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.”

***

really want to go to this party.” Aster said as she headed for

“Why not?” Tyler asked.

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

detective. I have seen some terrible shit.

in the park. They had chairs and a bonfire. They had a radio which

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, wolves stood where people had. Huge wolves, terrifying yet mystical. They only lingered

speechless. He could honestly say he had never been at a party that cleared out this fast without someone yelling 5-0. Katelyn smiled at him. “It’s

a number of times, and it still leaves me breathless and awed,” Mackenzie added.

wondered if he were cut out for a life with Aster. Her world was so

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

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

fine.” He said. “Did you enjoy

sitting down next to him.

do you guys do out there

“I need to sleep before I go to work.” She

I want to

it wait until morning?” She groaned, clearly too

and lay next to her, his arms folded behind his

***

he noticed Dennis Wallace was being processed for release. Tyler stormed over to his C.O. “Why the hell is he being released? He beat his

of

the arresting officer. How can

have forgotten, you were removed from this case. I don’t have to consult

shoved his C.O. against the wall. “Why

I charge you with assaulting a superior officer.” Tyler took a step 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 him

him, and he was free to go. Dennis walked up to Tyler with a

yourself.” Tyler

go fuck your girlfriend.” Tyler grabbed Dennis by the collar. “Careful Detective, you are walking a very

Bellow from his

released Dennis. “Hear me now if you go anywhere near her. I

is a crime, Detective.” Dennis

threat. It is a

smiled and headed for the door, whistling to

C.O. “Look, I know what you are going to

completely out of control.” His

“You don’t understand….”

can’t have you here if you are

“I know. I’m suspended.”

you are fired.” He hissed.

didn’t need this. He turned around and walked out

and headed across town to the bakery. He walked in to find Aster sitting with potential customers, going over the desires of their wedding cake. She looked up at him and gestured for him to wait. She took a moment to excuse herself for a moment.

her. Aster giggled and placed her hands on his chest,

to

hours ago.”

feels like

“What’s gotten into you?”

a guy just want