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

fated,” I said, and Leo’s

were streaming down his

Devin said, and I shook

haven’t you claimed her?” he

don’t want

love the romance of the blue

love her and claim her in the eyes of everyone

it to be special, that

I am not lying to you.” I

up to calm himself down and then sat

He was a mess.

he was speaking more to relieve himself, but I

promised her we would

be us against

promise and let another woman into

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

men, she was hurt that I took precautions with her and got Amanda

profound that I still

gave up on

She refused to fight.

said, and

his tears and looked at

her everything

she

I can see it.

not

glad you two have been matched by

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

I have tried.

won’t lie to

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

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

was silence in the booth for some minutes before

having this meeting?” He asked,

him everything that had been happening,

him about Ramsey and what has happened till

Liam’s names

the information I had just in case they

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit

the council,” he said, and I shook my

wished it was that

a lord, not a

noble families, and each

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

all our relevance as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it that way

be all the council, or

or two

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

threat is obvious,” He

need to be

my power if I prosecute the wrong

a very difficult situation

you two

you two to

want us to work together

and do not go to war against

moves to catch them,” I

you should give a sanction to back Leo up so

to

might be

us not limit our

man has damaged

joined you back to me, the east would have been

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

I asked, and Leo

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

had not decided to have a peaceful conversation with Devin,”

you should send Amanda

for a reason, and knowing all that he had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo

reluctant, but his eyes showed he was thinking

will work with

I will advise you

information because you are too smart to share everything

I hope we cross that bridge

world and for everyone to mind their regions while you

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

stood up, and we

in touch and

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

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

to join Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard

to see you briefly,” he

cards

from a distance, but they

mate was extreme, making me impatient to

was desperate, and Tamia could tell, seeing that I

My reasons were simple.

responsible for this would likely use my enemies to get

a known

us, I knew he would have no issues

he could be

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

did not know where

clues

everyone was reacting to something hence why it

much for me

of the north, my duty was to ensure peace and prosperity in every region

and madness, and now I

our world as it would lead to

could follow, or they would

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

with her now made me understand

calmed me down

my mood; burying my nose on her neck

almost regretted asking that Jake have them escort him, but

my pride and ask

how Devin looked at my mate

mate bond that pulled

nothing but longing in his eyes, and just like Leo, he too, regretted

and twisted it

where it was impossible to meet a fated, I believe

worked, and I did not care; all I knew

to address the elephant, and we would only be

to deal with the card issue leaving Devin, Leo

private booth, where I held

sat down before Devin and

relaxed, but

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

was safe with

wasn’t the type to ruin a

I said, and

are yet to smooth things out,”

looked

hoping you would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his smile

I did not need to guess why

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

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

all care about, and that person’s life is in danger,” I said,

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

your bad luck rub on

is too sweet for

is because of her association with you,” Devin accused me, and his words got to

couldn’t help

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

let it

at him, and his eyes were

rejected me because

she let me go because

took her from Leo and made it impossible

now?

the women at your beck and call, but you had to take my fated from me!” he said,

I let him vent.

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

she would

it just like me, Devin, so let it go.” Leo said, sounding a bit short, and I knew

it and looked at me in

asked, and I looked at

north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

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

didn’t know better, I would have suspected you