Beautiful Creatures Series

Tyler sat in the visiting room of the prison, waiting for the guards to bring in the prisoners. He had driven out to the prison that afternoon without telling Aster. The doors opened, gaining his attention. Tyler watched as the guards walked the prisoners up against the wall to remove their restraints. Once given the go-ahead, they dispersed to see their visitors. Tyler watched as Gordon Wilder. He looked exactly as Tyler remembered, all wild and intimidating. And now that Tyler knew the truth of what this man really was, he found the ageing alpha extremely threatening.

Gordon stalked up to the table and sat down. “Well, as I live and breath, it’s Detective Winthrop. So nice of you to come and visit me.”

“You can call me Tyler,” Gordon grunted, and Tyler felt awkward. “Can I call you Gordon?”

“Well, lately, I have been answering to Prisoner 328169, but I suppose you can call me whatever you want, Detective, after all, you are the one with the badge.”

“I’m not here on professional business. It’s personal.”

“Personal?”

“I’m sure you know about Aster and me. She’s told you about me.”

“Yeah, she’s mentioned you. Seems strange to me, though, that a cop hooks up with con’s kid.”

“You think I’m using her to trap you?”

“The thought has crossed my mind. I’m already doing five years; I’m not interested in tacking on more time.”

“I’m not interested in what you might have done. I get why you would have done it if you did. You and I have more in common than you think. We both believe in justice, and we both know the law doesn’t always allow for it. But more importantly, we both love your daughter.”

“You love her?” He said with disbelief.

“I do.”

“You have only known her a few months.”

“I feel like I have known her all my life. I want to marry her, and I want your blessing.”

“Asking for her hand… I didn’t think men did that anymore.”

“Well, may marry your daughter?”

“No,” Gordon said flatly. Tyler stared at him blankly. Suddenly Gordon grinned. “I’m just fucking with you, boy. You can marry her.”

Tyler breathed a sigh of relief. “So this whole tough guy disapproving father façade…?”

“Just having some fun with you. There is not a whole lot to do in here.”

“Ok yeah, you got me.” He chuckled. “I was afraid you were going to say no for real given our… differences.”

Gordon was quiet for a moment, then he leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table between them. “A year ago, I would have. It’s difficult to get past that us against them mentality we were all raised with. That deep-rooted hate and mistrust. I have been lucky enough in the past year to meet two wonderful women who have changed how I view your kind. But you have to understand that me allowing this union doesn’t mean it is going to be easy. There are secrets to keep, and a lot of lives depend on your silence. Not a lot of people in Feral are going to trust you, nor will they exactly be excepting of your marriage. So you better be damn sure you are ready to take on the hardship ahead of you because if you can’t cut it, and you put my family, my friends, my pack in jeopardy even once, I will deal with you myself.

“Don’t think these bars and cement walls will stop me. I can kill everyone in this prison and walk out those doors anytime I want. I’m here by choice, not because I can’t get past the gate. So know that if I come for you, there is no stopping me. You have my blessing but make sure that this is what you really truly want because once you are in, there is only one way that I’m letting you out.”

Tyler understood the man’s concern and his warning. He leaned in, mirroring Gordon’s position. “Sir, I never make any life-altering decisions without being damn sure it is something I want.”

“Then we understand each other.”

“Yes, we do.”

Gordon’s hand shot across the table, and Tyler shook it. “Welcome to the pack.”

***

go to this party.” Aster said as she

“Why not?” Tyler asked.

whole pack wolf out at the same time and be stack dead center might be more than you can handle the first

homicide detective. I have seen some terrible shit. There is not much

the car and drove out to the hub. The pack gathered in the park. They had chairs and a bonfire. They had a radio which filled the park with music. They enjoyed snacks and drank beer. As the evening went on, those in attendance got rowdier

thought, until the full moon was high above them. At that point, Tyler couldn’t move as he watched the people around him begin to strip. Was he the only one uncomfortable with public nudity? Every Lycan's eye began to glow as they began to change, their ears tilted back, staring up at the moon like its glow offered some form of euphoria. Then just like in the wild, Darrel (acting pack alpha) howled, and a chain reaction of howls swept through the pack. Seconds later,

Katelyn and Mackenzie. He was stunned and speechless. He could honestly say he had never been at a party that cleared out this fast

awed,” Mackenzie added. “Honestly, I don’t

that. It was moments like this when he wondered if he were cut out for a life with Aster.

the pack gone for the night, their human counterparts headed home for the rest of the night. Tyler returned to Aster’s house and raided the fridge. He put on a movie and settled onto the couch, and tried to lose himself in the show, but he just kept thinking about Aster. He reached into his pocket and took out the small gold ring he had bought after speaking with her father. It wasn’t much. A thin gold band with a small diamond. He wished he

in the morning when Tyler heard the door open. He had fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for Aster to return. He sat

fine.” He said. “Did

down

guys do out

meant, and she didn’t seem willing to elaborate. “I’m exhausted.” She said. “I need to sleep before I go to work.” She would be up in three hours to go to her bakery. “Are

want to ask you

until morning?” She groaned, clearly too tired to deal with

to bed and lay next to her, his arms folded behind his head

***

to work. As he was walking into the station, he noticed Dennis Wallace was being processed for

of

the arresting officer. How can you release

have forgotten, you were removed from this

against the wall. “Why

back. “Look, I don’t like this any more than you do, but the wife dropped the charges. Our hands are tied. I have to let

walked up to Tyler

yourself.” Tyler

girlfriend.” Tyler grabbed Dennis by the

C.O. Bellow from his office door.

released Dennis. “Hear me now if you

a

threat. It is a fact. I will kill you.”

for the

to his C.O. “Look,

out of control.” His C.O.

“You don’t understand….”

I can’t have you here if you are going

“I know. I’m suspended.”

He hissed. “Get out of

and walked out but not before grabbing things off the desks. He walked by

wedding cake. She looked up at him and gestured for him to

her in his arms and kissed her. Aster giggled

had to

me three hours ago.” She reminded

like

“What’s gotten into you?”

want to be around