Alpha Province_Shining Beacons

by Becca Van

  Alpha Province: Shining Beacons

  When Dusty Cutter heard her step-brother’s evil plans for her, she packed a bag and hightailed it out of Tucson, Arizona. She suffered more than enough at his hands and isn’t about to let him ruin her life.

  Broden, Archer, and Airen Higgens didn’t think they’d ever meet their mate, until they entered the Ambrose hotel. As soon as they saw her gorgeous face and scented her fragrance, they knew she was theirs.

  Broden and his brothers end up saving Dusty’s life when she has an allergic reaction and goes into anaphylactic shock. After treating her, they take her back to their home to recover, and while their inner Kodiak bears are eager to mate with her, the men know she needs to get used to them first.

  When they reveal what they are, Dusty thinks they’re lying until they show her otherwise. Even though she’s worried trouble is going to follow her to Ambrose, she can’t resist the three, big, sexy men and she agrees to be their mate.

  And then all hell breaks loose.

  Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter

  Length: 67,683 words

  ALPHA PROVINCE: SHINING

  BEACONS

  Becca Van

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  ALPHA PROVINCE: SHINING BEACONS

  Copyright © 2017 by Becca Van

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-785-4

  First Publication: December 2017

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  My name is Becca Van. I live in Australia with my wonderful hubby of many years, as well as my two children.

  I read my first romance, which I found in the school library, at the age of thirteen and haven’t stopped reading them since. It is so wonderful to know that love is still alive and strong when there seems to be so much conflict in the world.

  I dreamed of writing my own book one day but, unfortunately, didn’t follow my dream for many years. But once I started I knew writing was what I wanted to continue doing.

  I love to escape from the world and curl up with a good romance, to see how the characters unfold and conflict is dealt with. I have read many books and love all facets of the romance genre, from historical to erotic romance. I am a sucker for a happy ending.

  For all titles by Becca Van, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/becca-van

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  ALPHA PROVINCE: SHINING

  BEACONS

  BECCA VAN

  Copyright © 2017

  Prologue

  “I’m so damn tired. How long can I keep this pace up?” Dusty Cutter muttered to herself as she glanced at her bedside clock and sighed with weariness. It was time for her to get ready for work. She spent all day at Brookline College, working hard toward her accounting degree, and now she had to get her ass ready for work. Usually, she loved working at the Home Plate Sports Pub, but tonight, she wished she could call in sick. However, that wasn’t an option.

  Her lazy-assed stepbrother relied on her to buy any food they ate and pay all the utility bills, as well as the rent. She was just glad that for once he wasn’t home in their small, rundown apartment.

  Ever since her mom and Luke’s dad had been killed by a drunk driver over five years ago, her stepbrother had been changing, and not in a good way. He mostly just sat around their apartment collecting welfare, drinking until he was intoxicated, and eating everything in the house. There had been many times that Dusty had gone to bed hungry, and she couldn’t see that changing anytime soon.

  She was beginning to dread facing Luke every day. He was getting more aggressive and angry, and while it hadn’t been her fault that their parents had died, Luke blamed her. She could see accusation in his eyes whenever she met his gaze, and he’d also started hitting her.

  Dusty knew she couldn’t go on like this much longer. She was either going to end up sick from exhaustion, or her stepbrother would hurt her so badly she’d end up with permanent damage. That was if he didn’t kill her. She still had bruises along her ribs, back, arms, and legs from the last time he’d used her as a punching bag. She was stiff and sore and ached all over.

  Dusty started and then froze when she heard the front door slam. After taking a deep, fortifying breath, she hurried over to her bedroom door and opened it to a small crack. She held her breath when she heard the low rumble of voices and put her ear to the gap in her door.

  “So, where the fuck is she?”

  “Probably in her room,” Luke answered.

  “You better not have been lying to me. The slut better be as hot as you said. If she’s not, I’ll be taking the money you owe me out of your fucking hide.”

  A shiver of apprehensive trepidation raced up Dusty’s spine. She’d never heard that voice before, but she didn’t like what the man had said one little bit. She had a bad feeling in her gut and had to swallow around the lump of fear lodged in her throat. Luke had become more violent, and she suspected he was doing drugs. Had he gotten mixed up with a bad crowd? That would explain his coming and going all times of the night.

  “I wouldn’t lie to you, man. She’s stunning. You’re going to make a shitload of money off her.”

  “Does she have any experience?” the stranger asked.

  “I think she’s still a virgin.”

  “Are you shitting me? How old did you say she was?”

  “She’ll be twenty-three next month. Here.”

  “Fuck. She is hot. I’m going to make a fucking fortune selling her body. You can consider your debt paid in full. I’ve seen her before. She works at one of the local pubs.”

  “Thanks. Yeah, she works at the Home Plate Sports Pub,” Luke replied with relief.

  The stranger clicked his fingers. “I knew I’d seen her before. She’s fucking gorgeous.” He pulled in a deep breath. “Have you got anything to eat? I’m starving. I’m not go
nna have time to eat before I have to attend a meeting and since I have to deal with your sister.”

  “Sure,” Luke answered. Moments later, Dusty heard her stepbrother rummaging in the small kitchen. “When are you going to take her?”

  “As soon as I’ve finished eating.”

  “I appreciate you letting me off the hook like this. I never really liked the bitch. She thinks she’s so much better than I am.”

  The stranger laughed. “She won’t think that for much longer. By the time I’ve tamed the slut, she’ll be kissing my feet along with any other body part I want her to.”

  Dusty was panting for breath by the time she closed and locked her bedroom door. She had to escape. Right now. Tears welled, but she blinked them back as she raced about her room and packed a bag. She wasn’t going to be some douchebag’s prostitute. That was going to happen over her dead body.

  She grabbed what she could and shoved it into the backpack she used to carry her school books, and then she sank to her knees and pried up the loose board she’d hidden some money in. She’d learned to do that after finding Luke taking money out of her purse without her permission. She had a hard enough time paying the bills without her asshole stepbrother stealing from her.

  No more.

  Dusty should have left the first time Luke hit her, but he was the only family she had left. She stifled the sob that formed in her chest and blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. He didn’t deserve her tears. He didn’t deserve her hard work or her love. She’d tried so hard to get Luke to love her, but he’d betrayed her in every way conceivably possible—physically as well as emotionally.

  She was done.

  Dusty grabbed the wad of cash she’d stuffed into the plastic container and shoved it into the pocket of her jeans. After gaining her feet, she hurried over to her bedroom window and opened it. Luckily, the apartment was on the first floor of the rundown apartment building, but she was going to have to be careful that her brother and the guy he had with him didn’t see her as she made her escape.

  Once outside, she crouched down onto her hands and knees and crawled along the concrete toward the kitchen window. She had this morbid curiosity to see who Luke owed money to. Her breath puffed out in a foggy cloud as she moved as fast as she could without making any noise. She shivered as a cold breeze washed over her. It was fall and already cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Her hands and knees ached as she crawled along the cold cracked concrete outside her apartment. There were weeds sprouting out from between the cracks and the stench of dumped garbage assailed her sense of smell nearly making her gag. She hated where she and her stepbrother lived, but it was all they could afford.

  It was dusk and would be dark soon, and the air would become even chillier. She should have thought to grab her coat, but she’d been in too much of a panic to think straight. However, she wasn’t about to go back for it, now. As soon as she found out who Luke was talking to, she was out of here.

  Dusty glanced about to make sure no one was watching her and waited until she heard Luke move toward the other side of the room, which was easy enough since he walked heavily on his heels. Once she was sure it was safe to look, she rose up higher onto her knees and peeked through the glass.

  She ducked back down and sucked in a terrified breath.

  She might not have heard the man’s voice before, but she’d definitely seen his face around the neighborhood. He and his friends often came into the pub after they finished whatever they did throughout the day. If the bastard realized she’d heard about his plans for her, she had a feeling she would be a dead woman.

  There was no way she could go to the police and report him, because she’d seen him handing wads of cash over to a couple of policemen who had to be on the take. The asshole intending to kidnap her was part of a notorious motorcycle gang that had been investigated for dealing drugs, prostitution, and murder, and probably a lot of other stuff she couldn’t even imagine.

  She couldn’t trust anyone—not the cops and certainly not her brother. The best thing Dusty could do was to disappear. There was no way in hell she was going to end up a motorcycle gang leader’s whore, only to be passed around to the rest of his cronies once he was tired of her.

  After another glance about to make sure no one was watching, she stumbled to her feet and ran.

  She didn’t relax until she was on a bus heading away from Tucson, Arizona.

  Chapter One

  Six months later

  Dusty forced her tired, gritty eyes open as the bus slowed and then stopped. She peered out the window at the small town and was glad to see that everything seemed quiet. She was the last passenger on the bus, and while it should have been easy for her to sleep, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept for more than a couple of hours.

  She spent the last six months scared out of her mind, and she was constantly looking over her shoulder. Working for cash and bus hopping hadn’t been how she’d envisaged her life, but she was still alive. At least for now.

  She’d nearly had a heart attack when she’d seen her face on the TV four weeks after she’d run. She was a person of interest in the murder of her stepbrother, Luke Alba. She hadn’t killed him, but she had a pretty good idea who had. She’d even shed tears over the bastard, which he didn’t deserve, but not for the man he’d become. She’d cried for the boy he used to be. Now, she was all alone in the world, and she was so terrified she’d been found that every time she heard a motorbike, she hyperventilated and broke out in a cold sweat.

  Luckily for her, the day her face had been plastered all over the media, she’d been cold and had pulled the hood of her sweater up over her hair. When she’d seen herself on the TV, her first instinct had been to run again, but she’d made herself to continue walking along the streets of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She’d ducked into a drug store, bought some hair dye and some scissors, and gone back to the cheap motel room she’d leased for the night.

  It had been difficult to cut her waist-length brown hair, but it had been necessary. She’d also dyed it a golden blonde, and while it looked different, she liked it. Her hair was now short, but she thought it suited her slim, delicate features. At the end of the day, all that mattered was that she looked different enough to avoid being recognised.

  “This is the last stop,” the middle-aged bus driver called out. “You need to get off.”

  Dusty forced a smile and nodded as she rose and grabbed her backpack. She made her way to the exit and paused on the bottom step to glance over her shoulder at the male driver. “When’s the next bus due?”

  He shrugged and then glanced at a schedule taped low down on the windshield. “A week from today.”

  She nodded again and thanked him as she stepped from the bus.

  Dusty had no idea where she was, but she mentally shrugged. It didn’t matter what town she was in. She was alive, and although she was exhausted beyond belief, she was fairly healthy. She waved at the driver as he closed the doors, and when the bus was gone she took a deep breath of cold, clear air.

  Winter was only weeks away, but there was already snow on the ground. Dusty hoped that the weather held off until she could get on another bus. She didn’t know what she’d do if the weather turned and she ended up stuck in this backwater town. She’d been working hand to mouth for months and for less than normal pay since she’d been working for cash.

  She was going to have to find another job so she wouldn’t end up living on the streets. If she did, she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t end up freezing to death. With a tired sigh, she gazed up and down the street, trying to decide where to go. When she saw the pub across the road, she stepped off the pavement and headed toward it. Pubs were familiar to her and gave her a sense of her old life, before everything had gone bad. Maybe, if she was lucky, she could ask the owner for a job tending bar, but in the meantime, she needed to get warm and fill her belly. After that was anyone’s guess.

  * * * *

  “Have you f
ound the slut yet?” Curtis “Irish” O’Mara shouted his question as he gazed from one man to another. His enforcer and right-hand man, Bennie Allan, was standing slightly behind him with his muscular arms crossed over his chest for intimidation. None of the other members of his gang would meet his or his enforcer’s eyes.

  When they all shook their heads in answer, Irish got angry and stalked forward until he was only inches away from the weakest guy in his gang. “You’re all so fucking useless. You know we have to get that bitch before she goes running to the fucking cops. She was in that fucking apartment and had to have overheard what was going down. If the law comes calling and arrests me, you can all be damn fucking sure you’ll be going down with me.”

  His rage took over, and without thinking about what he was doing, Irish pulled his fist back and slammed it into the smaller man’s face. He grunted with satisfaction when the guy fell to the cold, hard concrete floor, out like a light. He flexed his sore knuckles and turned away from the sniveling idiots. They only followed him because of the easy access to the sluts that hung around and for the drugs, but he didn’t trust any of the fuckers. The only guy he’d ever trust was Bennie.

  Irish had saved Bennie’s life a few years back, and from that moment on, he’d been loyal to him. He’d trust Bennie with his life, but right now what he needed most was to find the bitch and silence her.

  He wasn’t sure that she’d heard him talking to her asshole brother, but when he’d gone to collect her to pay off the fucker’s debt, her bedroom window had been wide open, and she’d been gone.

  Irish had put a couple of men on the place to keep watch, but after a week had passed, he knew she wasn’t coming back. He’d ordered Bennie to kill the brother, and then he’d contacted the two cops on his payroll to search for her. So far, the assholes had squat.