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

said,

streaming

and I shook

you claimed her?” he said, and

don’t want my love

love the romance of

I love her and claim

want it to be special,

I am not lying to you.” I said

himself down

He was a mess.

I knew he was speaking

we would always

would be us

let another woman

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

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

hurt was so profound that

on me

She refused to fight.

surviving with me,” he said, and I

his tears and looked at

giving her everything

know she is

I can see it.

not against your

glad you two

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

I have tried.

lie to

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

on the other hand, was silent, and I knew it would be easier for him to let Tamia go

silence in the booth for some

we having this meeting?” He asked, and

been happening, starting from the attack

told him about Ramsey and what has happened

Liam’s names but

could not give them all the information

extreme,” Devin said, a bit shocked at what I

the council,” he said, and I

it was that

am a lord, not

noble families, and each noble

at an organisation fighting for

all our relevance as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,”

can’t be all the council, or they

or

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

is obvious,” He said,

to be

lose my power if I prosecute

is a very

you two is

have tried to cause you two to come

to work together to snuff these

do not go to war

to catch them,” I said, and

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

to watch

might be a pawn or might

not limit

damaged

send the people who joined you back to me,

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

I asked, and

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

been at war if I had not decided to have a peaceful conversation with Devin,” Leo said, and Devin cleared

you should send Amanda

all that he had done so far, she

looked reluctant, but his eyes showed he was thinking

will work

I will advise you to be open with us so we

too smart to share

do the same, but I hope we cross that bridge

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,”

stood up, and we exchanged

to stay in touch

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

was like, and I knew

Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard Vino’s

would like to see you briefly,” he said,

The cards got to

the threat was from a distance, but they hit

was extreme, making me

I was willing to talk to Devin

My reasons were simple.

for this would likely use my

was a known

us, I knew he would have no issues moving against

close so he could be one less

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

not know where to

so many clues that led

everyone was reacting to something hence why it was

much for

was to ensure peace and prosperity in every region and that no laws

existence curbed greed and madness, and now I

position was dangerous for our world as it

needed someone they could follow, or

were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted? Tamia knew exactly what

with her now made me understand the

me down more so than

help my mood; burying

I almost regretted asking that

to swallow my pride and

how Devin looked at my mate got to

was just the mate bond that pulled

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

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

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

not know how the thing worked, and I did not care;

we wouldn’t have to address the elephant, and we would only be facing the matter

the card issue leaving

private

sat down before Devin and Leo

but Devin

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

his secret was safe

the type to

said, and

and Tamia are yet to smooth things

I looked

said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his

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

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

because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left the

all care about, and that

threatening her,” I said, and Devin growled at

have made your bad luck rub on

too sweet for anyone

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

I couldn’t help

I have to do what is best for her and love

let

looked at him, and his

rejected me

and she let

Leo and made it impossible for her to love

you happy now? You

had to take my fated from me!” he said, and I was calm, knowing

I let him vent.

of his fated for her, too, Devin, so let it

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

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

by it and looked at

your fated?” he asked, and I looked

I told him, and he

“Susan Sullivan.

the captain of your polo teams,” I told him, and his

you brought my