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 my second chance

are fated,” I said,

were streaming down his

said, and I shook my

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

don’t want my love

of the

everyone I love her and claim her in the

want it to be special, that

not lying to you.” I said

up to calm himself down and then sat back

He was a mess.

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

we would always

us against the

and let another woman

it go.”

she gave herself up to be taken by your men, she was hurt that I took precautions

profound that I still have nightmares about

on me that

She refused to fight.

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

wiped away his tears

you for giving her everything that

know she is

I can see it.

am not against your

am glad you two have been matched

know you will care for her, but I can never

I have tried.

lie

I would stop loving her, but I have accepted that she is no longer mine in this lifetime,”

be easier for him to let Tamia go because, other than the bond,

for some minutes before Devin finally spoke

this meeting?” He asked, and I cleared my

him everything that had been happening, starting from the attack on

him about Ramsey

Gezel’s and Liam’s names but spoke of

could not give them all the information I

said, a bit shocked at what I had told

the council,” he said, and I shook my

wished it

lord, not a

noble families, and

from the council and pointing at

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

council,

or two

the council,” I said, and Leo shook his

the threat is obvious,”

to be

I prosecute the wrong

is a very difficult situation for

am talking to you two is

you two to

want us to work together

do not go to war

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

think you should give a sanction to back Leo up so they can arrest

want to watch

a pawn or might be

us not limit our

damaged

joined you back to

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

I asked, and

would attack me to take the rest of the east by

would have been at war if I had not decided to have

Leo, but you should send

so far, she might be in on it

reluctant, but his eyes showed he was

will work

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

too smart to share everything with us

will do the same, but I hope we cross

I want is peace in our world and for everyone to mind their regions

hope we can achieve that,” he said, and

up, and

stay in

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

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

Theodore where they were

Volkov, I would like to see you briefly,”

The cards got to

was alright when the threat was from a distance, but they hit home

extreme, making me impatient to catch

Tamia could tell, seeing that I was willing

My reasons were simple.

for this would likely use my enemies

a known

all that had transpired between us, I knew he would

needed to keep him close so he could be one less person to

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

did not know where

were so many clues that led to

as if everyone was reacting to

too much for me

lord of the north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in every region and

now

our world as it would lead

could follow,

people so hungry for power that they were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted?

made me understand

scent calmed me down more

mood; burying my nose on

almost regretted asking that Jake

my pride and ask for their

looked at my mate got

the mate bond that

in his eyes, and just like Leo, he too, regretted

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

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

thing worked, and I did not care; all I

the elephant, and we would only be facing

deal with the

private booth, where I held

before Devin and

relaxed, but

never met in person before, and even though he told people he had defeated me in battle, we both knew it was

was

the type to ruin

and Leo smiled

to smooth things out,” I said, and he could not say a

looked

the mood, and he smiled, but his smile

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

unlikely people to speak,” I started, and

was getting too much, and the earlier we left

about, and that person’s life is in danger,” I said, and Devin was

of cards threatening her,” I

have made your bad luck rub

for

Devin accused me, and

couldn’t

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

let it affect

him, and his eyes were

rejected me because

and she let

Leo and made it impossible

happy now? You selfish

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

I let him vent.

let go of his fated for her, too,

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

let it go.” Leo said, sounding a bit short, and I knew Devin’s words got

and looked at

your fated?” he asked, and I looked

I told him, and he

“Susan Sullivan.

captain of your polo teams,”

better, I would have suspected you brought my ex to