to be

could lose my power if I prosecute the wrong

is a very difficult situation for

I am talking to you

cause you

to work together to snuff these

do not go

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

you should give a sanction to back Leo up so they can arrest Ramsey,” Devin

to watch

or might be playing at something else

not limit our

has damaged

joined you back

said, and I realised they were

I asked, and

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

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

hard, Leo, but you

her in your home for a reason, and knowing all that he had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo what I was uncomfortable

his eyes showed he was

will work with

but I will advise you to be open with us so we won’t be

are too smart to

same, but I hope we cross that bridge

peace in our world and for everyone to mind their regions while you

can achieve that,” he said, and I heard the sincerity

stood up, and we

to stay in touch and work

Leo the most and hoped he would have the heart to control

the bond was like, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to send Tamia away

Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard Vino’s

see you briefly,”

The cards got

threat was from a

was extreme, making me impatient to catch the

was desperate, and Tamia could tell, seeing that I

My reasons were simple.

likely use my enemies to

known

knew he would

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

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

not know where to

were so many clues

if everyone was reacting to something hence why

much for me to

ensure peace and prosperity in every region and that no laws were

curbed greed and madness, and now I

our world

needed someone they could follow, or they

for power that they were willing to

me

calmed me down more so than

burying my nose on her neck

regretted asking that Jake

to swallow my pride and ask

at

was just the mate bond that

eyes, and just like Leo, he too,

this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I ended up being fated after passing through

world where it was impossible to meet a fated, I believe we were blessed to

thing worked, and I did not care; all I knew was that

and we would only be facing the

to deal with the card issue leaving

walked to my private booth, where I

down before

but Devin was

even though he told people he had defeated me

his secret was safe with

type to ruin a man’s

I said, and Leo smiled

yet to smooth things out,”

I looked

I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his

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

unlikely people to speak,” I started,

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

and that person’s life is in danger,” I said, and

Tamia received a series of cards threatening

your bad luck rub

sweet for

with you,” Devin accused me, and his words got to

couldn’t

best for her and love her the best way I can,” I

let

at him, and

me because

she let me go because of

You took her from Leo and made it impossible for

you happy now?

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

I let him vent.

fated for her, too,

loved each other from the onset, and she would

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

was surprised by it and looked at me in

fated?” he asked, and I

her to the north,” I

“Susan Sullivan.

polo teams,” I told

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