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 second chance

fated,” I said,

were streaming

said, and I shook my

you claimed her?” he said, and I

don’t want

romance of the

and claim her in

it to be

to you.” I said

stood up to calm himself down and then

He was a mess.

knew he was speaking more to relieve himself, but

promised her we would always

be us against

let another woman into

it

men, she was hurt that I took

that

on me

She refused to fight.

me,” he said, and I

wiped away his tears and looked

for giving her everything that

she

I can see it.

not against

am glad you two have been matched

will care for her, but I can

I have tried.

lie

I have accepted that she is no longer mine in this lifetime,” he said, and I

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

in the booth for

are we having this meeting?” He asked, and I cleared my throat to

him everything that had been happening, starting from

told him about Ramsey and what has

Liam’s

not give them all the information I had just in case they

Devin said, a bit shocked at what

council,” he said,

wished it was

a lord,

noble families, and each noble family owns a

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

the council in charge,” he pointed out and

the council, or they would

or two

from the council,” I

threat is obvious,” He said, and

to be

if I prosecute the wrong council

a very difficult situation for

reason I am talking to you two is that I need

cause you two to come against

to work together

respective regions and do not go to war against each

moves to catch them,”

think you should give a sanction to back Leo up so they can arrest Ramsey,” Devin said, and Leo shook his

to watch

might be a pawn or might be playing at something

us not limit

has damaged

who joined you back to me, the east would have been in

Devin, remember?” Leo said, and I

I asked, and

Alphas joined with Devin, they said Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east by force, so

have been at war if I had not decided to have a

be hard, Leo, but you should

a reason, and knowing all that he had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told

but his eyes showed he

will work

danger, I will work with you, but I will advise you to

withheld some information because you are too smart to share

I hope we cross that bridge

everyone to mind

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

stood up, and

to stay in touch and

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

bond was like, and I knew

where they were handling the card

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

The cards got

threat was from a distance, but they hit

extreme, making me impatient

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

My reasons were simple.

was responsible for this would likely use my

known enemy of

had transpired between us, I knew he would

him close so he could be one less

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

not know where to

were so many clues

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

for

the north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in

now I was dealing

our world as it would lead

follow, or they

they were willing to destroy

with her now made me understand

scent calmed me down more so than

to help my mood; burying my nose on her neck

regretted asking that Jake have them

had to swallow my pride and

Devin looked at my mate

doubt it was just the mate bond that pulled

longing in his eyes, and just like Leo, he too, regretted losing

to them that fate wanted it this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I

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

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

elephant, and we would

Theodore branched to deal with the card issue leaving Devin,

walked to my private booth, where I held

before Devin and Leo

but Devin

people he had defeated

was safe with

to ruin a man’s

I said, and Leo

yet to smooth things

I looked at

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

and I did

all know, we are the least unlikely people to speak,”

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

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

Tamia received a series of cards threatening her,” I

made your bad luck

too sweet for anyone to

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

I couldn’t help

to do what is best for her and love her the best way I

not let it

looked at him, and

me because of

she let me go because of

sacrifice can you make? You took her from Leo

now? You selfish

at your beck and call, but you had to take my fated from me!” he

I let him vent.

fated for her,

she would reject you, so do not try to pin this on

Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding

was surprised by it and looked at me in

asked, and I looked at

brought her to the north,” I

“Susan Sullivan.

captain of your polo

suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my life with