Beautiful Creatures Series

The following weeks were quiet. Tyler’s father had come in to do the scheduled tasting to decide on which cake to have made for their calibration. Tyler had not come with them to the tasting, and she found herself wanting to ask about him and how he was healing, but she knew it was better if she didn’t. Cutting all ties with Tyler was best, and as soon as she concluded, her dealings with his father would bring an end to all her connections to the sinfully good-looking Detective. The celebration was in two days, and she and Katelyn were working hard to finish the order.

The bell from the shop door rang, alerting them to a customer. Aster was deep into frosting the tears, and she didn’t have the time to deal with a customer. Katelyn hoped off the tall stool she sat on while doing her work. Because she was so very pregnant, it was too hard for her to stand all day. Katelyn had been working on modelling chocolate figures for the topper. “I got it.” She said, waddling off to the front of the shop. Aster snickered as she watched it. She found it hilarious how much pregnant women in their third trimester resembled penguins.

It wasn’t long before Katelyn came waddling back in. “They want to talk to you.”

Aster groaned. She was busy enough. She hated being interrupted when she was in a productive groove. Aster put down her tools and wiped her hands, then she brushed a stray lock of golden hair out of her eyes and went out front. Aster stopped in the doorway when she saw Tyler on the other side of the counter. Their eyes met, and he smiled at her.

Aster came to the counter, assuming he must be there about his father’s order. “Is there a problem with the order?” She asked, wondering why he would come here.

“None that I know of.” He said. “You look good.”

“Thank you.”

“You look like you are recovering.”

“I get the stitches out tomorrow.”

“Why are you here, Tyler?”

“Well, my dad’s wedding is in two days, and I need a date. I was hoping you might be interested in dusting off your dancing shoes.”

“Are you insane?” It just slipped out. Did this man have a death wish? “What the hell is wrong with you? Is there a medical diagnosis for what is wrong with you?”

Tyler stepped back, shocked. “Not exactly the response I was looking for.”

“I almost killed you. You will forever be maimed because of me. Why in the world would you want to date me? I am a danger to you. The next time it happens, I might kill you.”

“You didn’t do it on purpose. I know that.”

“It doesn’t matter. On purpose or not, dead is dead.”

“Ok, how about this? We go out on our date, and I promise to carry my taser. If you get uppity, I’ll zap you again.”

“It’s dangerous, Tyler.”

“Aster, look at me. I’m a cop. I do danger every day. Every time I strap this gun to my hip and hang that badge from my neck, I know that when I walk out my door, I might die. Death doesn’t scare me. Not living my life to the fullest while I have it, that scares me. So when you drop the cake off on Saturday, make sure you are in a nice dress and shoes you can dance in.” He smiled.

“You are really stubborn.”

“Yes, I am.” He grinned as he walked out of the shop. Aster knew it was a bad idea, but she smiled anyway, excited about the date she couldn’t get out of.

***

sat in the prison visiting room, waiting to see her father. She heard the loud buzzer of the secure doors as the guards marched the inmates with visitors into the room still in chains. It broke Aster’s heart to see her father in chains when all he was doing had been trying to protect his lover and unborn child. Once in the room, the inmates were lined up against a wall, and each one had their restraints removed

He was a tattooed biker with his long shaggy hair and his short beard. Gordon was an Alpha which gave him a dangerous commanding air about his that even humans could sense. Gordon was a badass, and it was clear that he had been flexing his power intimidating the other inmates into behaving around him. There was no question to anyone in the room. Gordon ruled prison, and everyone in that room knew it. No matter where her father went, he was always

their eyes too timid to make eye contact with him. As her father reached the

been making friends again.” She teased as

you got to bite to keep the omegas in line.” He whispered. “What’s wrong, baby?” He asked,

makes you think anything

You’re my cub. I always know when something is bothering

parents. Her mother had always been a nightmare, but her father had always protected her. When her mother would come after Aster as a child, her father would step in and take her mother’s wrath sparing her. Her mother had been so abusive, and even though her father was stronger than her mother. Gordon did not believe in hitting women even if they hit first. That led to many years of abuse. The day her father stood up to his wife and the abuse stopped, a new hell developed that cost many people their lives and ended with Aster

don’t know what to do, Daddy.” She said, trying to

He

knew she only did that when something was seriously bothering her. “I’ve had horrible dreams about mom.” She cleared her throat, trying not to sound choked up about it. “When I wake up, I find that I’ve hurt someone while I was sleep-walking. I hurt someone really badly. Someone how was only trying to help me. Someone I like. I’m scared, Daddy. I’m scared

who didn’t care who she hurt. You are nothing like her baby. What is happening to you is her fault. Good mothers do not traumatize their cubs.” Then he sighed. “I must bear some blame for this too. I

man who wants to take me

suspicious. “Human?” She nodded. “How did you

him, and a clawed open

are?” She nodded. Normally this would be the part where Gordon would tell her Tyler needed to be

trusted Tyler. He had never given her

“I love you, baby, and I promise the nightmares will end. I know things are hard right now with me in here. But it won’t last forever. You’ll see I’ll

are you even in here?” She snapped. “You could break those chains like dry pasta. You could rip the cell door off with little effort. You could walk right past those guards and their guns. Why

“To protect the pack.”

you being in prison protect the

weight of the Colorado justice department would come down on Feral and put everyone at risk. To protect the pack, I do my time. It’s only five years.” Then he smiled. “After twenty-five years with your mother, five years with love-starved murders is a holiday.” Aster laughed. “So, are

getting married tomorrow. He invited me to go with him. I haven’t decided

know

I have

you really like

“I do.”

interest in you seem

put up with a lot and hadn’t so much as earned a kiss

and they sure as hell never involved humans. For her father to suggest she not only tell their family shame but

to seeing that. Aster left the prison and took hopped into her car. Tyler never had the chance to remove the boot, but Aster didn’t need him. She simply removed the booted tire and replaced it with a new one. Aster was mechanically inclined. Her father had taught her a few things about cars. She often spent time in the garage with her father

from the glove box. She had left her valuables in the car because she knew the guards would have just taken them from her anyway had she brought them in with her. She held her

She decided to call.

***

had arrested last night. Dennis Wallace was a large white supremacist who had been beating the hell out of his wife and kids when his black neighbour called the cops because of the screaming coming from his house. The neighbour had made the mistake of standing on his porch when the cops came to this man’s door. When the Uniform tried to deal with the complaint. Dennis took off after his neighbour. This guy took the cop's gun and emptied it