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,

were streaming down his

and I shook

haven’t you claimed her?”

don’t want

romance of the blue

want to show everyone I love her and claim her in the

to be special,

am not lying to you.” I

calm himself down and then sat

He was a mess.

I knew he was speaking

promised her we

would be us

let another woman

or let it go.” He said and looked at

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

was so profound that

gave up on me that

She refused to fight.

with me,” he said, and

wiped away his tears

for giving her everything

she is

I can see it.

not

you two have been matched

for her, but I can

I have tried.

won’t lie

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

easier for him to

in the booth for some minutes before Devin

we having this meeting?” He asked,

been happening, starting from the

also told him about Ramsey and what has happened till

back Gezel’s and Liam’s names but spoke of the

the information I had just in case they

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit shocked at

said,

wished it was that

lord, not a

families, and each noble

away from the council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said, and

the council in charge,” he pointed out

be all the council, or they would

one or two

the council,” I said, and

the threat is obvious,” He said, and

need to

I prosecute the wrong council member without

very difficult situation

I am talking to you two is that

you two to come against me

to work together to snuff these

your respective regions and do not go to war against each

to catch them,” I said,

to back Leo up so they can arrest Ramsey,” Devin said, and Leo shook

to watch

be a pawn or might

not limit our

has damaged the east

send the people who joined you

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

asked,

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 to the

not decided to have a peaceful conversation

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

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

his eyes showed he

will work with you,

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

you withheld some information because you are too smart to share everything with us on our first

but I hope we cross

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

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

up, and we exchanged

in

hoped he would have the heart to control

knew what the bond was like, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to send Tamia away like

I went to join Marcel and Theodore where they were

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

cards got to

alright when the threat was from

was extreme, making

could tell, seeing that I was willing to talk

My reasons were simple.

would likely use

a known enemy

all that had transpired between us, I knew he would have no

he could be

was a bit ashamed that Tamia had to take up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no

not know where to

clues

everyone was reacting to something hence why it

was too much for me

north, my duty was to ensure peace and

curbed greed and madness, and now I was dealing

dangerous for our world as it would

needed someone they could follow, or

that they were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted?

me understand the

down more so

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

regretted asking that Jake have them escort him, but it was now or

pride and ask for

how Devin looked at

mate bond that pulled

eyes, and just like Leo, he too,

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

was impossible to meet a fated, I believe

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

and

Theodore branched to deal with the card issue leaving Devin, Leo and

my private booth,

down before Devin and Leo

relaxed, but Devin

people he had defeated me in battle, we

secret was

wasn’t the type to ruin a

said, and Leo smiled

to smooth things out,”

looked at

to lighten the mood, and he smiled,

I

are the least unlikely people

around the bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left the Arena and set out for the Estate,

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

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

bad luck rub on

sweet for anyone to

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

I couldn’t

is best for her and love her

did not let it

at him, and his eyes were

rejected me because

and she let me

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

you happy now? You selfish

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

I let him vent.

fated for her, too,

she would

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

by it and looked at me in

he asked, and I

to the north,” I told

“Susan Sullivan.

Sullivan’s niece, the captain of your polo teams,” I

I didn’t know better, I would have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt