Beautiful Creatures Series

Aster slowly came to. She looked around to see she was somewhere in the woods. From the scent on the breeze, she was close to home, within at least fifty miles. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized she was tied up in a yellow rope found at any hardware store. She looked around to see the man Tyler warned her about sitting against a tree trunk a few feet from her.

He smiled when she looked at him. “Welcome back. I’m glad you are awake. This would have been no fun without you experiencing every single moment.”

Aster groaned as she rolled her head, trying to stretch her neck. “What kind of pansy-ass coward blindsides a woman. Were you afraid I’d kick your ass?” She mocked him.

“Aren’t you the funny one? I’ve been watching you. Every move you and your cop boyfriend make. I’ve stood outside your window at night while he fucks you.” He sneered, trying to intimidate and terrorize her.

“Did you enjoy the show? Perhaps I should charge you admission.” She hissed.

“Shut up.” He snapped, drawing a handgun from behind him. Waving the weapon in her face to scare her.

Aster laughed. “Aww, an I pressing your buttons? Yeah, I tend to do that.”

“I hold your life in my hands. So, you had best shut the fuck up.”

“No, no, you don’t.” She said smugly.

“I’m the one with the gun.” He reminded her.

Aster shrugged. “So use it. I’m telling you it isn’t going to make any difference. I’m still going to kill you.”

“How are you going to do that? You’re tied up, and I am the one with the gun.”

Aster thought for a moment. “Well, I’ll start by spilling your guts. Then I’ll tear your throat out. After that, I will rip your limbs off.” She smiled sweetly at him.

He chuckled. “I see what you are doing. Trying to act tough, thinking it might throw me off my game long enough for your boyfriend to find you. Well, he ain’t coming. He can’t protect you.”

Aster laughed. “That’s your mistake.”

“What?”

“I don’t need protecting.”

Dennis swung hard, striking Aster in the face with the pistol in his hand. She was blinded by pain and slumped over her face, turned downward, spitting blood. “Keep trying me bitch, and I’ll make you suffer more than you can imagine.” He warned.

“Funny, I was about to say the same thing.”

“That’s it,” He growled, lifting the pistol to strike her again, “not even God can save you now.”

Aster’s eyes lit up, and her fangs descended. She flexed her muscles as her body began to change, breaking the ropes like a thread. She turned to him as her features became monstrous.

“Holy mother of Christ.” Dennis gasped as he began to retreat backwards.

“Like I said. I don’t need protection.” Her clothing tore to shreds as Aster dropped to all fours and let the change consume her. Once in her wolf form, Dennis turned his gun on her and opened fire. He emptied his whole clip into her, but it didn’t even slow her down.

trap. She shook her head and tore his throat out as she

on Tyler’s face was horrified, and he looked like he may become violently ill

were by her side in a flash. “She’s been shot,”

to get her to

by and help dig the bullets out. Once the bullets are out of the body, she can regenerate. She will be fine. The others are going to help me dispose of the body. As far as the outside world knows, this never happened.” Darrell declared. Tyler nodded, but Darrell grabbed him before he could pick

running to fetch aid. Aster put her arms

seat. He then grabbed a tarp from the bed of the truck and draped it over her nudity. He climbed into the driver’s seat. Darrell had left the keys in the ignition. Aster leaned her head against the window as

arms around his neck as Tyler lifted her into

then returned to Aster, where he proceeded to clean her up. He was having a difficult time bringing himself to look her in the eye. What he had seen had been so unexpected it had shaken him right to the

a knock at the door. Tyler answered to find Aurora and Lewis. Lewis was carrying a large kit with him. Tyler assumed it made sense. Being a

across his chest and his back against the wall. At this point, all he could do was stay out of the way. Aurora had come to assist Lewis in his task of removing the bullets. Aster laid flat on the bed, her blanket down around her waist. One by one, Lewis carefully dug each of the twelve bullets out of her body. It was bloody, and Aster was clearly in pain. It took well over three hours to safely remove all of the bullets. Aster breathed a

“By morning, you will be one

hundred percent?” Tyler snarled, “she had twelve bullet

not weak like you.” Lewis scoffed as

supposed to mean?” Tyler

the blanket up around her.

check in on you tomorrow,” Aurora promised. They left, and Tyler was finally

sat in silence for a moment. Consumed with guilt, Tyler made to leave the room. “I’ll let

Aster sat on the edge of the bed with her feet on the floor and the blanket wrapped around her. “Please stay.” He couldn’t bear to look at her. “Why won’t you look at

was hard to

choice. He was going to kill

You did what

differently about me

to feel like he had anything but love for her. Tyler came to the bed and sat next to Aster. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you

“It happens.”

hurt because

hand aside his face and turned him to her. Her lips found his in

Aster’s neck. “Can you ever

“I told you, I

forehead against hers. “Yeah, I believe you now.” He

***

Aster stood in front of the mirror, running her hands over her now flawless skin. The wounds were completely healed and had left no scars. Rapid healing was one of the perks of being a Lycan. It was what made them so difficult to kill, but it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt like hell when they were wounded.

and then dressed. As she reached the kitchen, she found Tyler. He looked shocked to

“I’m fine.”

were shot twelve

She said, lifting her shirt so he could see she had healed. Surprised, Tyler walked over and ran his

returned to the stack of pancakes. Prepping two plates, he placed them on the table

smell Darrell from here. Moments later, Darrell came into the kitchen. He smiled when he

“I am.”

you like some pancakes?” Tyler

said, pulling up a chair. Tyler prepped the third plate and placed it in