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.

the force of a bear trap. She shook her head and tore his throat out as she had promised.

Tyler’s face was horrified, and he looked like he may become violently ill any second. Aster changed back to her human form.

by her side in a flash. “She’s been

get her to a hospital,” Tyler said.

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 Aster up. “Say it… this never happened. This is a defining moment, Tyler. You are either one of us or one of them. Part of the pack, or an outsider. You can’t have it both ways. Protect the pack, or die like any other threat to

down at Aster, who was watching him. “I’m part of the pack.” He declared. Darrel turned into a wolf and took off running to fetch aid. Aster put her arms around Tayler as he swept her into his arms and carried her bridal style all the way back to Darrell’s

he placed her in the passenger seat. He then grabbed a tarp from the bed of the truck and draped it over her nudity. He climbed

got out first. He walked around to the passenger side and opened her door. Aster draped her arms around his neck as Tyler lifted her into his arms and carried her bleeding

house door. He gathered some rags and water 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 core.

blood from her body, they did not speak. It wasn’t long before there was a knock at the door. Tyler answered to find Aurora and Lewis. Lewis was carrying a large

around her waist. One by one, Lewis carefully dug each of the twelve bullets out of her body. It was bloody, and

will be one hundred percent.”

“she had twelve

Lewis assured him. “She’s Lycan, not human. We’re not weak like

that supposed to mean?” Tyler

around her. “Thank you two for your help,

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

guilt, Tyler made to leave the room. “I’ll let

wrapped around her. “Please stay.” He couldn’t bear to look at her. “Why won’t you look at me?” He couldn’t

was hard

He was going to

did what

about me now,

her actions had turned him off of her. He had never wanted her 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 to

“It happens.”

got hurt because of me. I feel

Her lips found his in a loving

ever forgive me for not

told you, I

he laid his forehead against hers. “Yeah, I believe you now.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll

***

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

reached the kitchen, she found Tyler. He looked shocked to her up and moving around already.

“I’m fine.”

were shot

lifting her shirt so he could see she had healed. Surprised, Tyler

eating at the table then.” He said. He returned to the stack of

could smell Darrell from here. Moments later, Darrell came into the kitchen. He

“I am.”

you like some

chair. Tyler prepped the