Beautiful Creatures Series

Chapter 69: 7

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.

***

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

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

to make eye contact with him. As her father reached the table, Aster stood up and hugged him hello. “Hello baby,” he greeted her warmly and kissed

been making friends again.” She teased as they

got to bite to keep the omegas in

you think anything

my cub. I always know when something

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

to do, Daddy.” She said, trying to control her emotions.

happened?” He asked

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 I

traumatize their cubs.” Then he sighed. “I must bear some blame for this too. I should have put a stop to the abuse long before I did. It wasn’t right for you to see that, to be forced to live that way. I am sorry. Don’t blame

man who wants to

father looked suspicious. “Human?” She nodded. “How

and I bit him, and a clawed open his chest.”

She nodded. Normally this would be the part where Gordon would tell her Tyler needed to be executed to protect the pack, but since he had taken

given her any reason not to trust

hands once more. “I love you, baby, and I promise the nightmares will end. I know things are hard right now with me in

like dry pasta. You could rip the cell door off

“To protect the pack.”

does you being in prison

The humans have deemed me guilty of killing a man. If I escape and leave, they would come for me. Bounty hunters, state troopers, the full 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

He invited me to go with him. I haven’t decided if I am going

he know

knows I have

you really

“I do.”

his interest in you seem

up with a lot and hadn’t so much

him.” Aster stared blankly at her father. All her life, they had hidden what happened behind closed doors, and they sure as hell never involved humans. For her father to suggest she not only tell their family shame but to a human was so uncharacteristic for him. “Sometimes, you just have to

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 under the hood of one car or another. He even allowed her to work on

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 phone in her hand, staring at it. She had his private cellphone number in her phone because he had given it to her when he brought his parents in to place an order

She decided to call.

***

locked in a stand-off with the man he 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

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