Beautiful Creatures Series

Darrell slipped his key into the post office box that was his. Because of where Feral was located, mail was not delivered to the homes. Once a day, the US Postal truck drove through the hub delivering mail to the small post office boxes located in a small building, which was no bigger than a large chicken coop.

Opening the door to his box, Darrell took out his mail and flipped through it. Most of it was just monthly bills from the various vendors he used for his business supplies. “Hey,” Aster greeted him as she came to stand next to him, checking her own mail. “How is the girlfriend?” She asked mockingly.

Darrell wanted to snap at her, but he did not. He was pissed off that the pack scared Katelyn off, but he knew she had not been part of those who had been in the woods last night. Even in wolf form, he knew he had been responsible. It was the older members of the pack — Gordon’s friends. Gordon had not been among them, and he would no doubt be livid when he found out what happened. He had granted Katelyn amnesty, and yet members went against his word. Mutiny could not be tolerated. When Darrell got around to telling Gordon the fur was going to hit the fan.

“She went back to Aspen,” he told Aster.

“Oh?”

“There was an incident,” he said, turning to face Aster.

Aster took one look at him, and her smile was instantly gone. “There is something different about you,” she said, looking deep into his eyes. “You have done something?’ When she saw it, Aster gasped, and rage filled her. “You imprinted with a human.”

Darrell said nothing. What could he say? He had gone against Lycanthrope law and imprinted with Katelyn. Imprinting was meant to unite two Lycanthrope mates. It was sacred and not to be shared with a human. Everyone knew that Aster was meant to be his mate, and the fact that he had given away what was rightfully hers to a human was a grave insult to Aster and the pack.

“You went against pack law for her?”

“Aster.”

“No! I have tolerated this long enough. I’m telling my father what you did. You are going to answer to the pack,” she snarled as she slammed her post box shut and stormed off.

Darrell groaned and shut the door to his box. Once the pack heard he had gone against their laws, he was going to face their wrath. He may even end up exiled. Cast back out into the mortal world alone without the protection of the pack forced to fend for himself.

Exile.

Darrell leaned forward and dropped his forehead against the wall of PO Boxes. He was so screwed. He could not understand why he had risked everything for a woman. For a human. He could not explain the way he felt. He was at odds. He wanted to be with Katelyn. He also wanted to remain part of the pack. He could not have both.

He had to make a choice.

Katelyn or the pack.

Darrell pictured Katelyn and smiled.

Katelyn.

Darrell left the post boxes and walked down the street to the Blood Moon Tattoo Studio, where Gordon worked. Gordon was a tattoo artist, and he owned his own shop. It was one of the few businesses that drew outsiders. Gordon was very good at what he did.

Darrell walked into the shop, and the chimes above the door announced his arrival. He spotted Gordon bent over some chick’s leg tattooing a tree. “Hey, what’s up, Darrell?” Gordon greeted him as he continued with his artwork.

“Do you go a moment to talk?”

“Sure, what is on your mind?” He did not stop what he was doing.

“It is community business,” he could not say pack in front of this outsider. Gordon stopped what he was doing and looked up at Darrell. “It is important.”

“Give me a minute,” Gordon wiped the woman’s leg, then cleaned it up and wrapped it up. “We are done for today. Come back tomorrow.”

you could do it all in one day,”

a ten percent discount,” the woman’s face lit up, and she took the offer.

“You knew about that?”

fact. Those involved had been reprehended,” Gordon took a closer look at Darrell.

do was look deeper, and

“With Aster?”

“With Katelyn.”

outraged. “You imprinted with a human?” He yelled, advancing on Darrell. “You went against our

her to leave him. Was he in love? Was it even possible to fall in love that fast? Darrell was not sure, but what he knew was he wanted to be with Katelyn, and he was willing to give up everything to make it

think I love

you listening to yourself? Do you love her? She’s human. Her kind kills our

I’m not blaming Katelyn for the sins of others. She cares about me. She just wants to be included. Only the pack drove her off. So, I have decided. I’m

to leave the pack? Darrell, you are the next in line. I’m getting long in the tooth. In a few more years, the pack

should have thought about that before they tried to murder the

a week, and you are giving everything up for her. What are you going

what if I ask her to marry me? I’m a hell of a catch. She might say

is never going to accept a human member. The humans are never going to accept it either. You

girl, and I’m going to tell her

to be your wife. What are you going to tell her when she decided she wants children? Lycanthropes and humans can’t breed. It is a physical impossibility. Like breeding a rottweiler with a hamster…

knew Gordon was right. If he married Katelyn, then they were both giving up the possibility of

I’ll give her all the information before

thing. Making one your

won’t work. I’m going to ask Katelyn to marry me and if she accepts. I’m leaving the pack. I just wanted

allow it,”

said as he turned

***

parents when

Last week.

felt like a lifetime ago. She had thought about Darrell all day. She had developed feelings for the man, and in such a short time, they had become so

room, sitting in the window thinking about Darrell. She wanted to be with him, but she feared the pack. Then again, if she just avoided Feral, the pack might just leave her alone. She did not know if that was true, but

her parents. Katelyn tried to follow the directions Darrell had given her. They lead out to Pyramid Lake. She took the side road into the trees until she came to a clearing a good half-mile

tree to another, basking the small clearing in a soft glow. A large white sheet was hung between two trees pulled taut like some kind of homemade movie screen. Darrell’s truck was parked with the tailgate down and facing the screen. The back of the truck bed was set up with blankets and pillows forming a cozy little bed. Between the truck bed and the screen was a small table with two chairs. The table was set with

the side of his truck, dressed in his best jeans and a black button-up dress shirt. He

“What is all this?” She asked as she

of Netflix and chill.”

liked it. It was so

must have taken so long to set this

worth it,” he smiled at

“Famished,” she smiled.

eat,” he said, taking her to the table and pulling out the chair for her. Looking at the plate, Katelyn was impressed. It was a homemade meal. It was not exactly the five-star restaurant dinner. He had made fried chicken with sweet cornbread, coleslaw, and a loaded baked potato. Instead of wine or champagne, there was a steel container filled with ice and cold beer. It was not classy or elegant, but it was one hundred percent Darrell, and she thought it

than

the memories they had both experienced during the imprinting. It was strange. She had known Darrell for a week, but she felt like she had known him all her life. She knew his deepest memories, and he knew

not care because they spent the whole time necking in the bed of his truck. It was all intensely heated kisses and maddening heavy petting, but he never took it further. It was like being fifteen on lover’s lane again. Only this time, her father was not