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.

Susan, Tamia became my

are fated,” I said,

were streaming down his

and

her?” he said, and

want

love the romance of the blue moon

claim her in the eyes of everyone under the blessed

be special, that

lying to you.” I said

calm himself down and

He was a mess.

knew he was speaking

her we

would be us against the

my promise and let

let it go.” He

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

was so profound that I still have

on me that

She refused to fight.

over surviving with me,” he said, and I knew it

away his tears and looked at

for giving her everything that

know she

I can see it.

am not against

glad you two have been matched by

her, but I can never get over

I have tried.

lie to you,

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

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

in the booth for some minutes

asked, and I

been happening, starting from

Ramsey and what has

back Gezel’s and Liam’s

could not give them all the information I had just

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit

the council,” he said,

it was

lord,

are all noble families, and each

from the council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said, and Devin shook his

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

the council,

or

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

obvious,” He said, and

to be

could lose my power if I prosecute the wrong council member

very difficult situation for

talking to you two

have tried to cause you two to come against

us to work together

regions and do not

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

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

want to watch

be a pawn or might

us not limit our

damaged the east

you back to me,

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

I asked, and

the rest of the east by force, so he could build an

had not decided to have

but you should send Amanda back to her

and knowing all that he had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo what I was

reluctant, but his eyes showed he was thinking the same

work with

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

you are too smart to share everything with

do the same, but I hope we

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

I hope we can achieve that,” he said,

up, and we exchanged

in

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

and I knew I wouldn’t be able

to join Marcel and Theodore where they were

I would like to see you briefly,”

The cards got

the threat was from a distance, but they hit

was extreme, making me impatient to

that I was willing to talk to Devin

My reasons were simple.

responsible for this would likely use my

was a known

knew he would have no issues moving

keep him close so he could be one

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

know where to

clues that led to

if everyone was reacting to something hence

much for me to deal

north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in every region and that no laws were

curbed greed and madness, and now I was

for our world as

could follow, or they would

that they were willing to destroy order just to

made me understand the relevance of being

down more so than

help my mood; burying my nose on her neck helped

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

had to swallow my pride and ask for their

Devin looked at my

doubt it was just the mate

in his eyes, and

this way? However dark and twisted it may

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

I did not care; all I knew was that

have to address the elephant, and we would only be facing the

with the card issue leaving

walked to my private booth, where I

before Devin

but Devin

met in person before, and even though he told people he

secret was safe

to ruin a man’s

I said, and Leo smiled

things out,”

looked

sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled,

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

unlikely people to speak,”

too much, and the earlier

about, and that person’s life is in

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

have made your bad luck rub

is too sweet for

with you,” Devin accused me, and

I couldn’t

for her and love her the best way I can,”

not let

him, and his

me because of

my fated, and she let me

make? You took her from Leo and made it impossible

happy now?

to take my fated from me!” he

I let him vent.

his fated for her,

onset, and she would reject you, so do not try to pin this

just like me, Devin, so let it

was surprised by it and looked at me in

he asked, and I

to the north,” I told him, and he

“Susan Sullivan.

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

have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my