Is this destiny?

~ Eastern Europe, undisclosed location ~

Svetlana staggered out of Aiden\'s room and robotically walked toward hers which is several buildings away.

Svetlana blinked at the sunlight that assaulted her eyes, it\'s obviously daytime.

The first thing she remembers from that morning was Aiden pushing her out of his room. "Go to your room I need to shower. Hurry up so that people don\'t gossip…"

Svetlana was confused. What gossip? Did she spend the night with Aiden? Last night, Natalia practically forced her to go and try to get into Aiden\'s room again, and she remembers hearing something and knocking and him letting her inside and… How come everything after that is blank? And why is her whole body sore? Aching back and legs might be due to intense lovemaking, but why is her face hurting?

She passed by a few people who averted their gazes. She wondered if her hair is messy.

"Good job, Svetlana. I knew that you can do it…", Natalia\'s voice pulled Svetlana out of her daze.

Svetlana turned to Natalia and she saw that Natalia frowned slightly.

Natalia tilted her head while observing Svetlana\'s face keenly. "It seems that Alex likes it rough. But based on the noise you made last night, you liked it. Go shower and put some makeup over those bruises."

Svetlana blinked and reached for her aching cheek. "Bruises?"

Svetlana and Natalia don\'t know that those are greetings from Sarah, but they will find out about it. Later.

Natalia ignored Svetlana\'s confusion, assuming that it\'s because of a lack of sleep. "Clean up and eat something. After that, I expect you in my office. We need to plan our next steps."

"I need more time.", Svetlana grumbled while trying to stretch her back. "Everything is hurting."

Natalia snickered. "It seems he is an animal. Lucky you."

Svetlana frowned. Sure, animal sounds about right because she feels like she wrestled a bear the whole night. And she lost.

In the next moment, there was a commotion from several sides and a gust of wind rose the fine dust that made Natalia and Svetlana close their eyes.

A few seconds later, Natalia opened her eyes and she saw four helicopters hovering a few feet above the clearing in the center of their base and people jumping out.

Natalia reached for the pistol in the back of her belt, but before she drew it, there was a cold sensation on her temple.

"Don\'t move a muscle…", Ade said through his teeth while removing Natalia\'s gun from her reach.

Two steps away, Hande was holding Svetlana at a gunpoint.

It all happened in a flash, several gunshots were fired, and the Army of Chaos occupied the base.

Other than a few teams going through the dwellings, ensuring that no one is left inside, everyone was gathered in the clearing of the base around the captives who were kneeling in the middle with their hands on their heads.

Captives looked at people in dark uniforms surrounding them with two dogs and three leopards and they were not sure what to think of this situation. Who has the ability for executing such an attack? If they didn\'t see the nearly soundless helicopters, they would not believe it. And who would dare to attack them? And from where are those animals? Everything looked… exotic.

Sophia approached the biggest guy in the front row. "Where is my sister?"

At Sophia\'s question, prisoners looked around and Sophia didn\'t miss that most of them looked at the middle-aged woman (aka Natalia).

Before Sophia had a chance to repeat her question to Natalia, Bella and Luna barked and dashed to the side, and Kitty, Atlas, and Vega looked in the direction dogs went.

"Sorry, sorry…", Sarah said breathlessly while running toward them with Aiden who almost tripped over two dogs that were greeting him with whimpers.

Sarah told Aiden to hurry up, but he said that they have time for a few more kisses and it was more than just a few, and they ended up being late. But Sarah can\'t say that in front of everyone. "You were too fast and we…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Sarah found herself in JoAnna\'s embrace.

"We thought that they captured you…", JoAnna said in relief.

Sophia joined in the sister-hug and Sarah glanced toward Aiden and she saw that he is being smothered in Jeff\'s hug with his hands hovering in the air awkwardly. Aiden was never good at returning those rare outbursts of physical affection from Jeff. But at least he didn\'t push him away and he didn\'t complain either. She smiled when she saw that Felix is standing on the side, obviously waiting for his turn to hug Aiden.

"We are OK.", Sarah said softly and looked around at all the smiling faces directed their way. "Thank you, everyone. Aiden is back."

There was an eruption of cheers and applause and a few screams as people rejoiced and released the stress that accumulated since Aiden went missing.

The captives were not sure what to think of this. They were under attack and now it seems that it\'s some kind of a reunion. But out of the people who belong to this base, most of them are gathered here and forced to kneel, and no one seems to be seriously hurt, so they assumed that they are not in serious danger.

Natalia, as the leader, had an urge to speak up.

"Who are you, people? What do you want?"

Natalia\'s words cut the celebratory mood, and everyone focused on the captives.

Aiden got out of Felix\'s hug and stepped next to Sarah. "That is Natalia. She runs this place."

Sarah made a gesture with her hand and Allen and Julius grabbed Natalia and dragged her toward the front.

By now, Natalia realized that they came for Aiden, but… why did that woman (aka Sophia) ask about her sister? Another thing bugged Natalia: didn\'t Aiden spend the night with Svetlana? How is it possible that he is now standing next to one of the invaders (aka Sarah)? And that woman seems to be giving orders.

\'PAK!\'

Without a word, Sarah slapped Natalia.

"Who do you think you are?", Natalia asked in outrage while wiping the blood from the corner of her lip. No one slapped her in… ever! And this was in front of her people!

Sarah sneered. "You don\'t know who I am, and you dare to kidnap my husband?"

"Maybe she knows who we are…", Vasily said while making his way toward the area where Natalia is. Gavril, Dimitri, and Stella were right behind him.

Vasily, Gavril, and Dimitri saw that others have everything under control, and the three of them got distracted by the helicopters. They were asking Stella (aka Elder Milena) to tell them about helicopters.

Natalia\'s eyes widened in surprise. "Lebedevs…"

Aiden\'s muscles tensed when Vasily made his appearance and Sarah\'s calm demeanor told him that it\'s OK. He will ask her about this later.

Vasily stood a few steps away from Natalia and he lifted his chin proudly. "Your little group has the honor of four Elders gathering here and you… had the honor to be hit by the Grand Elder herself."

Aiden\'s surprise matched Natalia\'s. Sarah told him that Lebedevs are involved and that she is the Grand Elder, but somehow… he didn\'t believe that part. His wife is awesome!

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