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.

rejected Susan, Tamia became my second chance

are fated,” I said, and

streaming down his

and I shook my

you claimed her?”

don’t want

the romance of the blue

her and claim her in the

it to be special, that is

lying to you.” I said with

to calm himself down

He was a mess.

I knew he was speaking more to relieve himself, but I

we would always

us

broke my promise and let another woman into

it go.”

men, she was hurt that I took precautions with her

hurt was so profound that I

on me

She refused to fight.

surviving with me,” he said,

tears and looked

giving her everything that I

she

I can see it.

am not against

you two have been matched

know you will care for her, but I can

I have tried.

won’t lie to

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

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

for some minutes before Devin

this meeting?” He asked, and I

that had been happening, starting from the attack

also told him about Ramsey and what

Gezel’s and Liam’s names

give them all the information I had just in

bit shocked

he said,

wished it was

a lord,

are all noble families, and each noble

this thing is moving farther away from the council and pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said,

democracy that waters down all our relevance as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it that way didn’t make

all the council, or they

one or two

isn’t from the council,” I said, and

threat is obvious,” He

to

could lose my power if I prosecute the wrong

very difficult

to you two

cause you two to come against

work together to snuff

and do not go to war

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

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

to watch

or might be playing

not

man has damaged the east

you did not send the people who joined you back to me, the east would have been

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

asked,

rest of the east

to have a peaceful conversation with Devin,” Leo said, and

hard, Leo, but you should send

in your home for a reason, and knowing all that he had done so far, she might be in on it

but his eyes showed

work with

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

information because you are too smart to share everything with us on

I hope we cross that bridge

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

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

stood up, and

in touch and

was worried about Leo the most and hoped he would have the heart to control

like, and I knew I wouldn’t be

went to join Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard Vino’s

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

cards got

was from a distance, but they hit

was extreme, making me impatient to catch the

seeing that I was willing to talk to Devin

My reasons were simple.

would likely use my enemies to get

was a known

knew

close so he could be one

up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no longer hide the fact that I

know where

were so many clues that

everyone was reacting to something hence why it was

was too much for me to

peace and prosperity in every region

and madness, and now I

position was dangerous for our world

needed someone they could follow,

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

her now made me understand the relevance

down more so

burying my nose on her neck helped

asking that Jake have them escort

had to swallow my pride and ask

looked at my mate

mate bond that pulled him

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

them that fate wanted it this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and

a fated, I

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

have to address the elephant, and we would only be

with the card

walked to my private booth, where I

down before

was relaxed, but Devin

though he told people he had defeated me in battle, we both knew it was a

was

to ruin a

and Leo

things out,” I said,

looked

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

I did not

the least unlikely people to

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

one person in common that we all care about, and that person’s life is in danger,”

cards threatening her,” I said, and Devin

bad

too sweet for anyone to hate

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

I couldn’t help

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

did not let it

at him, and

rejected me

she let me go

her from Leo and made it

now? You

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, Devin, so let it

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

you blew it just like me, Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding a

it and looked

fated?” he asked, and I

north,” I told him, and he

“Susan Sullivan.

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

have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my