Is this destiny?

"Thirty seconds left until the betting closes!", the announcer shouted.

Aiden broke the kiss and smiled at the sight of Sarah's unfocused gaze and he knew that she was aroused. Ah, her pregnancy comes with so many perks! Too bad they have so much audience. If there was no fight only minutes away, he would scoop Sarah into his arms and find privacy.

"Watch me, my love…", Aiden spoke into Sarah's lips.

"Always…", Sarah responded dreamily.

He gave her another quick kiss and went to the fighting enclosure.

"Bets are closed!", the announcer said excitedly and the noise in the club simmered down to whispers. Even the volume of the music was reduced.

The announcer glanced from Aiden to Jacob while talking: "The rules are simple. No weapons. Anything goes. The fight ends when one is unable to continue or calls out that he gives up. Good luck!"

The announcer scurried out and the cage door closed behind him with a bang.

At the bar…

Chloe looked at the screen with her eyes open wide. Since she arrived at the club, there were at least ten fights, but none radiated this importance. During previous fights, the music blasted, and people chatted like nothing major is going on, but now many people squeezed toward the fighting area, and others looked at the numerous TV screens that were along the walls. The atmosphere was tense.

Chloe glanced at Noah and saw that he was sipping his drink with a slightly bored expression. Everyone in the bar area was staring at the screens, so Noah stood out.

"Are you not interested in the fight?", Chloe asked Noah.

Noah didn't want to watch Aiden fighting. For him, it was a reminder of how much gap is between them. But he would not admit that. "There is no suspense when you know who will win."

Chloe frowned. "You think that Aiden will lose?"

"What makes you think that?"

"The other guy is bigger."

Noah shook his head, telling her that she was wrong. "The size doesn't matter if he can't land a hit."

Noah didn't like that Aiden is superior compared to him, but Aiden's skills were undeniable. Also, if Noah tried saying anything bad about Aiden, he would be forced to swallow those words when the fight starts.

Chloe was not sure what Noah meant, but she understood that her assumption of how Aiden will lose was false. She turned to the screen which showed Aiden and Jacob circling slowly along the edge of the fighting enclosure.

Jacob's mouth moved, but they didn't have microphones, so no one heard what he said other than people who were nearby, but it was obvious that he was taunting Aiden.

Chloe inhaled sharply when Jacob lunged himself at Aiden. Aiden avoided him skillfully once, twice… every time with the same mocking grin on his face, like he is playing with a child. Jacob was livid as his face turned red and the veins protruded on his neck and forehead in anger.

Chloe held her breath and gripped the edge of the bar counter subconsciously. It was just like in action movies, but this was live, and she knew one of the actors. How can they move so fast? And it looked vicious. If Aiden didn't avoid those punches, he would be minced meat!

Next to the arena, Sarah looked at Aiden as possessed. He was fast and agile and powerful… that was her husband right there.  She was always proud of him, but seeing him fight and play with his prey, woke up in her something primal that made her heart race and fall in love with him more.

Aiden gradually slowed down his movement, allowing every next Jacob's hit to land closer. Of course, this increased Jacob's zeal as he was confident that Aiden is getting tired from all the dodging.

Jacob ran toward Aiden with a loud roar which stopped halfway when Aiden half-kneeled and jabbed his elbow inside Jacob's abdomen. Jacob froze mid-step with his mouth open and arms in the air. The sudden lack of oxygen in his body caught him by surprise. It didn't take more than a moment, but by the time Jacob came around, Aiden was standing behind him.

Jacob stopped his wild attacks and shouted toward the skies as his frustration swelled because he was unable to land a hit on Aiden.

"Is that all you've got?", Aiden asked Jacob and then looked at Jacob's boss. "You should have sent your best fighter and not this brute trash."

Jacob saw red. He squeezed a curse through his teeth and dashed toward Aiden.

Jacob was fast, but Aiden was faster.

Aiden swiftly moved to the side and kicked Jacob in the thigh, making the latter stumble, and then Aiden started his bashing, using elbows and legs.

Aiden's kicks pushed Jacob against the wire which enclosed the fighting area and Aiden bashed Jacob brutally while closing off any paths for Jacob to step away. Jacob was unable to dodge and he was forced to defend.

It was not the first time for Chloe to see people fighting. Just ten days ago she attended Emma's baby shower and there she saw a number of fights, but none were vicious like this. Even the one where Merve beat Samantha, and Corey beat Victor, were not this intense. Those were like cubs playing, while this one showcased two full-grown beasts going at each other.

From the beginning of the fight, Jacob looked raw and feral, while Aiden showed grace and speed. Jacob took the initiative to attack, and Aiden was only dodging him, but in one split moment, Aiden showed his dominance (and lack of mercy) while bashing Jacob whose appearance quickly turned into a bloody mess.

The crowd was cheering and shouting as the winner was obvious.

"I told you that Aiden will win."

Noah's voice got Chloe's attention. He saw that she was slightly pale.  "Are you OK?"

Chloe forced a smile. "Yeah. Fine."

In truth, Chloe was wondering if this was normal, and she lived a sheltered life where people don't fight like in action movies. She saw Sarah and Aiden more than once, and she knew that people fear them, but the couple themselves always looked prim and proper with a hint of wildness in them but she never guessed that it's this… feral.

"I should go…", Chloe said.

"Now is not a good time.", Noah's words stopped her. "Wait until the fight is over and things settle down."

Chloe realized that she didn't touch her second drink. She took a sip and waited for whatever 'settle down' means.

She had so many questions, but she kept them to herself. While growing up in the Long family, Chloe learned that sometimes is for the best not to talk. And this looked like one of those times.

Chloe watched as Aiden stood above Jacob as the latter slid on the ground, unable to move. He was obviously unconscious.

"The winner is Mr. A!", the announcer shouted, and the club shook from cheers and screams.

"Erebus! Erebus! Erebus!...", the crowd started chanting and Aiden lifted his arms in the air victoriously.

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