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

I said, and Leo’s

streaming down his

Devin said, and I shook

claimed her?”

want my

romance of

want to show everyone I love her and claim her in

be

lying to

himself down and then sat

He was a mess.

knew he was speaking more to relieve himself,

we would

would be us against

promise and let another woman into our

can’t forgive myself or let it go.” He said and

be taken by your men, she was hurt that I took precautions with her and got

hurt was so profound that I still have nightmares about

gave up on me

She refused to fight.

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

his tears and looked

giving her everything

know she

I can see it.

am not against

you two have been

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

I have tried.

won’t lie to

have accepted that she is no longer

easier for him to let Tamia go because, other than

in the booth for some minutes before

meeting?” He asked, and I cleared

that had been happening, starting from the attack on

about Ramsey and what has happened till

and Liam’s names but

information I had just in case they

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

said, and I shook

it was that

lord, not a

and each noble family owns a

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

waters down all our relevance as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it

council, or they would

one or two

isn’t from the council,” I said, and Leo shook his

is obvious,” He said, and I

to

power if I prosecute

very difficult situation

you two is that I

cause you two to come against

us to work together to snuff these people

and do not go to war against

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

sanction to back Leo up so they can arrest Ramsey,”

want to watch

a pawn or might be playing at something

us not limit

has damaged the

who joined you back to me,

said, and I realised they were suffering almost the same as

I asked,

they said Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east by force, so he could

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

might be hard, Leo, but you should send Amanda back to her father’s

done so far, she might be

but his eyes showed he was thinking

work with

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

because you are too smart to share everything with us

I hope we cross that

want is peace in our world and for everyone to mind their regions while you keep us safe and stabilise

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

and

to stay in

hoped he would have the heart to control his wolf

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

join Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard Vino’s voice in my

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

The cards got to

threat was from a

mate was extreme, making me impatient to catch the

I was

My reasons were simple.

would likely use my enemies to

a known enemy of

had transpired between us, I knew he would have no issues moving

to keep him close so he could be one

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

not know

many clues that led to

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

was too much for

peace and prosperity in every region

greed and madness, and now I was dealing with

position was dangerous for our world as it would

someone they could follow, or they would

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

with her now made me

down more so

my mood; burying my nose on

asking that Jake have them escort

to swallow my pride and ask

looked at my mate got to

just the mate bond that pulled him to

and just like Leo, he

it this way? However dark and twisted it

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

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

wouldn’t have to address the elephant, and we would

to deal with the card issue leaving Devin, Leo and

private

sat down before

but Devin was

never met in person before, and even though he told people he had

secret was

type to ruin a man’s

said, and Leo

yet to smooth things out,” I said,

I looked at

lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his

confessed, and I did not

know, we are the least unlikely people to

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

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

received a series of cards threatening her,” I said, and Devin growled at

your bad luck

too sweet for anyone to

you,” Devin accused me, and his

I couldn’t

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

let it affect

looked at him, and

rejected me

fated, and she let me go because of

You took her from Leo

happy now? You

had to take my fated from me!” he said,

I let him vent.

his fated for her,

other from the onset, and she would reject you,

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

and looked at me in

fated?” he asked, and I looked

north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

of your polo teams,” I

would have suspected you