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.

claws across his belly, slicing so deep his internals became external. Next, her jaw clamped down on Dennis’ neck with the force of a bear trap. She shook her head and tore his throat out as she had promised. As he bled out, Aster bit down on each limb and shook violently until they tore

come looking for her. They had arrived just in time to see her ripping Dennis into pieces. The look on Tyler’s face was horrified, and he looked like he may become violently ill any second. Aster changed back to her human form. Naked, she took a few steps toward Darrell

in a flash.

her to a hospital,” Tyler said.

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.

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

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.

whole drive. When they reached her house, Tyler 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 into the house. He took her to the bedroom and laid her down. Taking the tarp and tossing it on the floor, he covered her with a blanket for comfort.

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. He felt guilty. Dennis would not have gone after Aster if not for his grudge with Tyler. It was his fault she

the 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 kit with him. Tyler assumed

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

Lewis smiled. “By morning, you will be one hundred percent.”

Tyler snarled, “she

Lycan, not human. We’re not weak like you.” Lewis scoffed as he packed his things

supposed to mean?” Tyler challenged

she pulled the blanket up around her. “Thank you two for your help, but

Aurora promised. They left, and Tyler was finally alone with Aster once more.

silence for a moment. Consumed with guilt, Tyler made

the blanket wrapped around her. “Please stay.” He couldn’t bear to look at her. “Why won’t you look at me?” He couldn’t answer her. “I never meant for

was hard to

no choice. He was going to

know. You did what you had to

feel differently about me now,

as though 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 feel like that. I love you, but I feel a tremendous amount of guilt for having got you into a situation where you were

“It happens.”

shouldn’t have. You got hurt because of me.

and turned him to her. Her lips found his in a loving

Aster’s neck. “Can you ever forgive

chuckled. “I told you, I need protecting.”

believe you now.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll

***

walked into the washroom. 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

He looked shocked to her up and moving around already. “You should be in

“I’m fine.”

were shot

Surprised, Tyler walked over and ran his hand over her body like

He returned to the stack of pancakes. Prepping two

here. Moments later, Darrell came into the kitchen. He smiled when he saw Aster up

“I am.”

like some

would,” Darrell said, pulling up a chair. Tyler prepped the third