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 became my

said,

were streaming down his

and

haven’t you claimed her?” he

want

of the blue

claim her in the eyes of everyone under

to be special,

am not lying to you.” I

calm himself down and then sat back

He was a mess.

best friends,” he started, and I knew he was

her we

be us

let

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

by your men, she was hurt that

hurt was so profound that I still have nightmares about

gave up on

She refused to fight.

he said, and I

his tears and

you for giving her everything

she is

I can see it.

am not

two have been

for her, but I can never

I have tried.

won’t lie to

accepted that she is no longer mine in this lifetime,” he said,

for him to let Tamia

was silence in the booth for some minutes

having this meeting?” He asked, and I cleared my throat

had been

about Ramsey and what

held back Gezel’s and Liam’s

could not give them all the information I had

extreme,” Devin said, a bit shocked at

the council,” he said, and I shook

it was

am a lord, not

are all noble families, and each

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

that waters down all our relevance as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in

can’t be all the council, or they would

one or

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

obvious,” He

need to

could lose my power if I prosecute

is a very

I am talking to you two is

to cause you

want us to work together to snuff these

respective regions and do not go to war against each

limit their choices and detect their moves to catch them,”

give a sanction to back Leo up so they can

to

pawn or might be playing at something

us not limit

damaged the east

did not send the people who joined you back

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

asked,

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

decided to have a peaceful conversation with Devin,” Leo

know this might be hard, Leo, but you should send Amanda

so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo what I was uncomfortable telling

eyes showed

will work

will advise

some information because you are too smart

I hope we

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

can achieve that,” he said, and I heard the sincerity

and

in

the most and hoped he would have the heart

and I knew I wouldn’t be able to send Tamia away

where they were handling the card matter,

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

The cards got to

was from

was extreme, making me impatient to catch

desperate, and Tamia could tell, seeing that I was willing to talk to Devin Corrigan about

My reasons were simple.

would likely use my enemies to get

a known enemy

us, I knew he would have no issues

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 no

know where

so many clues that led to

if everyone was reacting to something hence why it was a

for

ensure peace and prosperity in

existence curbed greed and madness, and now I

dangerous for our world

follow, or they would lead

person or people so hungry for power that they were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted? Tamia knew exactly what

made me

calmed me down

to help my mood; burying my nose on her neck

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

pride and

how Devin looked at my mate got to

mate bond that pulled him

his eyes, and

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

world where it was impossible to meet a fated, I

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

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

the card issue leaving Devin,

private booth, where I

down before Devin and

relaxed, but Devin

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

secret was

wasn’t the type to ruin a

and Leo

see you and Tamia are yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he could

looked at

lighten the mood,

confessed, and I did not need to guess why he

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

around the bush because the awkwardness was getting too much, and the earlier we

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

threatening her,” I said, and Devin growled

made your bad luck

too sweet for anyone to

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

couldn’t

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

not let

him, and his eyes

rejected me

fated, and she let me

You took her from Leo and made it impossible for her to love her

you happy now? You

and call, but 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

from the onset, and she would reject you, so do not try to pin this on Lord

it just like me, Devin, so let it go.”

it and

he asked, and

north,” I

“Susan Sullivan.

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

you brought my ex to disrupt