Beautiful Creatures Series

Aster walked into the house and was met by a delicious smell. She knew Tyler was here. She saw his car outside. Aster made her way to the kitchen to find Tyler frying something in a pan. “Something smells good. What is that?”

“Frybread.” He said, pointing to a plate where a few were cooling. “Try it.”

Aster picked up a piece and took a bite. It was really good. “This is delicious. Where did you learn to make this?” Tyler gave her a funny look. Like he couldn’t believe she had asked him such a foolish question. “Right,” she blushed, “I just thought assuming you could make frybread because you are Indigenous would be racist.”

“It is.” He snarled. Aster was surprised. He seemed mad at her. Suddenly he smiled. “I’m just messing with you. Although it is racist to assume every Indigenous person in the world can make frybread, I can. My mother taught me, and her mother taught her and so on.”

“Well, it’s very yummy, and I’m a baker. I know, yummy.” She kissed him. She said, opening the fridge to find a drink.

“How was your day?”

“It was alright. I got a lot done. It got a little weird at the end of the day. I had this one guy come.”

Suddenly Tyler’s undivided attention was fixated on Aster. “Guy, what guy?”

“Some guy came in for an anniversary cake. I got a really creepy vibe from him.”

“What did he look like?”

“Tall, bald, tattooed….”

“Offensive tattoos?”

“Yeah, how did you know that?” She asked

“Lucky guess.” He said, coming to the table to sit with her. “I’m sure there is nothing to be worried about, but all the same, maybe I should go to work with you. Just for a few days.”

“I told you….”

“I know, there is not much room in the bakery, but I take up very little space, I promise. I’ll just sit in a corner out of the way.”

“What are you not telling me?” She asked. She could tell he was keeping something from her.

“Nothing.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot? Something is going on here. I know it is, and I demand that you tell me what is going on.”

He was reluctant at first. “The reason I got fired was that I attacked a perp. A skinhead that beat his wife. I lost my cool when he threatened to hurt…” It was like he didn’t want to worry her, “he threatened to hurt you. I believe the guy you met was the man I assaulted. I’m worried about your safety.”

Well, that answered a lot of questions. She thought it cute that he felt the need to protect her, but it was unfounded. Aster didn’t need Tyler to protect her. She was a Lycan. It didn’t matter how big and bad a man was. She would always be the stronger one in the fight. She didn’t need his protection.

“Tyler, I swear I am fine. I can handle this. I don’t need you to protect me.”

“You don’t understand. This dude is a really bad guy.”

a china doll. If you remember, I have teeth and claws.

you to be alone.” He was so relentless on the issue. “Please, for the sake of my

“Fine, but the first time you get in my way, I’m

“Fair enough.”

go shower, and then we can decide what

Italian restaurant that catered to wealthy tourists. Its menu was amazing but also extremely pricy. “I made a reservation for six.”

you

“I did.”

isn’t dinner at Rosa’s Table a bit

about that. You go

up, Aster went to her room and stripped away her work clothes. She hopped into the shower and washed the day off her. When she was washed, Aster dressed for her evening. She fixed her hair and makeup. Looking herself over in the mirror, she was satisfied

he had clothes like that here. He had probably stopped at home and picked them up just for this evening’s plans. He looked stunning. Tyler was such a beautiful man inside and out. He was

with herself, it scared her. She did not exactly grow up with a healthy representation of a functional relationship between men and women. Her mother had scared her on so many levels. Aster never believed she would ever be able to form a healthy, lasting relationship with anyone. At some point, things with Tyler would end, but she would enjoy the time she had with him. When the moment passed, as it inevitably would, she would move on with her life. He would be nothing but a pleasant memory. Something to

striking.” Tyler smiled at her.

don’t look bad

“Shall we go?”

car and head to the restaurant. Aster had never been to Rosa’s Table, but it was everything she had hoped it would be. The walls were dark warm colours, and the tables

place.” She smiled. “I’ve never been here

too.” He seemed

you still hung up on what

quickly, “well yeah, but that’s not bothering me right

starting to get a very bad feeling. She watched as Tyler took a small ring from his pocket, and Aster

don’t, she thought with despair.

me?” He asked, waiting hopefully

but she didn’t want to get married. She never wanted to

she did not answer, Tyler sat back in his seat and sighed. “You’re going to say

must understand. It is not that I am not crazy about you because I am. It’s just that I don’t want to get married to anyone. I don’t believe in marriage. I’m sorry, Tyler. I hope you can understand.” She said as she got up and walked out. She was certain he needed some

***

Aster walked out on him. He tucked the ring back into his pocket and drove home to his place. As he walked through the door, he tossed

found it difficult to follow. His thoughts kept drifting off to Aster and her refusal to marry him. He didn’t understand why. He had been so sure she cared for him. Why

He was getting

***

her from her thoughts. “Aster.” She turned to look at her friend.

do you

at that modelling chocolate for over

sorry, my head is elsewhere this morning.” She confessed as she picked up the modelling chocolate and began sculpting the topper for the cake they were working on. The chime from the front door rang, and Aster groaned. She didn’t want to deal with

to her work. Moments later, Katelyn came back, and she wasn’t alone. Right behind her was

and left to take her half-hour break in the coffee house

I would be here