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.”

If you remember, I have teeth and claws. I can tear a man limb from limb by

was so

the first time you get in my way, I’m kicking you out

“Fair enough.”

and then we can decide what to do

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

you

“I did.”

Rosa’s Table a

worry 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. He had changed into a pair of slack and a maroon dress shirt. Aster was unaware that 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 surprisingly accepting of things that would

had been getting closer with every passing day, and if she were, to be honest 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

Tyler

look

“Shall we go?”

everything she had hoped it would be. The walls were dark warm colours, and the tables were small and intimate with white

smiled. “I’ve never been here before, but

He

up on what

that’s not bothering

watched as he put his hand in his pocket and toyed with something. She was starting to get a very bad feeling. She watched as Tyler took a small ring from his pocket, and Aster felt her pulse skip a beat.

please don’t, she thought with

asked, waiting hopefully

tail and run for the hill. She cared for Tyler, but she didn’t want to get married. She never wanted to get married. After watching

sat back in his seat and sighed. “You’re going to say no,

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 time to think about whether or not he felt continuing their relationship was still worth pursuing. She wouldn’t blame him if he decided

***

paid for the wine and relinquished the table to someone who was looking to stay and eat. He wasn’t going to order a meal now that Aster walked out on him. He tucked the ring back into his pocket and drove home to his place. As he walked through the

for the couch. Tyler sat down and put on a game. He 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.

it. He was getting shit-faced

***

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

why do you ask?”

you have been staring at that modelling chocolate for over an hour and haven’t

working on. The chime from the front door rang, and Aster groaned. She didn’t want to deal with customers today. Aster turned to Katelyn. “Would you please deal with that? I’m just not up to dealing with

attention 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 down the

I would be here with