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

fated,” I said,

were streaming

and

haven’t you claimed her?” he said,

want

love the romance of

claim

be

am not lying to you.” I

stood up to calm himself down and then sat

He was a mess.

friends,” he started, and I knew he was speaking more to relieve

we

be us against

let another woman

myself or let it

day she gave herself up to be taken by your men, she was hurt that I took precautions with her and got

was so profound that

up on me

She refused to fight.

he said,

tears and looked at

for giving her everything

she is

I can see it.

not

am glad you two have been matched

know you will care for her, but I can never get

I have tried.

won’t lie

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

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

in the booth for

having this meeting?” He asked, and I

everything that had been

Ramsey

back Gezel’s and Liam’s names but

the information I had

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit shocked

he said, and

wished it was

a lord,

families, and each noble family

from the council and pointing at

relevance as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in

the council, or

one or two

isn’t from the council,”

is obvious,” He said, and

to be

I

very difficult situation

you

to cause you two to

want us to work together to

your respective regions and do not

choices and detect their moves to catch them,” I said, and Devin and Leo

up so they can

want to watch

might be playing

not

has damaged the east

send the people who joined you back to

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

asked, and Leo

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

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

you should send Amanda back to

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

looked reluctant, but his eyes showed he

work with

you, but I will advise

because you are too smart to

do the same, but I

world and for everyone to mind their regions while you keep us safe and stabilise our

all I want, and I hope we can achieve that,” he said, and I heard the sincerity in his

and

to stay in touch and

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

the bond was like, and I knew I wouldn’t be able

were handling the card matter, I heard Vino’s voice in

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

cards

threat was from a distance, but they hit

my mate was extreme, making me impatient to

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

a known enemy

that had transpired between us, I knew he would

him close so he could be one less person

responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no

did not know where

clues that

as if everyone was reacting to something

for me to

north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in

curbed greed and madness, and now I was dealing with more than my

dangerous for our

follow, or they would lead

were willing to destroy order just to get what

with her now made me understand the relevance of being

calmed me down more so than

my mood; burying my nose on her neck

regretted asking that Jake have them

to swallow my pride

Devin looked at my mate

mate

was nothing but longing in his eyes, and just like Leo, he

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

to meet a fated, I

and I did not care; all I

elephant, and we would only be facing the matter

branched to deal with the card

to my private booth, where I

sat down before Devin and Leo

relaxed, but Devin was

and even though he told people he

his secret was safe with

to ruin a man’s

and Leo

Tamia are yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he

looked at

said to lighten the mood,

last-minute thing,” he confessed, and I did

know, we are the least unlikely people to speak,” I started, and

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

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

threatening

bad

sweet for anyone to

accused me, and his words got to me, but I kept it to

couldn’t help

best for her and love

did not let it

and

me

my fated, and she let me go because of

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

you happy now? You

call, but you had to take

I let him vent.

fated for her, too, Devin, so let it

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

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

it and looked

he asked, and I looked

north,” I told him, and he was

“Susan Sullivan.

of your polo teams,” I told

know better, I would have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my