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.

Tamia became my second chance

are fated,” I said, and Leo’s

were streaming down his

Devin said, and

haven’t you claimed her?” he said,

don’t want my

of

want to show everyone I love her and claim her in the

be

lying to you.” I said with

calm himself

He was a mess.

I knew he was speaking

her we would always be

us against the

promise and let another woman

or let it go.”

she was hurt that I

was so profound that I still have nightmares

gave up on

She refused to fight.

me,” he said, and I knew

tears and

giving her everything that

know she is

I can see it.

not against your

two have been

also know you will care for her, but I

I have tried.

won’t lie to

I would stop loving her, but I have accepted that she is

and I knew it would be easier for him to let Tamia

the booth for some minutes before Devin

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

told him everything that had been happening,

told him about Ramsey and what has

and Liam’s names but spoke of the

could not give them all the information I had just in

said, a bit shocked at what I had

he said,

it

am a lord, not

are all noble families, and each noble family

from the council and pointing at an

as region heads, destroys the monarchy and puts the council in charge,” he pointed out and putting it that way didn’t make it seem like

be all the council, or they would have

or two

the council,” I said, and Leo shook

threat is obvious,”

need to

my power if I prosecute the wrong

a very difficult situation

you two is that

cause you two to

want us to work together to snuff these people

not go to war against each

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

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

want to

might be playing at something else

us not limit

damaged the

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

Leo said, and I realised they were suffering almost the same

asked,

Devin, they said Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east

at war if I had not decided to have

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

had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin told Leo what

but his eyes showed he was thinking the

work

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

too smart to

will do the same, but I hope we cross that bridge

and for everyone to mind their regions while you

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

up, and we exchanged

in touch and

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

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

and Theodore where they were handling the card matter, I heard Vino’s voice

briefly,” he said,

The cards

when the threat was from a distance, but they hit

making me impatient to

I was willing to talk to Devin Corrigan about

My reasons were simple.

this would likely use

was a known enemy

us, I knew he would have no issues moving

him close so he could be one

had to take up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could

not know

clues that led to

almost as if everyone was reacting to something hence why it was a dead

for

peace and prosperity in every region

and now I

dangerous for our

could follow, or they would lead

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

with her now made me understand the relevance

calmed me down more so than

to help my mood; burying

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

pride and ask

how Devin looked at my mate got

doubt it was just the mate bond that pulled him to

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

fate wanted it this way? However dark and twisted it may seem, Tamia and I ended up being fated

impossible to meet a fated, I believe we were blessed to

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

address the elephant, and we would

and Theodore branched to deal with the card issue leaving Devin, Leo and

private booth, where I held

down before

relaxed, but Devin was

people he had defeated me in battle, we

his secret was safe with

the type to ruin a man’s

and Leo

are yet to smooth things out,” I said, and he could not

looked

would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood,

thing,” he confessed, and I did

unlikely people to

much, and the earlier we left the Arena and set out

that person’s life is in danger,” I said,

cards threatening her,” I said, and

made your bad luck rub on

too sweet for

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

I couldn’t

so I have to do what is best for her and love her the best way I can,” I said, and Devin

let

and

me because of

and she let

much sacrifice can you make? You took her from Leo and made it impossible for her

happy now?

call, but you had to take my fated from me!” he said, and

I let him vent.

his fated for her,

would reject you, so do not try

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

by it and looked at me in

fated?” he asked, and I looked

to the north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

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

suspected you brought my