Alpha Province_Shining Beacons

by Becca Van

  It was time to put the pressure on. He needed to find that cunt so he didn’t end up living out the rest of his days behind bars.

  Irish met Bennie’s gaze and nodded toward his office. He didn’t need to glance over his shoulder to see if his enforcer was following, because he was loyal to a fault.

  “What do you need, boss?” Bennie asked as soon as he’d closed the door behind him, leaning against the wall beside it.

  “Put pressure on the cops to pull their heads out of their asses. If they don’t get her location in the next forty-eight hours, set them up or take them out.”

  “You won’t have anyone on the inside if you kill them,” Bennie said.

  Irish glared at his friend, even though he knew he was right. He hated being told he was wrong. After taking a calming breath, he nodded and then sank down into his chair.

  “I don’t care what you do just as long as we get the results we want. Having her as a person of interest in her brother’s murder hasn’t done jack.”

  “I have a few ideas.” Bennie rubbed his hands together. “I might just have to send those asshole cops pictures of their wives.”

  Irish smiled and then laughed outright. Bennie was a mean son of a bitch. His enforcer straightened from the door and walked over to the bar off to the side of his office. He poured him a couple of fingers of bourbon and then grabbed the container of powder sitting next to the ice-bucket before bringing them over to Irish’s desk. “Relax for a bit, boss. Do you want me to order one of the sluts to come to you?”

  Irish downed the bourbon and then snorted a line of powder. He sank back into his seat as the rush shot through his body. When his cock began to harden, he nodded.

  “Anyone in particular?”

  Irish grabbed the photo of Dusty Cutter from his desk and stared at the pretty face and into her beautiful green eyes. He was pissed at himself for not grabbing the slut when he’d had the chance.

  “Sonja.” Irish would have to make do with the drugged-out slut that only slightly resembled the cunt that had escaped his clutches. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine he was fucking Dusty. One way or another, that bitch was going to be his. He didn’t care what he had to do to get her back where she belonged.

  In his bed and by his side.

  Her asshole brother had given her to him as payment, and after seeing the photograph, he’d gotten hard. He couldn’t get the image of her pretty face, lush mouth and sexy body out of his mind. He dreamt of her, woke up hard and aching every fucking morning for the last six months. He needed her like he needed to breathe. She was an obsession that wouldn’t let go, and there was only one way to put an end to his craving. That was to fuck her until he’d had his fill.

  One way or another, that slut was going to be his.

  * * * *

  “So fucking tired.” Broden rubbed at his gritty eyes and sighed. He’d been having trouble sleeping, and while he’d tried everything he could to relax and drift off to sleep, his bear was antsy and keeping him awake. His didn’t think Airen and Archer were any better off. They had red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes, too.

  He was just thankful that, after the meeting a few weeks back, Tatum, their unofficial alpha, had decided they needed their solitude back. While the rush of visitors had been good for the town’s economy and reputation, he hadn’t met his mate amongst them. He was just glad they had finally cleared out, because he wasn’t a people person. Their quiet town of Ambrose, North Dakota had been bursting at the seams with people from the surrounding county and beyond, because of the regular musicians booked to play at the pub.

  Emmy, who was mate to the polar bear shifters, Declan Swish, Brooks McKay, and Jett Burns, had suggested sprucing things up around town so that the rest of the men in Ambrose could hopefully meet their mates, too. Other than the polar bears and Tatum, Rex, and Shaffer King, the lion shifters, no one else had been lucky enough to meet the other half to their heart and soul.

  Ever since Broden had performed an appendectomy on Pixie, the King brother’s mate, with the help of his own siblings, Broden’s Kodiak bear had been driving him nuts. Three months without a decent night’s sleep was starting to get to him. His usually calm temper had a short fuse, and he found himself snapping and snarling like the beast he tried to keep hidden.

  His bear hadn’t stopped pacing for more than half an hour, and even letting his inner animal free to run hadn’t helped. It felt like his Kodiak was expecting something bad to happen and was on alert nearly twenty-four-seven.

  “Are you coming to the pub?” Archer asked as he poked his head into the examination room.

  Broden was the only doctor in town, but he’d trained his brothers to help him if an emergency ever arose. Broden was the oldest of the three at thirty-four, and though Archer was only two years younger, Airen trailed behind him by three years. He’d never been more thankful for being a doctor when Pixie had arrived in town. Her appendix had been close to bursting, and if he hadn’t removed it when he did, she might have died.

  He scrubbed a hand over his face and nodded. “I’ve got nothing better to do.”

  “Do you think we made the right decision to hide out here?” Archer glanced at him as they walked toward the door to the clinic.

  “Could you see yourself living in a bigger town or city surrounded by people?” Broden asked.

  “Fuck, no!” Archer rubbed the back of his neck. “Something’s not right.”

  Broden paused half-in and half-out of the doorway as he met his brother’s gaze. “What do you mean?”

  “My bear is going fucking insane.”

  “Mine is, too.”

  “What do you think it means?” Airen, his other brother, asked as he came toward them from the kitchen.

  “I don’t know.” Broden shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “I’ve run all the tests. Everything looks normal.”

  “Maybe after having so many people in town for weeks on end, it’s just too quiet,” Archer suggested.

  “That’s not it.” Airen shrugged his shoulders and sighed. “It’s like my bear is expecting something to happen.”

  “Do you think we’re in danger?” Archer quirked an eyebrow. “Do you think someone who visited knows our secret?”

  “I don’t see how,” Broden answered. “None of the men in this town have ever changed into their animal form while there’ve been humans around.”

  “Tatum did when he was rescuing his mate,” Airen said.

  “And everyone who heard that fucker screaming about men changing into animals would just think he was insane.” Broden gestured for his brothers to exit so he could close and lock the clinic door.

  “Yeah. If the FBI agents hadn’t been friends and shifters themselves, it could have been a different story.” Archer combed his fingers through his collar-length black hair.

  “There is that,” Airen replied.

  “Do you know what’s on the menu at the pub tonight?” Archer asked as he fell in step with his brothers as they crossed the road.

  “No idea, but you can bet it’ll be delicious.” Broden rubbed his grumbling belly and smiled for the first time that day as he grasped the door handle to the pub and tugged it open. “I’m actually hungry for a change.”

  “I am, too.” Airen grinned. “Maybe our bears are finally going to leave us in peace for a few hours.”

  “I sure as fuck hope so,” Archer said in a growly voice as his eyes glazed over. He blinked his vision back into focus and chuckled. “My bear’s finally curled up into a ball and is sleeping.”

  Broden looked inside of himself and was surprised to see his bear was sleeping, too. Maybe now that the population of Ambrose had gone back to normal, his animal wouldn’t be so antsy. Nonetheless, he had a feeling that wasn’t the case. Something was going on with their Kodiaks, and while he and his brothers had tried to figure out why their inner beasts were so unsettled, he wasn’t sure he’d ever know the reason.

  Broden stepped over the threshold to the pub a
nd inhaled deeply, but instead of smelling food, a delicious aroma of hazelnut and honey assailed his nostrils. His bear jumped to his feet inside of him, took a few steps back, and then lunged forward and head-butted into his stomach, hard.

  If he hadn’t felt his Kodiak tensing and moving backward, Broden may not have been able to brace or prepare himself to catch his bear before he escaped. Thankfully he had, so he was able to shove his animal back down to his haunches before he got free.

  When he saw Airen stumble forward a couple of steps and Archer bend over with his hands braced on his knees, he realized that his brothers were fighting to control their Kodiak’s, too.

  Broden glanced around the room as he drew in breath after breath deep into his lungs, and when his eyes alighted on the shadowy far corner, and he saw a delicate woman with short blonde hair sitting alone at a small table, all noise in the room dimmed.

  He didn’t even notice he was moving until he was only a few feet from where the woman was sitting, but the closer he got to her, the more he knew he was right. She was his mate.

  When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to meet Archer’s gaze. His brother wasn’t looking at him, but staring beyond him toward the blonde. “You can’t just go and sit at her table, Broden. She looks as if she’s ready to bolt.”

  “I was going to sit at the table opposite her.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Airen whispered as he came up behind them. “I can smell her fear and see that she’s scared to death.”

  Broden turned to face his brothers. “Damn it,” he said in a voice too low for a human to hear. “How the hell are we going to get to know her if we don’t introduce ourselves?”

  “We don’t,” Archer answered.

  “What the fuck? Are you just going to let her leave without even trying to court her?” he asked angrily.

  “Fuck, no!” Archer sighed.

  “We have to be smart about this,” Airen said.

  “What do you suggest, then?” Broden asked with frustration.

  “We get Emmy to talk to her,” Airen suggested.

  Broden closed his eyes and inhaled his mate’s delectable honeyed-hazelnut scent and nodded. His brothers turned and walked toward the bar. He followed, resisting the urge to glance back over his shoulder to look at their mate again. If he needed to keep his distance so she didn’t run, then he would, but if she managed to leave without him ever speaking a word to her, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to forgive his brothers.

  Now that his mate was here, Broden realized his Kodiak had been agitated because he’d been pining for the other half of his heart and soul. He was going to do everything he could to put his woman at ease.

  Hopefully, when she was comfortable around him and his brothers, they could woo her into their lives and beds.

  Chapter Two

  Dusty sighed with relief when the three big men who’d been walking toward her headed over to the bar. She was too tired to run, but she would if necessary, although she had no idea where. She didn’t have a car, and the bus wasn’t coming back for another week. Walking wasn’t an option either. Not with the weather getting colder as winter approached.

  She glanced at the men as they settled on stools at the bar. They were some of the biggest men she’d ever seen and was surprised when her body responded to their brawny handsomeness.

  The man who’d locked eyes with her had to be close to seven feet tall. His face was chiseled perfection, with his square jaw and rugged good looks. His gray eyes had been so intent on her, her heart had started pounding, and it wasn’t all because of fear. He had collar-length black hair and the widest shoulders, with a thick, muscular barrel-like chest. It was a wonder the stool he was sitting on didn’t break under him.

  They were all so very, very handsome in her eyes.

  Dusty squirmed in her seat.

  “What can I get you, Broden?” she heard the bartender ask.

  Broden. That was a nice name for a big, strong good-looking man.

  She tuned out the chatter as she shifted her gaze to the two men sitting on either side of him. They had to be family, since they had similar features. The brown-haired guy, who was a few inches shorter than Broden, was a little leaner in the muscle department, but still damn bulky, and he had blue eyes. The man on Broden’s other side was the shortest, but in no way small. He had to be well and truly over six and a half feet tall. He had collar-length, shiny black hair, and blue eyes, too. She could see how thick his biceps were, since he was leaning his elbows on the edge of the bar. Dusty had no doubt that his arms were way bigger than her thighs.

  She groaned softly when she realized she was staring and that she was attracted to members of the opposite sex for the first time in her life. She didn’t have the time or the inclination to get involved with anyone. Dusty was in trouble up to her neck already and didn’t need to add to her problems.

  Folding her arms on the table, she rested her forehead on her hands. She was tired, hungry, and almost out of cash. All the time she’d been on the run, she’d remained optimistic as she’d stayed one step ahead of those assholes, but Dusty had a feeling that time was running out. She felt as if she’d been sitting here forever, but must have been in the pub for about fifteen minutes, if that.

  She’d made sure to hide whenever she’d heard a motorbike approaching and so far, so good, but with winter almost upon them, it was going to be harder than ever to remain safe. There was no way those bastards would continue searching for her on two wheels—it would be too dangerous now that it had started snowing. How the hell was she supposed to duck them when she didn’t know what vehicles they would be driving? Plus, she didn’t know what the gang members looked like. Sure, she’d seen the leader of the gang interacting with a lot of men in the pub she’d worked at, but she hadn’t been in danger then, so she hadn’t taken any notice. Dusty wished she could remember all the men’s faces, but there were only three that came to mind. The leader, the huge guy that was always hanging with him and the policeman she’d seen the fucker handing money to.

  For all she knew, the whole Tucson precinct could have been in the prick’s pocket. There was no one back home she could trust, and she couldn’t risk spilling her guts to anyone new lest they realize she was wanted for questioning for her brother’s murder.

  “Hi, I’m Emmy. What can I get you?”

  Dusty started so badly she almost fell off her seat. If she hadn’t been quick enough to grab the edge of the table to steady herself, she probably would have ended up on her ass on the floor.

  She looked up at the waitress and forced a smile.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you heard me stop by your table.” Emmy gave her a concerned look, before taking a breath and continuing. “Can I get you something to drink? These are the specials this week.” The waitress handed her a printed page with the specials menu on it and then pointed to the menu propped up between the salt and pepper shakers. “That’s the regular menu.”

  She nodded and cleared her throat. “I’ll have a glass of soda, please.”

  “What flavor?” Emmy asked.

  “Cola if you have it.”

  “We do.” Emmy smiled. “Do you want more time to decide what you want to eat?”

  “Please.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right back with the soda. Welcome to Ambrose.” The waitress smiled and hurried away.

  Dusty glanced toward the bar and quickly looked away again when she noticed the three big men sitting on the bar stools watching her in the mirror. Heat suffused her cheeks, and she shifted in her chair when her body responded to their handsome faces and brawny physiques. She frowned over her reaction, because she’d never been attracted to a member of the opposite sex like she was to them, and it worried her. How could she be attracted to three men at the same time? That wasn’t like her at all, but she couldn’t help but notice that all the men sitting around the room were muscular and handsome.

  “Here you are,” Emm
y said.

  Dusty had been so lost in thought she hadn’t noticed the waitress coming back. At least this time she hadn’t made a fool of herself by nearly falling off her chair again. “Thanks.”

  “Are you ready to order?”

  “Can I just get a bowl of your seasonal vegetables?”

  “Whatever you want.” Emmy smiled, but Dusty could see worry in her eyes. She hoped she didn’t look as bad as she felt, but she guessed she did when the waitresses gaze lingered on the dark smudges beneath her eyes. “I’ll be right back.”

  Dusty nodded and sighed with relief when the beautiful, tall woman hurried away. Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she blinked rapidly until she had her emotions under control. She didn’t normally fall apart, but having a stranger show her a bit of compassion nearly made her lose her shit. Hopefully, after a good night’s sleep, she would feel better. And that thought brought up another concern.

  Where the hell was she going to stay?

  Minutes later, Emmy was back with her bowl of vegetables. Dusty swallowed the saliva that pooled in her mouth and then gaped at the woman when she sat in the seat across from her.

  “This is a great town to be if you’re in trouble.”

  Dusty choked on the sip of cola she’d just taken. She coughed and spluttered until tears leaked from her eyes. Once she had her breath back, she wiped the moisture from her cheeks and then her lips with the napkin. She eyed Emmy warily, pulling her lips into a tight line since she was determined to not reply.

  “I arrived in Ambrose after months of running scared. I overhead a plot to kill a lot of politicians in a hotel in Houston, and after giving a testimony at the trial, I ran. The bastards I’d helped put behind bars put a hit out on me, and there was nothing the police could do, so I took off. I worked for cash, meandering my way across the country until I landed here.