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Wilder

P resent Time

New York City bustles with an electric energy that has my insides fighting to be released. Why I ever thought I could live in a city and coexist with humans is beyond me. My patience is tested every day, leaving me feral. The bell over the door chimes, making me grit my teeth. If I have to deal with another dumb fuck today, I can’t be held accountable for my actions.

“Wilder, my man!” Kody booms from behind the counter. At least it’s not a human. He found me when I first moved to the city and introduced me to an underground shifter fight club below the exclusive bar, The Gin Room. Shifters can seek out other like-minded individuals so I instantly knew he wasn’t human. Being a dragon shifter, he knows the difficulties in keeping a lid on his aggression, hence the illegal fighting scene.

“Haven’t seen you around in a while,” I mention, throwing back a glass of whiskey. It’s basically closing time and with the day I’ve had, I needed something to take the edge off.

“Yeah,” he trails off, looking around my custom motorcycle shop. I’ve got a few beauties on display for when my high-end customers come in. “You’ve been busy?”

“Something like that. People don’t realize a custom motorcycle builder’s job isn’t just tuning engines. I have a waiting list longer than the line at Halley’s.” I lean back against the bar, tapping my fingers in an anxious rhythm.

“Well, Black Thunder Motorcycles is the best in the state. Fuck, maybe the country. You need to hire more employees so you aren’t working your life away.”

“I don’t like people. You know this,” I remind him.

Kody chuckles, shaking his head. “You need to let go of that tension, man. By the way, there’s a fight tonight. Want in?”

That piques my interest. It’s been a while since I was in the ring, slamming my claws into some unsuspecting soul. The adrenaline rush soothes the anger buried deep within, if only for a little while.

“Who’s the opponent?” I ask, not that it really matters. I could kill any motherfucker who crosses me. It doesn’t always get that far, depending on whether the fight is to the death, and most of mine are. Why the hell would I waste my time on some pansy tap-out session if I can kill the beast?

“Draken,” he answers, making me snap my head to his. My brow furrows, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Does he have a death wish?”

“Apparently. He’s been running his mouth that he can beat your ass.” Kody raises an eyebrow, a sly grin forming on his lips. “He’s gotten the attention of the club bidders.”

That makes me bark out a laugh. Draken is a coyote shifter and a fool if he thinks his skills could ever compare to mine. “That little mutt thinks he can take me? He’s more delusional than I thought!”

“Hey, don’t sleep on the guy. He’s got speed, just be careful,” Kody warns as he helps himself to my liquor, then leans against the desk.

“Speed? Fuck, he’ll be greasing up the floor before I even break a sweat,” I remark, refilling my glass and feeling the spark of competition ignite inside me.

“Just remember, it’s not just about you out there.” Kody grins, lifting his glass in my direction. “You have a reputation to uphold.”

I nudge him with my shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m the wild card,” I smirk, but beneath it lies raw anticipation.

The city hums across all the walls of my shop, the night serenading the hidden beasts that walk among humans. I finish my drink and catch Kody’s eye. “When do I have to be there?”

“Midnight at The Gin Room.” He raises his glass, and I join him with my own half-full tumbler. “You’re going to smash his face so hard he’ll think he’s fighting a fucking freight train.”

“Always the best hype man,” I add, clapping him on the back. My mood lifts as the thrill of the fight floods my veins. Kody is the only one in this city who knows about my past. He knew I was escaping something dark when he found me on the streets that first week I got here. I was a mess, slumming it in the alleys, taking anything as long as it took the pain away for a couple hours. As much as I tried to push him away, he kept coming around, until he finally grew on me. I got cleaned up and started my own business, and I have to say, the money is top notch. He’s the only friend I have since leaving my old life in Colorado behind.

“Brothers, man,” he corrects, slinging the rest of his bourbon back.

The clock strikes twelve as we walk into The Gin Room, a rich upscale bar in the heart of the city. This place is known for its exclusivity, meaning only the wealthy can pass through those doors. Fortunately, my business affords me such luxuries. The first floor opens to a large, lavish bar tucked between private velvety, leather booths. Black marble covers every surface, making it gleam under the twinkling lights above. All of the handcrafted cocktails are served by well-dressed bartenders as the patrons mingle. A low thrum of music whisks through the room, sending a few couples to the dance floor. The atmosphere is sophisticated without being suffocating. This isn’t a bar I frequent for drinks, but when I do, the opulence is always impressive.

Instead of taking a right into the main floor, Kody and I make our way down a long corridor, then down the spiral staircase to the lower level. The dim lights strain to illuminate the throng of eager faces crowding the underground arena. The scent of sweat mixed with liquor and primal energy fills my nostrils. The roars of the crowd, a cacophony urging me to unleash chaos. I can feel my beast stirring, clawing at the human side of me, pushing for release. We needed this.

“Wilder, you made it!” a familiar voice calls out, and I spot Lena, a wolf shifter with a fierce reputation of her own. “You’re not backing out, are you?” She steps closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She’s a drunken mistake from a year ago, but that doesn’t stop her from pawing at me every chance she gets.

“I don’t back out of challenges. Now, where is this little coyote wannabe?” I smile, looking through the crowd for my next victim.

“He’s in the back, throwing a fit. He didn’t expect you to take up the offer. You rattled him more than you know,” she explains, her voice laced with excitement. Kody throws his head back in a laugh.

“Well, my boy needed to unleash some aggression,” he says and smirks. Lena’s eyes flare, thinking he means something more than a fight. Not fucking happening.

“Just the fight,” I add, directed at her, causing Kody to bark out another laugh.

“Come on, let’s get you checked in.” I nod, following him to the back of the room. We pass the ring where two wolves are fighting with no finesse.

“You know you could have your pick of anyone in here. Why not take Lena up on her offer? She’s dying for another sample of Wilder Black,” he hollers above the crowd.

“I don’t double dip. You know that.”

“Of course I do. Every chick in here knows. But that doesn’t make them any less determined to be the one to tame your beast.” He laughs, making me roll my eyes. He can joke all he wants but he knows I will never go down that road again. It’s not in my genes anymore.

“Black, it’s about time I see you around here again,” the older gentleman behind the table announces, making several people turn in my direction. My reputation precedes me everywhere I go.

“Well, you can thank Kody.” I slap him on the back, making him cough. We may be close to the same height but he doesn’t refine his power like I do. Day after day, I retreat to my home gym, where I beat the shit out of the dummies I had specially made. They are on a constant shipping schedule to my penthouse because of how fast I tear through them.

“You’re up after one of those kids gets knocked out.” He gestures to the two behind us.

“They seem to be getting younger and younger,” I muse.

“Well, they all want to beat the notorious Black.” He chuckles, throwing me a towel.

“There’s only room for one of us.” I wink, turning on my heels to the changing rooms.

“You’re incorrigible,” Kody jokes, shooting me a look.

“As advertised,” I taunt.

“For fuck’s sake. Why does my friend have to be a lunatic?”

“You’re the one that wouldn’t leave me alone, if I remember correctly?” I laugh.

Kody rolls his eyes. “Going to grab a drink. Your usual?” I nod as he leaves me to change into my shorts, so I don’t tear through my suit.

My human tailor is already terrified of me. If she wasn’t the number-one around, I would find someone new. Unfortunately, she’s the best of the best, but I don’t think she appreciates it when I bring her the scraps of designer suits I’ve destroyed. I chuckle, thinking of her horrified expression the last time I met with her. Poor little thing genuinely didn’t know I was a shifter and I’ve never seen someone as pale as her in my life.

The crowd hushes as the announcer calls my name, “Wilder Black is in the house tonight!” Cheers boom around me and my heart races with palpable energy. I step into the ring, the spotlight pouring down on me, and in the opposite corner, Draken stands, a cocky grin plastered on his face. The fucker doesn’t truly believe he signed his death sentence.

I feel alive, electric energy coursing through me as the crowd surges with fervor. They are the shifters—creatures who bear the likeness of their animal kin, and tonight they cheer for both blood and glory. The weight of their eyes presses down on my shoulders, igniting a fire within me that demands to be unchained.

“What’s up, Wilder? Finally decided to join the big leagues?” he taunts, flexing as he prances around the ring. Dumb coyote thinks he’s cool shit when in reality he’s about to be no better than roadkill.

“Sure, if the big leagues mean hand-delivering your wildly unfounded ass-whooping, then absolutely,” I retort, rolling my shoulders as I prepare for combat. A flicker of fear flashes through his eyes but he schools his features quickly.

“Surrender, pup.” I taunt, basking in the cheers around me. “Then maybe I’ll make your death quick.”

“Enough talk!” the announcer bellows toward us. Then he pulls the microphone back to his mouth. “The rules of tonight’s fight are as follows: tap-outs aren’t allowed. This is a fight to the death in shifter form.” The audience cheers, the noise almost deafening. They don’t get this kind of fight all the time. Tap-outs are the usual around here but that’s not my style.

“Black, Sonner, shift!” he roars over the speakers. Immediately, my muscles tense, rippling beneath my skin as I feel the change coming. It starts deep within, a primal call I can no longer resist. My breath quickens, eyes flickering from human to intense, inky black as my vision sharpens. My bones begin to shift, elongating and realigning with a series of cracks that echo around me. I bite back a growl, pain giving way to raw power. My skin darkens, sprouting sleek, midnight fur that shimmers under the dim lights. Each heartbeat pounds louder, a drumbeat in sync with the earth’s pulse. As my fingers retract into formidable claws, my face elongates into a proud, fierce muzzle. With a final, guttural snarl, my transition is complete.

Standing there on all fours, I wait for my opponent’s shift completion as raw, untamed power flows through me. My senses are heightened, every sound, scent, and movement acutely clear to me. Draken stands in his coyote form, his amber eyes gleaming with cunning and malice.

My puma’s spirit surges forward, needing blood. The boundaries blur, it’s not just a fight—it’s a liberation. I’m a ruthless killer and only a deranged fighter would dare get in the ring with me. That’s why my fights have become far and few between. I’m undefeated and tonight won’t be any different. It’s a pity I don’t have more adversaries, forcing my beast to remain shackled most of the time.

“Fight!” the announcer shouts. We circle each other, my muscles coiled and ready to fight. Draken’s lips curl back in a snarl, revealing sharp fangs as he lunges forward, and like an electrical current coursing through my body, I charge like I’m on a speeding motorcycle.

He’s swift, darting around like the coyote he is, but every glance I take sears an image of his form in my mind’s eye. I won’t let him evade my blows for long.

Our bodies collide with a force that sends reverberations through the ground beneath us. My claws rake across Draken’s flank, leaving deep gashes that begin oozing blood. He howls in pain but quickly recovers, snapping his jaw at my hind leg. He manages to clamp down but I twist my body, dislodging the coyote and retaliating with a swipe of my paw that sends Draken sprawling.

Each jab, each dodge sharpens my senses, a dance of fluid aggression. I can feel the eyes of the crowd, the shifters living vicariously through our bout.

Panting heavily, he scrambles to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he calculates his next move. Stupid coyote feints to the left, then darts to the right trying to get my vulnerable underbelly. But I already anticipated his move, leaping over Draken with a grace that belies my size. I land behind him, sinking my teeth into his shoulder and shaking him violently.

Draken yelps, writhing under my grasp. Desperation lends him strength and he manages to twist free, delivering a vicious bite to my ear. I roar in pain as my blood splatters to the ground. Now we are locked in a deadly dance, our growls and snarls echoing through the room.

With a final powerful swipe, I knock Draken off his feet, making him land hard. He’s dazed and disoriented which I use to my advantage as I pounce on my fallen opponent, pinning him to the ground. My jaws close around Draken’s throat, a low growl rumbling from deep within my chest.

Draken’s struggles grow weaker until he finally lays still, defeated. I release my grip, standing over my vanquished foe. The sound of my ragged breathing fills my ears until the crowd erupts into a frenzy of chaos. People are yelling about bets won and some small fights break out over salty losers.

“The Notorious Black is still undefeated!” the announcer yells through the intercom, making my beast roar. I feel the familiar searing heat spreading through my body, signaling the change back to my human form. Every muscle screams in protest as my bones begin to contract and shift, the powerful form of the puma giving way to my human shape. The sleek black fur retracts, leaving me bare. My vision blurs, transitioning from the sharp, predatory clarity to the more familiar, less acute human sight. The pain is excruciating but familiar, an inevitable part of my dual nature. My chest heaves and my limbs tremble with exhaustion, but the adrenaline of the win flows through my blood.

I throw my fists up in victory, my body radiating the high of battle. I’m intoxicated by the aftermath of the fight, the way the euphoria wraps around me like a warm embrace.

“Anyone else think they can take me?” I growl, causing a visible shudder through the crowd. Not a damn person steps up— pity . This fight didn’t last nearly long enough for my liking.

As the medics remove the mangled animal, I allow myself these moments of calm that envelop my inner puma. It is a reminder that within this chaotic city, I can still unleash my true self—an instinctual creature thriving on emotion, power, and the primal need for freedom.

Kody tosses me a towel and my shorts, pulling me through the crowd of everyone chanting my name.

“ Black !”

“ Black !”

“ Black !”

I wipe the sweat from my face and chest, seeing the blood stain the towel. Fortunately, I heal quickly but I hate that the motherfucker drew my own blood. I need more fights before I lose my reputation.

“Thanks to you, I raked in 100K.” He smiles, making me roll my eyes.

“Did you doubt my abilities?”

“Fuck, no! My boy always pulls out a win! Let’s go celebrate,” he suggests. “We can go upstairs after you shower.” He holds his nose as if this whole damn place doesn’t smell like a fucking farm.

“I’ll shower, but I don’t feel like being around rich bastards like you tonight.” I laugh at his appalled face.

“You’re richer than me, Black!”

“Yep, and don’t forget it. Now, go find your usual harem.” I roll my eyes. “I’m going to find somewhere new to go,” I reply as I duck into the shower.

“One of these days I’ll convince you how good it can be with multiple women at your disposal,” he shouts over the sound of the pelting water on my skin.

“I don’t need lots of women to convince me that I have a huge dick like you do, brother.” I laugh. I hear his irritated huff as he leaves me in peace. Fucking finally . I love the guy but I like my alone time. I don’t need someone to fill the quiet in my life.