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 became my second chance

are fated,” I said, and

streaming

said, and I

you claimed her?”

don’t want

the romance of the

love her and claim her in the eyes of everyone

want it to be

I am not lying to you.” I said with

to calm himself down and then sat

He was a mess.

knew he was speaking more to relieve himself, but I was

we would always

would be us

promise and let another woman

let it go.” He said and

she was hurt

profound that I

up on

She refused to fight.

with me,” he said, and I knew

his tears and looked at

for giving her

she

I can see it.

not against your

two have been matched

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

I have tried.

lie to you,

there is no day that I would stop loving her, but I have accepted that she is no longer mine in this lifetime,” he said, and I knew

was silent, and I knew it would be easier for him to let Tamia go because, other than

was silence in the booth for some minutes before Devin finally

are we having this meeting?” He asked, and

had been

told him about Ramsey and

and Liam’s names but spoke of

them all the information I had just

said, a bit shocked at what I had told

he said,

wished it was that

lord,

all noble families, and

moving farther away from the council and pointing at an

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

council, or they would have

one or

the council,” I

is obvious,” He said, and

need to be

power if I prosecute the wrong council member

very difficult situation for

I am talking to you two is

have tried to cause you two to come

us to work together

regions and do not go to war

limit their choices and detect their moves to catch

think you should give a sanction to back Leo up so

want to watch

be a pawn or might be playing at something else

us not

has damaged

who joined you back to me, the

Devin, remember?” Leo said, and I realised they were

asked, and

some eastern Alphas joined with Devin, they said Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east by force, so he could build an army to march

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

Leo, but you should

done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo what I was uncomfortable

looked reluctant, but his eyes showed

will work with

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

are too smart to share everything

same, but I hope we cross that bridge

is peace in our world and for everyone to

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

and

in touch and

would have the heart to

bond was like, and I knew

Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the

like to see you briefly,” he said, and I

cards got

from a distance, but

making me impatient to

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

My reasons were simple.

likely use my

a known enemy of

I knew

he could be one

up some responsibilities when she needed to

not know

many clues

to something

was too much for me to

ensure peace and prosperity in

curbed greed and madness, and now I was dealing with

dangerous for our world as it would lead

someone they could follow, or

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

with her now made me understand

scent calmed me down more

to help my mood; burying my nose on her neck helped me

and Devin, I almost regretted asking that Jake have them escort him, but

swallow my pride

how Devin looked at my mate got to

the mate bond that pulled him to

but longing in his eyes, and just like Leo, he too,

to them that fate wanted it this way? However dark and twisted it

impossible to meet a fated, I believe we were

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

and we would only be facing

with the

to my private booth,

sat down before Devin and

but Devin

before, and even though he told people he had defeated me in battle, we both

his secret was

the type to ruin a

said, and Leo smiled at

you and Tamia are yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he could not say a

I looked at

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

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

are the least unlikely

want to beat around the bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left

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

of cards threatening her,”

made your bad luck rub on

sweet for

her association with you,” Devin accused me, and his words got to me, but I

couldn’t help

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

did not let it affect

him, and

rejected me

was my fated, and she let me go

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

happy now? You

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

I let him vent.

of his fated for her, too, Devin,

and she would reject you,

Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding a bit short, and

was surprised by it and looked at me in

rejected your fated?” he asked, and I

to the north,” I

“Susan Sullivan.

of your polo teams,” I told him,

you brought my