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.

swiped her 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

Darrell a few hundred yards away. They had 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 and Tyler. She was in

in a flash. “She’s been shot,”

to get her to a hospital,”

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

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

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

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,

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.

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 it made sense. Being a butcher, Lewis had a keen grasp of anatomy,

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.

will be

“she had twelve bullet holes

him. “She’s Lycan, not human. We’re not

supposed to mean?”

sitting up as she pulled the blanket up around her. “Thank you two for your help, but I think I need to rest.”

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

moment. Consumed with guilt, Tyler made to

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 me?” He couldn’t answer her. “I never meant for you to see what I did. I get it has probably

that was hard

had no choice. He was going

You did what

differently about me

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

“It happens.”

You got hurt because

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

“Can you ever forgive me

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

I believe you now.” He kissed

***

out of bed and 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 Lycan. It was what made them so difficult to kill, but it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt like

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

“I’m fine.”

shot

shirt so he could see she had healed. Surprised, Tyler walked over and ran his hand over her body like he couldn’t believe his

back, utterly amazed. “That’s incredible. I guess we are eating at the table then.” He said. He returned to the stack of pancakes. Prepping two plates, he

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

“I am.”

you like some pancakes?” Tyler offered.

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