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.

Tamia became

fated,” I said, and Leo’s

were streaming down

Devin said, and

haven’t you claimed her?” he said, and

don’t want

romance of the

to show everyone I love her and claim her in

want it to be special, that is

to you.” I said

up to calm himself down and then sat back

He was a mess.

best friends,” he started, and I knew he was speaking more

her we would always

would be us against

let another woman into

let it go.” He

day she gave herself up to be taken by your men, she was hurt that

that I still

on me

She refused to fight.

he said, and I knew it would always haunt

wiped away his tears and looked at

for giving her everything that I

know she is

I can see it.

not against

you two have been matched by

you will care for her, but

I have tried.

won’t lie to you,

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

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

booth for some minutes before Devin finally spoke

He asked, and I cleared my throat to

had been happening, starting from the

about Ramsey and what has

Gezel’s and Liam’s names but

not give them all the information

a bit shocked at

the council,” he said, and I shook my

it

a lord, not a

are all noble families, and each noble family

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

council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it that way

the council, or they

one or two

the real threat isn’t from the council,”

the threat is obvious,” He said,

to

power if I

very difficult situation for

to you two is that I

to cause you two to

together to snuff these people

and do not go

their choices and detect their moves to catch them,”

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

to

or might be

not limit our

damaged the east

you back to me,

Devin, remember?” Leo said, and I

asked, and

Devin, they said Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east by

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

you should send Amanda back to her father’s

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

reluctant, but his eyes showed he

will work with you,

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

some information because you are too smart to share everything

same, but I hope we cross

for everyone to mind their regions while

hope we can achieve that,” he said,

stood up, and we exchanged

in touch

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

I knew I

where they were handling the card

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

The cards got

threat was from a distance, but they

mate was extreme, making me

seeing that I was willing to

My reasons were simple.

was responsible for this would likely use my enemies to

was a known

knew

he could be one

to take up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I

did not know where

many clues

was reacting to something hence why it was a dead

for me to

duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in every

now I was dealing

position was dangerous for our world as it would lead

they could follow, or they would lead chaotic

to destroy order just to get what they wanted?

with her now made me understand the relevance

scent calmed me down more so than

knew how to help my mood; burying my nose on her

asking that Jake have them escort him, but

pride and ask for their

how Devin looked at my mate got to

the mate bond

in his eyes, and just like Leo, he

this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I ended

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

did not care; all

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

and Theodore branched to deal with the card issue

to my private

sat down before Devin and

was relaxed, but Devin was

in person before, and even though he told people he had defeated me in battle, we both knew it was a

was

to ruin a

I said, and Leo smiled at

yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he could

I looked

hoping you would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled,

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

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

to beat around the bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and

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

cards threatening her,” I said,

have made your bad

is too sweet for

me, and his words got to

couldn’t help

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

let it affect

him, and his

rejected me because

and she let

much sacrifice can you make? You took her from Leo

happy now?

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

I let him vent.

his fated for her, too, Devin, so

they loved each other from the onset, and she would reject you,

so let it go.” Leo said, sounding

was surprised by it and looked at me

asked,

her to the north,” I told him, and

“Susan Sullivan.

niece, the captain of your polo teams,” I

I would have suspected you brought my ex to