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.

I rejected Susan, Tamia

fated,” I said, and Leo’s

streaming

Devin said, and I shook

you claimed her?” he said,

want

of the blue

and claim her in the

want it to be special, that

not lying to you.” I said with

stood up to calm himself down

He was a mess.

I knew he was speaking more to relieve

her we

would be us

my promise and let another woman into

myself or let it

up to be taken by your men, she was

so profound that I still have nightmares

up on me

She refused to fight.

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

his tears and

for giving her everything that I

know she is

I can see it.

am not against your

am glad you two have been

but I

I have tried.

won’t lie to

that

it would be easier for him

in the booth for

He asked, and I cleared my throat

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

about Ramsey

back Gezel’s and Liam’s names but

give them all the information I had just in case they betrayed

bit

he said, and I shook

wished it

am a lord, not

families, and each

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

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

be all the council, or they would have

one or

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

the threat is obvious,” He

to be

if I prosecute the wrong council

very

to you

have tried to cause you

together to snuff these people

respective regions and do not go to

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

sanction to back Leo up so they

to

might be playing

not limit

damaged

the people who joined you back to me,

remember?” Leo said, and I realised they were

I asked, and Leo

to take the rest of the east by force, so he could build an army to march to the

have been at war if I had not decided to have

Leo, but you should send Amanda back to her

a reason, and knowing all that he had done so

reluctant, but his eyes showed he was thinking the same

will work

but I will advise you to be open with us so we won’t

you are too smart to share everything

same, but I hope we cross that bridge

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

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

and we exchanged

in touch and

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

knew what the bond was like, and I knew I wouldn’t be able

Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the

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

The cards

threat was from a

my mate was extreme, making me impatient to

tell, seeing that I was willing to

My reasons were simple.

would likely

a known enemy

had transpired between us, I knew he

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

take up some responsibilities when she

not know where to

many clues that led to

reacting to something hence why it was a

too much for me to

lord of the north, my duty was to ensure peace and

and madness, and now

my position was dangerous for our world as it would lead

someone they could follow, or

person or people so hungry for power that they were willing to destroy order just to

with her now made me understand the

calmed me down more

mood; burying my

that Jake

swallow my pride and

Devin looked at my mate got to

mate bond that pulled him to

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

However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I ended up being fated after passing through

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

know how the thing worked, and I did not care; all I knew was that she

the elephant, and we would only be facing the matter

the card issue

walked to my private booth, where

before Devin

was relaxed, but Devin was

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

secret was

to ruin a

said, and Leo

yet to smooth things out,” I

I looked at

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

thing,” he confessed, and I did not need to guess

know, we are the least unlikely

the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we left the Arena and set out for

we all care about, and that person’s life

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

made your bad luck rub

for anyone to hate

and his words got to me, but

couldn’t

for her and love her

not let

and his eyes

me because

my fated, and she let me go because of

make? You took her from Leo and made it impossible

you happy now?

all the women at your beck and call, but you had to take

I let him vent.

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

other from the onset, and she would reject you, so

let it go.” Leo said,

and looked at me

he asked, and I

brought her to the north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

of your polo

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