Page 26 of Wilder Obsessions

“But you don’t even know what I like!”I counter, but it’s half-hearted, as the flames from the previous intense scene make me feel flustered.

“Perhaps one sip of this Club Gin Fizz, and I will learn forever what you adore,” he declares, though there’s that dangerous glint in his eyes again, a promise of fervor coated in mystery.I’m caught, suddenly fascinated, yet in a whirlwind of emotion—dread, fear, and budding intrigue entwining themselves around my heart.

Before long, the server returns, eyes still averted, placing our drinks delicately on the table between us.As the world spins and sways in the intoxicating atmosphere of The Gin Room, I can’t shake the feeling that tonight, my life is about to spiral into a darkness that makes my past look like a mere shadow.

Wilder clinks his glass against mine, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes as he tips back his drink.I watch him, unable to ignore the sense of anticipation laced with dread that coils in my gut.

After a few drinks, Wilder checks his watch, the glint of the crystal catching my eye like some unspoken omen.“It’s time,” he announces, finishing the remnants of his expensive whiskey in one swift motion.Confusion swirls through my mind.I thought this was the surprise he was talking about.

“What—” I start, but I’m interrupted.

“There’s my boy.”A tall, muscular man strides in, his presence commanding and vibrant.His grin spreads like wildfire as he locks eyes with Wilder.He jumps from his seat, buttoning his jacket before he slaps the man on the back.Clearly these two are close and a pang of jealousy washes over me.I wish I had a friend.I guess Kit is the closest thing I had to a friend, and who knows if I’ll ever see her again.

“Kody, this is Arwen,” Wilder introduces, grabbing my hand and pulling me from the booth with a force that almost sends me sprawling.My body wobbles on the unforgiving stiletto heels.I instinctively reach my hand toward Kody for a formal greeting, but it’s abruptly seized and tucked against my side, like I’m some delicate artifact rather than a person.Kody laughs, the sound rich and velvety, but it only ignites the flame of my irritation.

“It’s nice to meet you, Arwen,” he replies with an exaggerated little bow, as if I’m the Queen of England herself.“So, are you ready?”Kody’s glance drifts toward Wilder, his question amplifying my confusion, sparking a litany of questions that race through my mind.Catching Wilder’s eye, I shoot him a questioning glance.There’s an undercurrent to this moment I’m not privy to.What does he mean by ‘ready’?

Wilder, oblivious to my mounting unease, replies casually, “We were just about to head down there.”A note of excitement echoes in his voice.

“Down where?”I find my voice, but none of them acknowledge me as Wilder pulls me closer to his side.Instead of leading me out of the bar, we veer down a long, dim corridor that is lined with shadows that seem to breathe.An eerie feeling settles over me, each step amplifying the disquieting atmosphere, my heart racing faster with uncertainty.

“So, is this part of your surprise?”I ask, forcing a light tone.My voice sounds hollow against the nighttime stillness that envelops us.Wilder turns his face toward me, and beneath the edges of the harsh lighting, I see an eagerness that masks something darker, something ominous.

As we reach a door at the end of the dimly lit corridor, Kody pauses, pulling it open with a drama that would rival the grandest theatrical performance.The air inside is thick with the stench of sweat, adrenaline, and a metallic tang of iron—like the taste of blood that lingers at the back of my throat.Wilder stands beside me, seemingly oblivious to my distress, as if this subterranean world is a casual Saturday night affair for him.His smile is unnervingly bright, each tooth gleaming under the flickering, antiquated lamps, while I feel a suffocating panic creeping into my bones, threatening to paralyze me.

“Welcome to the Shifter Fight Club,” Wilder leans down to shout over the roar of the crowd.

A fight club?

That’s what he wanted to bring me to?

What in the world possessed him to think I would be interested in something like this?

He knows what I’ve been through, saw it firsthand, and now he’s thrusting me into a world filled with men likely even more aggressive than my ex.

My heart pounds against my rib cage as I take in the sight before me: muscular shifters, dripping with sweat, circling each other like predators, their claws and faces smeared with blood and grime.The crowd’s cheers and jeers blend into a deafening cacophony that vibrates through the concrete walls.The atmosphere is charged with a primal energy that makes my skin crawl.I can feel my pulse hammering in my ears, each beat a reminder of my escalating fear.

A mix of fear, anger, and betrayal courses through my body.I am ready to bolt back up the stairs, get as far away from this nightmare as possible.My breathing becomes shallow, my hands trembling as I clutch my bag to my chest.I feel the walls closing in, the air too thick to breathe, my vision narrowing to a tunnel as the panic sets in.

And through it all, Wilder’s smile never falters, as if this is exactly where he belongs, while I am left to wonder how I will ever escape this hellish place.Are we truly meant to be together?

“Is this your idea of a good time?”I ask, my tone an unfamiliar mix of incredulity and fright.My heartbeat thunders in my ears, so loud it drowns out the chaos around us.

“It’s amazing!”he shouts, squeezing my shoulder as if trying to share his enthusiasm through sheer physical presence.“You’ll love it!”

But love is the last thing I feel.I scan the crowd, taking in the rough faces contorted with intensity.Their shouts of encouragement and displeasure blend into a singular roar that echoes off the brick walls.In the center of the room, two figures are locked in combat, muscles rippling, claws and tails swinging.These are not just spry men, but shifters—creatures who embody the spirit of beasts.Muscles ripple like waves beneath their skin, and when their bodies make contact, the force reverberates through the floor like the crash of thunder.

My heart hammers in my chest, my breathing shallow and rapid.The stench of sweat, blood, and adrenaline fills the air, and I can taste the metallic tang of iron at the back of my throat.Panic grips me, tightening my chest and making my vision blur around the edges.I feel as if I am being crushed by the weight of the oppressive atmosphere, the crowd’s energy suffocating me.

“Wilder,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the din.“I can’t be here.I need to leave.”

He looks at me, his eyes gleaming with excitement and a hint of mischief.“Trust me,” he says, plopping a kiss on top of my head.“You’ll get used to it.”When he sees the look of panic in my eyes, I think he’s about to tell me we can leave.

Wilder leans closer, his breath warm against my ear.“You’ll see.It’s liberating!”His eyes sparkle with a fervor I have never seen before, drawing me into a vortex of confusion.

“Come on, man.We need to get you signed in,” Kody chimes in beside us.Wait?What the actual fuck?Realization dawns, crashing through my stupor—a planetary alignment of horror unrolls in slow motion before me.

“Y-you’re fighting?”The words slip from my mouth in disbelief.Surely I misheard him, this has to be some elaborate prank.Wilder, the vibrant and charming face of my sanity, is about to stand in that very ring.

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