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 second chance

are fated,” I said, and Leo’s hands

were streaming down

and I shook my

haven’t you claimed her?” he said, and

want my love

romance of the blue

claim her in the

want it to be special, that is

to

stood up to calm himself down and then sat back

He was a mess.

started, and I knew he was

her we

be us against the

promise and let another woman

let it go.” He said and looked at

men, she was hurt that I took precautions with

was so profound that I still have nightmares about

gave up on me that

She refused to fight.

said,

tears and looked at

her everything that I

she is

I can see it.

am not against your

you two have been

care for her, but I can never get

I have tried.

won’t lie

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

knew it would be easier for him to let Tamia go

was silence in the booth for some minutes

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

everything that had been happening, starting from the attack on

Ramsey and

Liam’s names but spoke of

not give them all the information I

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit

he said, and I shook

it

lord, not

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, and Devin shook his

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

the council, or they would

one or

council,” I said, and Leo shook

the threat is obvious,” He

to

lose my power if I prosecute the

is a very difficult situation for

talking to you two is that

have tried to cause you two to come

us to work together to

do not go to war

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

so

want to

might be a pawn or might be

not limit

has damaged

people who joined you back to

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

I asked, and

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

if I had not decided to have

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

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

looked reluctant, but his eyes showed

work with you,

life is in danger, I will work with you, but I will advise

are too smart to share everything with us on our first

do the same, but I hope we cross that bridge

and for everyone to mind their regions while you keep

and I hope we can achieve that,” he said, and I heard the sincerity in his

and

stay in touch

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

like, and I knew I wouldn’t

where they were handling the card matter,

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

The cards got to

was from a distance, but they hit

extreme, making me

tell, seeing that I was willing

My reasons were simple.

would likely use my enemies

a known enemy

knew he would have no

to keep him close so he could be

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

did not know

clues

was reacting to something hence why it was a dead

for me to deal

ensure peace and prosperity in every region

and now I was dealing

was dangerous for our world as

someone they could follow, or they would lead

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

made me understand the relevance of

calmed me down

knew how to help my mood; burying my nose on

and Devin, I almost regretted asking that Jake have them escort him, but it

swallow my pride and ask for their

at my mate got to

the mate bond that pulled him to

eyes, and just like Leo,

and twisted it

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

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

to address the elephant, and we would only be facing the matter

deal with the

walked to my private booth, where I held

down before Devin and

was relaxed, but Devin

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

was safe with

to

I said, and

Tamia are yet to smooth things out,” I

I looked at

would play a sport,” I said to lighten the mood, and he smiled, but his smile did not

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

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

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

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

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

bad

for

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

I couldn’t help

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

not let it

looked at him, and his eyes were

rejected me

fated, and she let me

her from Leo and

now? You selfish

your beck and call, but you had to take

I let him vent.

fated for her, too, Devin, so

from the onset, and she would reject

let it go.” Leo said, sounding

was surprised by it and looked at

rejected your fated?” he asked, and

brought her to the north,” I told him,

“Susan Sullivan.

niece, the captain of your polo

have suspected you brought my ex to disrupt my