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

I said,

streaming

and I shook

you claimed her?”

want my

of the

her and claim her in the eyes of everyone under the

want it to be

am not lying to you.” I said

calm himself down and then sat

He was a mess.

were best friends,” he started, and I knew he was speaking more to relieve himself,

her we would always

would be us against

let another

forgive myself or let it go.” He said and looked

gave herself up to be taken by your men, she was hurt that I took precautions with her

was so profound that I still have nightmares

up on

She refused to fight.

said, and I knew

tears

you for giving her everything that I

she

I can see it.

not against your

you two have been

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

I have tried.

lie

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

the other hand, was silent, and I knew it would be easier for

the booth for some minutes before Devin finally

He asked, and I cleared my

had been happening,

also told him about Ramsey and what has

Liam’s names

information

is extreme,” Devin said, a bit shocked at

said,

wished it was that

lord,

families, and each

pointing at an organisation fighting for democracy,” I said, and

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

be all the council, or they

or two

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

the threat is obvious,”

to

my power if I prosecute the wrong

very difficult situation

reason I am talking to you two is that I

to cause you two to come against

work together to snuff these people

not

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

up so they can arrest Ramsey,” Devin said,

to watch

be a pawn or might

us not

man has damaged the

you back to me, the east would

and I realised they were

I asked,

Devin would attack me to take the rest of the east by force, so he could build an

if I had not decided to have a peaceful conversation

Leo, but you should send

that he had done so far, she might be in on it too,” Devin

his eyes showed he was thinking

work

work with you, but I will advise you

withheld some information because you are too smart to share everything with

I hope

our world and for everyone to mind their regions while

we can achieve that,”

up, and

stay in

Leo the most and hoped he would have the

bond was like, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to send

join Marcel and Theodore where they were handling the

see you briefly,” he said, and I wondered what

The cards

when the threat was from a distance, but they hit home this

making me impatient to catch

could tell, seeing that I

My reasons were simple.

likely

was a known enemy

had transpired between us, I knew he

close so he could be

had to take up some responsibilities when she needed to rest, but I could no

not know

were so many clues that

was reacting to something hence why it was a

for me to

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

existence curbed greed and madness, and now I was dealing with more

for our world as

could follow, or

were willing to destroy order just to get what they wanted? Tamia knew exactly what

now made me understand

me down more

burying my nose on her neck helped me

and Devin, I almost regretted asking that Jake have them

my pride and ask for their

Devin looked at my

the mate bond that pulled him to

longing in his eyes, and just like Leo,

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

a world where it was impossible to meet a fated,

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

address the elephant, and we would only

the card issue leaving Devin, Leo

to my private

before

but Devin

he told people he had defeated me in

was safe

type to ruin a man’s

I said, and Leo smiled at

see you and Tamia are yet to smooth things out,”

looked at

the mood, and he smiled, but his smile did not touch his

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

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

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

that we all care about, and that person’s

threatening her,” I said, and Devin growled

made your bad luck rub

for anyone to hate

Devin accused me, and his words got to me, but I kept it to

I couldn’t

best for her

let

at him, and his eyes were

rejected me because

she let

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

happy now? You

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

I let him vent.

fated for her, too, Devin, so let it

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

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

by it and looked

he asked,

north,” I told him, and

“Susan Sullivan.

the captain of your polo teams,”

you brought